1. DPI launches Google+ Communities
2. LSTA meeting and public hearing scheduled
3. Science and Technology BadgerLink training
4. Library Spotlight: Luck Public Schools 7-12 Library
5. IMLS seeks libraries' input on future grant directions
6. Pew Research Center releases typology of public library engagement
7. IMLS to hold public hearing on broadband
8. BadgerLink Resource of the Week: Bibliography resources in BadgerLink
9. Website of the Week: NASA's Earth Observing System
10. Calendar
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1. DPI LAUNCHES GOOGLE+ COMMUNITIES
The Department of Public Instruction has launched multiple Google+ Communities to facilitate robust sharing of ideas, events, best practices, and notices of upcoming events and training. These Google+ Communities will become part of the WISE Learn portal that DPI is developing. Some of the Communities require invitations to join; to join those, please contact the Community owner. Others are public and anyone can see the community in Google+ and send the Community owner a request to join.
The current Google+ Communities managed by DPI include:
WI DPI Resource Sharing Google+ Community https://plus.google.com/u/2/communities/116392278722620263539, managed by Martha Berninger at Martha.berninger@dpi.wi.gov and Christine Barth at Christine.barth@dpi.wi.gov.
WI DPI School Libraries PLC -- https://plus.google.com/u/2/communities/116641569210101504648, managed by Nancy Anderson at Nancy.Anderson@dpi.wi.gov
WI DPI WeTECH PLC -- https://plus.google.com/u/2/communities/100141803417716930622; managed by Janice Mertes.
2. LSTA MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED
Wisconsin's LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) Advisory Committee will meet in DeForest on Wednesday, April 2, 2014, at the Comfort Inn & Suites, 5025 County Highway V, to discuss grant categories for LSTA projects to take place in 2015.
As a part of the meeting, there will be a public hearing beginning at 10 a.m. on April 2 for interested persons to make suggestions on the LSTA program for 2015. Final guidelines for the 2015 LSTA program will be developed in May 2014. If you are unable to attend the public hearing, written comments may be submitted by letter, fax, or e-mail to Terrie Howe, P.O. Box 7841, Madison, WI 53707-7841; fax number (608) 266-9207; email address teresa.howe@dpi.wi.gov. You are also encouraged to submit comments and support documents to be distributed to the committee members even if you are attending the meeting to testify. Testimony must arrive by 4:00 p.m., Monday, March 31, for inclusion in the hearing.
3. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BADGERLINK TRAINING
Looking for science and technology information? From April 3 to May 1, 2014, the 2014 BadgerLunch Webinar Series will feature information about science and technology resources available in BadgerLink. Each 20 minute webinar covers a separate resource.
These sessions will be recorded and archived. No registration is required. The archive of previous sessions is found at http://badgerlink.net/help/training.
April 3—Science Reference Center
April 10—Wisconsin Media Lab
April 17—Britannica School
April 24—LearningExpress Library
May 1—GreenFILE
For more information go to http://www.badgerlink.net/bulletin#156.
4. LIBRARY SPOTLIGHT: LUCK PUBLIC SCHOOLS 7-12 LIBRARY
At Luck High School, students and teachers take advantage of the resources in BadgerLink. According to Lori Nelson, the PreK-12 Luck Library Media Specialist, students use BadgerLink for research projects "because BadgerLink provides reliable information on virtually any topic."
BadgerLink is a great resource for basic fact-finding or an in-depth research project. BadgerLink allows Wisconsin residents to access popular, current full-text magazines and newspapers that are easily incorporated into the research and classroom projects. Students can use encyclopedias in BadgerLink to get general knowledge. Students and teachers alike can download audio and sound effect tracks from Soundzabound (provided by Wisconsin Media Lab) to put in presentations, YouTube videos, or other multimedia displays without worrying about copyright infringement.
Likewise, in BadgerLink, educators can easily access exceptional classroom resources. Multimedia from a variety of resources (videos in Wisconsin Media Lab, animations is Consumer Health Complete, or images in Britannica School) provides clarification and helps educators describe complex ideas. Using BadgerLink, educators and librarians can access ideas for classroom activities and games as well as conduct educational research and participate in self-guided training.
BadgerLink resources are great for all students and lifelong learners and are available to all Wisconsin residents at www.BadgerLink.net. Annually, BadgerLink costs over $2.2 million. It sounds like a lot of money, but if each library in Wisconsin purchased the same resources, the total cost would be over $74 million. In the era of small budgets, BadgerLink is particularly important to communities that are without the funding to spend on licensing reliable online resources.
If you have any questions, contact BadgerLink: http://badgerlink.net/help/contact-us.
5. IMLS Seeks Libraries' Input on Future Grant Directions
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is hosting three webinars for library stakeholders who want to shape future grant directions and help their communities maximize educational and economic opportunities. This series of meetings will provide opportunities to hear from library leaders and experts focused on IMLS' funding strategies, particularly for the National Leadership Grant program. IMLS is concentrating efforts on the importance of strong libraries to benefit all Americans and will explore funding that aligns with the agency's three goals to make a more significant comprehensive impact. The three goals are: supporting libraries' role in providing opportunities for lifelong learning, anchors for community engagement, and access to content.
The topics and dates for the three meetings are:
April 29 -- Goal is Access to Content: National Digital Initiatives;
May 15 -- Goal is Anchors for Community Engagement: Learning Spaces in Libraries;
June 3 -- Goal is Opportunities for Learning: STEM Learning.
As a reminder, the LSTA Five-Year Plan 2013-2017 for Wisconsin is located at: http://pld.dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/pld/pdf/lstaplan13.pdf.
6. PEW RESEARCH CENTER RELEASES TYPOLOGY OF PUBLIC LIBRARY ENGAGEMENT
The Pew Research Center recently released a typology of public library engagement in the United States. Over the past three years, Pew Research collected and analyzed the role public libraries play in the community to help further the discussion of what the library of the future should look like. The typology is broken down into three stages:
- How the growing role of eBooks has impacted Americans' reading habits and their library habits;
- Looking at the full range of services that public libraries offer, and what services Americans value most;
- The role that public libraries play in Americans' lives and culture.
The typology includes all of the research and data sets that are available to look at on the Pew Research's website (http://libraries.pewinternet.org/).
To view the public library engagement typography click here: http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/03/13/library-engagement-typology/.
7. IMLS TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARING ON BROADBAND
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) recently announced that it is holding a public hearing, "Libraries and Broadband: Urgency and Impact," to examine the need for high-speed broadband in America's libraries. The hearing will take place on April 17, 2014, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (EDT) at the Martin Luther King Memorial Library, 901 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20001. The hearing will be webcast. Details about accessing the webcast will be announced shortly.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is charged with advising the President and Congress about the library, museum, and information service needs of the American public. The agency is conducting this public hearing to establish a public record on the need for and impact of high-speed broadband connectivity in America's libraries.
IMLS Director Susan H. Hildreth will chair the hearing along with members of the National Museum Services Board including Christie Pearson Brandau of Iowa, Charles Benton of Illinois, Winston Tabb of Maryland, and Carla Hayden also of Maryland.
The hearing will consist of three panels:
- The Vision: What happens when we get it right? This panel will explore innovative practices and partnerships as well as potential solutions that can serve individuals and communities well.
- The Data: This panel will explore what we know about broadband connections and services in America's libraries. What are the metrics that we need to assess whether sufficient connectivity is in place? What are the metrics that can be used to assess success?
- The Stakes: What's at risk? This panel will explore what is at risk when libraries lack sufficient connectivity.
Submit comments to comments@imls.gov. Comments received by May 1, 2014, will be included in the record. Each comment must include the author's name and organizational affiliation, if any.
The hearing is open to the public, subject to space availability. Please RSVP to events@imls.gov.
8. BADGERLINK RESOURCE OF THE WEEK
Having trouble with your bibliography? BadgerLink resources (EBSCO and Encyclopædia Britannica) make it easy create a citation with their automatic citation button! Contact Kara Ripley at kara.ripley@dpi.wi.gov with any questions.
9. Website of the Week
NASA's Earth Observing System -- http://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov -- NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) is a coordinated series of polar-orbiting and low inclination satellites for long-term global observations of the land surface, biosphere, solid Earth, atmosphere, and oceans. The EOS is part of the Earth Science Division of NASA's Science Mission Directorate. (Website reference courtesy of refdesk.com)
10. CALENDAR
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, Madison
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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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