Index
- More information about the new concealed carry law
- New Don't Miss Lists posted online
- Wakanheza programs will benefit all library staff
- Member/Staff News
- ‘I Love My Librarian’ award nominations being accepted
- Portland’s street librarian serves the homeless
- ‘Best Small Library In America’ award nomination guidelines announced
- Continuing Education Calendar
More information about the new concealed carry law
Wisconsin’s Concealed Carry Law (2011 Act 35) was recently signed by Gov. Scott Walker, so guidelines about implementation and possible exemptions have only started to become available. This article provides links to online resources that should answer some of the questions libraries may have.
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce offered an informative webinar on July 28, which is available online in recorded mode and as slides.
- Archived webinar (Windows media file)
- Webinar slides (PDF)
The Department of Justice has created a Concealed Carry web page to serve as the primary source for information and guidance about the new law.
- DOJ’s Concealed Carry page
- DOJ’s Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) -- The portions of the FAQ you are most likely to be interested in are Restrictions by Employers, Restrictions by Governments and Public Colleges and Universities (includes local government buildings), and Notice of Refusal of Right to Carry Concealed
The new law takes effect Nov. 1, 2011. Below are some things to remember if you plan to prohibit concealed weapons in your library.
- You must post a sign at all entrances.
- The signs must be at least 5 inches by 7 inches.
- There are no special words required for the sign. However, according to the FAQ, “At a minimum the sign must inform people that weapons or firearms are prohibited. There are a number of messages that would meet the standard and the ultimate purpose of the sign is to put individuals on notice of the prohibition or limitation.”
- The law does not require that the sign be any certain color.
- The sign requirements discussed in the FAQ “can provide a reasonable basis for providing notice to persons of any weapons restrictions” (including dangerous weapons other than firearms.)
To keep informed of any new information about the law continue to monitor the DOJ website. Public libraries also should consult their municipal or county attorney for more details.
New Don't Miss Lists posted online
The Don't Miss Lists page has been updated with new titles for August 2011 and the NY Times and Publisher's Weekly best seller lists. The new titles lists are still a work in progress and will continue to be refined in the coming months. Also, there are some lists that we had in Dynix (such as new Overdrive titles) that are not available yet but we will add those lists when they are available.
In addition, we now have the ability to offer archived lists of new titles. We were not able to do this in Dynix but we have developed a process for generating and publishing the lists that allows us to store old lists. We will be adding archived lists back to April 2011 soon (starting with new titles added after the Koha migration). When the archived lists are available we will make an announcement.
Wakanheza programs will benefit all library staff
Working in public libraries is fulfilling and, at times, challenging. Many of us have experienced difficult interactions with patrons, we have wondered what we can do to help parents whose children are breaking down in public, and there are times when we may have felt uncomfortable with stressful situations at our libraries. We want to help out, but we don’t know what to say or do.
Attending a Wakanheza Project workshop can help give library staff members the tools they need to respond effectively to these types of situations.
The Wakanheza Project was created by social workers in Ramsey County, MN, and it teaches individuals, agencies, businesses and communities to use basic principles and strategies that prevent or de-escalate stressful situations in public to create welcoming environments for children, young people, families and adults. Wakanheza strategies also strengthen interactions and communication among co-workers and help create a vision for service.
Upcoming Wakanheza Project workshops are:
- Friday, Sept. 16, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Portage Public Library. Workshop leaders will be Shawn Brommer, SCLS, and Dawn Foster, Portage (register)
- Wednesday, Sept. 28, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at Fitchburg Public Library. Workshop leaders will be Shawn Brommer, SCLS, and Lynn Montague, Sun Prairie (register)
You can learn more about the Wakanheza Project at http://thewakanhezaproject.org/, or by contacting Shawn Brommer.
Member/Staff News
There are several milestone anniversaries at Delivery in 2011. Delivery Coordinator Bruce Smith and Operations Manager Brinnan Shaffer will celebrate their 15 year anniversaries later this year, and Driver Chris Kustra recently celebrated his 20 year anniversary.
Madison Public Library’s Hawthorne Branch will be (mostly) closed for remodeling August 22-27. The library will offer limited services to the public: the book drop will accept returns, they will allow holds pickup, and three programs will still run. SCLS delivery will continue as normal.
The August issue of WSLL @ Your Service has been published at http://wilawlibrary.gov/newsletter/1108.html.
‘I Love My Librarian’ award nominations being accepted
Nominate your librarian for the Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award. Nominations for 2011 will be accepted through September 12.
Nominate a librarian in a:
There are more than 122,000 libraries nationwide, and everyday librarians touch the lives of the people they serve. The award encourages library users to recognize the accomplishments of exceptional public, school, college, community college, or university librarians. Share how you think your librarian is improving the lives of the people in your school, campus or community.
Up to 10 winners will be selected this year, and each will receive a $5,000 cash award, a plaque and $500 travel stipend to attend an awards reception in New York hosted by The New York Times.
The award is administered by the American Library Association with support from Carnegie Corporation of New York and The New York Times.
Christina Wagner, a librarian at the Goodman South Madison Branch, was a 2010 award recipient.
Portland’s street librarian serves the homeless
A recent article in The Portland Mercury newspaper is worth a quick look. Titled “Meet Portland's ‘Street Librarian’ -- Laura Moulton Provides Books to the Homeless,” the article highlights a project called Street Books, which received a Regional Arts and Culture Council grant to fund a mobile library that provides books for the homeless. The bike-powered library carries about 40 books—a diverse collection skewing slightly toward regional authors
To learn more, visit the project website or watch the video documentary on YouTube.
‘Best Small Library In America’ award nomination guidelines announced
Library Journal's annual award for the Best Small Library in America, co-sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was founded to encourage and showcase the exemplary work of these libraries. Now in its seventh year, the award honors the public library that most profoundly demonstrates outstanding service to populations of 25,000 or less.
The winning library will receive a $15,000 cash award, a feature story in the Feb. 1, 2012, Library Journal, membership and conference costs for two library representatives to attend the Public Library Association Biannual Conference in 2012 in Philadelphia, and a gala reception at the conference. Starting with the 2011 award year, two finalist libraries will be awarded a $5,000 cash award as well as membership and conference costs for two library representatives to attend the PLA conference and the gala reception in 2012, and they will be given special mention in Library Journal
Detailed eligibility requirements and submission requirements are at www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA606273.html. The postmark deadline for nominations is November 2, 2011. Send the nomination to: Library Journal's Award for the Best Small Library in America, Library Journal, 160 Varick Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10013.