1. Schedule a "Typical Week" tally for October
2. County library tax exemption – 2013 and 2014 equalized values
3. Free online early literacy coursework opportunity
4. COLAND elects officers for 2014-15
5. BadgerLearn Pro survey results
6. IMLS announces National Leadership Grants for Libraries funding opportunity
7. BadgerLink Resource of the Week: BadgerLink training opportunities
8. Website of the Week: Food and Nutrition Information Center
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EDITOR'S NOTE – Channel Weekly will not be published the next week.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 September 4, 2014, edition.
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1. SCHEDULE A "TYPICAL WEEK" TALLY FOR OCTOBER

In the public library annual report, the Library Services section has several questions that require the library to tally counts throughout the year or, if that is not feasible, to collect data during a "typical week." If your library does not routinely count each patron coming into the library (visits), reference question, and Internet computer use, 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:

• Reference Transactions
• Library Visits (patron count)
• Number of Uses of Public Internet Computers

According to the definition used for national library statistics, a reference transaction is an information consultation in which library staff recommend, interpret, evaluate, and/or use information resources to help others to meet particular information needs. A reference transaction includes information and referral service as well as unscheduled individual instruction and assistance in using information sources (including web sites and computer-assisted instruction). Count Readers Advisory questions as reference transactions. Information sources include:

• Printed and non-printed material
• Machine-readable databases (including computer-assisted instruction)
• The library's own catalogs and other holdings records
• Other libraries and institutions through communication or referral
• Persons both inside and outside the library

The request may come in person, by phone, by fax, by mail, or by e-mail or networked electronic reference service from an adult, a young adult, or a child. When a staff member uses information gained from previous use of information sources to answer a question, the transaction is reported as a reference transaction even if the source is not consulted again. If a contact includes both reference and directional services, it should be reported as one reference transaction. Duration should not be an element in determining whether a transaction is a reference transaction.

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 infrared 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. Please note the collection for Public Internet Computers was changed last year from users to uses.

If you have questions, please email LlibraryReport@dpi.wi.gov or contact your regional library system.


2. COUNTY LIBRARY TAX EXEMPTION - 2013 AND 2014 EQUALIZED VALUES

Thanks to feedback about the 2015 county library tax exemption guide, the Department of Public Instruction's Public Library Development team has used Wisconsin Department of Revenue data to compile a spreadsheet of 2013 and 2014 equalized values reduced by Tax Incremental District (TID) increment for all municipalities and counties. The step-by-step instructions at http://pld.dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/pld/pdf/2015CountyExempCalc.pdf for calculating the county library tax exemption have been updated to include a direct link to the new spreadsheet.

Please contact Denise Anton Wright, Public Library Administration Consultant, with questions at 608-266-7270 or denise.wright@dpi.wi.gov.


3. FREE ONLINE EARLY LITERACY COURSEWORK OPPORTUNITY

As part of the Growing Wisconsin Readers early literacy initiative, the Public Library Development Team at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is proud to announce a free, new professional development opportunity for Wisconsin public youth services librarians. Thirty librarians will be selected to participate in a pair of asynchronous online early literacy courses taught by nationally renowned early literacy consultant Saroj Ghoting. The first course will take place during Fall 2014 and the second course will take place in Winter 2015. There is no cost to participants to take part in the pair of courses, although the purchase of two books is required.

Past participants in these courses have commented positively about the ease and flexibility of the online experience. Most importantly, participants valued the direct connection between the coursework and their practice. A digital badge and certificate will be awarded to participants upon completion. Applicants must apply online by Tuesday, September 16, 2014. Thirty applicants will be selected, preferably representing all 17 public library systems in Wisconsin. For questions about the course, contact Tessa Michaelson Schmidt, Youth and Special Services Consultant at tessa.schmidt@dpi.wi.gov.

Read the coursework description here: http://pld.dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/pld/pdf/ELCoursework.pdf.
Find the online application here: https://forms.dpi.wi.gov/se.ashx?s=56301B2D71D6D5AA.


4. COLAND ELECTS OFFICERS FOR 2014-15

At its July 11, 2014, meeting, held at the Hatch Public Library in Mauston, the Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) approved a new slate of officers for the 2014-15 year. Nita Burke, public member, from Darlington, was elected chair; Bryan McCormick, professional member, of Janesville was elected vice chair, and Joshua Cowles, professional member, from Fond du Lac, will serve as secretary. The new officers will serve through the July 2015 meeting.

Created by the Wisconsin State Legislature in 1979, COLAND advises the State Superintendent of Public Instruction on issues to ensure that all state citizens have access to library and information services. Council findings are communicated as advisory recommendations to the state superintendent, governor, and Legislature. The 19-member council functions as a forum through which librarians and members of the public identify, study, and collect public testimony on issues affecting Wisconsin libraries and other information services. Members serve three-year terms. Membership includes nine professional members who represent various public and private libraries as well as library educators. The remaining ten council positions are held by public members with a demonstrated interest in libraries or other types of information services.

Other COLAND members are Ewa Barczyk, professional member, Milwaukee; Terrence Berres, public member, Franklin; Mary Therese Boyle, public member, Burlington; Cara Cavin, public member, Verona; Miriam Erickson, public member, Fish Creek; Laurie Freund, professional member, Waukesha; Thomas Kamenick, public member, Saukville; Douglas Lay, public member, Suamico; Kathy Pletcher, public member, Denmark; Jess Ripp, public member, Milwaukee; Joan Robb, professional member, Green Bay; Emily Rogers, professional member, DePere; Jim Trojanowski, professional member, Ashland, and Kristi Williams, public member, Cottage Grove. Two professional seats are currently vacant.

COLAND meets every other month starting in January of each year. Its next meeting will be held Friday, September 12, 2014, at the College of Menominee Nation Library in Keshena.

Additional information about COLAND can be found at http://dpi.wi.gov/coland .


5. BADGERLEARN PRO SURVEY RESULTS

BadgerLearn Pro (http://badgerlearnpro.dpi.wi.gov/) is a continuing education portal for librarians. The immediate vision is for BadgerLearn Pro to be a place where librarians can discover and access resources of professional value and to provide training for technical competencies for public librarians. BadgerLearn Pro is a joint project under active development by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's Resources for Libraries and Lifelong Learning (RL&LL), Wisconsin Library Services (WiLS), and the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC).

Recently the BadgerLearn Pro team asked the library community to fill out a survey about continuing education needs.

Here is a summary of the results:

Top 5 Primary Duties:
Patron Programming
Administrative
Children/Youth Services
Circulation
Reference

Top 5 Subjects to Learn More About:
E Books
Readers' Advisory
Planning for the Future
Leadership
Reference Skills

Best Length: 20-45 minutes

Best Format: Webinar

See full results of the survey at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BlWTzH5FCoffvspeHGkbgP1V567WvroQhy5Juav_28A/edit?usp=sharing

Please contact the BadgerLearn Pro team with any questions, concerns, or comments at badgerlearn@dpi.wi.gov.


6. IMLS ANNOUNCES NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANTS FOR LIBRARIES FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announces the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the first round of FY 2015 National Leadership Grants for Libraries (NLG) (http://www.imls.gov/applicants/detail.aspx?GrantId=14). The IMLS National Leadership Grants for Libraries program invests $12 million annually in projects that improve professional library and archive practice with implications far beyond the grantee institutions. The grants help drive innovation and support projects with national impact.

This year, IMLS is adding an additional opportunity to apply for FY 2015 National Leadership Grants for Libraries. IMLS will be accepting applications in October and again in February.

For the October deadline the IMLS is implementing some changes that will allow the agency to address strategic issues identified in a series of IMLS Focus meetings that were held earlier this year. To make it possible for IMLS to provide feedback to potential applicants before they prepare full proposals, brief preliminary proposals will be accepted on October 13, 2014 and selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals. Invited full proposals will be due on January 15, 2015.

Applicants interested in learning more may participate in webinars on August 20, at 2:00 p.m. CT, and (repeated) on September 16, at 2:00 p.m. CT. For more information about the webinars, see the IMLS Webinar webpage.

More information about the grants can be found at http://www.imls.gov/applicants/detail.aspx?GrantId=14 .


7. BADGERLINK RESOURCE OF THE WEEK

Want to request BadgerLink training for your organization? Ask a Librarian! http://www.badgerlink.net/ask-librarian.


8. Website of the Week

Food and Nutrition Information Center – http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/index.html – This site from the United States Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Information Center provides links to resources for consumers, nutrition and health professionals, educators and government personnel.


9. CALENDAR

September 12, 2014 – Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) meeting, Keshena

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, to be confirmed

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