1. Wisconsin e-book issues and plans
2. 2011 E-rate changes made official
3. Madison branch librarian receives national award
4. Website of the Week - Federal Citizen Information Center
5. Calendar
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1. WISCONSIN E-BOOK ISSUES AND PLANS

Staff of the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning (DLTCL) are aware of strong feelings in the Wisconsin library community about new e-book products available only to residents of a single library community, and the broader issues of e-books and their impact on library services. From one perspective, there is a strong and understandable desire to move ahead and offer the public more e-books and other e-content. From another prespective, building local collections that cannot be shared or offered to non-residents is contrary to the provision of Wisconsin library service over many decades. In addition, it is likely that there are legal issues involved.

In order to try to resolve these issues and the many other important issues surrounding e-books and other e-content, the DLTCL will be organizing an e-book summit to be held in early May 2011 to develop statewide strategies for addressing e-content issues (many of these issues are identified in the COSLA report at http://www.cosla.org/documents/COSLA2270_Report_Final1.pdf). The Wisconsin summit is meant to also inform national strategies on these topics, as many of the issues must be addressed at that level, and allows the Wisconsin library community to have voice in the debates.

At its November meeting, the DLTCL asked the LSTA Advisory Committee to endorse funding for this summit and funding for expanded e-content licensing in 2011. The Committee endorsed this proposal unanimously and the DLTCL plans to commit over $100,000 toward these purposes in 2011.

Statewide library organizations and librarians from all types and sizes of libraries will be represented at this summit. The division has asked statewide library organizations for nominations for summit participation. Soon, the DLTCL anticipates discussing expanded e-content licensing with the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC). LSTA funds will be used to expand e-content that is available statewide.

Further details about the summit and its participants will be publicized as the process progresses, as well as opportunities for additional input from the statewide library community.


2. 2011 E-RATE CHANGES MADE OFFICIAL

Last week the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) E-rate changes were published in the Federal Register. This makes the changes official and starts the 30-day period in which anyone can file requests with the FCC that it reconsider some of its changes. The FCC is also working to address many questions still pending related to program changes. These include questions on the eligibility of dark/lit fiber and warranties on network hardware, like switches and routers. On a recent conference call the FCC again confirmed that the revised E-rate forms (#470, 471) will be available no later than January 11, 2011.


3. MADISON BRANCH LIBRARIAN RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD

Christina Wagner of the Goodman South Madison Branch of the Madison Public Library was one of ten librarians to receive a 2010 "I Love My Librarian Award." The Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award encourages library users to recognize the accomplishments of exceptional public, school, college, community college, or university librarians.

2010 was the third year of the award. It will continue annually through 2012. The award is administered by the American Library Association with generous support from Carnegie Corporation of New York and The New York Times.

Additional information about the award and the 2010 winners can be found here:
http://www.ilovelibraries.org/lovemylibrarian/2010/10winners.cfm.

Questions about the award can be directed to Contact Megan Humphrey of ALA: mhumphrey@ala.org.


4. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

Federal Citizen Information Center -- http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/ -- "For more than 35 years, the Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC) has been a trusted one-stop source for answers to questions about consumer problems and government services. Consumers can get the information they need in four ways: by calling toll-free 1 (800) FED-INFO, through printed publications and online through various social media channels and FCIC's family of websites." (Website reference courtesy of refdesk.com)


5. CALENDAR

January 21, 2011 - Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) meeting, by web conference

February 22, 2011 - WEMTA/WLA Library Legislative Day, Madison

March 20-22, 2011 - Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association (WEMTA) conference, Madison

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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: (608) 267-9207