Index
- 2014 ‘Cornerstone Award’ reception is Nov. 20 in McFarland
- Use ‘Speak Up’ cards to build list of local library supporters
- Member/Staff News
- Preparing to retire @scls.lib.wi.us email
- SCLS offers library editorials/columns
- DPI releases study report on current state of shared ILS in Wisconsin
- DPI completes ‘lean’ study of public library systems
- COLAND work group to develop strategic vision for library systems
- Application opens for free early literacy community development course
- Continuing Education Calendar
2014 ‘Cornerstone Award’ reception is Nov. 20 in McFarland
Countless people come together in meaningful ways to contribute to the success of local public libraries, and on Thursday, Nov. 20, there is an annual opportunity to celebrate.
The sixth annual South Central Library System (SCLS) Foundation Cornerstone Award reception will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. at the 5100 Bar, 5100 Erling Avenue in McFarland (www.5100bar.com). This year’s recipient of the Cornerstone Award is Francis Cherney, who has served libraries as a member of the Wood County Library Board, the SCLS Board of Trustees, and the Council on Libraries and Network Development (COLAND). You can make a contribution to honor Francis at www.sclsfoundation.org.
In addition to the presentation of the Cornerstone Award, this year’s event will also offer a new twist -- three new awards to recognize the amazing work public libraries do every day while serving their communities. Award nominations can be made by library customers, staff from other libraries, or from the libraries themselves. The awards and descriptions are listed below. To make an online nomination, simply click on the award name. All nominations must be submitted by 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, 2014.
- Super Awesome Library Award -- For the library that was overall awesome in 2014. Maybe they handled a tough situation with grace. Or took a new approach. Or found a lot of money under a rock and did something really cool with it. Or got a lot of local support and kudos because they play well with others. Or are just plain super awesome every day.
- Program Wizard Award -- For a super creative, innovative and fun library program created by library staff. In the library or out. For babies or seniors or anyone in between. A one-off or a regular series. If Dumbledore thinks it's worthy of Wizard status, nominate it!
- What a Great Idea Award -- Have you ever heard yourself say "Wow! What a Great Idea" to a fellow library nerd? Then nominate that great idea for a Great Idea Award.
The Foundation contributed $6,188 this year to purchase ebook titles for Wisconsin’s Digital Library (OverDrive collection), thereby reducing library costs, and will contribute another $5,000 in 2015. An additional $3,975 was allocated for the purchase of 10 Lego Mindstorm robotic kits (and other equipment) recommended by the Library Innovation Subcommittee. These kits will be available for loan to member libraries.
Use ‘Speak Up’ cards to build list of local library supporters
Local budgets aren’t quite finished, but now is the perfect time to begin laying the groundwork for next year by building a local list of library supporters who can speak on your behalf with local elected officials.
We know you don't have the time to manage such an email list on your own, so that’s why we’ll do it for you. All you have to do is distribute and collect the South Central Library System’s “Speak Up for Your Library” card, and we’ll take care of managing the database of email addresses for you. You’ve already done the hard part of getting your customers to value the services and resources you provide, and the “speak up” card is the tool you can use to reach out to your supporters and call them to action.
Just collect the completed cards and send them to Mark Ibach at the South Central Library System, and he’ll take care of entering the email addresses into the database. Or, you can promote our online sign-up form at www.scls.info/pr/speak_up. Either way, this is a no-cost program that will allow you to reach out to your library’s supporters. To get a list of those customers who are willing to speak up for your library, contact Mark Ibach.
Distribution of the cards in your library, or promotion of the online signup option, also allows SCLS to create a base of support for system-wide and state-wide advocacy efforts.
The speak up cards and posters are free (they do not count against your annual print allocation), and you can request copies anytime by contacting Mark Ibach.
Middleton Public Library made a concerted effort this year to use data from its 2013 Annual Report to promote the value of the library during the 2015 municipal budget process ( brochure, sign & poster). "In 2013, Middleton Public Library returned $32.9 millions to its residents. That means for every $1 invested, the community used $18.30 worth of services. That's the message I'm using in this year's budget cycle to explain just how valuable library services are to the economic health of Middleton," said Middleton's Director Pamela K. Westby. The library also has a slide show running on its website that features statistics interspersed with hand-written comments from library users.
The October issue of WSLL @ Your Service has been published at http://wilawlibrary.gov/newsletter/1410.html.
Preparing to retire @scls.lib.wi.us email
Are you ready for the SCLS email server's retirement? It's scheduled for January 2015 -- and it's quickly approaching!
Your old email address is probably tied to many services and is out there in many places. If your library had @scls.lib.wi.us email, make sure that staff at your library start taking these steps now to be prepared:
- Watch for email being sent to your @scls.lib.wi.us address and TAKE ACTION!
- Inform your vendors and other contacts of your new address.
- Update your blog and email list subscriptions.
- Update your website.
- Update your printed materials.
- Archive Thunderbird email you'd like to keep to a USB drive
Have questions about the retirement of @scls.lib.wi.us email? Contact the SCLS Help Desk.
--from SCLS Technology Blog
SCLS offers library editorials/columns
SCLS has seven editorials/columns that SCLS member libraries can use locally. These editorials/columns are in Microsoft Word, so you can easily edit and copy to your library's letterhead. The current editorials/columns are on the following topics:
- Business Support
- Death of Libraries
- Early Literacy
- Education
- Internet & Computer Access
- Job Training and Skills Development
- Third Place
In addition, we will draft additional editorials/columns based on suggestions from member libraries. If you have a topic idea, contact Mark Ibach.
DPI releases study report on current state of shared ILS in Wisconsin
Earlier this year, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) contracted with WiLS to study and report on the current state of shared Integrated Library Systems (ILS) operated by Wisconsin’s public library systems. The consultant was asked to collect information from each ILS consortia and to develop cost and operational comparisons that will be valuable when considering larger units of service for systems and ILS in the state. The report would also identify the remaining larger stand-alone libraries and counties in the state and determine their reasons for non-participation in the consortia.
Some facts that were shared about the ILS consortia in Wisconsin:
- most of the consortia in the state are using one of two products from Innovative Interfaces, Inc.;
- as independent entities, there is very little consistency among the consortia, including how the budgets are structured;
- no mechanism is in place to measure satisfaction with the ILS consortia.
The DPI also has some recommendations for how to move toward more consistency and cost-effective centralized services. A second phase likely will continue into 2015 to analyze the results and propose changes to the current structure for savings or efficiencies and to avoid duplication of resources and efforts.
The DPI’s recommendations based on the results of the study are available at http://pld.dpi.wi.gov/files/pld/pdf/ILS_snapshot_2014.pdf.
The full ILS study developed by WiLS is available at http://pld.dpi.wi.gov/files/pld/pdf/WiLS_ILS_study_final.pdf.
-- from Channel Weekly (Vol. 17, No. 4 – Sept. 25, 2014)
DPI completes ‘lean’ study of public library systems
The Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) Public Library Development Team completed a study of public library systems and their services. The study was conducted according to criteria originally proposed by the Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance in the 2013-15 Biennial Budget, as a study to be conducted by the Department of Administration. The governor vetoed the proposal, and his memo noted that the DPI has the authority to conduct such a study. The recommended study was to investigate potential savings or efficiencies by doing the following:
- Consolidating systems.
- Increasing the use of technology.
- Reducing duplications and inefficiencies.
- Utilizing lean production principles.
- Increasing the sharing of services among library systems.
The DPI contracted for the services of Reinvention, Inc.’s Walter Jankowski to develop and lead the study process. Using previous studies, data, and reports from the DPI, as well as a series of meetings with a steering group of five members of the library community, the project was completed in early August and the preliminary results presented to Kurt Kiefer, Assistant State Superintendent for DPI’s Division for Libraries and Technology, then to groups such as the Wisconsin Library Association’s (WLA) Library Development and Legislative Committee, the Council on Libraries and Network Development (COLAND), and the System and Resource Library Administrators’ Association of Wisconsin (SRLAAW). The steering group then completed the report, compiled as a summary of findings in presentation format, for COLAND to use in developing recommendations as requested by State Superintendent Dr. Tony Evers. The summary of findings, which includes recommendations from the system study consultant and team, can be viewed at http://pld.dpi.wi.gov/files/pld/pdf/LSSWG_recommendations.pdf.
COLAND’s own work group (see article below) will continue to meet to review recommendations. In order to maximize the value of the analysis, it is critical to gain input from the public library community. COLAND plans to do that in the near future with the Division’s support. A webinar reviewing the summary of findings and study process will be offered in October, to be announced in Channel Weekly.
-- from Channel Weekly (Vol. 17, No. 3 – Sept. 18, 2014)
COLAND work group to develop strategic vision for library systems
With the encouragement of State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers, the Wisconsin Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) has appointed a work group to develop a strategic vision for public library systems in the 21st century and to recommend actions that will move Wisconsin forward to achieve this desired future state. COLAND members serving on the work group are Kathy Pletcher (chair), Trustee, Brown County Library; Jim Trojanowski, Director, Northern Waters Library Service; Bryan McCormick, Director, Hedberg Public Library in Janesville; Laurie Freund, Coordinator of Library Development, Waukesha County Federated Library System; Josh Cowles, IT Specialist, Fond du Lac Public Library; Doug Lay, Trustee, Wisconsin Valley Library Service, and Joan Robb, Coordinator of Collection Management, UW-Green Bay.
As part of the visioning process, the work group is asking the library community for its input by way of an online survey. An additional opportunity for feedback will be offered on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 a.m. when the COLAND work group will hold a forum on the strategic vision for library systems during the Wisconsin Library Association conference at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. More information about the conference can be found at http://wla.wisconsinlibraries.org/events-conferences/annual-conference/wla-conference-home.
The work group’s recommendations will be presented for approval by COLAND at the next regularly-scheduled COLAND meeting on Friday, Nov. 14, 2014, at Columbus Public Library. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m.
If you have questions about the progress of the Strategic Visioning for Library Systems in the 21st Century, contact Kathy Pletcher at pletchek@uwgb.edu and/or visit the COLAND website at http://coland.dpi.wi.gov/. If you have questions about COLAND or its role in the visioning process, contact Nita Burke, COLAND Chair, at burken58@gmail.com.
-- from Channel Weekly (Vol. 17, No. 5 – Oct. 2, 2014)
Application opens for free early literacy community development course
As part of the Growing Wisconsin Readers early literacy initiative, the Department of Public Instruction’s Public Library Development Team (PLDT) is proud to announce a new, free professional development opportunity for Wisconsin public youth services librarians and their community partners taking place in spring 2015. The Early Literacy and Community Development (ELCD) course is designed to assist participants in the investigation, analysis, and assessment of the role of the local library in early literacy development within the context of the local community. The ELCD course is facilitated by a professional instructor.
Course participants will be selected through an online team application process administered by PLDT, and a maximum of 10 three-person teams are assigned to each session. The four-week online course uses online tools, readings, exercises, and assignments to support teams through the process of examining the shared role of early literacy efforts within a community-specific framework. Coursework will involve both individual and team assignments. An average student spends about three hours per week on the course, although participation varies.
Completion of the coursework will result in a location-specific asset map and action plan. Teams that complete the course will be eligible for a mini-grant to stimulate action plan objectives. Participants who complete the course will receive 1.4 CEUs/14 LEUs and a print certificate from the UW-Madison School of Library and Information Studies Continuing Education Services (SLIS CES). CEU/LEUs can be applied toward Wisconsin Public Library Certification or Wisconsin Early Care Professional Development (The Registry). The ELCD course will be offered for a limited time and is not open to the general public. The ELCD course and materials are made possible through a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
- To view the course description, visit: http://pld.dpi.wi.gov/files/pld/pdf/ELCD_Course.pdf
- To view the course application, visit: https://forms.dpi.wi.gov/se.ashx?s=56301B2D40B1D77F
- To learn more about Growing Wisconsin Readers, visit: http://growingwisconsinreaders.org/
The application deadline is Nov. 30, 2014. Contact Youth and Special Services Consultant Tessa Michaelson Schmidt with questions about this opportunity at Tessa.Schmidt@dpi.wi.gov .
-- from Channel Weekly (Vol. 17, No. 5 – Oct. 2, 2014)