Index
- SCLS receives 2020 Governor’s Award for Archival Advocacy
- Helping laid-off workers
- LaValle Public Library seeks new director
- Research shows COVID-19 undetectable on five highly circulated library materials after three days
- Important news regarding OverDrive and RBdigital
- COVID response collections now available through OverDrive
- Libraries dealing with new demand for books, services during the pandemic
- Reopening libraries under COVID-19
- Online learning opportunities about race, equity
- Live webcast: Follow perseverance to Mars
- Continuing Education Calendar
SCLS receives 2020 Governor’s Award for Archival Advocacy
The South Central Library System (SCLS) has received the 2020 Governor's Award for Archival Advocacy from the Wisconsin Historical Society. The award honors an organization for notable contributions to archival programs through organizational leadership, public advocacy, and financial support. The Wisconsin Historical Society and the Wisconsin Historical Records Advisory Board jointly sponsor the Governor's Archives Awards annually, and the Wisconsin Historical Society's Board of Curators approved the 2020 Governor's Archives Awards.
SCLS staff help staff/volunteers at SCLS member libraries by providing leadership through planning local history digitization projects, providing project manuals, and offering guidance. SCLS helps with material selection based on what is at risk, what is most requested or used, and what is significant to the community. SLCS also provides training on metadata for search and discovery. SLCS has purchased digitization kits, storage devices, and equipment for libraries to use on their projects. Digitized material is available in the Recollection Wisconsin and Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) websites.
“As the Digitization Specialist at SCLS, I am very proud that SCLS is being recognized with this award,” said Tamara Ramski. “It is significant that SCLS recognizes the importance of local history materials held by libraries and offers services that help make digitization projects possible. Everyone who has been supportive of SCLS offering these services, SCLS staff who have helped provide services, and library staff and volunteers who have dedicated time to working on projects have all contributed to preserving and increasing access to local history materials. I greatly appreciate all of the efforts that have gone into the projects and look forward to seeing what materials will be done in the future!”
Information on the services that SCLS provides to support their member libraries’ projects are available on the Local History Digitization Projects section of the SCLS website.
For additional information, contact Tamara Ramski, Digitization Specialist, at tramski@scls.info.
Dislocations, commonly known as layoffs, can happen for any number of reasons. A dislocation or layoff in its simplest definition means that people are out of work due to no fault of their own. Companies may close locations, close entirely, or drastically change operations. Dislocations may also happen for reasons completely out of a company or organization’s control, such as: a global pandemic, economic recession, or natural disaster.
During this time of global pandemic, the Wisconsin unemployment rate skyrocketed from a historic low of 3.1% in March to a historic high of 14.1% in April with initial claims processed peaking at over 100,000 during the week ending March 28. This is just a portion of the total number of people out of work as the unemployment insurance system struggled to keep up. The pandemic will cause long-term damage to the economy. According to Missy Hughes, CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), an estimated 20-30% of Wisconsin businesses may close permanently. Many, but not all dislocations or layoffs are required to be reported to the Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development. These are located on the 2020 WARN Notices and Updates webpage.
Under normal circumstances, the Wisconsin workforce development system has ways to assist dislocated workers and businesses as part of a Rapid Response Process. During mass layoffs, staff will visit a site, or otherwise contact affected employees and businesses to provide assistance. The forms of assistance include: applying for unemployment insurance benefits; finding and applying for work; enrolling in job training programs; and applying for assistance programs. However, because of social distancing needs, the in-person component is much harder.
As libraries grapple with reopening and rethinking service, providing workforce services at their locations and virtually are crucial to helping their communities recover. Many of the resources referenced in the April 3 Online Update are still available. Patrons may ask for additional assistance. Here are ways to help during COVID-19 (Coronavirus):
- Direct patrons to the numerous resources to help with employment, personal finance, and COVID-19 specific mental health resources
- Link or embed helpful unemployment insurance how-to videos on your website: How to Apply; Job Seeker Registration; How to File A Weekly Claim; and How to Create a Username and Password (En Español)
- View the webinar recording of: Unemployment Insurance Basics: Assisting Library Patrons. Presented as part of the LAWDS (Libraries Activating Workforce Development Services) Project by Ann Astin from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Unemployment Division in May.
For any additional assistance, please feel free to reach out to Mark Jochem (608) 630-0270, and visit and link to the SCLS Resources for Job Seekers webpage.
LaValle Public Library seeks new director
Applications are being accepted for Library Director for the LaValle Public Library. Duties include managing an active, small public library, developing and following a budget, planning library services and programs, developing library policy and advising the governing board. Approximately 20 hours per week, including some Saturday mornings. Knowledge and use of computers and software is required. Library work experience preferred. Must be eligible for Grade 3 Wisconsin Public Library Certification, requiring 54 semester credits. Public library management course required after hiring. Additional library courses and continuing education required to maintain certification.
LaValle Public Library is located in the village of LaValle, population about 360, and is part of the South Central Library System and its LINK System.
A position description and application form are available through the library’s website (lavallelibrary.org) or at the village clerk’s office at 101 West Main Street, LaValle, or by email at lavlib@mwt.net. Call 608-985-8383 between 8 a.m. and noon for more details.
The position will remain open until filled.
Research shows COVID-19 undetectable on five highly circulated library materials after three days
In the first phase of a project to disseminate and develop science-based information about how materials can be handled to mitigate exposure to staff and visitors, scientists have found that the virus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 is not detectable on five common library materials after three days.
The findings are part of the Reopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums (REALM) Project designed to generate scientific information to support the handling of core museum, library, and archival materials as these institutions begin to resume operations and reopen to the public. The first phase of the research is focusing on commonly found and frequently handled materials, especially in U.S. public libraries.
Over the past few weeks, scientists at Battelle tested the virus on a variety of surfaces, in environments with standard temperature and relative humidity conditions typically found in air-conditioned office space. Materials tested in phase one included the cover of hardcover books (buckram cloth), the cover of softback books, plain paper pages inside a closed book, mylar protective book cover jackets, and plastic DVD cases. Battelle tests found the virus undetectable after one day on the covers of hardback and softback books as well as the DVD case. The virus was undetectable on the paper inside of a book and mylar book jackets after three days. “It’s below the limit of detection on our viability assay,” said Battelle Principal Research Scientist Will Richter.
Lab testing of physical items followed literature reviews conducted by Battelle to help define the scope of the project’s research and the information needs of libraries, archives, and museums. Last week, the REALM Project released “Systematic Literature Review of SARS-CoV-2: Spread, Environmental Attenuation, Prevention, and Decontamination,” prepared by Battelle. This is an in-depth review of published literature on virus transmission, attenuation, and decontamination methods that can inform discussion and decisions about operations in archives, libraries, and museums.
“Scientific research is essential to answer questions about the spread of the coronavirus on materials that are ever-present in our nation’s libraries, archives, and museums,” said IMLS Director Crosby Kemper. “We recognized the need to test specific items and surfaces as these organizations are now reopening, asking: How can we mitigate risk to staff? How should patrons and visitors handle books, touchable exhibits, or DVD cases? Our aim was to equip America's libraries, archives, and museums with information to help them do what they do best: continue serving their communities. I am so pleased and hopeful that this critical work will be reaching the people who need it.
Read the complete article on the Institute of Museum and Library Services website.
Important news regarding OverDrive and RBdigital
by Steve Potash, Founder and CEO
Earlier this year, I shared news of the acquisition of OverDrive by the New York-based global investment firm KKR, which supports our leadership and mission serving public libraries, schools and readers around the world. We are excited to leverage KKR’s broad publishing, media and technology relationships to further enhance how we acquire content for your digital collection and deliver solutions to your staff and readers.
We are happy to announce that the deal has closed. As part of this acquisition, we are also pleased to share some additional relevant news.
Many of you know that KKR also owns RBmedia, a digital publishing business which includes Recorded Books and the RBdigital lending platform. KKR’s investment and efforts in RBmedia and OverDrive represent their deep and ongoing commitment to offering the best catalog of digital content, products and services to public libraries, schools, and academic and corporate libraries.
Many libraries have told us that they would benefit from having Recorded Books and RBmedia content broadly available on the OverDrive platform and would welcome a reduction in the effort required to manage collection development and patron support on their digital platforms. With these goals in mind, OverDrive will acquire RBmedia’s digital library business, specifically the RBdigital platform in North America, the United Kingdom and Australia.
This means that over the coming months, all RBdigital library customers and RBdigital app users will be migrated to the OverDrive platform and Libby. We expect that the OverDrive platform will be enhanced with content that was unique to the RBdigital platform, including new Recorded Books audiobook releases, and we will be exploring additional content relationships such as digital magazines from ZINIO. After the customer and patron migration is complete, the RBdigital platform will be discontinued.
There will be no change to RBmedia’s market-leading publishing businesses which will continue to supply their titles to libraries and direct-to-consumer services worldwide. These brands include Recorded Books, Tantor Media, HighBridge, Kalorama Audio, ChristianAudio, Gildan Media, GraphicAudio, W.F. Howes in the United Kingdom, and Wavesound in Australia.
What this means to you
- If you are a customer of RBdigital, we are committed to keeping you well informed as we prepare to make this transition and as we continue to serve your patrons during this transition. Once the migration is complete, we will provide the same high quality experience and service now complemented with the new collections of titles from the RBdigital catalog. We will provide more details, including FAQs, as we get closer to the date of the initial migrations.
- If your library is not a customer of RBdigital, there will be no change to your OverDrive service. Once we make updates to OverDrive Marketplace, you will be alerted to the new collections of RBmedia content available for your collection on the OverDrive platform.
What’s next
To librarians offering your readers the RBdigital service, you will receive details about the planned migration in the coming weeks. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your OverDrive Account Manager or drop me a note.
I am truly excited by this development as we continue to offer your library access to the best collection of digital content, the best service, and deliver proven value for your budget. On behalf of Team OverDrive, thank you for your partnership.
COVID response collections now available through OverDrive
In response to the unprecedented demand for digital books for your readers, OverDrive is adding a growing collection of unlimited simultaneous use ebooks and audiobooks, at no cost to your library, to help you deliver more titles to more readers during these uncertain times.
The first of these COVID Response Collections is now available in your OverDrive collection. This Kids & Teens bundle includes over 100 ebooks, audiobooks, and Read-Alongs from Rosen Publishing, Lerner Publishing Group, Britannic Digital Learning, Triangle Interactive, and other participating publishers. As new titles become available, they will be automatically added to the bundle. The most up-to-date list of available titles can be found here, or you can download this Excel spreadsheet.
Titles will be available to your patrons through August 2021 and you can curate these donated titles any way you’d like.
OverDrive is also acquiring rights from leading publishers for Adult Fiction and Nonfiction collections to support your library, and updates will be provided as those new collections are confirmed.
For more information about this program, please visit https://resources.overdrive.com/covid-response-collections/. You will also find marketing materials there to help you promote these always available ebooks and audiobooks to your patrons. This site will be kept up to date with information about the program, available titles, and resources to support these collections.
In addition, in response to requests from systems and libraries WPLC has added 14 books as cost per use titles. Most are by request and a few were popular titles at a very low price point. $10,000 has been allocated to the ebooks and $15,000 to the audiobooks.
- Becoming -- ebook and audio
- How to be an AntiRacist -- ebook and audio
- White Fragility -- ebook and audio
- Just Mercy -- ebook and audio
- An American Marriage -- Tayari Jones ebook
- Water Dancer (Ta-Nehisi Coates) -- ebook and audio
- Between the World and Me (Ta-Nehisi Coates) -- ebook
- Girl Wash Your Face (Rachel Hollis) -- audio
- Alice Network (Kate Quinn) -- ebook
For more information, contact Sara Gold, WiLS Community Liaison and Service Specialist, at 608-616-0355.
Libraries dealing with new demand for books, services during the pandemic
If you find yourself scrambling for a good novel to escape the novel coronavirus, you're not alone. Across the country, libraries have seen demand skyrocket for their electronic offerings, but librarians say they continue to worry about the digital divide and equality in access -- not to mention the complicated questions that must be answered before they can reopen for physical lending.
"Since the library closed on March 16, we've had about seven thousand people register for library cards," says Richard Reyes-Gavilan, Executive Director for the District of Columbia Public Libraries. "We've had over 300,000 books borrowed since mid-March, which is astounding considering that our collections are limited."
By the library's accounting, that's 37% higher than the same period in 2019, and DC isn't alone in an uptake in digital usage: Weekly library e-book lending across the country has increased by nearly 50 percent since March 9, according to data from OverDrive, a service used by many libraries to let patrons check out media for e-readers, smartphones and computers. Audiobook check-outs are also up 14% -- not quite as large a shift, likely because fewer people are in their cars commuting to work.
How pandemic reading has (and hasn't) changed
Nationally, there's been a jump in titles checked out virtually across topics, but demand for children's e-books has more than doubled during this period.
By comparison, e-book checkouts for adult fiction across the U.S. have grown by more than a third, and young adult fiction by more than 50 percent. There have been more checkouts of children's books than adult nonfiction on weekdays since the week of March 22.
Read the complete article by Thomas Wilburn at www.npr.org.
Reopening libraries under COVID-19
Many public libraries are in the midst of reopening or planning for phased reopening in the coming weeks. Given the health and safety risks involved, this can be a very daunting process. To help, the Public Library Association (PLA) has shared an advance copy of the article "Reopening Under COVID-19: A Space Planning Approach" by David Vinjamuri and Joe Huberty, featured in the upcoming May/June 2020 issue of Public Libraries magazine.
The article covers five potential stages of reopening, considerations and concerns, building walk-through spaces, and reintroducing a sitting library.
Download the article (PDF) here.
Online learning opportunities about race, equity
As communities across the country continue to speak out against racial injustice, libraries are seeking ways to stand in solidarity, to take action, and to ensure library services and programs are equitable and safe for all. In addition to updating Access and Equity resources on WebJunction.org, WebJunction is highlighting a few of the courses related to race and equity hosted in the WebJunction Course Catalog.
Skip Prichard, OCLC's President and CEO shared other resources from WebJunction in a Next blog post and has encouraged all "to mobilize the power of our networks to also learn more about how libraries are responding to the urgent social and moral questions posed by recent events, and to identify how we can support them more closely." Please contact WebJunction if you have stories, resources, or examples from your libraries to share with the WebJunction community.
Live webcast: Follow perseverance to Mars
The Perseverance Rover will launch this summer (July 17-Aug. 5, 2020) and head to Jezero Crater, where it will land at the foot of a river delta. On Tuesday, June 30, the American Museum of Natural History’s Director of Astrovisualization, Carter Emmart, will lead us on an exploration of this exciting landing site as we fly over it together using OpenSpace, NASA-supported software.
We hope that your library will encourage your patrons to attend this live online event by publicizing it on your online calendars, social media and by utilizing our customizable flyer. This live webcast will feature 3 NASA-funded scientists with diverse backgrounds (see flyer), who will be available to answer any questions that your patrons may have during the live webcast.
Get More Details | Download the Flyer