Channel Weekly, Vol. 13, No. 41, August 18, 2011

1. Report released on connecting community institutions to high-speed broadband
2. 2012 LSTA Grant Applications
3. Fast Facts about Wisconsin Public Libraries 2010
4. Financial newsletter offered free to libraries
5. Library users encouraged to nominate librarians for 2011 I Love My Librarian Award
6. Still time to Step Up to the Plate @ your library
7. Website of the Week - Everyday Mysteries
8. Calendar
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1. REPORT RELEASED ON CONNECTING COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS TO HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND

The United States Unified Community Anchor Network (U.S. UCAN) recently released a task force report on how thousands of anchor institutions nationwide can get access to the broadband services and applications that they need. The report is on the U.S. UCAN website at http://www.usucan.org. U.S. UCAN is a new program founded by Internet2, the national networking consortium of higher education and research institutions. U.S. UCAN's mission is to provide community anchor institutions -- including our public libraries and K-12 schools -- with advanced broadband access and services. In most states the U.S. UCAN mission will be implemented by the state's research and education network. In Wisconsin, WiscNet (our research and education network) has done an exemplary job in connecting many of our K-12 schools and public libraries but many states are not at the level of connectivity found in Wisconsin. Bob Bocher from the Department of Public Instruction's Public Library Development Team served as the American Library Association's representative on the task force that authored the report.


2. 2012 LSTA GRANT APPLICATIONS

LSTA applications for three competitive and two non-competitive grant categories are due by 4:30 p.m. September 16, 2011. Competitive grant categories are: Accessibility, Literacy, and Continuing Education for New Library Directors. The non-competitive grant categories are Public Library System Technology and Delivery. The LSTA grant application form and guidelines are linked at the LSTA website: http://pls.dpi.wi.gov/pld_lsta. For further information please contact Terrie Howe, 608-266-2413 OR by email: Teresa.howe@dpi.wi.gov.


3. FAST FACTS ABOUT WISCONSIN PUBLIC LIBRARIES 2010
  • Over the last 5 years, public library visits have increased by over 10% and circulation has increased 15%. The number of paid library staff decreased 0.6%. Public library staff per capita has decreased 2.6% over this period.
  • In comparison with other states, Wisconsin ranks 8th in per capita in circulation, but 22nd for total operating revenue and 21st for total operating expenditures per capita.
  • Six out of ten state residents are registered library users. These library users made over 35 million visits to Wisconsin public libraries in 2010. Season attendance for Brewer home games in 2010 was 2.8 million.
  • The average number of user visits per week to Wisconsin public libraries is 676,000. Season attendance at Packer home games is about 566,000.
  • Over 65 million items were circulated by Wisconsin's public libraries in 2010. Wisconsin ranks 8th in per capita circulation nationally.
  • On average, 1.25 million items are checked out of Wisconsin public libraries each week. More than one-third of these circulations are children's materials.
  • Each year 9 million items are shared between libraries to fill requests for materials not available locally. Wisconsin ranks 1st nationally in per capita interlibrary loans. Resource sharing coordinated by public library systems and the DPI is a model for how to use public resources efficiently.
  • Wisconsin has 385 public libraries and 80 public library branches. Almost all of these libraries will serve any Wisconsin resident. All of Wisconsin's public libraries have voluntarily chosen to participate in one of the state's regional public library systems that provide efficiencies through sharing and consolidation of services.
  • The average per capita municipal and county property taxes paid by Wisconsin residents for public library operations in 2010 was $36.27. Wisconsin ranks 18th in per capita local and county tax support.
  • Nearly all of Wisconsin public libraries offer wireless Internet access to library users. Over 93% of Wisconsin public libraries provide access to licensed electronic books and downloadable audio and video files.
  • Every Wisconsin library and citizen has access to thousands of online newspapers, magazines and books through the DPI's BadgerLink service.
  • Over 98% of Wisconsin public libraries help people access and use employment resources, including help with job searches, creating resumes and submitting employment applications
  • Programs provided by public libraries and directed toward children had attendance of over 1.6 million. Summer library program attendance for children and young adults was nearly 500,000.
A printable version of these "Fast Facts" is at http://pld.dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/pld/pdf/wiplfastfacts.pdf.


4. FINANCIAL NEWSLETTER OFFERED FREE TO LIBRARIES

The Actuarial Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, publishes a Financial Smarts newsletter that is offered free to public libraries. Libraries can sign-up to receive issues when released either via electronic format (which allows the library to print copies as needed for dissemination) or can receive 50 printed copies via mail.

Here is the link referring to Financial Smarts, how a library can sign-up to receive issues, and view past newsletters: http://www.actuarialfoundation.org/programs/newsletter.shtml


5. LIBRARY USERS ENCOURAGED TO NOMINATE LIBRARIES FOR 2011 I LOVE MY LIBRARIAN AWARD

Nominations are now open for the 2011 Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award.

The award invites library users nationwide to recognize the accomplishments of librarians in public, school, college, community college and university libraries for their efforts to improve the lives of people in their community. Nominations are being accepted online at atyourlibrary.org/ilovemylibrarian through September 12.

Up to 10 librarians will be selected. Each will receive a $5,000 cash award and a plaque and will be honored at an awards ceremony and reception in New York, hosted by The New York Times, in December.
"Libraries are among those cherished institutions that are most representative of our open society," said Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York. "We must, therefore, acknowledge that libraries - and hence, librarians - are indispensable to the strength and vitality of our nation and our democracy."

Over the past three years, 30 librarians from across the country have won the I Love My Librarian Award. Last year, more than 2,000 library users nationwide nominated a librarian. Previous winners were lauded for starting community gardens, helping students with severe disabilities read classic works of literature, helping non-traditional students learn new technology to get better jobs and more. For more information on previous winners, visit http://atyourlibrary.org/ilovemylibrarian. Previous winners are also featured in a digital supplement to American Libraries Magazine.


6. STILL TIME TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE @ YOUR LIBRARY

The American Library Association (ALA) and the National Baseball Hall of Fame want to remind you that there is still time to Step Up to the Plate @ your library.

All entries for the Step Up to the Plate @ your library program must be submitted by September 1, giving baseball fans of all ages their final opportunity for a chance to win the grand prize, a trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.

To help meet the mailing deadline of September 8, libraries are encouraged to send collected entries in bulk. All entries must be postmarked by September 1, 2011, and sent to: Step Up to the Plate @ your library, American Library Association, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611.

All entries submitted through the Step Up to the Plate website must also be submitted by September 1. One grand prize winner will receive a trip to the Hall of Fame in October 2011.

To get your library in the game and to gain access to a free online toolkit that includes program logos in both English and Spanish, a downloadable flier and bookmarks, register at http://www.atyourlibrary.org/baseball. Libraries that bring in entries are also eligible for prizes, including gift certificates to ALA Graphics and online booksellers.

Season six of Step Up to the Plate @ your library teams up two American classics - baseball and libraries - to promote libraries and librarians as essential information resources.

The program encourages people of all ages to use the print and electronic resources available at their library to answer a series of trivia questions designed for their age group (10 and under; 11-13; 14-17; and 18 and over). This year, Step Up to the Plate connects generations by exploring baseball's more than 150-year history through topics like famous baseball families and legacy teams.


7. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

Everyday Mysteries -- http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/ -- "Did you ever wonder why a camel has a hump? If you can really tell the weather by listening to the chirp of a cricket? Or why our joints make popping sounds? These questions deal with everyday phenomena that we often take for granted, but each can be explained scientifically." This site from the Library of Congress Research Centers Science Reference Service offers an opportunity to search for answers to these questions. (Website reference courtesy of refdesk.com)


8. CALENDAR

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

September 22, 2011 - Youth Consultants Annual meeting, Madison

September 23, 2011 - Continuing Education & Certification Consultants meeting, Madison

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

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

November 16-17, 2011 - LSTA Advisory Committee meeting, Madison

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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
For questions about this information, contact Roslyn Wise (608) 266-6439