1. Wisconsin Local Government Institute releases plan to transform government
2. National broadband plan released
3. Despite flat budgets, state library agencies invest in technology services
4. Website of the Week - GRIN: Great Images in NASA
5. Calendar
=================================================
1. WISCONSIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT INSTITUTE RELEASES PLAN TO TRANSFORM GOVERNMENT
It's time to transform government by consolidating service delivery and doing it more efficiently to save taxpayer dollars. Such is the message from a group representing all local units of government in Wisconsin, from the report A Roadmap for Government Transformation, recently released at a press conference at the Wisconsin state capitol in Madison.
The Local Government Institute of Wisconsin (LGI) is a collaboration of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, the Wisconsin Counties Association, the Wisconsin Towns Association, and the Alliance of Cities.
This is the first report by LGI in an on-going research initiative to develop recommendations for aligning local government services within a region, reducing the cost of those services while preserving quality, and identifying alternatives for funding those services. According to the study, the ability of local governments to cooperate regionally and the efficiency of local service delivery are key components affecting the economic competitiveness of Wisconsin.
LGI contracted with Baker Tilly to conduct this study, which is an evaluation of the structure of and relationship between local government in Wisconsin and the success factors for greater alignment between jurisdictions in a region.
The report is available online at http://www.localgovinstitute.org.
The report points to the Outagamie Waupaca Library System (OWLS)/Nicolet Federated Library System (NFLS) shared automated system as an example of successful regional cooperation.
The report could have pointed to many examples of multi-jurisdictional library cooperation that results in improved and more cost-effective library services, including:
-- regional and statewide library resource sharing (Wisconsin is #1 in the nation in public library interlibrary loan per capita),
-- regional and statewide library delivery,
-- regional and statewide shared database licenses,
-- many other system, regional and statewide cooperative library projects.
2. NATIONAL BROADBAND PLAN RELEASED
This week the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released its long-awaited broadband plan, officially called Connecting America: The National Broadband Plan. The plan was mandated by the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). (The United States is the only developed nation that did not have a broadband plan.) Schools and libraries are referenced over 350 times in the plan, for example, in the areas of support for online learning, digital literacy and the E-rate program. For the E-rate the plan recommends changes to increase the program's flexibility and efficiency. Specific changes in these areas have long been supported by the American Library Association (ALA) and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). In November the DPI filed comments with the FCC regarding the proposed E-rate reforms and the department is cited twice in the plan. Recommendation 11.15 (p. 236) addresses issues related to setting goals for minimal broadband connectivity for schools and libraries. Recommendation 11.17 (p. 237) references the need to allow schools and libraries more flexibility in purchasing broadband services.
In the next several months the FCC will initiate over twenty rule making procedures, including E-rate reform, seeking public comment on how to implement many of the plan's recommendations. More specific information on the plan is available at http://www.broadband.gov/. See also the ALA's District Dispatch for a brief analysis of the plan (http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=4608).
3. DESPITE FLAT BUDGETS, STATE LIBRARY AGENCIES INVEST IN TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
Despite the lack of real growth in their budgets in recent years, state library agencies are working strategically to assist library professionals and local libraries to meet patrons' needs, according to State Library Agency Service Trends: 1999-2008, a new research brief by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) (http://www.imls.gov/pdf/Brief2010_02.pdf). Limited resources are being shifted as libraries services are being redefined. Over the past 10 years, for example, real dollar expenditures on statewide database licensing more than doubled, reaching a total of $65.8 million in 2008. These databases provide all library users access to a wide range of online resources, such as reference sources for homework, job search and training tools, and specialized magazines and newspapers. This finding indicates one way that state library agencies are making the most of limited resources.
Library services for hard-to-reach populations, such as services for people in nursing homes, individuals with physical or learning disabilities, assistive technologies and devices, and non-English speakers and migrant workers, declined from a high of $57 million in 2004 to $31.6 million in 2008, according to the study. While changing definitions and survey changes may have affected reporting in this area, this important finding may be a harbinger of difficult times ahead. An upcoming study, Opportunity for All: How the American Public Benefits from Internet Access at U.S. Libraries, demonstrates that vulnerable populations rely on libraries for Internet access. Among young adults (14-24 years of age) living in households below the federal poverty line, 61 percent used public library computers and Internet for educational purposes. Among seniors (65 and over) living in poverty, 54 percent used public library computers for health or wellness needs. The study, scheduled for release on March 25, was conducted by the University of Washington with support from IMLS and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
IMLS allocates federal funds to state library agencies using a population-based formula. State library agencies develop plans for the delivery of library services in their states and provide leadership and library development. While there is tremendous variation among state library agencies, this research brief aggregates data in order to characterize trends in services supported by state library agencies. The study examines services such as basic literacy programs, library services for hard-to-reach populations, and state database licenses for public libraries, public school media centers, and library cooperatives.
Funding for state library agencies, which includes a mix of federal, state, and other sources, remained flat from fiscal year (FY) 2004 to FY 2008. The current economic downturn will likely decrease agency budgets and could affect the quality and quantity of state library agency services in the future, according to the brief.
Twenty-first century patrons expect more technology resources in schools, public libraries, colleges, and universities. While current and future information technologies provide exciting new opportunities to extend library services to patrons across the U.S., they require significant investment and coordination, the study found.
IMLS will continue to document the trends highlighted in this report to better understand how changes at the state level affect the quality of library services to the public.
4. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
GRIN: Great Images in NASA -- http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/ -- GRIN is a collection from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of over a thousand images of significant historical interest scanned at high-resolution in several sizes. This collection is intended for the media, publishers, and the general public looking for high-quality photographs.
5. CALENDAR
March 17-19, 2010 - Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association (WEMTA) conference, Wisconsin Dells
March 26, 2010 - Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) meeting, by webinar
April 1-30, 2010 - School Library Month
April 11-17, 2010 - National Library Week
April 20-21, 2010 - Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Advisory Committee meeting, Madison
April 20-23, 2010 - Wisconsin Association of Academic Librarians (WAAL) conference, Milwaukee
April 28-30, 2010 - Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL) annual conference, Sheboygan
April 29-30, 2010 - School Library Staffing Summit, Rothschild
May 10-11, 2010 - WiscNet conference, Madison
June 24-29, 2010 - American Library Association conference, Washington, D.C.
==================================================
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) 267-9207
2. National broadband plan released
3. Despite flat budgets, state library agencies invest in technology services
4. Website of the Week - GRIN: Great Images in NASA
5. Calendar
=================================================
1. WISCONSIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT INSTITUTE RELEASES PLAN TO TRANSFORM GOVERNMENT
It's time to transform government by consolidating service delivery and doing it more efficiently to save taxpayer dollars. Such is the message from a group representing all local units of government in Wisconsin, from the report A Roadmap for Government Transformation, recently released at a press conference at the Wisconsin state capitol in Madison.
The Local Government Institute of Wisconsin (LGI) is a collaboration of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, the Wisconsin Counties Association, the Wisconsin Towns Association, and the Alliance of Cities.
This is the first report by LGI in an on-going research initiative to develop recommendations for aligning local government services within a region, reducing the cost of those services while preserving quality, and identifying alternatives for funding those services. According to the study, the ability of local governments to cooperate regionally and the efficiency of local service delivery are key components affecting the economic competitiveness of Wisconsin.
LGI contracted with Baker Tilly to conduct this study, which is an evaluation of the structure of and relationship between local government in Wisconsin and the success factors for greater alignment between jurisdictions in a region.
The report is available online at http://www.localgovinstitute.org.
The report points to the Outagamie Waupaca Library System (OWLS)/Nicolet Federated Library System (NFLS) shared automated system as an example of successful regional cooperation.
The report could have pointed to many examples of multi-jurisdictional library cooperation that results in improved and more cost-effective library services, including:
-- regional and statewide library resource sharing (Wisconsin is #1 in the nation in public library interlibrary loan per capita),
-- regional and statewide library delivery,
-- regional and statewide shared database licenses,
-- many other system, regional and statewide cooperative library projects.
2. NATIONAL BROADBAND PLAN RELEASED
This week the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released its long-awaited broadband plan, officially called Connecting America: The National Broadband Plan. The plan was mandated by the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). (The United States is the only developed nation that did not have a broadband plan.) Schools and libraries are referenced over 350 times in the plan, for example, in the areas of support for online learning, digital literacy and the E-rate program. For the E-rate the plan recommends changes to increase the program's flexibility and efficiency. Specific changes in these areas have long been supported by the American Library Association (ALA) and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). In November the DPI filed comments with the FCC regarding the proposed E-rate reforms and the department is cited twice in the plan. Recommendation 11.15 (p. 236) addresses issues related to setting goals for minimal broadband connectivity for schools and libraries. Recommendation 11.17 (p. 237) references the need to allow schools and libraries more flexibility in purchasing broadband services.
In the next several months the FCC will initiate over twenty rule making procedures, including E-rate reform, seeking public comment on how to implement many of the plan's recommendations. More specific information on the plan is available at http://www.broadband.gov/. See also the ALA's District Dispatch for a brief analysis of the plan (http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=4608).
3. DESPITE FLAT BUDGETS, STATE LIBRARY AGENCIES INVEST IN TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
Despite the lack of real growth in their budgets in recent years, state library agencies are working strategically to assist library professionals and local libraries to meet patrons' needs, according to State Library Agency Service Trends: 1999-2008, a new research brief by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) (http://www.imls.gov/pdf/Brief2010_02.pdf). Limited resources are being shifted as libraries services are being redefined. Over the past 10 years, for example, real dollar expenditures on statewide database licensing more than doubled, reaching a total of $65.8 million in 2008. These databases provide all library users access to a wide range of online resources, such as reference sources for homework, job search and training tools, and specialized magazines and newspapers. This finding indicates one way that state library agencies are making the most of limited resources.
Library services for hard-to-reach populations, such as services for people in nursing homes, individuals with physical or learning disabilities, assistive technologies and devices, and non-English speakers and migrant workers, declined from a high of $57 million in 2004 to $31.6 million in 2008, according to the study. While changing definitions and survey changes may have affected reporting in this area, this important finding may be a harbinger of difficult times ahead. An upcoming study, Opportunity for All: How the American Public Benefits from Internet Access at U.S. Libraries, demonstrates that vulnerable populations rely on libraries for Internet access. Among young adults (14-24 years of age) living in households below the federal poverty line, 61 percent used public library computers and Internet for educational purposes. Among seniors (65 and over) living in poverty, 54 percent used public library computers for health or wellness needs. The study, scheduled for release on March 25, was conducted by the University of Washington with support from IMLS and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
IMLS allocates federal funds to state library agencies using a population-based formula. State library agencies develop plans for the delivery of library services in their states and provide leadership and library development. While there is tremendous variation among state library agencies, this research brief aggregates data in order to characterize trends in services supported by state library agencies. The study examines services such as basic literacy programs, library services for hard-to-reach populations, and state database licenses for public libraries, public school media centers, and library cooperatives.
Funding for state library agencies, which includes a mix of federal, state, and other sources, remained flat from fiscal year (FY) 2004 to FY 2008. The current economic downturn will likely decrease agency budgets and could affect the quality and quantity of state library agency services in the future, according to the brief.
Twenty-first century patrons expect more technology resources in schools, public libraries, colleges, and universities. While current and future information technologies provide exciting new opportunities to extend library services to patrons across the U.S., they require significant investment and coordination, the study found.
IMLS will continue to document the trends highlighted in this report to better understand how changes at the state level affect the quality of library services to the public.
4. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
GRIN: Great Images in NASA -- http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/ -- GRIN is a collection from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of over a thousand images of significant historical interest scanned at high-resolution in several sizes. This collection is intended for the media, publishers, and the general public looking for high-quality photographs.
5. CALENDAR
March 17-19, 2010 - Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association (WEMTA) conference, Wisconsin Dells
March 26, 2010 - Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) meeting, by webinar
April 1-30, 2010 - School Library Month
April 11-17, 2010 - National Library Week
April 20-21, 2010 - Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Advisory Committee meeting, Madison
April 20-23, 2010 - Wisconsin Association of Academic Librarians (WAAL) conference, Milwaukee
April 28-30, 2010 - Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL) annual conference, Sheboygan
April 29-30, 2010 - School Library Staffing Summit, Rothschild
May 10-11, 2010 - WiscNet conference, Madison
June 24-29, 2010 - American Library Association conference, Washington, D.C.
==================================================
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) 267-9207
For questions about this information, contact Roslyn Wise (608) 266-6439