Channel Weekly, Vol. 17, No. 3, September 18, 2014

1. DPI completes "LEAN" study of public library systems
2. Pathways to Employment Conference
3. State Library Services in Wisconsin
4. Library of the Month: Muehl Public Library
5. New BadgerLink Resource: The Week in Rap
6. UW-Madison/Madison Public Library receive IMLS National Leadership Grant
7. BadgerLink Resource of the Week: Newspapers
8. Website of the Week: Open Yale Courses
9. Calendar
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1. DPI COMPLETES ‘LEAN' STUDY OF PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEMS

The Department of Public Instruction's (DPI) Public Library Development Team completed a study of public library systems and their services. The study was conducted according to criteria originally proposed by the Wisconsin Legislature's Joint Committee on Finance in the 2013-2015 Biennial Budget, as a study to be conducted by the Department of Administration. The governor vetoed the proposal, and his memo noted that the DPI has the authority to conduct such a study. The recommended study was to investigate potential savings or efficiencies by doing the following:

  • Consolidating systems.
  • Increasing the use of technology.
  • Reducing duplications and inefficiencies.
  • Utilizing lean production principles.
  • Increasing the sharing of services among library systems.

The DPI contracted for the services of Reinvention, Inc.'s Walter Jankowski to develop and lead the study process. Using previous studies, data, and reports from the DPI, as well as a series of meetings with a steering group of five members of the library community, the project was completed in early August and the preliminary results presented to Kurt Kiefer, Assistant State Superintendent for DPI's Division for Libraries and Technology, then to groups such as the Wisconsin Library Association's (WLA) Library Development and Legislative Committee, the Council on Libraries and Network Development (COLAND), and the System and Resource Library Administrators' Association of Wisconsin (SRLAAW). The steering group then completed the report, compiled as a summary of findings in presentation format, for COLAND to use in developing recommendations as requested by State Superintendent Dr. Tony Evers. The summary of findings, which includes recommendations from the system study consultant and team, can be viewed at http://pld.dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/pld/pdf/LSSWG_recommendations.pdf.

COLAND's own work group will continue to meet to review recommendations. In order to maximize the value of the analysis, it is critical to gain input from the public library community. COLAND plans to do that in the near future with the Division's support. A webinar reviewing the summary of findings and study process will be offered in October, to be announced in Channel Weekly.


2. PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT CONFERENCE

Department of Public Instruction staff will address the Pathways to Employment Conference on Friday, September 19, at the Country Springs Hotel and Conference Center in Pewaukee. The conference is designed to help educators, librarians and community organizers build skills necessary to prepare Wisconsin's job seekers.

Resources for Libraries and Lifelong Learning Director Martha Farley Berninger and BadgerLink Training Coordinator Kara Ripley will demonstrate the job search and computer training skills resources available in BadgerLink. Robin Kroyer-Kubicek, Career Pathways Consultant, will present on Connecting to Industry-Recognized Certificates as Part of Career Pathways Employment.

For more information please see: http://www.wisconsinliteracy.org/events/event_details.php?event_id=112.


3. STATE LIBRARY SERVICES IN WISCONSIN

The Dubuque Area Library Information Consortium, a non-profit professional organization, is hosting a series of free events for all library staff in the Tri-State region of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa.

The first event, "State Library Services in Wisconsin," will be held at the Platteville Public Library from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 10, 2014.

Martha Berninger, Director of Resources for Libraries & Lifelong Learning at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, will present an overview of library services and issues in her state.

This event will include time for Q&A's and open conversation. Staff from all types of libraries in the Tri-State area are invited to attend for free. Similar events will be held in Illinois and Iowa in coming months.

If you'd like to attend "State Library Services in Wisconsin" at Platteville Public Library on Friday, October 10, registration is required by October 3. For more information and to register online, please visit REGISTRATION WEBSITE or http://www.dalinc.org/.


4. LIBRARY OF THE MONTH: MUEHL PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Library of the Month is a celebration of Wisconsin libraries compiled by the BadgerLink team. The Muehl Public Library on Main Street in Seymour, Wisconsin is a small but vibrant library that works to create an innovative learning environment through collaboration and technology. Read the full article: http://badgerlink.net/bulletin#194 .


5. NEW BADGERLINK RESOURCE: THE WEEK IN RAP

Flocabulary'sThe Week in Rapseries, an original weekly current events series for kids, is now available to Wisconsin residents atBadgerLink.netandWIMediaLab.org.More information is available at: http://badgerlink.net/bulletin#197.


6. UW-MADISON/MADISON PUBLIC LIBRARY RECEIVE IMLS NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANT

The University of Wisconsin-Madison was awarded a $456,627 National Leadership Grant for Libraries administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services to conduct research to look at how the Madison Public Library's maker-focused program, the Bubbler, is building a production-oriented approach to literacy and learning. The grant will fund existing Bubbler programs, as well as new initiatives. The findings of the research will be shared through conference presentations and journal articles.

For a list of recipients awarded the National Leadership Grant click here http://www.imls.gov/news/2014_ols_nlg_and_sparks_annoucement.aspx#WI.

Madison Bubbler website: http://madisonbubbler.org/


7. BADGERLINK RESOURCE OF THE WEEK

Looking for local and national newspapers? Go to http://badgerlink.net/newspapers and see what BadgerLink has to offer!

8. Website of the Week

Open Yale Courses -- http://oyc.yale.edu -- Open Yale Courses provides free access to a selection of introductory courses taught by Yale University faculty and staff. Lectures are available in video, audio, and text transcript formats. (Website reference courtesy of refdesk.com)


9. CALENDAR

September 21-27, 2012 – Banned Books Week (national observance)

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

For questions about this information, contact Roslyn Wise (608) 266-6439