1. Library systems to share $16.1 million in state aid
2. Advisory committee participants needed
3. Changes in Prevailing Wage Law affect library construction projects
4. State Data Coordinators receive accolades for Public Libraries Survey
5. Libraries receiving energy efficiency materials and display to house them
6. IMLS calls for 2010 Native American Library Services Basic Grant applications
7. Online safety guidebook for parents
8. Website of the Week - The Library of Congress
9. Calendar
=================================================
EDITOR'S NOTE - Channel Weekly will not be published for the next two weeks. The next issue of Channel Weekly will be the January 7, 2010 edition.
***************************************************************************************
1. LIBRARY SYSTEMS TO SHARE $16.1 MILLION IN STATE AID
State Superintendent Tony Evers has announced that Wisconsin's 17 federated public library systems will share $16.1 million in state aid during 2010.
Library system funding is the state's primary program of support for public library service statewide. Systems recently received the first of two aid payments for 2010. Total aid for next year is $16,165,400.
"Public libraries tailor their services to balance budgetary limits and community needs. All of our libraries have targeted resources to help patrons search for jobs, update resumes, and improve employability skills. And, many are working with Job Service staff and other organizations to offer assistance to the unemployed and underemployed," said State Superintendent Tony Evers. "The state's aid program to public library systems is a wise use of state funds to support the valuable services and materials local public libraries provide."
Wisconsin's 385 independent public libraries have all voluntarily joined a public library system. The systems are regional library organizations created to improve public library services, increase Wisconsin residents' access to library materials and services, and reduce duplication. Systems use funds according to plans developed and adopted by regional boards to meet the needs of each public library system area. Library system services include:
The Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning is seeking participants for the Delivery Services Advisory Committee and for the Library Information Technology Advisory Committee. Both committees assist the Division to carry out its statutory mission to promote cooperation among all types of libraries and to coordinate the development of networks to foster resource sharing. Terms for both committees are for three years and would begin in January 2010. The Department of Public Instruction will reimburse travel expenses for each meeting, per state guidelines. If you are interested in serving or wish to nominate someone to serve on either of these committees, please contact Sally Drew by phone at 608-224-6161 or via email at sally.drew@dpi.wi.gov to obtain an application form.
The Delivery Services Advisory Committee provides oversight and advice to the Division and South Central Library System on the operation of the statewide delivery services. The committee has worked on policies, best practices, budget review, website design suggestions, and other issues. The committee consists of 15 members representing all types of libraries and meets three times per year with two meetings being held using webinar technology.
The Library Information Technology Advisory Committee assists in the development of the Wisconsin Library Technology Strategic Plan and issue papers on technology topics, and discusses ongoing library technology programs and issues. The committee consists of 21 members representing all types of libraries and meets three per year in Madison.
3. CHANGES IN PREVAILING WAGE LAW AFFECT LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
On January 1, 2010, significant changes in Wisconsin's prevailing wage law will take effect. These changes will affect nearly every public entity in the state, including local municipalities under §66.0903, Wisconsin Statutes. Under state and federal laws, prevailing wages must be paid to individuals who work on public works projects. Any public works project that has a total estimated project cost of at least $25,000 will require a prevailing wage rate determination issued by the Department of Workforce Development (DWD). Public works projects include erecting, constructing, remodeling, repairing, or demolishing projects for a local governmental unit, including public libraries. State law excludes minor service or maintenance work, warranty work, or work under a supply-and-installation contract. There is a statutory definition for each of the exclusions.
Another new provision also may affect municipalities and public libraries. A prevailing wage determination is required for any completed facility that is leased, purchased, lease-purchased, or otherwise acquired by or dedicated to a municipality in lieu of the municipality contracting for that project.
For more information, please visit the prevailing wage website: http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/er/prevailing_wage_rate/default.htm. For further assistance, please call DWD's Equal Rights Division at 608-266-6860.
4. STATE DATA COORDINATORS RECEIVE ACCOLADES FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES SURVEY
Every year, more than 9,000 libraries are surveyed in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands, answering questions on population, library collections, services and programs, staff numbers, revenues and expenditures, and other electronic information. The Public Libraries Survey's 97.5 percent response rate makes the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which oversees the survey, the envy of all other federal agencies, commented IMLS Director Anne-Imelda Radice at the annual meeting of the state data coordinators. The state data coordinators met in Washington, D.C., on December 2-3, 2009, to discuss new survey data elements, to welcome and train five new state data coordinators, and to receive some much deserved accolades.
"We are grateful for the state data coordinators' close attention to the Public Libraries Survey. It is a painstaking and labor-intensive job, and their efforts make a profound contribution to the national conversation on the value of public libraries," Radice said.
"The Public Library Surveys are an important national resource and an essential tool for monitoring and improving library services nationwide," noted Carlos Manjarrez, Associate Deputy Director of the IMLS Office of Planning, Policy, Research, and Statistics. "To help showcase the important contribution libraries make, we have leveraged this resource, making it available to many more stakeholders in a variety of different formats." For example, IMLS has uploaded the library survey data to Data.gov (http://www.data.gov), a federal clearinghouse of government data that provides users the opportunity to rate the usefulness of the data. Making data available on the Web site makes it easier for the public to combine library data with other government economic, education, and social data.
Suzanne Miller, Director of Minnesota State Library Services, added, "You are important and what you do makes my job easier. I need your data when I go to the state legislature and when I talk to local librarians who are communicating with city administrators." She also noted that adding new data elements, under discussion at the meeting, is important "because our world is changing and will continue to change."
Through an interagency agreement with IMLS, the U.S. Census Bureau processes and analyzes the data for use in a report published annually by IMLS. Working together, IMLS and the Census Bureau's efforts have made data available more quickly than previous years.
For example, Johnny Monaco, Chief of the Education & Related Statistics Branch at the U.S. Census Bureau, announced that the FY 2008 PLS data files will be released in spring 2010, eight months earlier than previous years. Recent reports and data released by IMLS include:
5. LIBRARIES RECEIVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY MATERIALS AND DISPLAY TO HOUSE THEM
Alliant Energy and Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's statewide resource for energy efficiency and renewable energy, are continuing their partnership to provide libraries throughout Alliant Energy's Wisconsin utility service territory with energy efficiency information for their patrons. Earlier this year, libraries received DVDs of Alliant Energy's award winning PowerHouse Television Show, an educational program designed to improve the energy efficiency, safety and comfort of homes, as well as a portable electric meters that patrons could checkout to measure the energy usage of their household appliances.
This week, Alliant Energy and Focus on Energy began providing libraries with acrylic table-top literature holders and residential energy efficiency fact sheets and materials from Focus on Energy. The intent is to create a high-profile, central point in each library for energy efficiency information, including the PowerHouse DVDs and Focus on Energy literature.
"Libraries are an excellent resource and natural gathering place within the communities we serve and we are pleased to be working with them and with Focus on Energy to help highlight residential energy efficiency," said Linda Mattes, Alliant Energy Director of Energy Efficiency and Renewables. "Our goal is to educate and inform homeowners and renters about energy efficiency practices and libraries are a great way to reach this group and encourage energy savings."
When libraries run low on energy efficiency materials, they can contact Focus on Energy via their website, http://focusonenergy.com, to request more.
6. IMLS CALLS FOR 2010 NATIVE AMERICAN LIBRARY SERVICES BASIC GRANT APPLICATIONS
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is accepting applications for the 2010 Native American Library Services Basic Grants program. Federally recognized tribes and Alaska Native villages and
corporations may apply for these grants in either the Basic or the Basic with Education/Assessment Option categories. The application deadline is March 1, 2010.
These noncompetitive grants are designed to support traditional core library services in tribal communities across the country. The supplemental Education/Assessment Option provides funds for continuing education opportunities for library staff and on-site library assessments. In 2009, IMLS awarded 31 Basic Grants and 177 Basic Grants with the Education/Assessment Option to American Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages and corporations.
Please note that IMLS is publishing the Basic Grant guidelines separately from the competitive Enhancement Grant guidelines, which will be available in mid-January 2010. This will allow tribes that apply only for the Basic Grant to download application materials faster and access only what they need.
IMLS has scheduled an audio-conference call to give prospective applicants an opportunity to ask IMLS staff questions pertaining to Native American Library Services Basic Grant applications. This call will take place on January 11, 2010 at 4 p.m. ET. Please visit the website for more information closer to the
call-in date.
Contact Alison Freese, Senior Program Officer, at 202/653-4665 or afreese@imls.gov with questions about this grant program. For more information, please go to: http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/nativeAmerican.shtm.
7. ONLINE SAFETY GUIDEBOOK FOR PARENTS
"Net Cetera: Chatting with Kids About Being Online," a booklet for parents on talking to their children about how to navigate the online world safely and responsibly, was introduced today by a public-private coalition consisting of more than a dozen federal agencies, including the FCC, the FTC, and the U.S. Department of Education. The guide covers a wide range of topics, including social networking, cyberbullying, sexting, using mobile phones safely, and protecting the family computer.
The booklet is available for download on the OnGuardOnline website at:
http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/net-cetera.aspx.
Organizations are encouraged to use all or part of this public document in their newsletters or on their websites, reprint it with their own logo, or co-brand it with OnGuardOnline.gov.
8. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
The Library of Congress -- http://www.loc.gov/index.html -- The official website of the Library of Congress, the nation's oldest federal cultural institution, which also serves as the research arm of Congress. The Library of Congress is also the largest library in the world, with more than 120 million items including books, sound recordings, motion pictures, photographs, maps, and manuscripts.
9. CALENDAR
January 8, 2010 - Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) meeting, by webinar
April 11-17, 2010 - National Library Week
April 28-30, 2010 - Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL) annual conference, Sheboygan
==================================================
To access previous issues of Channel Weekly, or to subscribe or unsubscribe,
go to: http://channel.dpi.wi.gov/chn_chweekly
==================================================
Roslyn M. Wise
Editor, Channel Weekly
Department of Public Instruction
Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning
PO Box 7841
Madison, WI 53707-7841
Phone: (608) 266-6439
FAX: (609) 266-8770
2. Advisory committee participants needed
3. Changes in Prevailing Wage Law affect library construction projects
4. State Data Coordinators receive accolades for Public Libraries Survey
5. Libraries receiving energy efficiency materials and display to house them
6. IMLS calls for 2010 Native American Library Services Basic Grant applications
7. Online safety guidebook for parents
8. Website of the Week - The Library of Congress
9. Calendar
=================================================
EDITOR'S NOTE - Channel Weekly will not be published for the next two weeks. The next issue of Channel Weekly will be the January 7, 2010 edition.
***************************************************************************************
1. LIBRARY SYSTEMS TO SHARE $16.1 MILLION IN STATE AID
State Superintendent Tony Evers has announced that Wisconsin's 17 federated public library systems will share $16.1 million in state aid during 2010.
Library system funding is the state's primary program of support for public library service statewide. Systems recently received the first of two aid payments for 2010. Total aid for next year is $16,165,400.
"Public libraries tailor their services to balance budgetary limits and community needs. All of our libraries have targeted resources to help patrons search for jobs, update resumes, and improve employability skills. And, many are working with Job Service staff and other organizations to offer assistance to the unemployed and underemployed," said State Superintendent Tony Evers. "The state's aid program to public library systems is a wise use of state funds to support the valuable services and materials local public libraries provide."
Wisconsin's 385 independent public libraries have all voluntarily joined a public library system. The systems are regional library organizations created to improve public library services, increase Wisconsin residents' access to library materials and services, and reduce duplication. Systems use funds according to plans developed and adopted by regional boards to meet the needs of each public library system area. Library system services include:
- ensuring that system residents have complete access to all public libraries within the system area. State residents made 33.5 million visits to public libraries and checked out 62.4 million items last year, both increased from the previous year.
- coordinating the sharing of library materials among participating libraries to meet user needs. Annually, libraries loan 8 million items to each other in response to users' requests. System-supported delivery networks deliver interlibrary loan items.
- providing training and continuing education for local library staff to help them offer the best possible service to their communities.
- coordinating cooperative library technology projects. About 90 percent of the state's public libraries now participate in shared computer systems that offer users on-line catalog access to regional library holdings. All public libraries provide the public with the use of computers with high-speed Internet connections and 97 percent of the state's public libraries provide free wireless access for laptop users in the library.
The Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning is seeking participants for the Delivery Services Advisory Committee and for the Library Information Technology Advisory Committee. Both committees assist the Division to carry out its statutory mission to promote cooperation among all types of libraries and to coordinate the development of networks to foster resource sharing. Terms for both committees are for three years and would begin in January 2010. The Department of Public Instruction will reimburse travel expenses for each meeting, per state guidelines. If you are interested in serving or wish to nominate someone to serve on either of these committees, please contact Sally Drew by phone at 608-224-6161 or via email at sally.drew@dpi.wi.gov to obtain an application form.
The Delivery Services Advisory Committee provides oversight and advice to the Division and South Central Library System on the operation of the statewide delivery services. The committee has worked on policies, best practices, budget review, website design suggestions, and other issues. The committee consists of 15 members representing all types of libraries and meets three times per year with two meetings being held using webinar technology.
The Library Information Technology Advisory Committee assists in the development of the Wisconsin Library Technology Strategic Plan and issue papers on technology topics, and discusses ongoing library technology programs and issues. The committee consists of 21 members representing all types of libraries and meets three per year in Madison.
3. CHANGES IN PREVAILING WAGE LAW AFFECT LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
On January 1, 2010, significant changes in Wisconsin's prevailing wage law will take effect. These changes will affect nearly every public entity in the state, including local municipalities under §66.0903, Wisconsin Statutes. Under state and federal laws, prevailing wages must be paid to individuals who work on public works projects. Any public works project that has a total estimated project cost of at least $25,000 will require a prevailing wage rate determination issued by the Department of Workforce Development (DWD). Public works projects include erecting, constructing, remodeling, repairing, or demolishing projects for a local governmental unit, including public libraries. State law excludes minor service or maintenance work, warranty work, or work under a supply-and-installation contract. There is a statutory definition for each of the exclusions.
Another new provision also may affect municipalities and public libraries. A prevailing wage determination is required for any completed facility that is leased, purchased, lease-purchased, or otherwise acquired by or dedicated to a municipality in lieu of the municipality contracting for that project.
For more information, please visit the prevailing wage website: http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/er/prevailing_wage_rate/default.htm. For further assistance, please call DWD's Equal Rights Division at 608-266-6860.
4. STATE DATA COORDINATORS RECEIVE ACCOLADES FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES SURVEY
Every year, more than 9,000 libraries are surveyed in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands, answering questions on population, library collections, services and programs, staff numbers, revenues and expenditures, and other electronic information. The Public Libraries Survey's 97.5 percent response rate makes the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which oversees the survey, the envy of all other federal agencies, commented IMLS Director Anne-Imelda Radice at the annual meeting of the state data coordinators. The state data coordinators met in Washington, D.C., on December 2-3, 2009, to discuss new survey data elements, to welcome and train five new state data coordinators, and to receive some much deserved accolades.
"We are grateful for the state data coordinators' close attention to the Public Libraries Survey. It is a painstaking and labor-intensive job, and their efforts make a profound contribution to the national conversation on the value of public libraries," Radice said.
"The Public Library Surveys are an important national resource and an essential tool for monitoring and improving library services nationwide," noted Carlos Manjarrez, Associate Deputy Director of the IMLS Office of Planning, Policy, Research, and Statistics. "To help showcase the important contribution libraries make, we have leveraged this resource, making it available to many more stakeholders in a variety of different formats." For example, IMLS has uploaded the library survey data to Data.gov (http://www.data.gov), a federal clearinghouse of government data that provides users the opportunity to rate the usefulness of the data. Making data available on the Web site makes it easier for the public to combine library data with other government economic, education, and social data.
Suzanne Miller, Director of Minnesota State Library Services, added, "You are important and what you do makes my job easier. I need your data when I go to the state legislature and when I talk to local librarians who are communicating with city administrators." She also noted that adding new data elements, under discussion at the meeting, is important "because our world is changing and will continue to change."
Through an interagency agreement with IMLS, the U.S. Census Bureau processes and analyzes the data for use in a report published annually by IMLS. Working together, IMLS and the Census Bureau's efforts have made data available more quickly than previous years.
For example, Johnny Monaco, Chief of the Education & Related Statistics Branch at the U.S. Census Bureau, announced that the FY 2008 PLS data files will be released in spring 2010, eight months earlier than previous years. Recent reports and data released by IMLS include:
- IMLS FY 2007 Public Libraries Survey report (http://harvester.census.gov/imls/pubs/pls/index.asp) released on June 30, 2009.
- IMLS FY 2007 Public Libraries Survey data files and documentation (http://harvester.census.gov/imls/data/pls/index.asp) released on May 14, 2009.
- IMLS FY 2007 State Library Agencies report (http://harvester.census.gov/imls/pubs/stla/index.asp) released on November 26, 2008.
- IMLS FY 2008 State Library Agencies Survey data files and documentation (http://harvester.census.gov/imls/data/stla/index.asp) released on August 14, 2009.
5. LIBRARIES RECEIVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY MATERIALS AND DISPLAY TO HOUSE THEM
Alliant Energy and Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's statewide resource for energy efficiency and renewable energy, are continuing their partnership to provide libraries throughout Alliant Energy's Wisconsin utility service territory with energy efficiency information for their patrons. Earlier this year, libraries received DVDs of Alliant Energy's award winning PowerHouse Television Show, an educational program designed to improve the energy efficiency, safety and comfort of homes, as well as a portable electric meters that patrons could checkout to measure the energy usage of their household appliances.
This week, Alliant Energy and Focus on Energy began providing libraries with acrylic table-top literature holders and residential energy efficiency fact sheets and materials from Focus on Energy. The intent is to create a high-profile, central point in each library for energy efficiency information, including the PowerHouse DVDs and Focus on Energy literature.
"Libraries are an excellent resource and natural gathering place within the communities we serve and we are pleased to be working with them and with Focus on Energy to help highlight residential energy efficiency," said Linda Mattes, Alliant Energy Director of Energy Efficiency and Renewables. "Our goal is to educate and inform homeowners and renters about energy efficiency practices and libraries are a great way to reach this group and encourage energy savings."
When libraries run low on energy efficiency materials, they can contact Focus on Energy via their website, http://focusonenergy.com, to request more.
6. IMLS CALLS FOR 2010 NATIVE AMERICAN LIBRARY SERVICES BASIC GRANT APPLICATIONS
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is accepting applications for the 2010 Native American Library Services Basic Grants program. Federally recognized tribes and Alaska Native villages and
corporations may apply for these grants in either the Basic or the Basic with Education/Assessment Option categories. The application deadline is March 1, 2010.
These noncompetitive grants are designed to support traditional core library services in tribal communities across the country. The supplemental Education/Assessment Option provides funds for continuing education opportunities for library staff and on-site library assessments. In 2009, IMLS awarded 31 Basic Grants and 177 Basic Grants with the Education/Assessment Option to American Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages and corporations.
Please note that IMLS is publishing the Basic Grant guidelines separately from the competitive Enhancement Grant guidelines, which will be available in mid-January 2010. This will allow tribes that apply only for the Basic Grant to download application materials faster and access only what they need.
IMLS has scheduled an audio-conference call to give prospective applicants an opportunity to ask IMLS staff questions pertaining to Native American Library Services Basic Grant applications. This call will take place on January 11, 2010 at 4 p.m. ET. Please visit the website for more information closer to the
call-in date.
Contact Alison Freese, Senior Program Officer, at 202/653-4665 or afreese@imls.gov with questions about this grant program. For more information, please go to: http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/nativeAmerican.shtm.
7. ONLINE SAFETY GUIDEBOOK FOR PARENTS
"Net Cetera: Chatting with Kids About Being Online," a booklet for parents on talking to their children about how to navigate the online world safely and responsibly, was introduced today by a public-private coalition consisting of more than a dozen federal agencies, including the FCC, the FTC, and the U.S. Department of Education. The guide covers a wide range of topics, including social networking, cyberbullying, sexting, using mobile phones safely, and protecting the family computer.
The booklet is available for download on the OnGuardOnline website at:
http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/net-cetera.aspx.
Organizations are encouraged to use all or part of this public document in their newsletters or on their websites, reprint it with their own logo, or co-brand it with OnGuardOnline.gov.
8. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
The Library of Congress -- http://www.loc.gov/index.html -- The official website of the Library of Congress, the nation's oldest federal cultural institution, which also serves as the research arm of Congress. The Library of Congress is also the largest library in the world, with more than 120 million items including books, sound recordings, motion pictures, photographs, maps, and manuscripts.
9. CALENDAR
January 8, 2010 - Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) meeting, by webinar
April 11-17, 2010 - National Library Week
April 28-30, 2010 - Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL) annual conference, Sheboygan
==================================================
To access previous issues of Channel Weekly, or to subscribe or unsubscribe,
go to: http://channel.dpi.wi.gov/chn_chweekly
==================================================
Roslyn M. Wise
Editor, Channel Weekly
Department of Public Instruction
Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning
PO Box 7841
Madison, WI 53707-7841
Phone: (608) 266-6439
FAX: (609) 266-8770
For questions about this information, contact Roslyn Wise (608) 266-6439