1. Libraries are a bargain-especially in Wisconsin
2. Fond du Lac library director receives Friend of Education award
3. Public library funding and technology survey now open
4. 2010 Charlotte Zolotow Lecture scheduled for September 29
5. Public library/children's museum partners can receive a grant
6. Website of the Week: wikiHow
7. Calendar
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1. LIBRARIES ARE A BARGAIN-ESPECIALLY IN WISCONSIN

The following guest editorial for Library Card Sign-up Month is by State Superintendent Tony Evers:

If you never get to your local library, it's time to catch up with your neighbors. Six out of every ten Wisconsin residents are now registered library users, according to new data from the Department of Public Instruction.

We're fortunate to enjoy one of the best-organized library systems around, and this is just one sign of it.

In honor of national Library Card Sign-up Month, let me tell you what you're missing if you have yet to discover your local library: free access not only to the books, CDs, and video materials at your own library, but just about anywhere. Our interlibrary loan service is so effective, in fact, it's used more per capita than any other state's, according to federal information released this summer. And don't forget free, wireless Internet access-virtually everyone in our state can access it at their library-not to mention services that address our current employment crisis, like resume and job-search training and on-line resources for locating available jobs.

During an average week in 2009, our libraries hosted more visitors than attended Green Bay Packers games all year. Over the entirety of last year, a Wisconsin resident visited a library more than 10 times as often as a Milwaukee Brewers fan went to Miller Park to see a game.

Library services help people stay employed and connected, help children learn, and improve the quality of life for all Wisconsin residents.

And yet, we don't pay much for these resources, especially when compared to other states: we rank 8th for the amount of materials checked out to users, but only 21st for how much we pay for it, per capita.

If you're a library worker, thank you for bettering our lives in Wisconsin.

If you're one of those four in ten who isn't making regular use of your library, let me encourage you to join the majority of people who know the tremendous value of a little library card.


2. FOND DU LAC LIBRARY DIRECTOR RECEIVES FRIEND OF EDUCATION AWARD

On September 16 in Madison, State Superintendent Tony Evers presented his 2010 Friends of Education awards as part of his second annual State of Education address. Ken Hall, director of the Fond du Lac Public Library, is one of seven individuals and three organizations to receive the award for making significant contributions to students in local communities and across the state.

Hall was honored for his efforts to address the information needs of displaced workers in the greater Fond du Lac area. Through the services of two VISTA volunteers, who recruited community members to staff the Opportunity Center at the library, more than 650 job-seekers had help to improve their computer skills, write resumes and cover letters, search online for work, and research jobs and companies. Hall extended the services of the Opportunity Center to other smaller libraries in Fond du Lac County, making the library a center for economic development and recovery.

In choosing his 2010 Friends of Education recipients, Evers said he is "humbled by the dedication of these citizens and organizations who each day work to improve the lives and education of the children of Wisconsin."

The full list of award winners is at /sites/default/files/imce/eis/pdf/dpinr2010_117.pdf.

Congratulations to Ken, and the staff and VISTAs at the Fond du Lac Public Library!


3. PUBLIC LIBRARY FUNDING AND TECHNOLOGY SURVEY NOW OPEN

The 2010 National Survey of Public Library Funding and Technology Access is now open. Survey announcement postcards have been sent to the directors of the 151 public libraries in Wisconsin selected to complete the survey. Please note the following:

-- While the 151 selected libraries are strongly encouraged to complete the survey, it is open to any public library.
-- The survey web portal is http://www.plinternetsurvey.org. The site has an FAQ, a print copy of the survey, and other information. Click the "Start Survey" link to get specific library log-in information.
-- The survey has 41 questions. While completion times will vary, most surveys can be done in 1-2 hours. (Review a copy of the print survey before starting the online version.)
-- Libraries that are part of the Gates Foundation PC grant are REQUIRED to complete the survey.

Survey results are used by the American Library Association (ALA), the Gates Foundation, the Institute for Museums and Library Services (IMLS), and other organizations in library support and advocacy efforts. In past years Wisconsin has had a high return (about 75%) and the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning strongly encourages libraries to complete the survey which will close November 5. Results of the 2009 survey are at http://www.ala.org/ala/research/initiatives/plftas/.


4. 2010 CHARLOTTE ZOLOTOW LECTURE SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 29

The Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) has announced that author Susan Patron will deliver the 13th annual Charlotte Zolotow Lecture on Wednesday evening, September 29, at 7:30 p.m. in the Wisconsin State Historical Society Auditorium.

Ms. Patron is the author of a number of highly regarded books for children, including The Higher Power of Lucky, winner of the 2007 Newbery Medal.

This free public lecture sponsored by the CCBC and the Friends of the CCBC is part of the 2010 Wisconsin Book Festival. More information will be available soon.


5. PUBLIC LIBRARY/CHILDREN'S MUSEUM PARTNERS CAN RECEIVE A GRANT

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is offering its members the opportunity to apply for an all-expense-paid family literacy training workshop, funded through a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded to the Children's Museum of Houston (CMH). ALSC is a national dissemination partner in the grant.

Members are encouraged to partner with their local children's museum and apply as a team for the Family Literacy Involvement Program (FLIP) workshop to be held at the CMH on May 18, 2011. FLIP is a literacy program for families with children birth through age 8 that helps develop early learners' reading and comprehension skills and encourage reading engagement. The core of the program is a FLIP kit that is checked-out from the library and allows families to experience shared reading and book-centric activities in the comfort of their home. The purpose of the training is to instruct participants on the implementation of this literacy program in their libraries. A detailed overview, as well as the application and requirements, may be found at http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/initiatives/partnerships/index.cfm.

The deadline for receipt of applications is October 15, 2010.


6. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

wikiHow -- http://www.wikihow.com/Main-Page -- "wikiHow is a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. With your contributions, we can create a free resource that helps millions of people by offering solutions to the problems of everyday life. wikiHow currently contains thousands of articles - written, edited, and maintained primarily by volunteers." (Website reference courtesy of refdesk.com)


7. CALENDAR

September 13-17, 2010 - AskAway Awareness Week 2010

September 17, 2010 - Public Library System Directors Annual Meeting, Madison

September 21, 2010 - Delivery Services Advisory Committee (webinar)

September 24, 2010 - Public Library System Continuing Education and Certification Consultants Annual Meeting, Madison

September 25, 2010 - Public Library System Youth Services Consultants Annual Meeting, Madison

September 25-October 2, 2010 - Banned Books Week

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) 267-9207