Index
- Nominate your library for SCLS Foundation awards
- Waunakee Public Library seeks new director
- Public Library System Redesign project update
- Be sure to register for Trustee Training Week, Aug. 22-26
- Member/Staff News
- Library Awards for Innovation
- Continuing Education Calendar
Nominate your library for SCLS Foundation awards
Public libraries are unique local institutions, touching the lives of residents in untold ways. In recognition of the unique role libraries play, the South Central Library System (SCLS) Foundation will again present three library awards as part of the 2015 Cornerstone Award fundraising reception on Nov. 17 in Cambridge.
The eighth annual Cornerstone Award reception will be held from 5-7 p.m. at Cambridge Winery, 700 Kenseth Way, Cambridge, WI. There is no cost to attend, and there will be a cash bar and free refreshments. The 2015 event raised about $13,500.
This year’s recipients of the Cornerstone Award are Julie Chase, former director of the Dane County Library Service and Middleton Public Library, and Mary Lou Sharpee, a community activist who has been involved in literacy efforts in the Columbus area for more than 40 years. You can make a contribution to honor Julie and/or Mary Lou at www.sclsfoundation.org.
In addition to the Cornerstone Award presentations, library staff members, trustees, friends, or residents can nominate their library to recognize the amazing work public libraries do every day while serving their communities. 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. Friday, Sept. 2, 2016.
- Super Awesome Library Award -- For the library that was overall awesome in 2016. 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!
- Giddy Up Partner Award-- For those strong community partnerships that add value to the library and the community as a whole. It takes two, baby! Or three... or four. Nominate the library and its partner(s) and describe the amazing stuff they’re doing together.
Waunakee Public Library seeks new director
The Waunakee Library Board is seeking a dedicated library professional to fill the position of full-time Library Director. The Library Board is in the planning process to build a new 35,000+ square foot library, and the board seeks a dynamic director with energy, creativity, strong organizational skills, and the ability to engage staff and the community as this project moves forward, in addition to delivering the current library's day-to-day operations. With an overall budget of $833,759 in 2015, the library staff served 152,955 visitors and had a total circulation of 238,905 items. Minimum qualifications include: ALA-accredited MLS/MLIS certification required. Three to four years of experience in a library management role is necessary. The proposed salary range is $71,610 to $91,671 depending on qualifications, with a full benefits package.
More information and application materials are available at www.waunakee.com/jobs. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit a cover letter, resume, credentials, and a completed application with three professional references no later than Monday, Aug. 29, 2016 to Caitlin Stene, Assistant Village Administrator / Human Resources Manager, 500 W. Main Street, Waunakee, WI. Applications are accepted online, in-person at Village Hall (500 W. Main Street, Waunakee, Wisconsin), by mail, or email ([email protected]). The Village of Waunakee is an equal opportunity employer.
Public Library System Redesign project update
The Public Library System Redesign (PLSR) project is a community-based effort to consider how to best provide public library system services in Wisconsin. Building on the work of many, its goal is to develop a plan for implementation of new models of service. The process, led by the Steering Committee and managed by WiLS, will include nine workgroups to consider new models for services. The outcome of the process will be recommendations for new models of service and how to implement these new models.
The process relies on transparency and communication, and the PLSR website is the primary place where you can find information about the project.
Background
Wisconsin’s library system law, providing funding for coordinated regional library services, officially went into effect in 1971 when Senate Bill 47 was signed into law (1971 Act 152). The creation of public library systems fostered the establishment of a strong network of resource sharing and mutually beneficial interdependence. The actual creation and development of public library systems in Wisconsin was a voluntary and gradual process. No county or public library is required to be a member of a library system; yet, as of this writing, all of Wisconsin’s 72 counties and more than 380 public libraries are library system members. Wisconsin’s 17 public library systems developed in distinct ways in response to the needs of their member libraries and area residents.
While changes in society, resources, and technologies have created new demands and opportunities for systems, the law and services required of them as well as many of their practices are still relatively unchanged from the original law. The library community -- the systems, libraries, and the legislature -- has recognized the need to update what is required of library systems as well as to redesign the services in a manner that is more efficient and effective. The Public Library System Redesign project, facilitated by DPI and led by a Steering Committee representing the public library landscape, is exploring and determining the best ways to deliver the best services to Wisconsin public library patrons.
Service workgroups are currently evaluating information about existing models for the service in-state and out-of-state, after which they will create recommendations for new models of service and will develop and evaluate pilot projects. The nine workgroups are:
- Chapter 43
- Consulting
- Continuing education
- Delivery
- Electronic Resources
- ILL
- ILS/Discovery
- Resource libraries
- Technology
Workgroups are composed of service area experts, users and other stakeholders from both within and outside the Wisconsin library community.
The goal is for each work group to have draft model(s) available for review and feedback during the WLA Conference, Oct. 25-28, 2016, at the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino in Milwaukee.
Be sure to register for Trustee Training Week, Aug. 22-26
There is still time to register for one of the best training opportunities available to library trustees. Scheduled the week of Aug. 22-26, Trustee Training Week is a series of five one-hour programs created specifically for library trustees.
A detailed list of Trustee Training Week programs with descriptions is available in the Online Update archives.
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 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, and webinars will be recorded for future viewing. Archives of last year’s programs are available on the program website.
- Duties of the 21st Century Library Board -- Monday, Aug. 22, presented by Pat Wagner, Siera Learn (register)
- Engaged Planning: Ask What You Can Do For Your Community -- Tuesday, Aug. 23, presented by Cindy Fesemyer, Director of the Columbus (WI) Public Library (register)
- The Green to Dream: Preparing for a Capital Campaign -- Wednesday, Aug. 24, presented by Karen Rose, Principal Consultant with Library Strategies (register)
- Ensuring Director Success -- Thursday, Aug. 25, presented by Catherine Hakala-Ausperk, Consultant for Libraries Thrive Consulting (register)
- Wisconsin Trustees: You Ask, We’ll Answer -- Friday, 26, with panelists: John Thompson, Director Indianhead Federated Library System; Bruce Gay, Director, Milwaukee County Federated Library System; and Jaime Healy-Plotkin, Trustee, South Central Library System and Madison Public Library (register)
The August issue of WSLL @ Your Service has been published at http://wilawlibrary.gov/newsletter/1608.html.
Libraries are the epicenter of our communities. They provide vital access to information, they encourage new readers, support lifelong learners, and delight book lovers of all ages. Penguin Random House proudly recognizes the importance of libraries -- not only for their work to build and grow a reading public, but for the ways libraries transform individuals and advance community progress.
With this belief, Penguin Random House has created the Penguin Random House Library Awards for Innovation to recognize public libraries creating innovative community-based programs, which encourage citizens to participate and support local reading initiatives that connect libraries with their community.
Examples of programs that would qualify for awards include:
- Libraries that develop partnerships with public schools, local businesses, museums, recreation departments and other community learning resources that support learning and reading programs.
- Libraries that specifically focus on working with their local community on early childhood and pre-kindergarten learning from low-income families.
- Libraries that engage young adults in learning through use of digital media, mentors, or local community and civic organizations, including schools.
All programs must show measurement of successful outcomes.
Applications must be submitted by Oct. 1, 2016, and winners will be notified by Nov. 15, 2016, and announced at the American Library Association Mid-Year Meeting in January of 2017.