Channel Weekly, Vol. 16, No. 15, January 9, 2014

1. Preparing for the public library annual report
2. January edition of the Wisconsin Youth Services Showcase, now with "Pin it" button
3. LearningExpress Library update
4. BadgerLink Resource of the Week: Encyclopedias
5. Website of the Week: Coursera
6. Calendar
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1. PREPARING FOR THE PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNUAL REPORT

Earlier this week, Public Library Development (PLD) at the Department of Public Instruction sent an initial email to all public library and library system directors about the annual report. Directors who received that email at the correct address need not reply. Directors who did not receive the email or who would prefer to receive information about LibPAS and their annual report at a different email address should contact PLD at LibraryReport@dpi.wi.gov as soon as possible.

Links to new and revised support material are now on the PLD annual report webpage at pld.dpi.wi.gov/pld_annrpt, including:

  • What's new for the 2013 annual report
  • Youth Services Definitions and Examples
  • Instructions for completing the annual report
  • Data entry worksheet
  • Instructions for using the LibPAS online reporting system

Once pre-fill data provided by the library systems is imported, the online form for collecting Wisconsin Public Library Annual Report data will be opened—barring delays—the week of January 20. State statutes require that annual reports be filed by March 3, 2014; within 60 days after the conclusion of the fiscal year of the municipality or county in which the public library is located [Wis. Stat. s. 43.58(6)(a)]. Questions about LibPAS or the annual report should also be sent to LibraryReport@dpi.wi.gov.


2. JANUARY EDITION OF THE WISCONSIN YOUTH SERVICES SHOWCASE, NOW WITH "PIN IT" BUTTON

Find a Hunger Games-worthy poisonous fog proof shelter, handmade spa gifts, volun-teen elves and more on the January 2014 edition of the Wisconsin Youth Services Showcase, featuring a "Pin it" button for Pinterest users: http://pld.dpi.wi.gov/pld_showcase

Do you have a fantastic Facebook album or a blog post full of good ideas? Send in your URLs and images for a future edition of the Showcase.

Contact Tessa Michaelson Schmidt, Youth and Special Services Consultant, at tessa.schmidt@dpi.wi.gov


3. LEARNINGEXPRESS LIBRARY UPDATE

The LearningExpress Library platform has been successfully updated.

LearningExpress Library is a collection of web-based test preparation tools and skill-building materials for children, teens, and adults, designed to improve your academic skills, achieve educational goals, and prepare for careers.

Explore the same great content as in LibraryExpress, organized into Learning Centers:

  • Adult Learning Center
  • Career Center
  • College Center
  • College Preparation Center
  • High School Equivalency Center
  • Popular Software Skills Center
  • Recursos para Hispanohablantes
  • School Center

Find links to LearningExpress Library on the following pages: All Resources (http://www.badgerlink.net/all), Students (http://www.badgerlink.net/students), Books (http://www.badgerlink.net/books), Spanish Language (http://www.badgerlink.net/spanish-language), College and Jobs (http://www.badgerlink.net/college-jobs), Multimedia (http://www.badgerlink.net/multimedia), and Computer Software (http://www.badgerlink.net/computer-software).

Please note: the update of LearningExpress and the shift to a new platform requires users to re-register their accounts. Existing accounts have not been carried over to the new version. Work done on the old LearningExpress is no longer available.

For questions about LearningExpress Library, please contact BadgerLink: http://badgerlink.net/help/contact-us.


4. BADGERLINK RESOURCE OF THE WEEK

Need some general information on a topic? Use BadgerLink's encyclopedias. Go to http://www.badgerlink.net/encyclopedias to start your search!


5. Website of the Week

Coursera – https://www.coursera.org – This site describes itself as a social entrepreneurship company partnering with Stanford University, Yale University, Princeton University, and others around the world to offer courses online for anyone to take, for free. (Website reference courtesy of refdesk.com)


6. CALENDAR

January 10, 2014 – Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) meeting, web conference

January 24-28, 2014 – American Library Association (ALA) Mid-Winter Meeting, Philadelphia, PA

March 12, 2014 – Spring Interlibrary Loan meeting, Madison

March 14, 2014 – Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND), DePere

March 21, 2014 – Growing Wisconsin Readers Early Literacy Symposium, Stevens Point

April 2, 2014 – Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Advisory Committee Meeting, DeForest

April 30 – May 2, 2014 – Wisconsin Association of Academic Librarians (WAAL) annual conference, Wisconsin Dells
May 7-9, 2014 – Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL) annual conference, Sheboygan

May 16, 2014 – Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) meeting, Madison

May 16, 2014 -- Special Services Consultants Meeting, DeForest

October 2, 2014 – Annual Youth Services Liaisons Meeting, DeForest

October 3, 2014 – Annual System Continuing Education and Certification Consultants Meeting, DeForest

November 19, 2014 - Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Advisory Committee Meeting, DeForest

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To access previous issues of Channel Weekly, or to subscribe or unsubscribe,
go to: http://channel.dpi.wi.gov/
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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