1. Public hearing set on public librarian certification and public library system audit rules changes
2. Rural award nominations open
3. Gates PC grant for 2011 awarded
4. Library Journal referenda survey
5. ALA sends letter to FCC on Net Neutrality, cites Wisconsin libraries
6. Wisconsin prison literacy project reminder
7. Website of the Week - National Weather Service
8. Calendar
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EDITOR'S NOTE - Channel Weekly will not be published for the next two weeks. The next issue of Channel Weekly will be the January 6, 2011, edition.
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1. PUBLIC HEARING SET ON PUBLIC LIBRARIAN CERTIFICATION AND PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM AUDIT RULES CHANGES

The Department of Public Instruction will hold a public hearing to consider changes in the rules relating to public librarian certification and public library system audits. The hearing will be held January 13, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Resources for Libraries and Lifelong Learning (formerly the Reference and Loan Library), 2109 South Stoughton Road, Madison.

The hearing site is fully accessible to people with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation to access any meeting, please contact Michael Cross, Director, Public Library Development, at michael.cross@dpi.wi.gov, (608) 267-9225, or leave a message with the Teletypewriter (TTY) at (608) 267-2427 at least 10 days prior to the hearing date. Reasonable accommodation includes materials prepared in an alternative format, as provided under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The administrative rule and fiscal note are available on the internet at http://pb.dpi.wi.gov/pb_rulespg. A copy of the proposed rule and the fiscal estimate also may be obtained by sending an email request to lori.slauson@dpi.wi.gov or by writing to:

Lori Slauson, Administrative Rules and Federal Grants Coordinator
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
125 South Webster Street
P.O. Box 7841
Madison, WI 53707

Written comments on the proposed rules received by Ms. Slauson at the above mail or email address no later than January 19, 2011, will be given the same consideration as testimony presented at the hearing.


2. RURAL AWARD NOMINATIONS OPEN

State Superintendent Tony Evers is pleased to open nominations for the "2011 Standing Up for Rural Wisconsin Schools, Libraries, and Communities Award." This award honors partnerships between and among schools, libraries, and communities which have resulted in programs or projects that demonstrate the great potential and spirit of rural Wisconsin. This award began in March 2005, when eight schools and communities were recognized for exemplary programs. Since 2005, forty more programs have been honored at the State Capitol.

Please note the January 21, 2011, deadline for submission. The awards ceremony will be held on Monday, March 7, 2011, in the State Capitol. For a description of previous award winners and to fill out a nomination form, go to http://dpi.wi.gov/rural/awards.


3. GATES PC GRANT FOR 2011 AWARDED

This week the DPI DLTCL received $302,169 from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to cover the library purchase of PCs and other related goods and services in 2011. Using grant funds, 98 libraries will receive a total of 204 PCs. The foundation will allocate $1,300 for each PC and libraries must also pledge a local match of the same amount. The funding (both foundation and local) is intended to allow not just the purchase of the PCs but also the purchase of software, technical support and peripherals, like printers. This is the second and final year of the Gates PC grant. In 2010 the eligible libraries purchased 242 PCs. Questions on the grant should be directed to Bob Bocher, DLTCL library technology consultant, at 608-266-2127 or robert.bocher@dpi.wi.gov.


4. LIBRARY JOURNAL REFERENDA SURVEY

Library Journal (LJ) has asked for the assistance of the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning in collecting results of recent public library referenda for building construction, including renovation and expansion.

LJ would like information from any public library whose community held a referendum between the dates of December 1, 2009, and November 30, 2010, to finance capital projects for a public library building. The deadline for submitting information is January 7, 2011. The compiled information will be published in an upcoming issue of Library Journal.

The construction referenda survey may be completed online at http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6639595.html. If you have questions, please contact Laura Girmscheid of Library Journal at girmscheid@mediasourceinc.com (telephone: 646-380-0719).


5. ALA SENDS LETTER TO FCC ON NET NEUTRALITY, CITES WISCONSIN LIBRARIES

This week the American Library Association (ALA) and several other organizations sent the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) a letter outlining various concerns and issues related to Net Neutrality (see http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020923490). As the letter states, the ALA believes that, "An open and neutral Internet is necessary to ensure that the public's access to our content and services will receive the same priority as their access to entertainment and other commercial offerings." There is concern that entertainment companies will be able to pay to have their Web content receive priority delivery ("paid prioritization"). This will place libraries, education, and other non-profit institutions at a disadvantage because they lack the financial ability to pay for priority service. Thus content from any entity that cannot pay will be relegated to the Internet slow lane. As an example of how public libraries use the Internet, the letter references the Outagamie Waupaca library system which allows both its website and online catalog to be viewed via mobile devices. In addition, a citation is also made to the Job Resource Center at the Hedberg Public Library in Janesville.

Next Tuesday the FCC is scheduled to vote on new Net Neutrality regulations.


6. WISCONSIN PRISON LITERACY PROJECT REMINDER

This is a reminder that correctional libraries, located in state prisons and county jails, are in serious need of materials and would greatly appreciate donations from other libraries, publishers, the public, and other sources to help build and maintain diverse and timely collections. Recognizing the importance of literacy skills for Wisconsin prisoners to achieve successful re-entry into communities, the Wisconsin Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND), in partnership with the Department of Corrections and the Department of Public Instruction, has created a sub-committee on prisons to assist correctional libraries by collecting and distributing books for inmates in our state facilities.

Books must be in good condition and match the subject areas identified by the Department of Corrections librarians. Public, private and academic libraries and other sources are encouraged to donate books to support this project.

COLAND really needs your help in enhancing these collections for the inmates to further their ability to read and improve their quality of life. For further information including requested subject areas and delivery instructions, please see . More information on COLAND can be found at http://dpi.wi.gov/coland.


7. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

National Weather Service -- http://www.weather.gov/ -- This site is the home page for the National Weather Service, the starting point for official government weather forecasts, warnings, meteorological products for forecasting the weather, and information about meteorology. (Website reference courtesy of refdesk.com)


8. 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