Index
- Make library advocacy a priority in 2012
- Cornerstone Award reception is Nov. 10
- Member/Staff News
- SUN seeks Assistant Circulation Manager
- LSTA meeting and public hearing scheduled
- RL&LL signs lease with Madison Public Library
- FCC makes major change to promote broadband
- The Library Radio Network is on the air
- Continuing Education Calendar
Make library advocacy a priority in 2012
As municipal and county budgets move toward final approval, it’s a good time to begin thinking about how your library can have more influence over the process next year. Proactive advocacy will continue to be more important than ever, and getting an early start will be a key component of achieving more positive budget outcomes.
Libraries are only one of the many public services competing for a finite pool of tax dollars. To do so effectively, you should turn to the most convincing spokespeople for your library's programs and resources -- those you serve on a daily basis. Their stories and support are powerful, but using those positive feelings to benefit the library does not happen automatically.
If you’d like help creating a library advocacy plan, as well as advocacy messages and materials to be used in your community, contact Mark Ibach and schedule a time to have him visit your library. More information about developing an advocacy plan is also available at www.scls.info/pr/advocacy/.
Now is also a good time to get a supply of “Speak Up for Your Library” cards from Mark (available at no cost to SCLS member libraries). By involving your library users and supporters you strengthen the position of your library within the community because you can get the emails of all those who list your library as their home library. It’s an easy way to reach out locally to build support for your library. We also encourage libraries to link from their website to the online sign-up form at www.scls.info/pr/speak_up.
As an added advocacy effort, libraries can link to the SCLS “Library Use Value Calculator,” which is an excellent opportunity for library users to attach a financial impact to their personal library use. We recently changed this resource so annual data updates for the calculator are performed once by SCLS staff, even if you put the calculator on your library’s website.
Cornerstone Award reception is Nov. 10
In recognition of their lifetime of work in support of area libraries, including the South Central Library System Foundation, Bob Blitzke and Craig & Lea Culver will receive the “Cornerstone Award” at a Nov. 10, 2011, fundraising reception. The event will be held at Electronic Theater Controls, 3031 Pleasant View Road in Middleton from 5:30-7 p.m. There is no cost to attend, and no reservation is needed.The award is given to an individual or individuals who have had a significant and long-term impact on enhancing public libraries in South Central Wisconsin and represent the values and mission of the SCLS Foundation.
Bob was the architect of the SCLS Delivery System, which is a national model that serves libraries statewide. He also played a vital role in the creation of the SCLS Foundation, serving as the development coordinator for two years.
Craig and Lea Culver have supported libraries statewide through the “Culver's Coloring Contest” as part of National Library Week, and have contributed countless coupons, t-shirts, and other items as reading prizes for the Summer Library Program. They also have supported their local libraries, most recently donating their previous Support Center Headquarters building to the Prairie du Sac Public Library. In recognition of the donation, the library will be named the Ruth Culver Community Library in honor of Craig’s mother.
Electronic Theater Controls (ETC) is a global entertainment and architectural lighting company dedicated to providing customers with the best and most innovative lighting products, services and solutions.
Member/Staff News
Leah Fritsche has been named director of Deerfield Public Library, effective Jan. 2, 2012. She was hired as the assistant director in 2004, and prior to that was the youth services librarian at Watertown Public Library. Leah replaces Kaia Fry, who has been Deerfield director since 1981. Kaia was a member of the charter library board that started the library in 1976 (she was a teacher at the time), and in 1979 she was hired as the children’s librarian.
Madison Public Library recently welcomed Lia Vellardita (Library Assistant, Hawthorne Branch), Christine M. Anders (Page 2, Hawthorne Branch), and Christopher J. Cherney (Page 2, Goodman South Madison Branch).
Carolyn Forde is the new director at the Kraemer Library and Community Center in Plain, effective Nov. 7. She worked previously as the director at Ladysmith Public Library (left about one year ago), and before that she worked at the South Madison Branch.
Through a grant from the Wisconsin Humanities Council, Waunakee Public Library interviewed several members of its community to tell their stories of where their families originated, how they came to the United States, and how they became part of the Waunakee, community. Taped in September 2011, these are their stories -- www.waunakeepubliclibrary.org/Immigration.html.
The November issue of WSLL @ Your Service has been published at http://wilawlibrary.gov/newsletter/1111.html.
SUN seeks Assistant Circulation Manager
Sun Prairie Public Library is seeking an assistant circulation manager to organize and supervise workflow for circulation of library materials. The successful candidate will also assist in the hiring, training, supervising, scheduling and evaluation of 11 part-time employees.
This position also oversees the day-to-day activities of the library, handling emergencies and problems with patrons. Candidates must have 2+ years of progressively responsible public library experience, including supervision. The position is 32 hours per week, with some evenings and weekends required. The pay is $19.64 per hour, with benefits.
To apply, complete a city application online at www.cityofsunprairie.com. The application deadline is Nov. 14, 2011.
LSTA meeting and public hearing scheduled
Wisconsin's LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) Advisory Committee will meet in Madison on Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 16-17, 2011, at the Holiday Inn-American Center, 5109 West Terrace Drive, Madison, to discuss grant categories for LSTA projects to take place in 2012.?
As a part of the meeting, there will be a public hearing beginning at 10 a.m. on Nov. 16 for interested persons to make suggestions on the LSTA program for 2013. Final guidelines for the 2013 LSTA program will be developed in May 2012.
If you are unable to attend the public hearing, written comments may be submitted by letter, fax, or e-mail to Terrie Howe, P.O. Box 7841, Madison, WI, 53707-7841; fax (608) 266-9207. Testimony must arrive by 4 p.m., Monday, Nov. 14, for inclusion in the hearing.
--from Channel Weekly (Vol. 14, No. 8 – Oct. 27, 2011)
RL&LL signs lease with Madison Public Library
The Department of Public Instruction and Madison Public Library have signed a two-year lease agreement that provides space to house items from the Central Library collection while it is undergoing renovation. A significant portion of the collection of the Central Madison Public Library will be housed at Resources for Libraries and Lifelong Learning (RL&LL) beginning later this month.
A handful of Madison Public Library staff will work out of the building at 2109 South Stoughton Road on Madison’s Southeast side. The collection will be available for intra-library, inter-system, and interlibrary loan, but the facility will not be open to the public for browsing.
--from Channel Weekly (Vol. 14, No. 8 – Oct. 27, 2011)
FCC makes major change to promote broadband
On Oct. 27 the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) approved the creation of a “Connect America Fund” intended to bring affordable broadband to smaller communities and rural areas of the country.
The proposed $4.5 billion allocated to this new program will use existing funding, which currently subsidizes access to plain voice service. The Connect America Fund is also intended to help address broadband issues for schools and libraries in smaller communities. The fund will be phased in over several years and the Department of Public Instruction will keep the school and library communities informed as the program is being implemented.
--from Channel Weekly (Vol. 14, No. 8 – Oct. 27, 2011)
The Library Radio Network is on the air
You are invited to visit The Library Radio Network to listen to and download interviews and commentaries on the major issues in library management. You are also invited to submit commentaries and audio segments from your library. Your submission must be in MP3 format. Send your audio file to [email protected].
To listen, go to http://kiesermanmedia.podbean.com.