Channel Weekly, Vol. 14, No. 30, April 26, 2012

1. New ADA rule changes will improve services to blind or visually impaired patrons
2. Early Standouts: 2012 Fiction for Children and Teens presented by the CCBC
3. IMLS Promotes Learning Labs in Libraries and Museums
4. Website of the Week - This is What a Librarian Looks Like
5. Calendar
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1. NEW ADA RULE CHANGES WILL IMPROVE SERVICES TO BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED PATRONS

Updates to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) went into effect on March 15, 2012. The new standards - known as the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design - focus specifically on creating "wayfinding" signage for the visually impaired. The new ADA standards require a non-glare finish on all signage and recommend a 70 percent contrast between the sign background and lettering. New signage must now include large, bolded characters in both upper- and lowercase (for those who read visually) and thin, beveled, and widely spaced lettering (for tactile readers). Additionally, legally blind visual readers benefit greatly from no-glare, high-contrast signage. Libraries remodeled or newly designed after March 15, 2012, must comply with the updated rules. For all other libraries, there are steps that can make existing signage more patron-friendly. (Tips can be found on the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) at http://www.ala.org/ascla/.) (Source: American Libraries Direct)


2. EARLY STANDOUTS: 2012 FICTION FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS PRESENTED BY CCBC

Megan Schliesman and Merri Lindgren, Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) librarians, discuss "Early Standouts: 2012 Fiction" for the April edition of CCBC Shorts. Offered through South Central Library System, these monthly 30-minute sessions are designed to give librarians a heads-up about selected brand new titles of note. Each month features a different topic or theme. This session was originally presented Wednesday, April 25, 2012. See http://scls.typepad.com/ccbcshorts/.


3. IMLS GRANT PROMOTES LEARNING LABS IN LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS
Learning Labs in Libraries and Museums is a new grant opportunity from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) which will support the planning and designing of up to 30 Learning Labs in libraries and museums throughout the country. The Labs are intended to engage middle- and high-school youth in mentor-led, interest-based, youth-centered, collaborative learning using digital and traditional media. Grantees will be required to participate, in-person and online, in a community of practice that will provide technical assistance, networking, and cross-project learning. Projects are expected to provide prototypes for the field and be based on current research about digital media and youth learning. The application deadline is June 15, 2012. For more information and application guidelines visit the IMLS website at http://www.imls.gov/applicants/detail.aspx?GrantId=20.


4. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

This is What a Librarian Looks Like -- http://lookslikelibraryscience.com -- A website designed to challenge old, outdated librarian stereotypes.


5. CALENDAR

May 4, 2012 - Special Needs Consultants annual meeting, DeForest

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

May 18, 2012 - Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) meeting, Whitewater

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

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Roslyn M. Wise
Editor, Channel Weekly
Department of Public Instruction
Division for Libraries and Technology
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