Index
- Using e-book readers as a partial substitute for outerlibrary loan
- Register for WLA’s Library Legislative Day
- Member/Staff News
- Legislative Audit Bureau issues WiscNet audit report
- Register now for Money Smart Week
- 2013 E-rate application process opens
- Census Bureau releases new web tool: Easy Stats
-
The Big Read accepting applications
- EPA looking for student bloggers
- Continuing Education Calendar
Using e-book readers as a partial substitute for outerlibrary loan
Outerlibrary Loans (loans from outside a library’s shared
circulation system, or OLL) are an important but expensive part of library
service. McMillan Memorial Library has implemented a project to replace as much
print OLL as possible with e-books on library owned devices.
OLL carries many costs, some of them external. It is very staff intensive and some of that burden is borne by the lending library. Record keeping and tracking are outside normal systems. Postage and packaging can exceed the cost of the item. Many libraries have policies about considering purchase before resorting to OLL, but purchasing and processing an item can take even longer than OLL.
Over the last year, McMillan has substituted a Kindle loaded with the requested title whenever it was available and the patron agreed. This has proved both less expensive and more satisfactory to the patron. Unlike OLLs, Kindle loans are of standard length and can be extended by staff. The change from a two-week wait to a five-minute process astonished patrons. No special record keeping is needed as the transaction is counted as an equipment loan and is subject to regular rules.
As part of a large and active shared system, McMillan handles about 600 OLLs annually and most of them are non-print or not available as Kindle titles. Occasionally, patrons prefer print, a preference the library honors. Over the last nine months, the library has substituted an e-book device for 22 potential OLLs. Accounting for the cost of the devices and the e-books, this is already saving money. It is also a significant service improvement, due to the speed of delivery.
Some details: Three eInk Kindles, which are registered to the library’s Amazon line of credit. The Kindles cannot be used to order materials directly. There is no credit card or ordering information connected to the Kindles. Ordering must be done through the library’s passworded on-line account. The devices are cataloged as generic equipment, with a 28-day loan period. Kindles are loaned fully charged, without any cables. Print OLL candidates continue to be considered for purchase.
--from Andy Barnett, Assistant Director, McMillan Memorial Library
Register for WLA’s Library Legislative Day
Politics, budgets, taxes, and
protests have been part of life in Wisconsin for the past two years, and while
recent elections have moved the state past some of the controversy, another
state biennial budget cycle is about to begin.
Against the backdrop of all that is politics, the Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) is preparing for Library Legislative Day on Feb. 5, 2013. All libraries are encouraged to participate so that every legislator is visited by a contingent of library supporters who can share the positive stories of the incredible value public libraries provide to the communities they serve.
You can register for Library Legislative Day, and learn more about the WLA’s legislative agenda, by visiting the WLA website. The cost is only $15 per person, which helps defray the costs incurred by WLA, including a lite breakfast. You also can order box lunches for an additional charge.
As in the past, WLA staff will schedule legislative visits for attendees, will provide printed materials to share, and will conduct a morning briefing with guest speakers.
To make legislative day as successful as possible, libraries are encouraged to bring board members, local elected officials, and residents who can speak to the value of the library in your community.
Register today and make your voice heard!
Madison Public Library welcomes Gerri Ager (Page 2, Lakeview Library), Brittany Baker (Page 2, Goodman South Madison Library), Heidi Vargas (Page 2, Goodman South Madison Library), and Sally Wood (Page 2, Meadowridge Library).
The Friends of the New Glarus Public Library will host its first annual trivia night on Thursday, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m. The event will be held at Flannery’s Wilhelm Tell Restaurant, 114 Second Street, New Glarus, and will feature the talents of the Flying Zupan Brothers. The cost to participate is $10 per person, or $75 for a table of eight. The cost to observe is $5. Tickets are available at the door, or in advance from New Glarus Public Library. Proceeds will go toward the New Glarus Public Library Building Fund.
Legislative Audit Bureau issues WiscNet audit report
The Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) has released a report detailing the relationship between the University of Wisconsin System (UW) and WiscNet.
The audit reviewed the creation, governance, and operations of WiscNet, the services provided by WiscNet, price comparisons to commercial providers, the UW System’s acquisition of network infrastructure, and the role of the UW System in WiscNet in the future.
The LAB website has copies of the full report, and a summary.<
Register now for Money Smart Week
Money Smart Week (April 20-27, 2013) is a national public awareness financial education campaign. This is achieved through the collaboration and coordinated effort of hundreds of organizations across the county including businesses, financial institutions, schools, libraries -- including the national partner the American Library Association, not for profits, government agencies, and the media.
Register to be a partner before Jan. 1, 2013 at www.moneysmartweek.org.
You can sponsor and host financial education events during the week of April 20-27, and by being a partner you will have access to the promotional opportunities available through the national program. Libraries are also encouraged to organize displays of books about personal finance.
By registering, you will receive notifications, news and updates from the Fed as they are available. And you can list your events on the national searchable website.
To Sign-Up Online:
- Go to www.moneysmartweek.org
- Hover over the “Partner” button at the top of the page
- Select “Partner Registration” from the drop down menu
- Follow given directions to complete registration
The Money Smart Week Women’s Conference will again be the signature event of the week, and interested libraries are encouraged to become partners to help sponsor and promote the event.
If you have any questions, please contact Amy Crowe, Chair, Money Smart Week Dane County, at (608) 244-2400 x2834.
2013 E-rate application process opens
Each year schools and libraries in Wisconsin receive about $35 million in federal E-rate funds to help them pay for their Internet and broadband costs. The Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) manages the E-rate program. Anyone not familiar with the program should go to the SLD website at www.usac.org/sl/default.aspx.
The 2013 E-rate application process opened Dec. 12 and will close March 14, 2013. See the SLD newsletter for more details about the 2013 application process.
DPI staff have updated the paper "Bandwidth Options and the 2013 E-rate Application Process,' which provides information on how to ensure that schools and libraries maximize their E-rate discount on any needed bandwidth. The options explained in the paper include getting bandwith
- on BadgerNet that is subsidized by the TEACH program;
- on BadgerNet that is NOT subsidized by the TEACH program; and
- from other providers, outside of BadgerNet.
Any questions related to the E-rate program can be directed to Bob Bocher, State E-rate Support Manager, DPI Division for Libraries and Technology.
--from Channel Weekly (Vol. 15, No. 11 – Dec. 13, 2012)
Census Bureau releases new web tool: Easy Stats
Announced to coincide with the release of the American Community Survey five-year estimates, the U.S. Census Bureau has released “Easy Stats,” an online tool developed to make statistics quicker and easier to access. The interactive tool provides selected demographic and economic statistics from the American Community Survey. “Easy Stats” allows searching by geography down to the local level, including incorporated places like cities and towns and census designated places. View detailed race, age and gender breakdowns, and compare communities. Results are displayed in a table format, and can be downloaded in Excel format.
The online tool is available at www.census.gov/easystats/.
--from Channel Weekly (Vol. 15, No. 11 – Dec. 13, 2012)
The Big Read accepting applications
The Big
Read, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts
Midwest, is now accepting applications from non-profit organizations to develop
community-wide reading programs between September 2013 through June 2014. The
applications deadline is Feb. 5, 2013.
The Big Read is a national program designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment.
Organizations selected to participate in The Big Read receive a grant, educational and promotional materials, and access to online training resources and opportunities. Approximately 75 organizations from across the country will be selected
To review the guidelines and application instructions, and discover three new titles available for selection this year, visit www.NEABigRead.org.
EPA looking for student bloggers
The EPA is looking for students from around the country seeking creative ways to express their passion in protecting our environment. The Eco Student blog site engages these students as writers and contributors on environmental awareness and stewardship topics.
Do you know of students who are raising awareness of local and global realities through environmental missions in their communities? Are they participating in a science fair or a neighborhood environmental outreach project? Are the students inspiring citizens to reflect, connect, communicate and act as responsible caretakers of the Earth?
We’re looking to hear about any hands-on activities that engage students in learning about reducing waste, conserving natural resources, energy and other environmental initiatives.
Using 400 words or less, have them tell us about the experience in their own words. Include photos or images of medium quality resolution in jpeg, gif, or png format to highlight the experience.
For more information, contact the EPA or visit the blog site.