1. State superintendent recognizes rural library projects with awards
2. DPI seeks applicants for Library Consultant position
3. BadgerLink's TeachingBooks.net redesign
4. BadgerLink's April Encyclopædia Britannica webinar series
5. Federal Communication Commission to create digital literacy program
6. Powerful Tools for Rural Libraries: Free PDF available online
7. Website of the Week - The Phrase Finder
8. Calendar
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1. STATE SUPERINTENDENT RECOGNIZES RURAL LIBRARY PROJECTS WITH AWARDS

State Superintendent Tony Evers will recognize nine projects with his "Standing Up for Rural Wisconsin Schools, Libraries, and Communities" awards on March 12 in Madison. Two of the awards will go to the following projects that involved libraries:

Baby Time, Toddler Time, and Rhyme Time are outreach programs linked to the Weyauwega-Fremont School District's 4-year-old kindergarten (4K) program. The Weyauwega Public Library and Neuschafer Community Library in Fremont host these programs to provide academic, developmental, and social enrichment for children 4 years of age and under. The libraries introduce other services for children and adults, creating habits of literacy that last beyond children's school-age years. In conjunction with the programs, the school district offers formal services to 3- and 4-year-olds who qualify for special education services as well as outreach for parents to help them identify their child's needs so they start school ready to learn. Accepting the award will be Traci Zietlow, 4K teacher in the Weyauwega-Fremont School District.

Edward U. Demmer Memorial Library and Three Lakes School District Story Hour Reading Program began in 1963 to introduce reading and provide socialization activities for the community's youngsters. When the district began its kindergarten program in 1967, Story Hour lowered the minimum age requirement to offer literacy skills to younger children. In 1971, the Edward U. Demmer Foundation provided funding to construct a new library building, and Mrs. Demmer suggested dedicating the lower level to facilitate Story Hour. For nearly five decades, thousands of children have had their lives enriched through the sing, read, and play adventures offering during Story Hour. Story Hour takes place weekly during the school year both at the library and at Sugar Camp School, with 15 to 20 children participating at each venue. Adult programs are offered concurrently with Story Hour to further serve community needs. Funding for Story Hour comes through the collaboration of the Three Lakes School District, Demmer Memorial Library, and the towns of Three Lakes and Sugar Camp. Accepting the award will be Janet Dixon, library director for Demmer Memorial Library; Charlotte Horant, story hour director; Vicki Reuling, president of the Demmer Memorial Library Board of Trustees; Dianna Blicharz, representative from Three Lakes School District and member of the Demmer Memorial Library Board; and Tom Rulseh, member, Three Lakes School Board.

Information about all the awards is at /sites/default/files/imce/eis/pdf/dpinr2012_40.pdf


2. DPI SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR LIBRARY CONSULTANT POSITION

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is currently seeking applicants for a Library Consultant position.

The Public Library Administration Consultant is a full time position working independently within the Public Library Development Team in the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning to provide statewide leadership and consultation to librarians, library system staff, trustees, and government officials on public library and library system administration, organization, and governance.

Additional information, including links to the online application and complete position description, is available here: http://wisc.jobs/public/job_view.asp?annoid=57907&jobid=57422.

Questions should be addressed to: Denise Kohout, Human Resources Specialist, 608-266-0282 or denise.kohout@dpi.wi.gov. Application deadline is March 28, 2012.


3. BADGERLINK'S TEACHING BOOKS.NET REDESIGN

TeachingBooks.net provides thousands of resources about fiction and nonfiction books used in the K-12 environment to encourage the integration of multimedia author and book materials into reading activities.

TeachingBooks.net has just undergone a major redesign! Please enjoy the new design, navigation, and searching capabilities that can help anyone easily discover exciting multimedia materials! Bring books to life! Chat with a famous author! Start today by going to the BadgerLink Homepage at http://www.badgerlink.net, then click on TeachingBooks.net.

Grab a few colleagues who use books and join Nick Glass, TeachingBooks' Founder, in a 10-minute overview of the new TeachingBooks website, designed to be an easy way to build collaboration with colleagues over books and reinforce strategies for using a database you already subscribe to! All you need is a computer, Internet, speakers, and a few minutes! No pre-registration required. Sessions will be held the following times:
o Friday, March 9, 8:30 a.m. CST
o Monday, March 19, 2:00 p.m. CST

Go to the following link at any of the above start times and enter the webinar as a guest:
http://TeachingBooks.net/WebinarPresentation

If you have any questions, please contact TeachingBooks.net at info@TeachingBooks.net or contact BadgerLink Technical Support at http://rl3.dpi.wi.gov.


4. BADGERLINK'S APRIL ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA WEBINAR SERIES

Attention Wisconsin Teachers, Library Media Specialists, and Public Librarians!

You are invited to register for this online webinar series about accessing teacher resources aligned to the Common Core and Wisconsin Academic Model Standards and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) resources available on Encyclopædia Britannica. We will explore articles, videos, interactive learning materials, and more.

Best of all, Encyclopædia Britannica is provided to Wisconsin schools and libraries, thanks to BadgerLink! Check out Britannica Online on BadgerLink at http://www.badgerlink.net.

Learn More - Training Without Travel
- Participate from home or school, wherever you have an internet connection.
- Participate as a group or on your own.

Please log into the webinar no later than 3:50 p.m., so that we can manage any audio or technical difficulties that may arise.

Monday, April 2 @ 4-5 p.m.
Common Core and Wisconsin Academic Model Standards
Register here: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/654487280

Wednesday, April 4 @ 4-5 p.m.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Resources
Register at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/670206784

If you have any questions, please contact Kara Ripley at kara.ripley@dpi.wi.gov.


5. FEDERAL COMMUNICATION COMMISSION TO CREATE DIGITAL LITERACY PROGRAM

Approximately 66% of residential households do not have broadband Internet connectivity. For some households, broadband is too costly and for some in rural areas it is not available. However, another common reason cited for not having broadband is a lack of "digital literacy" skills. This means lacking the basic skills needed to use computers and navigate the Internet. Being digitally literate is becoming critical for continuing one's education, searching for jobs, accessing government information, and participating in civic engagement.

To address digital literacy issues, the FCC is proposing to create a program as part of its efforts to increase broadband connectivity. In the coming weeks the DPI will be working closely with the American Library Association to promote libraries as key partners in any digital literacy program. No timeframe has been established for this new program but it is likely to be implemented later this year or in early 2013.


6. POWERFUL TOOLS FOR RURAL LIBRARIES: FREE PDF AVAILABLE ONLINE

The newly-updated "Small but Powerful Guide to Winning Big Support for Your Rural Library" provides tips and tools you can use from the ALA Committee on Rural, Native and Tribal Libraries of All Kinds, the Association for Rural & Small Libraries and the ALA Office for Literacy and Outreach Services. Visit http://www.ala.org/offices/olos/toolkits/rural.


7. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

The Phrase Finder -- http://www.phrases.org.uk/ -- The site features an archive of the meanings and origins of thousands of phrases, sayings, idioms and expressions. (website reference courtesy of refdesk.com)


8. CALENDAR

March 9, 2012 - Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) meeting, Fitchburg

March 13-17, 2012 - Public Library Association annual meeting, Philadelphia, PA

March 28-30, 2012 - Wisconsin Education Media and Technology Association (WEMTA) Annual Conference, Wisconsin Dells

April 17-18, 2012 - LSTA Advisory Committee meeting, Madison

April 23-24, 2012 - American Library Association National Library Legislative Day, Washington, DC

May 9-11, 2012 - Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries annual conference, Stevens Point

October 23-26, 2012 - Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) annual conference, La Crosse

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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