1. DPI files comments with FCC on E-rate reform
2. Preliminary 2009 public library statistics available
3. WISCAT, ISO ILL, and your library's ILL service - What you need to know
4. ALA releases publication on mobile technology
5. "Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women" library outreach grants available
6. Website of the Week - National Hurricane Center
7. Calendar
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NOTE - Channel Weekly will not be published next week (July 22). The next issue of Channel Weekly will be the July 29, 2010, edition.
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1. DPI FILES COMMENTS WITH FCC ON E-RATE REFORM

Last week the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on reforming the federal E-rate program. The National Broadband Plan, released in March, recommended that the FCC review the E-rate program and as a result it initiated a process in June seeking public comment. Key program changes recommended by the DPI include the following:

• FCC should eliminate its technology plan requirement. DPI thinks plans are important but the FCC should not be micromanaging plan content and the plan process.
• FCC should allow applicants to use local procurement policies, not procurement policies mandated by the FCC which often conflict with local policies.
• FCC should eliminate the rural/urban E-rate discount difference and fund all at the (generally higher) rural discount level.
• FCC should allow school or library staff to serve on boards of research and education networks, like WiscNet. (Proposed FCC regulations would likely prohibit such service.)
• FCC should make access to dark (or lit) fiber eligible for E-rate discounts, regardless of the provider.
• FCC should index the annual $2.25 billion in E-rate funding to inflation but also take measures to address the chronic underfunding of the program.

The complete DPI comments are at http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020521002. If you have any questions, contact Bob Bocher at Robert.bocher@dpi.wi.gov.


2. PRELIMINARY 2009 PUBLIC LIBRARY STATISTICS AVAILABLE

The preliminary 2009 statistics for Wisconsin public libraries, compiled from annual reports data, are available in four Excel spreadsheets linked to http://pld.dpi.wi.gov/pld_dm-lib-stat.

The final Wisconsin data will be made available immediately after review and acceptance of Wisconsin's 2009 public library data submission by IMLS. These statistics are based on information submitted on the 2009 Public Library Annual Reports. Library directors are asked to review their library's data. Any corrections should be reported to John DeBacher at john.debacher@dpi.wi.gov.


3. WISCAT, ISO ILL, AND YOUR LIBRARY'S ILL SERVICE - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

On July 14, 2010, WISCAT entered a new phase in its continued development. The WISCAT and Interlibrary Loan (ILL) teams at Resources for Libraries and Lifelong Learning (RL&LL) have been working to expand the automatic processing of ILL requests and to begin to build a bridge between WISCAT, OCLC, and other Auto-Graphics customers' libraries. Previously this bridge was possible only though manual intervention.

An ILL request will have the potential for faster processing (improved customer service) AND access to more libraries for borrowing. This shift is made possible with the use of an international standard called ISO ILL.

Below is a guide to explain how this will impact you as a WISCAT library. Please share this message with your ILL colleagues.

ISO ILL… What is that?

• A national standard defining communications between ILL software systems.
• Allows the two systems to "talk" and "do business" directly with each other with no required intervention by people.

How does this change affect my library?

• Allows WISCAT requests to automatically move from a WISCAT library to an OCLC lender library.
• Initially affects only borrowing for requests initiated in WISCAT (for now).
• Allows Wisconsin libraries access to an expanded pool of potential lenders to include OCLC libraries as well as other Auto-Graphics customers in the United States and Canada.

When will this start?

• Scheduled to start July 14.
• Testing and setup during July 14-16.

What does the process look like?

• The automatic processing of requests will:
  - automatically identify and clear Wisconsin libraries (both WISCAT and Wisconsin OCLC libraries)
  before hitting a default library (usually at your public library system offices).
  - default libraries (other than RL&LL) will handle as usual.
  - RL&LL will manually refer requests to libraries outside Wisconsin (other Auto-Graphics' customers and OCLC LVIS libraries, which have agreed not to charge for interlibrary loan) EXCEPT blank form requests, "No Out of State" specified, and other special cases.

What will WISCAT libraries see beginning July 14?

• A delay (1 or 2 days) in handling requests as WISCAT staff works through setup issues, July 14-16.
• Your library ILL staff will begin to notice Wisconsin OCLC libraries in the History section of requests, for requests created after July 14.
• Your library ILL staff will notice a few more Status options in ILL management:
  - Repeat Last Message
  - Send Status Query
  - Send General Message
  These statuses are part of the ISO ILL protocol. As a rule, only the "General Message" is a status that will need to be handled by a staff member. More information regarding the use of these messages will follow in more detail once the ISO ILL communication is functional.
• RL&LL staff will no longer refer requests to ANY charging library. ISO ILL technical limitations do not support communication about fees. RL&LL was previously paying those library fees on behalf of WISCAT libraries. This will no longer be possible.

ISO ILL: What about requests created prior to July 14?

• RL&LL staff will update OCLC and WISCAT manually, as they do now.
• Any request not yet cleared Wisconsin OCLC libraries, RL&LL staff will refer manually to those Wisconsin OCLC libraries in WISCAT (using ISO ILL)

ISO ILL: Will WISCAT libraries need to change ILL procedures?

• Very little procedure will change for ILL staff in WISCAT libraries.

There are a couple thoughts to keep in mind after July 14:

• Your library ILL staff will be communicating directly with the AG and OCLC lending libraries (as you do now with other WISCAT libraries).
• WISCAT library ILL staff will see the status of requests referred on their behalf outside Wisconsin.
• Borrowing Libraries will now have to respond to Conditionals from AG and OCLC libraries (as you do now with WISCAT libraries).

A VERY IMPORTANT DETAIL

• ILL staff will not be able to skip a status in the ILL process (WISCAT software allowed us to do this before)
• An error message will prevent the status change if you try to skip a step
• An example
  1. Must change status to Received
  2. Then, can change status to Returned
• If you get an error, go back and change the status to the next logical step. Then, change again to update the request.

What should I do if I see a problem?

• Call or email the WISCAT team.
  - David J. Sleasman -- 608.224.6179 -- david.sleasman@dpi.wi.gov
  - Martha Berninger -- 608.224.6168 -- martha.berninger@dpi.wi.gov
• Please be sure to include:
  - a description of the problem,
  - the request number, and
  - the EXACT verbiage of the error message.
  - A screenshot of the error is also often helpful.

4. ALA RELEASES PUBLICATION ON MOBILE TECHNOLOGY

As more devices, beyond the traditional PC, are able to access the Internet, libraries are finding a need to address how patrons want to use these devices to access the library's services. This issue is the focus of a new publication from the American Library Association's (ALA) Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP). The office just released a publication titled: "There's an App for That! Libraries and Mobile Technology: An Introduction to Public Policy Considerations." This OITP policy brief explores how the adoption of mobile technology is changing the traditional relationships between libraries and patrons. The brief explores the challenges to reader privacy, content ownership and licensing, digital rights management, accessibility, and other concerns. The full text of the paper is on the OITP website at http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oitp/.


5. "LOUISA MAY ALCOTT: THE WOMAN BEHIND LITTLE WOMEN" LIBRARY OUTREACH GRANTS AVAILABLE

Public, academic, and special libraries may apply to receive a $2,500 grant to support five reading, viewing, and discussion programs featuring the documentary "Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women" and the companion biography of the same name. Online applications will be accepted at http://www.grants.gov through July 30.

The library outreach program for "Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women" is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office, and Nancy Porter and Harriet Reisen for Filmmakers Collaborative and has been designated as part of NEH's We the People initiative, exploring significant events and themes in our nation's history and culture and advancing knowledge of the principles that define America. Funding was provided by a major grant from NEH to the ALA Public Programs Office.

Libraries applying for a "Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women" library outreach grant must register their institution at http://www.grants.gov. Prospective applicants are advised to register with http://www.grants.gov as soon as possible, since the process can take up to two weeks to complete. Resources to help begin the application process for "Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women" may be found at http://www.ala.org/louisamayalcott. Online applications must be completed by July 30.

Louisa May Alcott is recognized around the world for her novel "Little Women," but Alcott is scarcely known as the bold, compelling woman who secretly wrote sensational thrillers, lived at the center of the Transcendentalist and Abolitionist movements, and served as an Army nurse during the Civil War. The film, biography, and library programs will re-introduce audiences to Alcott by presenting a story full of fresh insights, startling discoveries about the author, and a new understanding of American culture during her lifetime. The 30 selected libraries will present five reading, viewing, and discussion programs focused on Louisa May Alcott, her body of work, and her era. Libraries will be asked to enlist a lead project scholar with expertise in 19th-century American history or literature to help present and plan programs. For more information, visit http://www.ala.org/louisamayalcott.


6. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

National Hurricane Center -- http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ -- The National Hurricane Center, located at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, is the division of National Weather Service's Tropical Prediction Center responsible for tracking and predicting the likely behavior of tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes.


7. CALENDAR

July 15-16, 2010 - Thinkfinity training for online teachers, Portage

September 10, 2010 - Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) meeting, Egg Harbor

October 26, 2010 - Instructional Media and Technology (IMT) Team Regional Meeting, Oconomowoc

November 1, 2010 - Instructional Media and Technology (IMT) Team Regional Meeting, Rice Lake

November 2-5, 2010 - Wisconsin Library Association annual conference, Wisconsin Dells

November 12, 2010 - Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) meeting, TBC

November 15, 2010 - Instructional Media and Technology (IMT) Team Regional Meeting, Wisconsin Dells

November 16-17, 2010 - Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Advisory Committee meeting, Madison

November 17, 2010 - Instructional Media and Technology (IMT) Team Regional Meeting, Green Bay

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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