1. Schedule a "typical week" tally for October
2. 2013 LSTA grant applications
3. BadgerLink Resource of the Week coming to Channel Weekly
4. Website of the Week: Healthfinder.gov
5. Calendar
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1. SCHEDULE A "TYPICAL WEEK" TALLY FOR OCTOBER

There are several questions in the Library Services section of the public library annual report that require the public library to either tally counts throughout the year, or, if that is not feasible, to collect data for a "typical week." If your library does not routinely count each patron coming into the library (visits), each reference question, or each patron using a computer, then the library must conduct a tally during a typical week in October each year.

The questions on the annual report that might be answered with data collected during "typical week" counts are all included in Section III of the annual report, under "Library Services":

• Reference Transactions,
• Library Visits (patron count), and
• Number of Users of Public Internet Computers

According to the definition used for national library statistics, a reference transaction is an information contact which involves the knowledge, use, recommendation, interpretation, or instruction in the use of one or more information sources by a member of the library staff. The term includes information and referral service. Information sources include printed and non-print materials, machine-readable databases, catalogs and other holdings records, and, through communication or referral, other libraries and institutions and persons both inside and outside the library. The request may come in person, by phone, by fax, by mail, or by electronic mail or networked electronic reference service from an adult, a young adult, or a child. Note: Do not count directional transactions or questions of library rules or policies in the report of reference transactions. Examples of directional are "Where are the children's books?" and "I'm looking for a book with the call number 811.2G." An example of a question of rules or policies is "Are you open until 9:00 tonight?"

Libraries may use electronic or mechanical means of collecting the data throughout the year, such as infra-red door counters, or software to manage public access to Internet workstations. But if the library does not count use throughout the year, then the library should schedule at least one week in October to collect appropriate data (for comparative purposes, the national guidelines dictate that the one week survey should be done in October).

Under no circumstances may the library estimate the numbers to be reported, or report the number submitted in prior years. For instance, libraries should not adjust their previous year's count for reference based on circulation changes, or as a ratio of their door count numbers, or other criteria. For more information, please see the article "Preparing for the Annual Report: Scheduling a 'Typical Week' Tally" on page 9 of the Summer 2009 issue of Channel, available here: http://channel.dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/channel/pdf/chn4404.pdf#page=9.


2. 2013 LSTA GRANT APPLICATIONS

LSTA applications for four competitive and two non-competitive grant categories are due by 4:30 p.m. September 17, 2012. Competitive grant categories are: Accessibility, Literacy, Digital Creations in Public Libraries and Digitization - Local Resources. The non-competitive grant categories are Public Library System Technology, Delivery, Digital Buying Pool. The LSTA grant application form and guidelines, as well as the recorded information session are linked at the LSTA website: http://pld.dpi.wi.gov/pld_lsta. For further information please contact Terrie Howe, 608-266-2413 OR by email: teresa.howe@dpi.wi.gov.


3. BADGERLINK RESOURCE OF THE WEEK COMING TO CHANNEL WEEKLY

Beginning with next week's issue, Channel Weekly will offer readers a "BadgerLink Resource of the Week." Each week we will feature one the many valuable resources available to all residents of the state through BadgerLink, Wisconsin's "Connection to the World of Information."


4. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

Healthfinder.gov -- http://www.healthfinder.gov/ -- This site from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers quick guides to healthy living, personalized health advice, and tips and tools to help you and those you care about stay healthy.


5. CALENDAR

September 14, 2012 - Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) meeting, Oshkosh

November 7, 2012 - Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Advisory Committee meeting, DeForest

October 9, 2012 - Wisconsin Library Service/Resources for Libraries and Lifelong Learning Fall ILL Meeting, Madison

October 11, 2012 - Public Library System Youth Services Liaison meeting, DeForest

October 12, 2012 - Public Library System Continuing Education and Certification Consultants meeting, DeForest

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

November 9, 2012 - Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) meeting, Sheboygan

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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 and Technology
PO Box 7841
Madison, WI 53707-7841
Phone: (608) 266-6439
FAX: (608) 267-9207