Index
- Trustee Training Week is Aug. 22-26, 2016
- SCLS engages legal services for libraries
- Member/Staff News
- Portage County Public Library seeks director
- Plain director search extended until May 18
- Penguin Random House announces new award
- Continuing Education Calendar
Trustee Training Week is Aug. 22-26, 2016
A series of webinars during the week of Aug. 22-26 are designed to give trustees tools that will make their jobs easier, and registration is now open.
Sponsored by the South Central Library System, with financial support from 15 of the 17 Wisconsin Public Library Systems, plus the Division for Libraries and Technology and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the event is called “Wisconsin Trustee Training Week” and will feature five webinars (at noon Monday-Friday) with different topics and speakers.
Below are the names and dates of each webinar. You must register for each presentation you want to attend, so visit http://www.wistrusteetraining.com and get started (direct program registration links are provided below). Each presentation will run about 60 minutes. Webinars will be recorded for future viewing, and archives of last year’s programs are available on the program website.
Duties of the 21st Century Library Board
Monday, August 22
Presented by Pat Wagner, Siera Learn
Library boards, whether appointed or elected, advisory or governing, have oversight over the director, as well as approval of the budget, the strategic plan, and the policies. Micromanagement is a mistake, as well as what we call the “captive board,” which does nothing. So what are the duties of the library board and its members in relationship to directors, staff, volunteers, and the greater community?
Registration link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3586933858866907139
Bio: Pat Wagner has been a library trainer, educator, and consultant since 1978, having worked with libraries in 48 states and Canada. She is a management consultant and instructional producer at Pattern Research, Inc. She has consulted for elected and appointed nonprofit and public boards, councils and commissions including library, school, charitable, church, municipal, county, and state organizations. Pat has worked on board-level leadership issues including ethics, strategic planning, material challenges, community engagement, and director hiring and evaluation. She is a frequent visitor to Wisconsin libraries and library systems.
Engaged Planning: Ask What You Can Do For Your Community
Tuesday, August 23
Presented by Cindy Fesemyer, Director of the Columbus (WI) Public Library
Which communities are served by your library? What are the aspirations of those communities? How can your library help them get there? These answers can be found via your planning process. Cindy Fesemyer will walk you through the steps you might take as you begin planning for your library and the community it serves. Starting with a brief peek at data collection options, the webinar will focus on what it means for your library to "turn outward" and secure its place at the heart of your community.
Registration link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3298592432039998466
Bio: Librarianship is Cindy Fesemyer's second career, following 14 years in nonprofit administration and community organizing. Upon her 2012 graduation from UW-Madison SLIS, Cindy was pleased as punch to accept the position of Library Director at the Columbus Public Library in Wisconsin. Turns out community engagement is much more fun and effective as a public librarian, so she's never looking back.
The Green to Dream: Preparing for a Capital Campaign
Wednesday, August 24
Presented by Karen Rose, Principal Consultant with Library Strategies
Your community needs a new library but public funding comes up short. Consider expanding your funding resources to include private donors and build the library your community deserves. Learn the steps to conducting a successful capital campaign, including feasibility studies, campaign planning and leadership recruitment.
Registration link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8997344706129543171
Bio: Karen Rose is a Principal Consultant for Library Strategies. Karen brings over 15 years of experience as a fundraising professional. She has provided fundraising and campaign counsel for libraries all over the country, as well as for museums, schools, and numerous social service organizations. She has conducted strategic planning for numerous public-private collaborative initiatives and has served in local and national government positions.
Ensuring Director Success
Thursday, August 25
Presented by Catherine Hakala-Ausperk, Consultant for Libraries Thrive Consulting
If you ask most library board members what the most important part of their job is, many will say it’s hiring the director. That’s only half right. After hiring, their job has just begun. Like every other person at the library, the director needs support, motivation, encouragement, growth, challenge and feedback in order to be successful. In other words, boards can’t just hire a director, they have to manage them, too. This webinar will describe how to create a healthy, effective and supportive relationship between the board and the library director that can help both the individuals and the organizations involved succeed.
Registration link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9086223728560192002
Bio: Cathy Hakala-Ausperk, Owner of Libraries Thrive Consulting. Cathy has more than 31 years of library experience in everything from direct customer service to management and administration. She's the author of three books including Renew Yourself! Choose Your Own Success that is due out this year.
Wisconsin Trustees: You Ask, We’ll Answer
Friday, August 26
Panelists: John Thompson, Director Indianhead Federated Library System
Bruce Gay, Director, Milwaukee County Federated Library System
Jaime Healy-Plotkin, Trustee, South Central Library System and Madison Public Library
Unsure of how library systems function in Wisconsin? Confused on how Chapter 43 affects libraries? Three panelists, including two library system directors and a library and system board trustee, will be available to discuss frequently asked questions of Wisconsin library trustees. Their combined experiences of trustee training, years of leadership, and board service will shed some light on even the most confusing topics. Whether you are a seasoned library trustee or a newcomer, this is a great opportunity to get your questions answered and be part of a worthwhile discussion.
Registration link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4005531129700957699
Bios: John Thompson has been the Director at the Indianhead Federated Library System since 2007. He is the former director of the Prairie du Sac Public Library. John has presented a series of trustee workshops on director hiring, library law, advocacy, planning and budgeting, and more. He values how Wisconsin libraries share expertise with one another.
Bruce Gay has been the director at the Milwaukee County Federated Library System (MCFLS) since August, 2014. MCFLS is made up of fifteen municipal libraries in Milwaukee County serving 950,000 people at 28 locations. Before that he worked as the Technical Services and Collections Director, a branch manager, and a librarian for 16 years at the Milwaukee Public Library. In the last year MCFLS has renegotiated its member, technology, cataloging and resource library agreements while creating its first-in-living-memory strategic plan.
Jaime Healy-Plotkin is the cataloging librarian at the Wisconsin State Law Library and a member of the South Central Library System Board of Trustees and the Madison Public Library Board. She is a graduate of the UW School of Library and Information Studies with years of experience in special interest libraries, including corporate, state agency, and academic libraries. Jaime’s personal experience as a mother of a young child with a voracious need for library resources allows her to be an informed patron of such a stellar library system that is connected statewide.
SCLS engages legal services for libraries
SCLS has engaged the legal services of Robert Hunter for its members, and SCLS will pay for one hour of Mr. Hunter’s services for each member in 2016. After the initial hour, each member is responsible for paying Hunter directly. His hourly rate is $50, and libraries will receive invoices directly from Hunter after the first hour. He will not charge for phone calls under 10 minutes in duration.
Hunter is available Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. An office will be made available at SCLS headquarters in the event Hunter needs to meet with member libraries.
Sample topics he will address are:
- Letters
- Research
- Chapter 43
- Open meetings
- Copyright
Hunter does not handle personnel concerns, and he will not appear in court on behalf of libraries.
In order to make the best use of your money and Hunter’s time, it is recommended that librarians have an idea where their question falls within Chapter 43, then compose specific questions and send then via email to Hunter before calling.
It is best to always request a time estimate from Hunter to gauge the full cost of his services to your library.
Each library will receive a letter of engagement from Mr. Hunter outlining his services when contracting with him, and it will need to be signed by the library and Mr. Hunter.
Hunter will be on vacation and unavailable from May 15-June 2, 2016. If you have questions about this service, please contact Martha Van Pelt, SCLS director. If you have misplaced Van Pelt’s email from May 6, 2016, that provided Hunter’s contact information and resume, you can request it again from Van Pelt.
The May issue of WSLL @ Your Service has been published at http://wilawlibrary.gov/newsletter/1605.html.
Portage County Public Library seeks director
The Portage County Public Library Director plans, organizes, directs, and controls all functions, operations, and activities of the Library, either directly or through senior management staff. This position is hired by and reports to a seven-member Library Board of Trustees. [WI Statutes 43.58(4)]
This position, under administrative direction and general oversight of the Library Board, is responsible for developing, presenting, and overseeing an operating plan, budget, and policies necessary to provide optimal library service to County residents.
This position performs administrative, supervisory, and professional duties requiring adherence to library standards and other processes designed to maintain and improve the library. The tasks performed require this position to exercise independent judgment and decision making in planning, directing, and coordinating library activities while administering the library in accordance with the overall library mission established by the Library Board.
Duties include strategic planning; effectively promoting library services to the community through service clubs, and partnerships; and, with others, developing alternative funding streams for library services and programs.
This position seeks to ensure that library staff and Board have resources needed to carry out their responsibilities. This position also works with the Portage County Public Library Foundation, Inc., allied organizations and other County departments.
Familiarity with library machines, equipment, PCs, software and other electronic devices/apps is expected. The incumbent is required to maintain a general knowledge of the Internet, library automation systems and electronic databases.
Provides direction to other library personnel in carrying out the library's mission. Maintains rapport with public by responding to their various library-related requests efficiently and cheerfully, and maintains confidentiality of Library Records [WI Statutes Chapter 43.30].
Minimum Qualifications:
- Eligibility for Grade One Wisconsin Public Librarian certification DLT [43.15(4)(c)(6) & Admin. Code PI 6].
- Master of Library Science degree from an accredited library school.
- Minimum of five years of increasingly responsible professional library experience including significant administrative and supervisory responsibility.
- Experience working with a board of trustees or similar authoritative body.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft software products, such as Word, Excel, and Outlook.
- Valid driver's license; eligibility for Wisconsin driver’s license
- Any combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
Portage County has undertaken a salary survey that will determine the compensation of the position. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at 4:30 p.m. Portage County is an equal employment opportunity employer functioning under an Affirmative Action Plan.
Apply for this position at: www.co.portage.wi.us
Portage County Human Resources
1462 Strongs Ave.
Stevens Point, WI 54481
715-346-1327
Plain director search extended until May 18
An outstanding library facility in the Village of Plain, Wisconsin (Sauk County), population 773, is seeking a creative, energetic individual to provide direction and leadership. The Kraemer Library and Community Center is currently accepting applications for a Library Director. The library has a service population of 2,380 with a 2016 operating budget of $146,000.
The successful candidate must possess outstanding interpersonal skills, demonstrate leadership ability, a strong attention to detail and have excellent organizational problem solving skills. Ideal candidates must enjoy developing new programs for area residents of all ages, training and managing staff, marketing the library and its resources, developing partnerships with local schools and other organizations, maintaining the library’s collection and advocating to the municipality and other stakeholders. The ability to develop effective working relationships with the community, Library Board, Friends Board, staff and patrons is essential. Additional responsibilities include planning, formulating library policies, budgeting and advising the Library Board and Friends of the Library along with computer and technology experience and competency and supervisory skills. The position is 40 hours/week, has a salary range of $28,000 to $38,000 per year, and offers seven paid holidays, 23 days per years of vacation time, and paid health insurance at the single individual level.
Candidates must be eligible for temporary Grade 3 Wisconsin Public Library Certification, and a Bachelor’s Degree is preferred, as is a minimum of 2 years supervisory experience in a public library.
For full consideration, please submit: a cover letter, resume, and references to the Kraemer Library and Community Center Recruitment Committee at [email protected].
A complete job description may be obtained on the Kraemer Library’s website at www.kraemerlibrary.org. The application deadline has been extended until May 18, 2016.
Penguin Random House announces new award
A new industry award aims to highlight extraordinary programs in public libraries across the country. Sponsored by big-five publisher Penguin Random House (PRH), the Library Awards for Innovation will “acknowledge innovative public library programs and services that engage citizens in reading while strengthening the social and cultural fabric of their communities” according to a press release. The awards will consist of one $10,000 grant and four $1,000 grants for runners-up. Additionally, each winning library will receive $1,000 in PRH books.
Skip Dye, vice president of academic marketing and library sales with PRH, told Library Journal, “The Library Awards for Innovation continue Penguin Random House’s long-standing recognition of the importance of libraries, not only for their work to build and grow a reading public but for the ways libraries connect directly with individuals and advance community development and growth.”
Read more about the new awards in Library Journal.