Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction • Tony Evers, PhD, State Superintendent

Volume 45, Number 3Spring 2010

School Library Summit seeks solutions to staffingcrisis ........................................................................ 1Reference and Loan Library announces namechange .................................................................... 4Name changes reflects evolution of library services ... 4Best Practices: Building Issues ............................... 6Madison library VISTA receives Governor’s ServiceAward .................................................................... 10Thinkfinity expedites resource access andprofessional networking ........................................ 11Resources for Libraries & Lifelong Learningwelcomes new staffers .......................................... 122011 LSTA competitive and non-competitive grantcategories announced ........................................... 13Eastern Shores Library System teams up with theWisconsin Digital Archives .................................... 14DPI partners with DNR for summer reading fun .... 15WISCAT expands interlibrary loan trading partners .. 16Wisconsin school libraries receive $32 million inlibrary aid from Common School Fund earnings ... 17

In this issue

School Library Summit seeks solutions to staffing crisisBy Nancy Anderson, ConsultantSchool Library MediaInstructional Media and Technology Team

On April 29 and 30, 2010, approximately 65stakeholders representing urban, suburban, and ruralsettings from around the state came together inRothschild, Wisconsin, to deal with the problem ofreduced budgets impacting staffing decisions andincreasing student need for library media services.Individuals representing the Council on Library andNetwork Development (COLAND), the Departmentof Public Instruction (DPI), the WisconsinAssociation of School Boards (WASB), theWisconsin Educational Media and TechnologyAssociation (WEMTA), the Wisconsin LibraryAssociation (WLA), the Wisconsin Education

Association Council (WEAC), parents, school boardmembers, classroom teachers, library mediaspecialists, and district administrators engaged indiscussions which built on shared knowledge aboutthe current situation, created a vision of the future,and identified priority strategies and action teams.The Wisconsin School Library Summit was co-sponsored by COLAND and State SuperintendentTony Evers. The Beginnings Report from theCOLAND Visioning Summit showed the need foraction on this issue; a Library Services andTechnology Act (LSTA) grant funded this summitand the ongoing work of the action teams.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction TonyEvers speaks to participants at the Wisconsin SchoolLibrary Summit in Rothschild on April 30.

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Spring 2010Volume 45, Number 3

Channel (ISSN 0146-1095) is publishedfour times per year by the Division forLibraries, Technology, and CommunityLearning, Wisconsin Department of PublicInstruction. Its primary purpose is toprovide information on the services of theDLTCL and matters of interest to librariesand school library media centers inWisconsin. Library Services and Technol-ogy Act (LSTA) funds partially supportChannel publication. LSTA is administeredat the federal level by the Institute ofMuseum and Library Services.

Send comments about bylined articles tothe authors. Direct other content inquiriesor mailing list changes to:

Roslyn Wise, EditorWisconsin Department of PublicInstructionP. O. Box 7841Madison, WI 53707-7841(608) 266-6439 or 1-800-441-4563roslyn.wise@dpi.wi.gov.

The Wisconsin Department of PublicInstruction does not discriminate on thebasis of sex, race, color, religion, creed,age, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy,marital status or parental status, sexualorientation, or disability.

The current situation in Wisconsinshows increasing disparities in thelearning opportunities studentshave available in different districtsacross the state. There wasagreement that students need tounderstand and to be able to use21st century skills in order to besuccessful as they move into theworlds of higher education andwork. It was agreed that certifiedschool library media specialistsprovide critical support for thedevelopment of these skills. Therewas also an acknowledgement thatbudget cuts have had a verynegative impact on the number ofpositions currently staffed bycertified professionals. Ruraldistricts and Milwaukee PublicSchools have been hit particularlyhard.

Jan O’Neill, co-founder of QLD(Quality Leadership by Design),facilitated the work of thisdiverse group. The frameworkshe used moved the discussionand process forward which wasnot an easy task given the widerange of issues that factor into thecurrent situation. Participantshad a limited time for thesediscussions meeting onlyThursday evening and all dayFriday. The willingness of theparticipants to discuss the issueshonestly, think creatively abouthow to move forward, andcontinue as part of ongoingaction teams was a tribute to theirdedication to the students in thisstate. The experiences andexpertise of everyoneparticipating created very rich

discussions. Information was alsoprovided by a panel including ValEdwards, National BoardCertified Library MediaSpecialist; Dan Rossmiller,Director of Government Relationsfor the Wisconsin Association ofSchool Boards, and KimWilliams, parent representative.Video clips were used to showcurrent and past practice in school

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School library summit participants discuss issues facing school librarymedia centers in the state.

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Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction,125 South Webster Street

P.O. Box 7841, Madison, WI 53707-7841;(800) 441-4563, fax (608) 267-1052

http://www.dpi.wi.gov/dltcl

Division for Libraries,Technology,

and Community Learning

Cooperative Children's Book Center4290 Helen C. White Hall, 600 N. Park St., Madison, WI 53706ccbcinfo@education.wisc.edu ............. www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/Kathleen Horning, Director ......................................... (608) 263-3720

Milwaukee Public Library/Interlibrary Loan814 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53233-2385Brian Hannemann, Interlibrary Loan Librarian ............ (414) 286-6064

WiLS/Interlibrary Loan728 State Street, Rooms 464 and B106B, Madison, WI 53706-1494schneid@wils.wisc.edu ................................ http://www.wils.wisc.edu/Kathy Schneider, Director ........................................... (608) 263-2773

Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library813 West Wells Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233-1436http://www.dpi.wi.gov/rll/wrlbph/index.htmlEnid Gruska, Library Director ...................................... (800) 242-8822

Statewide Resource Contacts

Richard GrobschmidtDivision Administrator ............................... (608) 266-2205

Public Library Development TeamMichael Cross, Director .................................................. 267-9225Robert Bocher, Consultant

Technology .................................................................... 266-2127John DeBacher, Consultant

Public Library Administration ......................................... 266-7270Teresa Howe, Consultant

LSTA and Continuing Education ................................... 266-2413Barbara Huntington, Consultant

Public Library Youth and Special Services .................... 267-5077(Vacant), Consultant

Public Library System Administration and Finance ....... 266-3939

Instructional Media and Technology TeamStephen Sanders, Director ............................................. 266-3856Nancy Anderson, Consultant

School Library Media .................................................... 267-9287Stuart Ciske, Consultant

Instructional Technology Planning & Integration ........... 267-9289Donna Steffan, Consultant

Information & Technology Literacy Standards & Integration 267-1282

DPI Professional LibraryKay Ihlenfeldt, Librarian .................................................. 266-3108

Resources for Libraries and Lifelong Learning2109 S. Stoughton Rd., Madison, WI 53716; fax 224-6178

Sally J. Drew, Director ..................................................... 224-6161Circulation Desk ............................................................. 224-6169Christine Barth

Interlibrary Loan Librarian ............................................. 224-6171Martha Berninger, Team Leader

Reference and Interloan ............................................... 224-6168Allison Coshenet

AskAway Reference Program ....................................... 224-6165Vickie Long

WISCAT User Support .................................................. 224-5394Lisa Reale

BadgerLink Coordinator ................................................ 224-5389David Sleasman, Team Leader

Resource Sharing Technology ...................................... 224-6179Abbigail (Abby) Swanton

Wisconsin Documents Depository Program andWisconsin Digital Archives ............................................ 224-6174

Wisconsin Child Care Information CenterLita Haddal, Director ................. (800) 362-7353 or (608) 224-5388

To send e-mail, use the following format (all lowercase letters):firstname.lastname@dpi.wi.gov

libraries and provide comments from Wisconsinadministrators, teachers, and students.

After much discussion there was some agreement oncertain elements of a vision and there was also ongoingdebate about other components. An action group wasformed to continue to work on developing that vision.There was general agreement on a key element of thevision which included the need for equitable anduniversal access beyond the walls of the school libraryfor all students. To accomplish this it will require theleadership of professionals in this field, administratorswho understand what the role of a school library mediaspecialist should be, and collaboration between schoollibrarians and everyone else involved in helping studentsdevelop essential 21st century learning skills. Actionteams related to other elements of the vision met for ashort time Friday afternoon. At that point those teamsdiscussed issues related to developing additional modelsfor the delivery for library media services, ensuring thatteachers are adequately trained in the area of informationliteracy, and building awareness and understanding aboutthe learning opportunities that certified school librarymedia specialists provide for students and teachers.

Summit organizers appreciate the time and energyparticipants have put into this effort and are grateful fortheir willingness to continue to work to move forward.

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By Sally Drew, DirectorReference and Loan Library

The Reference and Loan Libraryhas changed its name with thelaunch of a new websitedescribing its services (http://dpi.wi.gov/rll/index.html). Thenew name is Resources forLibraries and Lifelong Learningor RL&LL for short. Over thelast decade, the emphasis on useof technology to provide onlinestatewide resources and serviceshas required a larger portion ofstaff time and resources. At thesame time, the budget foracquisitions has decreasedsubstantially and collectiondevelopment has centered on coreareas. The name change reflectsthe overall shift in priorities andservices.

The new website was launched onMay 4. The home page featuresthe primary online resourcescurrently available. Theseresources are available to allWisconsin library staff and usersand can be accessed by residentsfrom any computer with webaccess. Primary online resourcesinclude AskAway, BadgerLink,WISCAT and WisconsinGovernment Documents. Thewebsite provides guidance onfinding information and seekinghelp in using online resources andidentifying core materials in theprint and audiovisual collections.

The Reference and Loan Libraryhas traditionally offered manyservices to library staff in relation

to its programs and will continueto do so. On the Resources forLibraries and Lifelong Learningwebsite, these services can beaccessed by clicking on theServices for Libraries and StateAgencies button. Library andstate government agency staff canfind an abundance of informationon working with RL&LL staff onprograms such as BadgerLink fulltext databases, delivery services,digitization of library materials,the Wisconsin DocumentDepository Program and DigitalArchives, interlibrary loanservices, reference services,WISCAT union and virtualcatalogs and interlibrary loanmanagement system, and the

Reference and Loan Library announces name changeWisconsin metadata and stategovernment thesaurus projects.

RL&LL also manages websitesfor two contract organizations, theChild Care Information Centerand the Wisconsin Talking Bookand Braille Library. These twowebsites can be found through thenew RL&LL website.

RL&LL staff invites you to try outthe new website and we hope youlike our new look. If there isother information you wish theyhad provided, please let themknow. Contact Sally Drew atsally.drew@dpi.wi.gov or byphone at 608-224-6161.

With a name change from theReference and Loan Library toResources for Libraries andLifelong Learning (RL&LL), theorganization maintains the longestablished tradition of changingits services to keep up with theshifting needs of Wisconsinlibraries and residents. TheRL&LL’s evolving services havebeen a part of Wisconsin libraryservices from the beginning.

The Free Library Commissionwas organized on December 3,1895 with Frank A. Hutchins,Lutie Stearns, and Senator JamesH. Stout supplying the motivating

forces and guiding hands. Theinitial library contained donationsof books to form “travelinglibraries.” The traveling librarieswere collections of books packedin specially constructed woodencases, each with double doors,lock and key, that were deliveredby train, wagon, or sled toWisconsin small towns and ruralcommunities where they wereused for a six month period. Theboxes came in three sizes whichcontained 30, 50, or 100 volumes.Lutie Stearns was the firstTraveling Librarian and promotedthe establishment of public

Name change reflects evolution oflibrary services

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libraries and use of the travelinglibrary collections. In 1903, thelaw was revised to officiallyinclude a Department of TravelingLibraries within the WisconsinFree Library Commission.Eventually, the boxes began tosupplement the collections ofestablished public libraries andbecame a practical method ofbroadening the educationopportunities of the time. Thecirculation of traveling librariesceased in the mid-1950s.

The Wisconsin Statutes includedprovisions for access to anddistribution of governmentdocuments to libraries beginningin 1901. In 1903, provision wasmade for the Free LibraryCommission to designate librariesto receive depository shipments ofstate documents.

In 1965, the Wisconsin Free LibraryCommission was merged into theDepartment of Public Instruction asthe newly designated Division forLibrary Services. The TravelingLibrary was renamed the Referenceand Loan Library. Library staff andindividuals without local libraryservice could use the services of theReference and Loan Library, andmaterials were shipped through themail. The Reference and LoanLibrary also served stategovernment employees andprovided service to schools in areaswhere there was no public library.

The legislature passed lawsauthorizing the establishment of

public library systems in 1971.Public library systems were toimprove and extend public libraryservices, promote resourcesharing among libraries, andincrease access to librarymaterials and services for thestate’s residents. The first fourWisconsin public library systemsbegan operating in 1973. Aspublic library systems wereestablished statewide, theReference and Loan Librarygradually discontinued loaningmaterials directly to Wisconsinresidents and instead servedlibraries through interlibrary loan,reference referral and otherservices. The scope of thecollection began to decrease andcore subject areas were developedto compliment local librarycollections.

The establishment andimprovement of resource sharingpolicies and practices amonglibraries of all types, publiclibrary systems, and multi-typelibrary organizations at the stateand regional level became anongoing mission of the Referenceand Loan Library. Library staffprovided leadership for andparticipated in statewide planningefforts and programs involvinginterlibrary loan, referenceservices, the state governmentdocument depository program,online and full-text databaseservice development,telecommunications planning anduse, union and virtual catalogdevelopment, delivery of library

materials, and digitization oflibrary materials. Staff workedwith the Council on Library andNetwork Development, theDelivery Services AdvisoryCommittee, the LibraryInformation Technology AdvisoryCommittee, and the LibraryServices and Technology ActAdvisory Committee and theirprecursors to establish policiesand programs.

Use of technology to improveand expand library services

The Reference and Loan Librarywas in the forefront in applyingtechnology to statewide libraryservices. In the 1960s staff usedTWP and TWX teletype machinesto send and receive interlibraryloan requests. The library joinedOCLC in the mid-1970s andundertook retrospectiveconversion of library records.The State Agency LibraryProcessing Center was developedto provide centralized catalogingfor state library agencies usingOCLC. Staff developed a bulletinboard system for sendinginterlibrary loan requests usingearly microcomputer equipmentin the mid-1980s.

The Reference and Loan Librarybegan to apply emerging nationalstandards to resource sharingearly in technologicaldevelopment. The WISCATunion catalog was developed in1982 and first produced in

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Best Practices: Building Issues

Being proactive about building needssaves money and prevents headaches

By John DeBacher, ConsultantPublic Library AdministrationPublic Library Development Team

The ounce of prevention that’s worth a pound ofcure that was prescribed by Ben Franklin appliesto library buildings as well. While tight budgetsand staff reductions may make it tempting todispense with regular building checks andmaintenance, the outcome is likely to be moreexpensive. Some routine practices can preventfailure of vital equipment; others help to maintaina safe and efficient operation, and may preventaccidents or possible fines when building orsafety codes are overlooked.

Facility issues worth a regular review can beroughly split into three categories. The firstencompasses the physical plant and itsmaintenance. The second relates to safety andemergency concerns. And the third area focuseson the public image of the library. The detail andcomplexity of the periodic reviews of thebuilding depends on the size of the library, thesystems installed in the building, and the staff orfinancial resources available. But in all libraries,periodic building reviews enable issues to beidentified and addressed before repairs becomemore costly. In the case of building safety, earlycorrection of issues can prevent unfortunateaccidents or costly lawsuits. And, ultimately, thelibrary building will be more pleasant andserviceable to the community.

The Physical PlantLibrary directors, especially new ones, can besurprised and overwhelmed by the complexity ofmodern library buildings. Even older buildingscan have electrical, ventilation or plumbingsystems that can challenge even an expert’sskills. The director should first locate or compile

an inventory of equipment and determine whatperiodic checks may be required. If the buildinghas recently been built or renovated,documentation for any new fixtures, equipmentand systems may have been compiled andprovided by the contractor. If you are concernedthat some essential maintenance issues may notbe apparent, the city engineer or buildinginspector may be able to help identify issues tobe included in the review plan. The library boardor employees, past or present, may also be ableto provide details or insights. If all else fails,request that the library board approve enlistingan engineering firm to review the building,inventory the equipment, and help develop amaintenance plan.

Because the issues and needs of the librarybuilding may not differ from other municipalbuildings, the library board or director shouldfirst check to see if the library can dovetail withthe municipality’s maintenance plan. Your city,town, or village may have maintenance or publicworks employees who can conduct routinemaintenance such as changing filters, checkingboilers, and lubricating air handlers either for nocharge, at a reasonable fixed rate, or on a cost-recovery basis. The municipal support mighteven extend to basic plumbing and electricalrepairs. In other cases, the public worksdepartment may be willing assist in contractingfor necessary service checks and repairs. Be surethat the library board is aware of any resultingagreements and how charges, if any, are to beassessed. In some cases, the costs or availabilityof direct municipal support may be such that thelibrary is better off contracting with a privatefirm for maintenance or repairs.

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Some components of the building that mightrequire periodic checks or maintenance include:

· Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning.HVAC systems can be as simple as a boilerand windows that open, or incrediblycomplex with overlapping systems andcontrols that may be integrated into acomputerized control system. But even asimple boiler may require semi-annualchecks and water conditioning. Other systemscan require lubrication, belt checking,cleaning, or balancing. Humidity controlsystems may require periodic checks of drainlines or cleaning to remove deposits. Outsideor rooftop condensing units should bechecked and cleaned. Ignoring routinemaintenance of a component can lead tofailure and repairs or physical damage that farexceeds the cost of maintenance, whereasperiodic maintenance can improve efficiencyand extend the life of the system components.

· Check the roof to ensure its integrity andutility. Flat roofs may require clearing ofscuppers or central drains. Ignoring cloggedgutters and downspouts can lead to interiorflooding or damage. Be cognizant of the seedactivity of trees in the area to protect againstclogging of drains or equipment.

· Elevators and lifts require annual state safetyinspections, but periodic (quarterly ormonthly) lubrication and inspections by anelevator contractor can prevent failures andlead to a state inspection without incident. Besure your elevator maintenance firm hasadequate access to parts and supplies; you donot need to contract with the original vendor(and can save by obtaining competitive bids),but the technician must be familiar with yourequipment and controls.

· Check other aspects of the building’sexterior envelope. Windows and doorseals, caulking and weather-stripping

should be checked and repaired for energyefficiency and to prevent mold or othermoisture damage. Exterior light sensorsmay require cleaning. Cracked or leakinggas-filled windows should be replaced tomaintain their insulation value. Shrubberyor trees may need to be trimmed to preventinterference with the building or roof.While rarely required, brick buildingsshould be checked periodically for tuckpointing or other mortar repair. Check forerosion or deterioration of the foundation.

· Computers that centrally control or operatesystems, such as surveillance or HVACsystems, may themselves need to bemaintained, upgraded or replaced. Internetconnections or data lines for fire alarm orsecurity monitoring should be properlymaintained. Failing to renew a monitoringcontract could expose the library tounnecessary risks.

· Regular sealing and restriping of the library’sparking lot or driveway can extend its life.The municipality may be able to include thelibrary’s asphalt surfaces in its street main-tenance program. Similarly the sidewalksshould be regularly checked for cracks orheaving segments, and repaired as necessary.

Safety Systems and Emergency ProceduresSome building safety issues require periodicwalk-throughs to ensure a safe environment;others involve alarm or other systems that mayrequire periodic maintenance.

· Fire alarm, sprinkler, and security systems mayinclude interrelated components that requireperiodic safety checks to comply with local orstate building codes. Smoke alarms must betested and certified. Also, fire extinguishersshould be checked regularly and periodicallyrecharged. Your city or village may be willing to

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include the library building in their testing ormaintenance contracts. A walk through for firesafety may prevent a citation from the fire marshal.Your fire department may be able to assistidentifying issues and review your fire safety andevacuation procedures.

· Check security and emergency lightingsystems, whether outdoors, in areas wheresafety may be a concern, or inside, wherebatteries and bulbs on emergency backuplights may require replacement.

· Exits should be checked regularly to makesure that signs are in place and emergencylights are functioning, that doors are notblocked, and that locks are working properly.Doors equipped with alarms to prevent useexcept in emergencies may need to bechecked. Alarms may have batteries thatrequire replacement.

· First aid kits should be checked and refreshedperiodically, in addition to disaster supplies. Thelibrary’s emergency plan should be reviewedannually with the board and staff, and copieskept at predetermined places.

· Evacuation procedures should be reviewed andpracticed at least annually. Tornado Awarenessand Fire Safety weeks offer good opportunitiesto coordinate tests with municipal or countyagencies. Review operation of fire extinguishers,defibrillators, or other emergency equipmentwith staff.

· Be sure that cleaning supplies (chemicals) arestored and labeled properly, with Material SafetyData Sheets available when appropriate.

· The city or village risk management(insurance) provider may provide training orfree safety reviews and ergonomic checks ofwork areas. By addressing safety issuesproactively, the insurer’s exposure to claims isthereby reduced.

· Maintain a registry of keys issued; re-core locksas necessary to ensure building security. Checkthat file drawers or cabinets with sensitive orprotected information are kept locked.

If you contract with a private company or servicefor periodic maintenance or safety checks, theymight urge you to include full parts and laborcoverage for repairs in the contract. Be aware thatsuch contracts are a financial benefit to the vendor,and that, as equipment ages, the costs of such all-inclusive coverage may become unnecessarilyexpensive. The library board could instead considerestablishing a reserve fund for repairs, replenishingthe reserve each year as it is depleted. Or themunicipality may agree to provide funding forunanticipated expensive repairs (such as thecomplete failure of a major air conditioning unit)from a central contingency fund, rather than byannual appropriations to the library’s ownequipment repair fund. Local circumstances dictatethe most prudent action.

The Library’s ImageThe public does tell a book by its cover, and thepublic perception of the library is also colored bythe initial visual impression. When conducting awalkthrough of the building for new boardmembers, employees, or public officials, solicittheir impressions of the library’s organization andappeal—their fresh outlook may identify issues inthe building that have blended into the backgroundfor you. Directional signs that once made perfectsense to the library staff may now be confusing tothe newcomer. What is the general appearance ofthe shelving, displays and bulletin boards? Does thelibrary have the outward appearance of organizationand efficiency, with enough eye-appeal mixed in?The library should appear neither harshlyinstitutional nor unnecessarily whimsical.

· Check periodically that signs are simple,straightforward, and readable from typicalvantage points. Review shelf headings andclassification indicators to ensure they stillcorrelate to the collection. Consider a peerreview to identify areas of the collection thatcould be more logically or clearly arranged.

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· Conduct cleaning at off-hours or at times ofminimal library use. Work out an appropriateschedule with your employee or contractor forlight, regular cleaning as well as periodicthorough dusting and cleaning.

· Regular cleaning of carpets not only improvesappearance but can extend the life of thecarpet pile.

· Be sure to review the library for ADAaccessibility issues. Watch that furnishings,shelving or carts have not encroached uponrequired aisle widths, or that the expansion ofthe collection has not placed materials inunintentionally inaccessible locations.

· Consider the outside appearance of the library aswell. The exterior should appear inviting andwelcoming. Make sure signs are clear and libraryhours readable from the street. Event signsshould be simple and clear.

· Work with your board and municipality todevelop a reasonable landscape program toprovide an attractive and vital appearance.Local garden clubs, service organizations, ordedicated Friends of the Library membersmight be willing to help with annual cleanups,installations, or mulching.

By developing and implementing regular, periodicreviews and maintenance of the library facility, thebuilding will operate more economically,efficiently, and continue to serve and delight libraryusers for years to come.

Questions about library administration may beaddressed to your library system staff or to JohnDeBacher at john.debacher@dpi.wi.gov or(608) 266-7270.

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Computer Output Microfiche(COM) using the MARCstandard. The database migratedwith new technologies from COMto CD-ROM to online and finallyto availability through the web.The MITINET program wasdeveloped on an Apple IIe toallow libraries to convert theirholdings to the MARC formatusing the WISCAT microficheand was later converted to IBM-compatible PCs and expanded toprovide an expert system fororiginal MARC cataloging. Aninterlibrary loan managementsystem was developed andeventually integrated into the webversion of the software. Thedevelopment of the NationalInformation StandardsOrganization (NISO) Z39.50

standard allowed for the searchand retrieval of data from localonline catalogs adhering to thestandard. WISCAT is currently acombination union catalog andvirtual catalog with an interlibraryloan management system. Theimplementation of theInternational StandardsOrganization (ISO) protocolallowed exchange of data betweeninterlibrary loan systems. TheNISO Circulation InterchangeProtocol allows for theinterchange of transaction databetween interlibrary loanmanagement systems andcirculation systems and theRL&LL is currentlyexperimenting with this protocol.The Reference and Loan Librarystaff began using a remote

terminal to search DIALOGdatabases and provided access toresearch results to libraries in theearly 1980s, adding access toBRS, WILSONLINE and otheronline databases as feasible. In1998, The Department of PublicInstruction held the LibraryTechnology Planning Conferencewhich recommended the purchaseof online databases on a statewidebasis so that information wouldbe available to all libraries andresidents. BadgerLink wasinitiated that year to supply full-text online information statewide.Current content includes full textmagazines, newspapers,electronic books, anddownloadable audio and videocontent. The BadgerLink website

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By Betsy Prueter, Education/Grants Specialist,Community Learning and Partnerships TeamLibraries, Technology, & Community Learning

Jim Handorf, VISTA member at the Madison PublicLibrary, was one of six individuals recognized at theGovernor’s Service Recognition Luncheon on April15, 2010 at Monona Terrace in Madison. First LadyJessica Doyle presented the awards and congratulatedthe winners. The Governor’s Service Recognitionsare presented to programs and individualsparticipating in organizations funded by theCorporation for National and Community Service(CNCS) through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, andLearn and Serve America. This event provides anopportunity to recognize organizations and individualsthat help solve serious social issues and helpstrengthen their community.

Jim received the Governor’s AmeriCorps*VISTAparticipant award for his work to expand the job helpprogram at the Madison Public Library. Primarily, Jimhas expanded the services by connecting with theDepartment of Workforce Development, the DaneCounty Job Center, the Greater Madison Area Societyof Human Resource Managers, Workforce ReadinessCommittee, Lussier and East Madison CommunityCenters, and Park Bank. In addition, Jim was able toconnect with MAGNET, a group of youngprofessionals which, among other goals, has a vibrantcommunity service chapter, and Retired SeniorVolunteer Program (RSVP) whose members areinterested in using their assets and skills to help withanti-poverty community initiatives.

In addition to developing an extensive communitypartner network, Jim worked with Madison PublicLibrary staff members to successfully secure an LSTAJOBS Grant for $15,590 to expand job services andemployment training. Now that the Madison PublicLibrary system has received the grant, Jim will bedeveloping surveys to measure current practices, willexpand an already successful Job Help project bybringing in numerous volunteers and TeachingAssistants from the UW Writing Center to teach

Jim Handorf, back row, center, VISTA member at theMadison Public Library, is pictured with hissupervisor, mother, DPI staff, and VISTA State Officestaff.

Madison library VISTA receives Governor’s Service Awardclasses and run seminars, coordinating site locations,training volunteers and library staff to implement theseservices, and making all classes accessible to familiesand community members by providing child-care andbilingual resources. The grant also will allow Jim andlibrary staff to bring library services to various shelters,and community centers city-wide.

Serve Wisconsin, along with the WisconsinDepartment of Public Instruction and the CNCS StateOffice, sponsors the Governor’s Service Recognitions.Serve Wisconsin is a 22-member citizen bodyappointed by the Governor responsible for overseeingAmeriCorps grants, which address unmet human,environmental, public safety, educational, andhomeland security needs. For more information aboutServe Wisconsin or funded AmeriCorps programs,visit (http://www.servewisconsin.wi.gov).

The Corporation for National and Community Serviceprovides opportunities for Americans of all ages andbackgrounds to serve their communities and countrythrough three programs: Senior Corps, AmeriCorps,and Learn and Serve America. Together with the USAFreedom Corps, the Corporation is working to build aculture of citizenship, service, and responsibility inAmerica. For more information, visit (http://www.nationalservice.gov).

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provides easy access to the fullrange of materials throughfederated searching or selection andsearching of individual products.Authentication of Wisconsinresidents assures compliance withvendor contracts.

In 2000, in order to improveaccess to governmentinformation, the Reference andLoan Library contracted with theDepartment of Administration toestablish an online thesaurusrelated to state governmentservices and to assist in themanagement of the search enginefor the state’s emerging stategovernment web portal. TheWisconsin Document DepositoryProgram began to harvest onlinestate government publications in2004 as state agencies began to

publish documents on the webrather than make them availablein printed form.

The Reference and Loan Librarystaff also took part in earlynational experiments to establishcollaborative reference services inorder to expand the availability oflibrarian assistance. TheAskAway 24/7 statewide servicewas established in 2006.AskAway provides chat and emailreference service using librarystaff working collaboratively inthe United States and otherEnglish-speaking countries.Reference and Loan Library staffworked with the University ofWisconsin – Madison to developcollaborative processes forworking with public libraries andgovernment agencies to digitize

local library materials. Staffprovides assistance withdigitization of library materialsand has taken part in theWisconsin Heritage Onlineprocess. Staff has developed theFound in Wisconsin database toprovide access to library digitizedcollections. Staff has alsodeveloped online resource sharingtools to improve access toportions of core collections suchas the song book collection andcollection of repair manuals forvehicles and electronic products.

The Division has allocatedLibrary Services and Technologygrant funds to support many ofthese services including WISCAT,AskAway, the Wisconsin DigitalArchive, digitization of librarymaterials and other programs.

Evolution — from page 9

By Donna Steffen, ConsultantInformation and Technology Literacy Standards andIntegrationInstructional Media and Technology Team

This spring Verizon Thinkfinity.org (http://www.thinkfinity.org) posted a new website with agreat “new look and feel” for accessing tens ofthousands of best practice resources and numerousstimulating professional development andinstructional tools. There is a new search enginethat is speedy and intuitive for connecting searcherswith relevant resources across the partner-createdand partner-reviewed resources. Whether the Searchbegins through a topic, grade level, media type, orStandard search or a combination of all areas,numerous resources quickly are accessed. Each of theeleven content partners has built or is launching soon anew website and each has upgraded their site search

engine. Monthly, all partners add new Web 2.0resources: podcasts, talk with the expert, student andeducator collaborative communication ports, alongwith new traditional resources.

In addition to the redesigned “new look and feel”,educators, librarians, literacy leaders and parentscan join the new Thinkfinity Community, to shareand network on best practices for cultivating 21stcentury learning and instructional communities,while focused upon Thinkfinity learning resourcesfor students of all ages.

The Thinkfinity Community started with 1,700community members in January and each week seesthe membership growing exponentially. AllWisconsin Thinkfinity Field Trainers, nearly 200,

Thinkfinity expedites resource access and professional networking

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are joining this collaborative educational community.Our course facilitators for our online course foreducators, Thinkfinity for Wisconsin Educators, areembedding Thinkfinity Community into their coursesection, as a place where their participants buildresource libraries and share and learn best practices.Over 400 K-12 and higher education educators thathave attended Thinkfinity professional development

By Martha Berninger, Supervisor,Reference and Interlibrary LoanReference and Loan Library

Resources for Libraries andLifelong Learning (RL&LL)joyfully welcomed two new staffmembers in March, 2010.Christine Barth is our newInterlibrary Loan Coordinator.Christine comes to us from theKraft Foods/Oscar Mayer Libraryin Madison, where she wasAssociate Librarian. Christinehas prior experience at RL&LLwith the interlibrary loan andreference teams. She is also a

Resources for Libraries & Lifelong Learning welcomes new staffersformer educator in theMinneapolis Public Schools.Christine brings significantmanagement experience gainedoutside of the library community.She is the proud mother of threeamazing daughters. Christineholds a Master of Library andInformation Science from UW-Milwaukee, and a Bachelor ofArts from St. Olaf College

Erin Wescott is our new part-timereference librarian. Erin comes toRL&LL from the USDA ForestProducts Laboratory in Madison,

where her work focused onreference, database searching,circulation and cataloging. She isa former archaeologist with fieldexperience gained at theWisconsin Historical Society andthe University of Minnesota. Erinis a big fan of Badger Hockey,and also enjoys spending timewith her very active AustralianCattle Dog. Erin holds a Masterof Library and InformationScience from UW-Milwaukee anda Bachelor of Anthropology fromthe University of Minnesota.

Erin Wescott

Christine Barth

classes throughout the past school year, all are invitedto join. In fact, all Wisconsin community educators,librarians, and community leaders are invited to jointhis online community. At Thinkfinity Community allmembers will network with colleagues, professionalfriends, and content experts, sharing best practices andlearning about new strategies and resources to meetthe needs of their students and content areas.

Thinkfinity — from page 11

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By Terrie Howe, Consultant,LSTA and Continuing EducationPublic Library Development Team

The Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA)Information and Guidelines for Wisconsin 2011 willbe issued within the next few weeks with detailsabout eligible applicants and appropriate uses offunds. If you are interested in the possibility ofapplying for a federal grant, below is a listing ofselective competitive and non-competitive categories.Dollar amounts are preliminary and may be revised onthe basis of the total dollars available, applicationssubmitted, and other factors, before final awards aremade. *Indicates new LSTA categories.

LSTA 2011 Competitive Grant Categories

Accessibility – $125,000 Funds will be awarded topublic library systems to assist their member librariesand branches with purchasing and installing thetechnology and other adaptive equipment needed toincrease accessibility for people of all ages who havemobility, vision, and/or hearing disabilities, and toprovide member librarians with the training to use theequipment effectively.

Literacy – $100,000 will be awarded to promoteand demonstrate the role of public libraries inimproving literacy and reading skills for peoplehaving difficulty using libraries because of theireducational, cultural, or socioeconomic background.

Enhancing Use of Technology in Libraries andLibrary Systems* – $100,000 Funds may be usedfor new/upgraded hardware and software modules(including more software licenses) that (1) offersubstantially new or enhanced features and that (2)benefit or enhance services to patrons.

Digitization of Local Resources – $30,000 will beawarded to allow public libraries to digitizeresources that may be of unique or local interest and

make them available on the web to all citizens ofthe state.

Digitization Large Libraries – $25,000 will beawarded to large public libraries (population100,000 or more) to digitize historical resourcesthat may be unique or of state or local interest.

Job Search and Support – $192,067 Successfulapplicants will use the funding to serve people whoare unemployed, underemployed, and/or seeking toimprove their job skills. The intent of this fundingis to facilitate and encourage libraries to collaboratewith local, regional, and state agencies that arealready working to help the targeted population.

Multi-type Collaboration – $15,000 Applicantsmust demonstrate collaborative multi-type libraryproject in a community or region to enhance local/regional library services for library patrons. Projectsmust result in opportunities for local/regional residentsto access previously unavailable resources.

LSTA 2011 Non-Competitive Grant Categories:

Delivery – $90,000 will be awarded to help supportthe statewide delivery service backbone structureand to support delivery service to the libraries in thevery northern part of the state.

Broadband Upgrade Grants* – $15,500 Financialassistance for libraries obtaining fiber for highspeed Internet access through the state’s federalbroadband grant. This assistance would provideextra wiring or other infrastructure improvementsneeded to install the broadband connections.

Joining Shared Integrated Library Systems* –$70,000 Funds will assist public library systems inadding libraries to existing shared systems.

LSTA competitive and non-competitive grantcategories for 2011 announced

Please see LSTA — on page 16

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By Abbigail Swanton,Wisconsin Documents Depository LibrarianResources for Libraries and Lifelong Learning

The Wisconsin Document Depository Program collectsstate documents in print and electronic formats anddistributes them to designated depository librariesthroughout Wisconsin as well as the Library of Congress.As many state agencies continue to provide fewerdocuments in print, providing access to electronicdocuments through the Wisconsin Digital Archives hasplayed an even bigger role in the work being done by theWisconsin Document Depository Program.

Eastern Shores Library System recently made thedecision to actively take advantage of the fullycataloged electronic documents being provided by theWisconsin Document Depository Program by addingall digital archives catalog records to their systemOPAC, EasiCat. Electronic documents in theWisconsin Digital Archives are made available to alllibraries, regardless of depository status, providing theopportunity for the Wisconsin Document DepositoryProgram to provide greater access to state governmentdocuments than ever before.

Following is an article that Alison Ross, ESLSCataloging Librarian, wrote for the system’s monthlynewsletter, The Library Connection, describing theirexperience with the Wisconsin Digital Archives:

Many of you have heard of the Wisconsin DocumentDepository Program, but have you also heard of theWisconsin Digital Archives? As more publications are“born digital,” meaning they only exist on the web, orotherwise only exist in electronic format, it wasbecoming more difficult for state agencies to complywith the law behind the depository program. Out of thatneed came the Wisconsin Digital Archives. Its primarygoals are to “develop strategies for providing permanentelectronic access to web content located on Wisconsinstate agency websites and to identify a way state

Eastern Shores Library System teams up withthe Wisconsin Digital Archives

What’s Happening in Wisconsin Libraries

agencies can continue to fulfill their statutory obligationto participate in the Wisconsin Document DepositoryProgram with electronic formats.”

The Digital Archives has been distributing fullycataloged records for electronic state documents sinceOctober 2005. An aspect unique to the Digital Archivesis the availability of these records to all libraries,regardless of whether they are depository libraries.Eastern Shores no longer has a depository library, so wedecided to take advantage of these records and the accessto electronic government records they would makeavailable through our online catalog.

Since mid-2009, we have been working toretrospectively add all of the records made availablethrough the digital archives. As of the beginning of 2010,there are 776 digital archives records in our catalog. Theaccess is free, so it seemed an easy way to make morequality material conveniently accessible to patrons. Inaddition, because of the way the archives is set up, accessto content through the digital archive URL will remainregardless of what changes are made to the originalURL, so we don’t have to worry about dead linkscluttering the catalog. Abby Swanton is the DocumentDepository Librarian at the Reference and Loan Libraryand contact person for the Digital Archives. She hasnoted she hopes other libraries across the state will alsosee the advantage of this access and add the records totheir OPACs as well.

To find the digital records: The collection code used forthese bibs is: AD Wisconsin Gov Doc. If you do a titlesearch on “*” and limit to only that collection code, youcan quickly see the list. For a few examples click on: ASurvey of organic farmers in Wisconsin ; Got moo-la? :where to go for business assistance in Wisconsin ; andWisconsin farm center .

Ross, Alison. “ESLS’s Digital Archives.” The LibraryConnection, March 2010. (http://www.esls.lib.wi.us/newsletter/mar2010.html)

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By Barbara Huntington, ConsultantPublic Library Youth and Special ServicesPublic Library Development Team

This summer young readers will “Make a Splash” attheir public libraries when summer reading programsbegin. The theme for teens this summer is “MakeWaves@Your Library.”

The Departmeht of Public Instruction’s Division forLibraries, Technology, and Community Learning isagain sponsoring a summer reading program for publiclibraries throughout the state. The water themeencompasses swimming, diving, boating, and otherwater activities, as well as fish, wetlands, ocean life,

and shipwrecks.

Public librariesthroughout Wisconsinwill begin registeringchildren and teens forthe annual SummerLibrary Program as theschool year ends. Thesummer programencourages recreationalreading during thebreak from school.Public library reading

programs focus on elements indentified by researchstudies as being extremely important to helpingchildren maintain and improve their reading skills.Summer programs encourage reading for pleasure,self-selection of books and other reading material, andhaving fun while reading. In addition many publiclibraries offer recorded books which are very helpfulfor readers who are struggling. Videos based onbooks also enhance the enjoyment of stories.

DLTCL is partnering this summer with theWisconsin Department of Natural Resources(DNR). The State Parks are providing free daypasses to children and their families whichallow them to visit most state parks andrecreational areas. This collaboration is part of

DPI partners with DNR for summer reading funthe State Parks’ “Get Outdoors” effort aimed atkeeping children active. The Angler Education unitcoordinated a program in which Angler Educatorsvisit libraries andpresent programsrelated to fishing suchas “What’s in MyTackle Box,” fly tying,and practice castingwith a rod and reel.Some public librariesare sponsoring fishingoutings for children inwhich Angler Educatorsprovide all theequipment and theexpertise. The InvasiveSpecies unit created a training DVD and gave a copyto all public library headquarters. The DVDdemonstrates a preschool story time in which youngchildren learn to find invasive plants that like to“hide” on boats and trailers. Invasive SpeciesSpecialists around the state have agreed to bring a boatand trailer to public libraries that present the “CleanBoats, Clean Waters” story program. Public librarianswill also be using the many water-related resources ofEEK! the DNR’s nature web page for children.

Information about the DNR partnerships andadditional information about the importance ofsummer reading is available on the DLTCLSummer Reading Program web page athttp://www.dpi.wi.gov/pld/slp.html .

Please see Summer — on page 16

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Learning Express Library License* – $103,750Funds support a statewide license for LearningExpress Library, an online source of test preparationmaterials for students and adults. The amountcovers a license for 1/1/2011 to 6/30/2011.

Library System Technology Projects – $350,000will be awarded to systems on a formula basis fortechnology projects based on the needs of thesystems and member libraries. The formula takesinto account system area and population.

LSTA — from page 13

School Media Staffing Activities – $35,000 will beawarded to have follow-up meetings and activitiesafter the summit being held in 2010 to address theongoing issues related to staffing school librarymedia centers with certified teacher librarians/library media specialists in the state of Wisconsin.

Statewide Library Access Project – $15,000 Non-competitive category The purpose of this category isto support planning and initial implementation of a“statewide library access” program involving alltypes of libraries across the state.

By Christine Barth, LibrarianInterlibrary Loan CoordinatorResources for Libraries and Livelong Learning

As part of the Resources for Libraries and LifelongLearning team’s mission to provide equal access toinformation resources for all Wisconsin residents,the WISCAT development team has been workingon ways to improve the resource sharing systemthroughout the state. Initiatives now underway aredesigned to expand the pool of potential suppliers,improve borrowing fill rates, reduce turnaroundtime, and increase efficiencies in request processing.

In partnership with AutoGraphics, WISCAT’ssoftware vendor, upgrades to the WISCAT softwareare already in progress. Resource discovery is

WISCAT expands interlibrary loan trading partnersenhanced by the ability to search statewide librarycatalogs to identify borrowing locations. Soon, theestablishment of connections to Wisconsin OCLClibraries and other AutoGraphics trading partnerswill allow the automatic creation, transmission andmaintenance of borrowing requests to these lenders.From October, 2009 through April 1, 2010, threeWisconsin libraries participated in a pilot test withother AutoGraphics customers. The Hedburg PublicLibrary in Janesville, Waukesha Public Library andLa Crosse Public Library participated in the trialalong with libraries in Kansas, New Jersey,Connecticut and the Alberta (Canada) GovernmentLibrary. The feedback was positive and RL&LLhopes to implement this option when it becomesfully operational.

Adults will be able to join the fun at libraries that offeradult summer reading programs. For the first time theCollaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) hasprovided a manual for an adult programs. The adulttheme is “Water Your Mind.”

Data from the 2009 Annual Report is consistent withreports from around the country that indicate libraryservices have increased since the start of the recession.Summer Reading Program participation data for 2003-

2009 is available on the DLTCL SLP page at http://www.dpi.wi.gov/images/pld/slp-participation.gif.Registration went up almost 7% from 2008 to 2009,from 171,147 to 183,804. There were also increases inthe number of children under age five participating inthe program, and in the overall attendance atprograms. Librarians are expecting their participationrates to increase again this summer and look forwardto helping young readers “Make a Splash” thissummer.

Summer — from page 15

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The Board of Commissioners of Public Landspresented a check for $32 million in CommonSchool Fund earnings to State Superintendent TonyEvers on April 7th in the Assembly Parlor of theState Capitol. These funds will be distributed toWisconsin’s K-12 public school libraries at adistribution rate of $25.85 per child.

“Public school libraries benefit greatly from theBoard’s prudent investment strategies,” saidSecretary of State Doug La Follette, who serves asChair of the Board of Commissioners of PublicLands. “For many school districts, the library aidprovided by the Common School Fund may be theonly money available for their library.”

Although the distributable earnings this year areslightly lower than last year’s amounts this is thefirst time since 2003 that the amount went down.The significant drop in short term interest rates hada negative impact on the moneys that were not yet

invested in loans or bonds. Currently there is a trendtoward increased lending to schools andmunicipalities which is projected to result in anincrease in the distributable earnings for next year.

State Treasurer and Commissioner Dawn Marie Sassdescribed the State Trust Fund Loan program as awin-win for local communities and schools acrossthe state because the interest from the loans goesback into their communities as aid for the schoollibraries.

“Libraries in our public schools play an essentialrole in helping students graduate with theknowledge and skills they will need to be successfulin further education or the workforce,” said StateSuperintendent Tony Evers. “The Common SchoolFund is an important source of funding and we arepleased that our school libraries will be able to usethis money to provide valuable resources for theirstudents.”

Wisconsin school libraries receive $32 million inlibrary aid from Common School Fund earnings

State Superintendent Tony Evers (left) accepts the ceremonial check from StateTreasurer Dawn Marie Sass, State Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, and Secre-tary of State Doug La Follette.