Index
- Impact of Emergency Order 3 on Wisconsin public libraries
- Libraries Supporting Voter Turnout: Answers to Your Questions about the 2020 Election
- Member/Staff News
- Collections and Facilities: Caring for Your Resources During COVID-19
- Applications for Project READY learning cohorts
- New and upgraded EBSCO resources in BadgerLink
- Registration open for the Dream -- Build -- Create Engineering Program for Libraries during November 2020
- STEAM learning in public libraries: A ‘Guide on the Side’ Approach for Inclusive Learning
- Community Dialogues to Support Equitable Programming, Access and Action in Your Library
- Continuing Education Calendar
Impact of Emergency Order 3 on Wisconsin public libraries
On Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, Gov. Tony Evers directed Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm to issue Emergency Order 3, limiting public gatherings to no more than 25 percent of a room or building’s total occupancy, with some exceptions. The order was effective at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, until Friday, Nov. 6, 2020.
As Wisconsin public libraries are local government facilities, they may be exempted from the limitations outlined in this order, as indicated in section 2.c.viii. (page 5). However, DPI supports the Governor’s position on reducing gatherings and encourages libraries to continue following the safety protocols of mask wearing, social distancing, hand washing and increased cleaning; and limiting in-person services within their facilities.
DLT acknowledges that public libraries are a matter of local control. The agency encourages you to contact your municipal attorney, county corporate counsel, or independently contracted attorney for advice when interpreting legal issues.
For additional information, please review frequently asked questions located on the Governor’s official website.
Libraries Supporting Voter Turnout: Answers to Your Questions about the 2020 Election
by Joy Schwarz
Continuing Education Consultant for the Winnefox Library System
Are patrons putting absentee ballots in your library's book drop? Are you wondering how your library could be a polling place? Are patrons confused about the absentee ballot process and timeline to vote by mail?
Join us for a webinar with people who can answer your questions about the 2020 Election and how your library can support voter turnout during the pandemic. The webinar will be held Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, at 9.m. (register).
Topics include:
- election basics
- roles libraries are playing to support voter turnout
- library partnerships with the local Clerk's office
- experiences of a Clerk in both an urban office and a smaller municipality
- the personal experience of serving as both a library director and a Clerk
- what it looks like for staff to support the public's access to voter registration and the election
Panelists include:
- Amy Peterson is Director of the Lena Public Library and is also the Clerk for the Town of Little River
- Eileen Newcomer is Voter Education Manager with the WI League of Women Voters
- Krissy Wick is Assistant Director for the Madison Public Library
- Meagan Wolfe is Administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission
- Michelle Nelson is Information Coordinator for the City of Kenosha Clerk’s office
- Richard Rydecki is Assistant Administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission
The webinar will be recorded, captioned, and available for viewing afterwards. This webinar is sponsored by DPI and hosted by the Winnefox Library System. Questions? Contact Joy Schwarz or Cindy Fesemyer.
Hilary Baumann, the former director of Albertson Memorial Library in Albany, passed away at a hospital in Washington, MO, on Oct. 1, 2020. The full obituary is available online.
Svetha Hetzler, director at Sun Prairie Public Library, recently did a pre-recorded session with Dr. Kawanna Bright for the LJ Virtual Summit 2020. The session was basically a 45-minute Q&A with an LJ facilitator to discuss what several libraries are doing respectively to promote antiracism. You can access the recording online, but you must first register.
The October issue of WSLL @ Your Service is now online. Please send comments to the editor, Carol Hassler. In this issue: New Collections in HeinOnline -- HeinOnline is a database best known for full text journals, but as its collections increase we use it for a much wider variety of research. Learn what’s new in HeinOnline! (read more); New Books -- Our two new titles this month are Undue Influence and Vulnerable Adults and Disability Law for Property, Land Use and Zoning Lawyers. Our new book list includes books on everything from business law to trial practice (read more); Tech Tip -- After six months of Zoom meetings, it's not surprising that a growing number of apps have sprung up to enhance the Zoom experience. Learn more about the Zoom app marketplace (read more); Library News -- Read about updates to our sidewalk services, and upcoming classes (read more); October Snapshot -- In September a pipe burst in the David T. Prosser Jr. Library, sending water through a few areas of our second floor. This month’s snapshot provides a quick glimpse of that day (read more).
Collections and Facilities: Caring for Your Resources During COVID-19
Amid COVID-19, many archives, libraries and museums are reopening and expanding access to services in their communities. The challenges of reopening during a pandemic have led to many questions about the handling of materials as well as the management of building operations. From allowing the virus to die naturally, to using disinfectants, to applying UV light or heat treatment—there are many options to consider.
WebJunction hosted a 60-minute webinar on Oct. 8 from the REopening Archives, Libraries and Museums (REALM) project to hear how some organizations are implementing policies and procedures around the use of these various treatments and considerations that could inform your own local decisions. You’ll also hear an update on REALM testing efforts and the development of project resources.
You can now access the recording, slides, chat, and related links for the session on the WebJunction website.
Applications for Project READY learning cohorts
The Library Team, a collaboration between Public Library Development and School Library Media staff at the Department of Public Instruction, is excited to offer public library youth services and school library staff in Wisconsin the opportunity to participate in Project READY virtual learning cohorts. Project READY is a free online curriculum for library staff covering topics of race, equity, and access.
For full details, view the information session (8 min) and online application form. In addition, see the blog post Are You Ready for Project READY?
The deadline to apply is Saturday, Oct. 31.
New and Upgraded EBSCO Resources in BadgerLink
These new resources are now available in BadgerLink! Recently added as “bonus” databases in the latest EBSCO contract renewal, BadgerLink users will have access to the following resources through at least June 30, 2022, if not longer depending on the next renewal. Status and general information about contracts is available online.
Brand new resources include:
- Advanced Placement Source -- Full-text journals and magazines for high school students enrolled in various Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses
- Computers & Applied Science Complete -- Full-text database covering computing, technology and engineering disciplines
- Poetry & Short Story Reference Center -- Full-text classic and contemporary poems, short stories, biographies, essays, lesson plans and learning guides
- Small Engine Repair -- Detailed, user-friendly repair guides for all manner of small engines
Upgrades include:
- Literary Reference Center Plus (Upgrade from Literary Reference Center) -- Collection of literary criticism and reference works
- MAS Complete (Upgrade from MAS Ultra- School Edition) -- Designed specifically for high schools, a collection of popular magazines, books, and multimedia covering a wide-range of subject areas
If you are currently linking to Literary Reference Center and/or MAS Ultra-School Edition on your library or school website, please update your BadgerLink Resource URLs by Dec. 1, 2020.
Registration Open for the Dream -- Build -- Create Engineering Program for Libraries during November 2020
Public libraries across the country are invited to participate in an exciting virtual engineering experience this coming November called Dream – Build – Create, an introduction to engineers and engineering for people of all ages, especially families and children. This inspirational program will offer libraries and their patrons a free film screening of the award-winning documentary Dream Big: Engineering Our World on November 10, 14, 17, and 24.
In addition to the film, ASCE is organizing several virtual panels in November where patrons can join live conversations with Dream Teams of young, diverse engineers. Dream Teams will include Cities of the Future, Women in Engineering, Black Engineers, and even a Spanish-language Dream Team. Register now for a passcode to gain free access to Dream Big. You will also receive updates on when and how to log into Dream Team panels.
Tailor the experience for your community using resources such as the Playful Building collection of activities.
STEAM learning in public libraries: A ‘Guide on the Side’ Approach for Inclusive Learning
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020 at 2 p.m. (CT)
“Guide on the Side” facilitation can open a new world of STEAM learning opportunities for your library patrons. A Guide on the Side elicits learners’ thoughts, ideas, and conceptions and encourages them to work together to build new understanding or skills for themselves. In this webinar, facilitators from the STAR Library Network will highlight their most recent article in the Association for Library Service to Children’s (ALSC) Children and Libraries (CAL) journal and give you “Guide on the Side” strategies, resources, and activities to help you engage your audience in STEAM exploration, whether you are conducting in-person or virtual programs. The webinar will also discuss ways to tweak youth, adult, and family programs to be more inclusive for learners of various backgrounds, learning styles, and STEAM capabilities. (register)
Community Dialogues to Support Equitable Programming, Access and Action in Your Library
Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020 at 2 p.m. (CT)
Community Dialogues are informal conversations with your community leaders and members that aim to uncover disparities in participation, identify new partnership opportunities, and begin planning for collaborative and creative solutions to equity concerns in your library and community. This interactive webinar will include a brief description of dialogues and available resources, with most of the hour devoted to an open mic where you can ask questions and “dialogue about dialogue” with other library staff, including those who have led successful dialogue programs. Prior to the webinar, please consider jotting down some thoughts about the following questions:
- What audiences in my community are not making full use of library resources?
- How does my library provide equitable and relevant programming for diverse audience segments? (Latinx, LGBTQ, Homeless populations, etc.)
- Who in my community has the ear of the groups we wish to serve better?
- Who are my go-to partners who could help plan and implement a community dialogue?
(Register)