Index
- There is still time to influence state budget
- SLP provides $24 million in value to SCLS communities
- Member/Staff News
- Free conference on public library budgeting challenges
- Albertson Memorial Library seeks director
- Continuing Education Calendar
There is still time to influence state budget
Library issues in the state budget have already passed through the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance, with good and bad news. There is still time to influence the final outcome, but people must act now.
On May 3, Joint Finance voted 16-0 to restore $512,000 in funding to the BadgerLink program that had been cut in Governor Walker's budget proposal. On the same day, members voted 8-8 on an amendment that would have left intact Library Maintenance of Effort requirements.
That vote shows there is bipartisan support for libraries, and the next step is to contact Republican members of the state legislature to urge additional amendments to the budget bill. Such amendments might include restoring funding for public library system aids and statewide resource contracts, and to restore the requirement that public libraries be funded at or above the maintenance of effort.
If you are represented by a member of the majority party, please go to the WLA website to see the current legislative alert.
Regardless of what happens at the state level, libraries will need to have supporters willing and ready to speak up when local budgets are formulated. One good to way to help create that base of support is to have customers fill out a Speak Up For Your Library card. SCLS can then give you the names and email addresses of your customers. You can order cards from Mark Ibach, and you can link from your library website to the online form.
SLP provides $24 million in value to SCLS communities
Reading is a primary building block of all learning, and there is agreement among educators, researchers, and parents that time spent reading during the summer benefits students. But that time spent reading also pays significant dividends to school districts and taxpayers because teachers spend less time each fall helping students catch up.
Based on 2010 participation data, last year’s Summer Library Program (SLP) resulted in more than $24 million of value to communities across the South Central Library System (SCLS). This “value to the community” is based on research which shows that as much as three months of school time is saved by not having to bring children back to the reading level they were at when school ended the previous spring.
The value is calculated by taking the system-wide program participation of 21,076 and multiplying it by the system-wide average school district annual educational cost per student of $10,498. This is then multiplied by one-third, because reading is one third of the core curriculum of reading, writing, and arithmetic, and then again by one-third because the three months otherwise spent catching up is equal to one-third of the school year. The educational cost per student was that reported to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for the 2008-09 school year. It is the educational cost only and does not include transportation, debt service or food service costs.
An email has been sent to each SCLS member library director, and attached to that email is a library-specific press release (Microsoft Word format) with local data.
If you have any questions about the research, contact Shawn Brommer, SCLS youth services & outreach consultant.
Member/Staff News
Pam Bosben in Cross Plains sent a link to an article on the “Common Dreams” website about the Fort Worth Public Library.
The April 2011 Dynix LINK Library Statistics Summary is posted on Automation's website. This report covers only that part of the month we were still using Dynix. Both PDF and Excel versions of this report are posted. The April 2011 Dynix Circulation Statistics reports also have been posted.
Madison Public Library congratulates Tina Maes on her promotion to Library Assistant (Technical Services, Central Library).
The late Helen Matheson Rupp has left a bequest of $3.47 million to the Madison Public Library Foundation. "The gift was a wonderful surprise," said Jenni Collins, executive director of the Madison Public Library Foundation. "It is the largest gift in the Foundation's 15-year history." Rupp, who died last year at age 88, was the first woman executive at the Wisconsin State Journal, where she worked from 1942 until her retirement in 1977. (read more).
Brian Simons in Verona sent a link to an article about the creative use of economic studies to prove library worth to a community, specifically the economic value of the Free Library of Philadelphia.
The May issue of WSLL @ Your Service has been published at http://wilawlibrary.gov/newsletter/1105.html.
Free conference on public library budgeting challenges
There will be a free conference for library directors and trustees titled "Facing the Challenge: Local Politics and Library Budgeting Now" on May 26 at McMillan Library in Wisconsin Rapids. The conference is sponsored by McMillan Library and the Wisconsin Library Association and will feature presenters Ron McCabe and Andy Barnett.
Ron is Director of McMillan Library, president-elect of the Wisconsin Library Association, and author of Civic Librarianship: Renewing the Social Mission of the Public Library, Scarecrow, 2001. Andy is assistant director of McMillan Library and author of Libraries, Community and Technology, McFarland, 2002. For conference schedule and registration information, see the conference flyer.
Ron is also available for presentations on "The State Budget and Wisconsin Libraries" to promote understanding and advocacy. Presentations are free to libraries and other sponsoring groups in Wisconsin, and no honorarium or travel reimbursement is requested.
Ron's nonpartisan presentation will describe the role libraries play in expanding educational opportunities and the impact of the proposed 2011-13 Wisconsin State Budget on this important work. To schedule a public presentation, see the presentation flyer.
WLA is supporting these efforts to promote a wider understanding of library budgeting issues amongst the public and to support library directors and trustees with additional ideas about coping with difficult budget scenarios.
Albertson Memorial Library seeks director
Albertson Memorial Public Library is seeking a part time library director for 20-25 hours per week. The applicant selected will be responsible for all management tasks related to the operation of the library. These duties include, but are not limited to: facility and automation management; collection development; personnel supervision; budgeting and planning; policy implementation; and library advocacy. The director must demonstrate initiative and problem-solving skills, possess computer and technology skills, and exhibit effective oral and written communication skills.
Applicants must be eligible for Wisconsin Grade 3 library certification. Additionally, applicants must be willing to take additional library courses and continuing education as required to maintain certification. Criteria for this certification may be found online at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/cert.html. Library coursework required for certification may be completed after hire.
Salary depends on experience and certification.
Candidates should submit resume by May 27, 2011 to: Sue Dunphy, Library Board President, Albertson Memorial Library, 200 N. Water Street, Albany, WI 53502.