1. COLAND approves Biennial Report on Condition and Progress of Library Service in Wisconsin
2. RL&LL recruiting for librarian supervisor/assistant director
3. Check out the New Wisconsin Digital Archives
4. 2009 public library data files released
5. Hall of Famer Cal Ripken named Honorary Chair of Library Card Sign-up Month
6. Summer vacation @ your library
7. Website of the Week - Encyclopedia Smithsonian
8. Calendar
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1. COLAND APPROVES BIENNIAL REPORT ON CONDITION AND PROGRESS OF LIBRARY SERVICE IN WISCONSIN

At its July 8 meeting, the Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) approved its biennial report on the condition and progress of library service in Wisconsin. The report summarizes progress in the development of library service in recent years, current challenges facing Wisconsin libraries, and recommendations for the future. The report will be provided to the Governor, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and all members of the legislature.

Below are the key recommendations of the report:

-- Planning efforts including school administrators, school board members, parents, and others to address the issue of reduced staffing in school library media centers so that all students are provided equitable opportunities to acquire the information literacy skills needed to compete in the 21st Century.

-- Training must be available to ensure that all Wisconsin library staff have the skills necessary to provide 21st century library service to all Wisconsin residents.

-- Wisconsin should provide 13% index level funding for public library systems. Wisconsin's public library systems have a proven track record of cost-effective services provided in cooperation with member libraries and member counties. These services, including resource sharing and open access, are threatened if the funding index level continues at a level below 13%.

-- The Common School Fund must be protected for its constitutional purpose-the purchase of school library materials.

-- Wisconsin should fully fund the statewide resource library contracts and expand the resources available through BadgerLink. These statewide resources cost-effectively expand the information available to Wisconsin libraries and to all residents of the state.

-- Efforts should be made to reduce barriers to the ability of Wisconsin residents to use any library they choose.

-- The DLTCL should study (with broad library community input) the library system service requirements and possible system consolidation strategies.

-- Affordable and sustainable broadband connections should be provided to all Wisconsin public libraries and schools to ensure bandwidth needed to meet growing service needs.

-- The DLTCL should study a statewide integrated library system and other methods of improving service while achieving cost-efficiencies.

-- The recommendations of the e-book summit (including the implementation of a statewide e-book buying pool) should be implemented to help libraries meet the challenges of rapid growth in the popularity of e-books.

The full 6-page COLAND report is available at http://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/coland/pdf/coland_biennial_progress_report_2010-11.pdf.


2. RL&LL RECRUITING FOR LIBRARIAN SUPERVISOR/ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

The Department of Public Instruction, Resources for Libraries and Lifelong Learning (RL&LL) Team is currently recruiting a Librarian Supervisor/Assistant Director.

This position is responsible for investigating, recommending, planning, administering and evaluating technical infrastructure and services offered statewide. The position advises the Director on existing and new statewide public library and PK-12 educational programs, services and strategies and makes recommendations on policies and procedures necessary to implement, administer, support and evaluate programs and services. This position will also advise the Assistant State Superintendent, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Division for Libraries, Technology and Community Learning, on technology matters.

See the full position description here in Wisc.jobs:
http://wisc.jobs/public/job_view.asp?annoid=53836&jobid=53351&index=true.


3. CHECK OUT THE NEW WISCONSIN DIGITAL ARCHIVES

The Wisconsin Digital Archives collection, http://www.wistatedocuments.org, was recently redesigned to offer a more user friendly environment to discover electronic state documents that have been digitally archived by the Wisconsin Document Depository Program. The Wisconsin Digital Archives is a growing collection of electronic state documents that are intended to provide public perspective on state government programs and provide a wealth of information about all aspects of life in Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Digital Archives provides full-text permanent access to electronic state documents and web content in a searchable database. We invite you to explore the Wisconsin Digital Archives. The collection grows each month. Sign up for RSS Feeds to stay on top of what's new in the collection. If there is something you can't find in the collection please contact us, statedocuments@dpi.wi.gov.

Did you know that BadgerLink Follows WI Gov't on Twitter! Sign up to receive Tweets at http://twitter.com/#!/WisDPIBadgerLi to see how state government impacts your life.


4. 2009 PUBLIC LIBRARY DATA FILES RELEASED

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced the release of the 2009 Public Libraries Survey (PLS) data. It is available on the IMLS web site at: http://harvester.census.gov/imls/data/pls/index.asp. All 50 states and the District of Columbia participate in the Public Libraries Survey every year and the collection includes data on visitation, circulation, the availability and use of library computing resources, staffing, library collections and services, and fiscal information such as operating revenue and expenditures.


5. HALL OF FAMER CAL RIPKEN NAMED HONORARY CHAIR OF LIBRARY CARD SIGN-UP MONTH

Library Card Sign-up Month is a time when libraries across the country remind parents that a library card is the most important school supply of all. Thousands of public and school libraries join together each fall in a national effort to ensure every child signs up for their own library card.

This September, baseball Hall of Famer and author Cal Ripken will encourage children to get the most important school supply of all: a library card.

As the Honorary Chair of Library Card Sign-up Month, Cal Ripken has donated his image to a print and digital public service announcement (PSA). ALA will place the PSA in magazines and on websites to remind parents and educators that a library card is a key tool in achieving academic success.

Librarians looking to promote Library Card Sign-up Month locally can download the PSA at http://www.ala.org/librarycardsignup. Free customization is available.

In addition to the PSA, sample media tools are now available to remind the public of all the resources available for free with a library card. Tools include a sample press release, newsletter article, proclamation and PSA scripts.

To download free promotional materials, visit http://www.ala.org/librarycardsignup.


6. SUMMER VACATION@YOUR LIBRARY

As August hits and the temperature rises, the place to spend quality family time and cool off is @ your library.

Encourage parents in your community to check out the American Library Association's (ALA) new Connect with your kids @ your library Family Activity Guide. The guide offers ideas on how parents can spend quality time with their kids this summer using the resources at your library.

To download the family activity guide and a bookmark template at no charge, visit ALA's public awareness website, atyourlibrary.org/connectwithyourkids/for-librarians.


7. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

Encyclopedia Smithsonian -- http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/ -- Encyclopedia Smithsonian helps answer frequently asked questions about the Smithsonian with links to resources on subjects from Art to Zoology. (Website reference courtesy of refdesk.com)


8. CALENDAR

September 9, 2011 - Council on Library and Network Development meeting, Madison

November 1-4, 2011 - Wisconsin Library Association annual conference, Milwaukee

November 11, 2011 - Council on Library and Network Development, Milwaukee

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go to: http://channel.dpi.wi.gov/chn_chweekly
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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