1. 2015 LSTA application open until September 8, 2014
2. Wisconsin voices heard at 2014 National Library Legislative Day
3. FCC passes proposal for modernization of the E-rate program
4. Higher education, library groups release Net Neutrality Principles
5. Congress passes legislation recognizing libraries in workforce development
6. Call for nominations: 2015 National Medal for Museum and Library Service
7. BadgerLink Resource of the Week: Summer reading resources
8. Website of the Week
9. Calendar
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EDITOR'S NOTE – Channel Weekly will not be published the next week. The next issue of Channel Weekly will be the July 31, 2014, edition.
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1. 2015 LSTA APPLICATION OPEN UNTIL SEPTEMBER 8, 2014

The 2015 LSTA application is now open at https://forms.dpi.wi.gov/se.ashx?s=56301B2D244BABD4; it can be found on the LSTA web page (http://pld.dpi.wi.gov/pld_lsta). There are recorded information sessions to listen to as well as an application guide and framework link to view for additional assistance. The form can be used for practice; applications are "official" when you click "submit application" on page 15 of the form. Online grant applications are due by 4:30 p.m. September 8, 2014; a signed certification form must be postmarked by September 8, or signed, scanned and emailed by the same time and date to Terrie Howe, LSTA Program Coordinator for the Department of Public Instruction, at the email address provided in the application instructions.


2. WISCONSIN VOICES HEARD AT 2014 NATIONAL LIBRARY LEGISLATIVE DAY

With support from the Wisconsin Library Association and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction,eight librarians from all over Wisconsin met with members of Congress to discuss key library issues during the American Library Association's (ALA) 40th annual National Library Legislative Day held May 5 and 6, 2014, in Washington, D.C. The group from Wisconsin joined several hundred of their colleagues in Washington to advocate for federal funding and supportive legislation on behalf of libraries. The attendees from Wisconsin were Mary Therese Boyle (Library Board Trustee), Kurt Kiefer (State Librarian and Assistant State Superintendent), Grant Lynch (Library Director, Waukesha Public Library), Gary Poulson (Library System Board Trustee), Julie Schneider (Library Director, Ebling Library, UW Madison), Michael Slowinski (Library Media Technology Coordinator, West DePere), Martha Van Pelt (Director, South Central Library System), and Jennifer Zurawski (Library Media Instructional Technology Specialist, West DePere). The eight attendees represented public libraries, public library systems, school libraries, academic libraries, library trustees, and state library administration in their visits to the offices of all ten members of Wisconsin's Congressional delegation.

During the briefings on May 5, Senator Angus King (I-ME) jump-started the advocacy event by addressing library advocates at the Liaison Capitol Hill Hotel. Additional event speakers included Maine State Librarian Linda Lord; Gabriel Rottman, legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union; Shawn Daugherty, Assistant Director of the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC); and Peter Jaszi, professor of law at the American University Washington College of Law. After the briefings, ALA's United for Libraries' gave their Public Service Award, the highest honor for legislators who support library issues, to Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) for their introduction of the USA Freedom Act.

During legislative meetings on May 6, the Wisconsin contingent discussed the need to level-fund the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), continue funding for the school library initiative Innovative Approaches to Literacy, reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act, support the Fair Access to Science and Technology Research Act, and recognize the growing importance of high-capacity broadband to Wisconsin libraries and schools by continuing to support the E-Rate program.


3. FCC PASSES PROPOSAL FOR MODERNIZATION OF THE E-RATE PROGRAM

On Friday, July 11, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) passed (3-2 vote) a proposal to modernize the E-rate program. The Modernization Order will expand Wi-Fi networks in schools and public libraries, and is the first effort to modernize the program in its 18 year history. The reform will expand Wi-Fi to more than 10 million students in 2015.

Some of the highlights are:

• Changing Priority 1 and Priority 2 to Category 1 and Category 2.
• Directing at least $1 billion in support for Wi-Fi for Funding Years 2015 and 2016 in Category 2 using a reserve fund the SLD/USAC has accumulated over the past several years.
• Funding Category 2 without reducing the amount available to Category 1 funding.
• Increasing support targeted for Wi-Fi in rural school districts and all public libraries.
• Beginning a multi-year transition of all program funding to broadband, by phasing down support for non-broadband services. (Voice services will be phased out over several years but it is likely that email and webhosting will be eliminated in 2015. VoIP is still under review.)
• Using the SETDA benchmarks to set clear broadband goals to measure overall program success, while maintaining local flexibility to determine the needs of individual schools and libraries.
• Streamlining multi-year applications and expediting process for small dollar, cost-effective applications.
• Moving to electronic filing of all documents and increasing transparency on how E-rate dollars are spent and on prices charged for E-rate services.
• Simplifying discount calculations. For schools they will now calculate their discount as a simple, district-wide average, instead of the current weighted average.
• There will be a 10 year E-rate documentation retention requirement.

The full notice can be found here http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2014/db0711/DOC-328172A2.pdf.


4. HIGHER EDUCATION, LIBRARY GROUPS RELEASE NET NEUTRALITY PRINCIPALS

On July 10, the American Library Association, the Association of Research Libraries, and other higher education organizations representing thousands of colleges, universities, and libraries nationwide released a joint set of Net Neutrality Principles (PDF file) that they recommend as forming the basis of an upcoming FCC decision to protect the openness of the internet.

The groups believe network neutrality protections are essential to protecting freedom of speech, educational achievement, and economic growth.

The organizations endorsing these principles are:

• American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)
• American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)
• American Council on Education (ACE)
• American Library Association (ALA)
• Association of American Universities (AAU)
• Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU)
• Association of Research Libraries (ARL)
• Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA)
• EDUCAUSE
• Modern Language Association (MLA)
• National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU)

These groups are extremely concerned that the recent court decision vacating two of the key "open Internet" rules creates an opportunity for Internet providers to block or degrade (e.g., arbitrarily slow) certain Internet traffic, or prioritize certain services, while relegating public interest services to the "slow lane." These groups support strong, enforceable rules to ensure that higher education and libraries can continue to deliver online educational and public interest content at a level of speed and quality on par with commercial providers. The proposed principles call upon the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ban blocking, degradation, and "paid prioritization"; ensure that the same rules apply to fixed and mobile broadband providers; promote greater transparency of broadband services; and prevent providers from treating similar customers in significantly different ways.

A link to the full article, and text of the principles, can be found here:
http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2014/07/higher-education-library-groups-release-net-neutrality-principles.


5. CONGRESS PASSES LEGISLATION RECOGNIZING LIBRARIES IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Congress has passed a sweeping overhaul of the nation's workforce law. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 affirms the role of libraries in assisting the country's job seekers and employers. Passed overwhelmingly by both the House and Senate, the bill, has had President Obama's support and now awaits his signature.

For public libraries, the new bill identifies them as eligible for funds as "One-Stop" partners with the ability to provide an expansive array of job search services. Also, it recognizes libraries as important providers of federally supported training and employment services for adult education and literacy. The legislation also instructs state and local Workforce Development Boards to boost "digital literacy skills" at training centers.

For more information, read the full post from the Institute for Museums and Library Services at http://blog.imls.gov/?p=5002.


6. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: 2015 NATIONAL MEDAL FOR MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICE

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is now accepting nominations for the 2015National Medal for Museum and Library Service. Museums and libraries that would like to be considered for the National Medal should complete the nomination form by October 15, 2014.

The National Medal honors museums and libraries that make extraordinary civic, educational, economic, environmental, and social contributions. Public or private nonprofit museums, including art, history, science and technology, children's, and natural history museums; historic houses, nature centers, zoos, and botanical gardens; and all types of nonprofit libraries, including public, school, academic, research, and archival, are eligible to receive this honor. The winners are honored at a National Medal award ceremony held in Washington, D.C.

For more information and to access the nomination form, please go tohttp://www.imls.gov/applicants/detail.aspx?GrantId=13. A complete application will include a five-page, single-spaced narrative; financial statements for the past two fiscal years; and up to three letters of support. These nominating materials are reviewed by members of the National Museum and Library Services Board, a presidentially appointed policy advisory board of IMLS. Based on their recommendations, the IMLS Director selects the final winners. Nomination forms are due October 15, 2014.


7. BADGERLINK RESOURCE OF THE WEEK

Find your next beach read on NoveList or NoveList K-8 http://badgerlink.net/all#n.


8. Website of the Week

Consumerist -- http://consumerist.com – A consumer affairs blog owned by Consumer Media LLC (a subsidiary of Consumer Reports), The Consumerist offers links to posts provided by regular daily contributors. (Website reference courtesy of refdesk.com)


9. CALENDAR

September 12, 2014 – Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) meeting, location to be confirmed

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

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

November 4-7, 2014 – Wisconsin Library Association annual conference, Wisconsin Dells

November 14, 2014 – Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) meeting, location to be confirmed

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