Index
- There is Still Time to Register for Trustee Training Week 2021
- Actively Anti-Racist Library Service to Leisure Readers—Collection Development & RA Foundations
- SCLS Migration to Solus Mobile App Highlighted in Library Technology Guides
- Rio Article Correction
- BadgerLink Newspapers Community Survey
- Applications Open for WLTC Engaged Leadership Academy
- StarNet News
- ALA Applauds FY 2022 Federal Funding for Libraries in House Appropriations Bill, Looks to Senate for Support
- Continuing Education Calendar
There is Still Time to Register for Trustee Training Week 2021
Webinars scheduled Aug. 23-27
Registration is still open for Wisconsin Trustee Training Week 2021, which will be held Aug. 23-27. There will be one webinar each day from noon to 1 p.m. on a topic that’s relevant to public library boards, friends, and trustees. Webinars are available free of charge and are open to anyone.
The schedule of presentations is as follows:
- Monday Aug. 23—Wisconsin Library Ecosystem—What is a library ecosystem and why is it important? In general terms, an ecosystem is a complex network or interconnected system. In the webinar, you’ll learn about the different partners involved in this ecosystem, beginning with a statewide perspective on how Wisconsin’s public libraries work. You will then move through the public library system and the importance of system membership, then finish with libraries at the local level. Along the way, you’ll explore the statutory language that comes into play at each level, and presenters will provide links to resources that can be helpful.
- Tuesday Aug. 24—Departures & Arrivals: Transitions and Succession Planning—Trustees will learn how to successfully prepare for the departure of a director due to retirement or moving to a new library. This session will cover what the current director and board must put in place prior to the placement of a new director and discuss the role of trustees in successfully onboarding a new director and the transition of them into their new role. Presenters will provide a checklist of items to prepare for new library directors that will be supplied after the presentation.
- Wednesday Aug. 25—Self-awareness for Social Justice Ally-ship—In this session, participants will be invited to explore privilege, prejudice, and inclusion through story-telling and critical self-reflection. This session is interactive and will explore both individual and collective aspects of practicing social justice.
- Thursday Aug. 26—Library Ethics 101: What Would You Do?—Public libraries face ethical issues all the time. This session aims to create an open discussion about library core values and ethics. Inspired by a session at the 2020 Public Library Association Conference, the program provides real library ethical scenarios, followed by a discussion with a panel of experienced trainers. Presenters will discuss sticky situations when personal ethics and professional ethics differ. This is a highly interactive session, and audience participation is encouraged. Attendees will leave with a list of helpful resources and books.
- Friday Aug. 27—Trustee Leadership: Bringing it All Together—It’s the end of Trustee Training Week! It’s time to take what you’ve learned and apply it at your library. Join this discussion about how to support and develop the library’s vast, interconnected ecosystem by applying servant leadership.
You must register for each webinar individually at www.wistrusteetraining.com. More information, including bios of the presenters, is also available at the link above, and you can also access recordings from the 2015-19 webinars.
Trustee Training Week is sponsored by the South Central Library System, with financial support from other Wisconsin Public Library Systems, plus the Division for Libraries and Technology and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
Recordings of other SCLS Continuing Education webinars are available on the SCLS website.
Actively Anti-Racist Library Service to Leisure Readers—Collection Development & RA Foundations
Increasing the collection and circulation of titles written by underrepresented authors is not a trend. Rather, providing robust readers’ advisory service that values equity, diversity, and inclusion principles is essential to all library services. But moving from being a neutral, well-meaning library where systemic racism is acknowledged to an actively anti-racist organization involves work, some of which is uncomfortable at first.
In this program you will begin that work, learning tangible skills to help build enthusiasm for reading and discovering "diverse" books, to deepen RA service through thoughtful inclusion of EDI principles in all interactions with leisure readers, and to be a steward of the anti-racist mindset for your organization. Readers’ Advisory and Collection Development experts Becky Spratford and Robin Bradford will move your team from merely discussing "why" putting EDI concerns at the forefront of all of your work with leisure readers is important to the "how," including an honest look at action steps for all staff. While it may seem uncomfortable at first, Becky and Robin will help you shift your focus allowing your entire organization to craft an actionable plan to incorporate EDI values into your normal RA practices. All you need is a little nudge in the right direction and a commitment to begin the march forward.
Becky and Robin pre-recorded webinars on Collection Development and Readers' Advisory.
- Recorded Webinar: Collection Development Foundations with Robin Bradford (46 min.)
- Robin's Slides
- Recorded Webinar; Readers' Advisory Foundations with Becky Spratford (1 hr 23 min.)
- Becky's Slides
After watching the recorded webinars, please submit any questions you have for Robin and Becky by using this form. These questions will be answered and discussed by Robin Bradford and Becky Spratford at the Actively Anti-Racist Library Service to Leisure Readers live discussion on Sept. 30, 2021, at 1 p.m. Central Time (register here).
SCLS Migration to Solus Mobile App Highlighted in Library Technology Guides
A recent press release was published in Library Technology Guides about the SCLS migration to the Solus Mobile Library App to interface with LINKcat.
Users can download the app from either the Apple or Android App stores. More information about the new app is available at help.linkcat.info.
Marketing materials for SCLS member libraries, including a media release, a poster, and a selection of social media and website slides, are available here.
Solus is a Glasgow, Scotland based technology development company focused on bringing new and leading edge products to libraries around the globe. The company says these products are designed for operational efficiency, patron engagement and increasing library relevancy.
We incorrectly reported in the last issue of Online Update the name of the Rio Community Library staff member who found a World War II era letter from a family member serving in the U.S. Navy. It should have indicated that the person who found the letter was Library Director Roxanne Staveness.
We apologize for this error, which has been corrected in the original post (read here).
BadgerLink Newspapers Community Survey
The Request For Proposal (RFP) process has begun for BadgerLink’s three newspaper collections.
- Newspapers published daily and weekly since at least 2005, in Wisconsin communities with populations up to 10,000. (currently Archive of Wisconsin Newspapers)
- Newspapers published in the 10 largest U.S. cities, the 10 largest Wisconsin cities, and Wisconsin cities with populations of more than 10,000. Coverage should include at a minimum, the last five years. (currently U.S. Newsstream)
- Historic newspapers from communities of all sizes, including a minimum of 150 Wisconsin cities, and other areas nationwide, published between 1850 and 1995. (currently Newspapers.com Library Edition World Collection)
To help move this process forward, The Division for Libraries and Technology (DLT) wants to hear from you! The 2021 BadgerLink Newspapers Community Survey is now open to gather feedback on your satisfaction with the current BadgerLink newspaper resources, and any desired features and functions of these collections in the future. Your feedback is important so please take the survey today and share widely with other BadgerLink newspaper users. The survey will close on Aug. 16.
Applications Open for WLTC Engaged Leadership Academy
Would you like to be a more confident leader? Are you interested in developing deep listening and facilitation skills? Are you hoping to engage your community in an authentic, equitable process? Here’s your chance to build your skills as an agent of change within your library and the community you serve.
Apply to be a part of DPI’s Wisconsin Libraries Transforming Communities Engaged Leadership Academy. The 10-week series will run from Sept. 8 through Nov. 12, 2021. Applications are open now.
Using a flipped classroom model, the series will build skills, develop strategies, and create a network of engaged leaders across our state. There will be four virtual sessions, with homework between each session. Additionally, your registration for the October 1 Lead the Way Symposium organized by the UW-Madison iSchool, is required, and is paid by DPI.
Many of our WLTC Trainers will be back to help build your skills and confidence as an engaged leader within your community and the library profession. Training facilitators include: Erica Freudenberger, Susan Hildreth, Marsha Tonkins, and Amber Williams.
If accepted, the following are required training dates & times:
- 8: Online chat platform opens
- 17: 10:00-11:30 a.m., virtual session
- 1: 9:00-4:30, Lead the Way conference
- 15: 10:00-11:30 a.m., virtual session
- 29: 10:00-11:30 a.m., virtual session
- 12: 10:00-11:30 a.m., virtual session & wrap up
Applications are due July 30.
Please direct questions to Cindy Fesemyer at 608-266-8053.
-
Look Up! Featured Activity Sorting Games: How Big? How Far? How Hot?—Celebrate the upcoming launch of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope using a new Toolkit of five interactive activities. This month’s featured activity is Sorting Games: How Big? How Far? How Hot? Patrons explore concepts such as the size, distance, and temperature of objects in space! Facilitate this activity as an in-person program or print the sorting cards to use as a Take & Make activity. Read the full activity blog!
-
View Pre-Recorded Astronaut Chats, Or Apply for Your Own!—Ever wanted to ask an astronaut what it's like to live 250 miles above Earth? Do you want an easy "plug and play" program to stir the imaginations of your patrons? NASA's in-flight education downlinks are opportunities for students and educators to interact with astronauts aboard the International Space Station during a live, 20-minute question-and-answer session about living and working in space. This a great opportunity to plan a fun program around space flight, the ISS, and astronauts! Checkout the current schedule and even have the opportunity to apply for your own! Don't have time to watch one of the upcoming downlinks? Check this out for all the previous recordings!
-
Come Check Out the Newly Improved SciGames!—Did you know that on top of activities, professional development, and special events, the Space Science Institute has created a number of online games on space science? Through years of producing exhibits for libraries, we developed over 30 different interactive games and puzzles exploring everything from asteroids to Mars. We've collected these games and activities into a new place so that you can find and play all the games in one fun learning space! Come check out all the fun ways you can include SciGames into your programming! Included are free apps for patrons to download, games to play on a tablet, computer, or smartphone, plus tons of STEM related questions to test their knowledge. From coding a rover to creating your own solar system, each game is a fun learning experience for all ages. Check Out the Fun Here!
ALA Applauds FY 2022 Federal Funding for Libraries in House Appropriations Bill, Looks to Senate for Support
The American Library Association (ALA) welcomed substantial increases in federal funding for libraries approved today by the House Appropriations Committee. The Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, saw an increase of $9 million, raising a total of $206.5 million for the nation’s primary source of federal funding for libraries. The increase for LSTA, if it holds in the final bill, would be the eighth-consecutive increase for libraries. Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL), a program designed to support effective school library literacy initiatives, saw a $3 million increase, making for a total $31 million for the Department of Education program.
ALA President Patty Wong said, “The American Library Association is delighted to see the continued strong support for libraries from the House Appropriations Committee. The increased funding for native American libraries, as well as institutions such as HBCUs that serve diverse groups, is evidence that appropriators are investing in libraries’ ability to deliver on equitable access to information and economic opportunity.
“Congress is getting the message that libraries of all kinds are key to the vitality of communities. If the past year has taught us anything, it’s that America’s libraries are nimble enough to meet changing local needs and foster community resilience. Federal support for libraries is a good investment in communities. We look forward to a similarly robust increase for libraries in the Senate.”
This full spending package heads to the House floor soon, and the Senate will begin taking up its funding bills later this summer.
“ALA credits the success in the House to ALA advocates, who generated more than 100 signatures from members of Congress from both parties in support of annual Dear Appropriator letters for LSTA and IAL,” said Wong.
Lead sponsors of the House LSTA letter were Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-NM-3) and Rep. Don Young (R-AK). The IAL support letter was led by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30), Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA-2) and Rep. Don Young (R-AK).
The House Appropriations Committee also provided increases for several additional programs benefitting libraries and library patrons:
- IMLS +$25 million
- LSTA +$9 million
- LSTA Grant to States +$8 million
- LSTA Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Services +$1 million
- Innovative Approaches to Literacy +$3 million
- National Library of Medicine +$23 million
- Pell Grants +2.250 billion
- Strengthening HBCU +$65 million
- Strengthening Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions +$15 million
- Strengthening Hispanic-Serving Institutions +$88 million
Additional library-interest programs of note were included in subcommittee bills approved earlier:
- Library of Congress +$37 million
- Government Publishing Office +$8.5 million
- National Archives +$26.6 million