Index
- Guidelines for re-opening Wisconsin public libraries
- Investment in online reading platform & mobile app for Wisconsin libraries
- Brodhead, Monona & Oregon participate in Wisconsin Libraries Transforming Communities
- Member/Staff News
- Libraries eligible for Wisconsin Humanities CARES Act Relief Grants
- 2020 Census: 79 million and counting!
- Virtual getaways are only a click away
- Free PLA Webinar: Maximizing and Measuring Virtual Programs
- Opinion -- An open letter to other library directors
- Continuing Education Calendar
Guidelines for re-opening Wisconsin public libraries
The Department of Public Instruction (DPI), in collaboration with leaders from all 16 Wisconsin regional library systems that represent all 380 public libraries, have developed general guidelines, clarification, and best practices for local libraries to eventually re-open to the public. The principles of personal safety, risk mitigation, transparency, and capacity guide the ongoing development and application of these guidelines.
Every community in Wisconsin is unique and all library decisions are made by local library boards. These guidelines and best practices are intended to allow libraries to make the best possible decisions for their communities. Not all libraries will have the ability to offer curbside service at the same level or along the same timeline as other libraries. The safety of library staff and communities is of paramount consideration while evaluating the services offered.
Each library and system will determine its level of physical item service, handling, and delivery based upon its ability to abide by public health protocols for staff and patrons. We encourage libraries to share this information with trustees to ensure informed decisions when planning future service offerings within the context of the pandemic. Planning for the upcoming service levels, based on the Governor's Badger Bounce Back plan is currently underway.
The Guidelines for Re-opening Wisconsin Public Libraries is a living document and a work in progress; it will be edited and added to as situations evolve. It serves as the reference point for changes in orders coming from DHS and the Office of the Governor, and will address how those orders impact library services at the public library level.
If SCLS member library directors have questions about the guidelines, contact Martha Van Pelt, system director.
Investment in online reading platform & mobile app for Wisconsin libraries
by Tessa Michaelson Schmidt
Division for Libraries and Technology
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Division for Libraries and Technology (DLT) is supporting libraries and library users by launching a new statewide online reading challenge platform and mobile app to support summer library programming in 2020 and beyond. The DLT will award a discretionary grant for nearly $327,000 to the Wisconsin Valley Library Service to contract with Beanstack on behalf of Wisconsin public libraries. Over the course of three years, this statewide procurement will save over $761,000 when compared to local libraries procuring this service individually. The contract will run through 2023.
Beanstack specializes in summer reading, winter reading, 100 Books Before College, and other reading challenges for all ages, customized for individual libraries. The online platform and mobile app make it easy for patrons to register, track reading, and earn incentives while libraries gain data-driven insights. The statewide Beanstack contract will allow Wisconsin public libraries to enhance virtual connections with patrons. This project aligns with Public Library System Redesign (PLSR) goals related to equity, shared services, and collaboration. Rollout of the Beanstack platform to Wisconsin public libraries will begin immediately, with the launch date of June 15 for the public.
The DLT surveyed each library, and determined that this is a necessary step to support the Wisconsin library community and library users across the state during the pandemic and beyond. The Wisconsin Valley Library Service provided integral support to guarantee that this investment would immediately support the programming efforts of Wisconsin library staff. As coordinator of the statewide summer library program, I am thrilled that libraries will have such a high quality tool for making virtual connections with library users focused on the joy of reading.
The investment in Beanstack was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, LS-00-19-0050-19.
Brodhead, Monona & Oregon participate in Wisconsin Libraries Transforming Communities
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's (DPI’s) Division for Libraries and Technology (DLT) is proud to partner with the American Library Association for a new state-level community engagement training, Wisconsin Libraries Transforming Communities (WLTC).
The community engagement training will result in:
- Public libraries inspired to participate in communities in order to meet community needs on a local level.
- Thorough understanding of community needs and future aspirations from diverse stakeholders.
- Strong understanding of current community-based planning strategies in the library field and related fields.
- Development and evolution of program and service offerings that serve community aspirations and needs.
- Deeper relationships with communities that are typically underserved, underrepresented and underrecognized.
The Wisconsin Libraries Transforming Communities training relies on raising up library leaders in coaching positions, as well. Coaches will be trained as part of this state-wide effort. Envisioned as an 18-month masterclass in authentic leadership, resilience, and self-care, Coaches are assigned one or two participant Teams to cheerlead and shepherd through their library community engagement projects.
A stated goal of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Five-year Plan for Wisconsin 2018-2022 is: Stronger engagement of public libraries with their communities and utilization of data to actively adapt to community needs. The objective of this goal is to increase awareness of community engagement as critical to public library sustainability and to provide training and resources to facilitate effective community engagement practices of libraries with their local communities.
The project stems from a multi-year initiative by the DLT. Per A Report on Findings from the Public Library Community Engagement Needs Assessment, the state will provide training for library directors/staff and municipal/community partners to enable success in these critical aspects of the library’s community engagement initiative.
The WLTC Coaches for this project are:
- Kristen Anderson, Winding Rivers Library System
- Ryan Claringbole, Monona Public Library
- Jennifer Fait, Milwaukee Public Library
- Bruce Gay, Waukesha Public Library
- Leah Langby, IFLS Library System
- Adriana McCleer, Appleton Public Library
- Holly Selwitschka, Winneconne Public Library
WLTC Teams from SCLS are:
- Brodhead
- Angela Noel, Brodhead Memorial Public Library
- Erin Menzel, Better Brodhead
- Sabrina Meichtry, Community member
- Monona
- Jenna Assmus, Monona Public Library
- Mark Buffat, Monona Sustainability Committee
- Oregon
- Kelly Allen, Oregon Public Library
- Amy Miller, Oregon School District
For more information about Wisconsin Libraries Transforming Communities, including a list of all teams, visit the project website.
Jane Vriesacker of Reedsburg passed May 2, 2020. A long-time Reedsburg resident, Jane served as Director of the Reedsburg Public Library from 1981 to 1993. She served as the Circulation Coordinator for SCLS, retiring in 2002. She is survived by her husband Jim and son Jon. Read full obituary here.
The May issue of WSLL @ Your Service is now available and comments are welcome. Please direct them to the editor, Carol Hassler. In this issue: COVID-19 and Our Libraries -- The library has served the State of Wisconsin for the past 184 years, and we continue to do so in the midst of this health crisis. While our library space remains closed, our librarians and resources are available to assist with your legal research needs (read more); Celebrating Lavinia Goodell (Part One) -- This year's Law Day theme is Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Democracy: the 19th Amendment at 100. Law Day is May 1, and to help us mark the day we're delighted to talk to Wisconsin Supreme Court Commissioner Nancy Kopp and Attorney Colleen Ball about their biographical website devoted to Lavinia Goodell (read more);New Books & Resources -- We are continually updating our catalog with timely resources. Instead of focusing on print books this month, we're highlighting information that is available to you online from home (read more); Tech Tip -- Bestlaw is a tool that is easily added to Google Chrome and adds some basic but useful features to Westlaw and Lexis (read more); Library News -- Sign up for our first free webinar, welcome new graduates, and other library news (read more); May Snapshot -- While we are still closed to the public, staff have been in the library (with social distancing precautions taken) to help get our users the information they need. We have been scanning and sending requests every week (read more).
Libraries eligible for Wisconsin Humanities CARES Act Relief Grants
The Wisconsin Humanities Council is providing rapid-response funding to non-profit humanities and cultural organizations that are facing financial hardship resulting from COVID-19. These grants of up to $10,000 are funded by the federal CARES Act via the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The first deadline is 4:30 p.m. on May 15 with additional deadlines to follow. Applications will be reviewed and decisions announced via email within 15 days of the application deadline. Please read important eligibility information and other details here.
2020 Census: 79 Million And Counting!
Seventy-nine-million and counting! That’s how many households have filled out their 2020 Census. Curious to know where Wisconsin ranks in response rates? As of April 26, 2020, 60.8 percent of Wisconsin households (that is people living together in one place) have taken the 2020 Census. This puts Wisconsin in the #3 spot in the nation by response rate, behind Minnesota (64 percent) and Iowa (61.2 percent). Find out how many have responded in your community as a total percentage (mail, phone, and internet) or just by internet by using the Response Rates webpage tool.
The Census is vitally important to the funding and representation of your community. Data collected from the Census is used to help determine where to direct billions of dollars in funding and how communities are represented locally and nationally. As a result of COVID-19, the way Census operates has changed. One of the most important changes are the deadlines to respond. Communities now have until October 31st to take the Census online, by mail (if selected to receive a mailed questionnaire), or by phone. In-person operations will continue at the earliest on June 1.
You can help your patrons take the 2020 Census confidently, even if your building is closed by:
- Reminding your patrons about the 2020 Census through your social media channels.
- Linking to the official internet response page: https://my2020census.gov/, or listing the phone number: (844)-330-2020 (other languages and TTD/TTY available).
- Staying up-to-date with News & Events and the SCLS 2020 Census Outreach Information
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Mark Jochem by email or phone (608) 630-0270.
Virtual getaways are only a click away
With the current global pandemic many people's vacations have been cancelled. I know one couple that was going on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Iceland. Cancelled! A family I know was going to Walt Disney World. Also cancelled! So what are people to do to get away from it all? The answer is to stay at home and go on a virtual getaway. Here are a few that I found:
Museums
- Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California
- National Gallery in London, England
- Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, Italy
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
- Vincent van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Theme Parks
Zoos
Aquariums
National Parks
- Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
- Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
- Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
- Yosemite National Park, California
World Landmarks
Opera
- If opera is your getaway, then you have to check out the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. They are offering nightly encore performances of some of their most iconic shows. The free streams go live at 7:30 p.m. each evening and are available for 20 hours.
--from TechBits, by Brian Hahn
Free PLA Webinar: Maximizing and Measuring Virtual Programs
As libraries are expanding their online efforts in response to COVID-19, library and program outcomes should also shift in order to build the strongest and most impactful instruction. In-person opportunities often bring with them advantages of seeing patrons' reactions to learning and subsequent micro-improvements that can be made to improve a program. Without “seeing” a full room, presenters are more limited in their ability to understand how participants are responding.
This May 13 webinar is designed to help libraries develop targeted outcomes to use when designing online programs to maximize the learning opportunities and measure the resulting value of them from attendees. Register now.
Learning Outcomes
At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Identify programming outcomes specifically geared toward maximizing online learning of participants;
- Be confident in their ability to craft their own outcomes in order to measure the impact of online learning;
- Draft at least one outcome for a planned online program; and
- Understand how the Project Outcome system can be used to measure online programs and services.
Instructor
Emily Plagman is the manager of impact and advocacy for the Public Library Association and manages PLA’s performance measurement initiative, Project Outcome. Prior to joining PLA, Emily worked as a project manager at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning on an energy efficiency grant. Emily received her Master’s in International Public Affairs from the LaFollette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin and her Bachelor’s in Political Science at Marquette University.
Opinion -- An open letter to other library directors
by Royce Kitts, Director
Liberal Memorial Library, Liberal, KS
Dear Colleagues:
As I said to my library board last night, my library science degree and on the job experiences do not qualify me or give me the necessary education to be a hazardous materials specialist or an epidemiologist.
We all know that libraries are under attack, especially in regard to funding, pretty much all the time. I think part of our collective fear at this moment is local governments thinking that because we closed that we aren't really that important. I believe some are feeling that tension without verbalizing this sentiment. We worry about the short-term as well as the long-term consequences that our closings will have on our libraries. However, I do not thinking rushing to reopen solves this issue.
As I explained to my library board, I will not reopen the library until I can ensure the health and safety of our staff. I will not reopen the library just because the governor cancels the stay at home order. We will be slow and deliberate, because for the first time in my 20 years of being a librarian, the decisions I make mean the life or death of my employees. (Yes. I said that last part. A bit of hyperbole, but honestly, not that much.) Safety will be the top priority. As I explained, the very thing we strive to achieve—engaging the community and filling up the library—is exactly what makes our library vulnerable. I will say that I am glad they back me on this. I feel better for my people, and about the months ahead.
To more emphatically state my position in regard to the health and safety of all library workers:
If your plan is to begin reopening as soon as possible, or engaging in curbside soon, then I want to see the library director and administrators on the front lines of service. I want them to be the ones to take books out to the cars, handle materials, and empty book drops.
Remember, when people say, "That's why you make the big bucks" (they don't say that too often in libraries), this means you. Our lower-paid employees are often our most vulnerable in terms of being able to handle sickness and unplanned financial setbacks. Is your desire to reopen worth that risk? Are you certain that giving into pressures (both real and imagined) to reopen, versus your duty to protect the health and safety of your employees, will be in the long term best interest of the library?
I encourage all of us, no matter what your opinion, to participate in discussions at the local and county levels, and especially in library-based discussions around this topic. This is our biggest test yet; we will need each other more than ever.
Stay safe. Stay healthy.
--Reprinted from Library Journal