Sauk City nixes joint library committee with Prairie du Sac

The village board of Sauk City in Sauk County voted January 27 to oppose forming a joint library committee with neighboring Prairie du Sac, killing the proposal for now. According to a report in the Sauk Prairie Eagle, Prairie du Sac voted that same night to approve the joint committee. The article quotes Sauk City village officials as saying that they don't need an expansion of their library right now, but they would be open to joint talks when the economy improves.

Jane Botham wins ALSC Distinguished Service Award

The Association for Library Service to Children has just selected Jane Botham, retired Children's Services Coordinator at Milwaukee Public Library, as the recipient of their Distinguished Service Award. The award honors an individual member of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) who has made significant contributions to and an impact on, library service to children and/or ALSC. Jane was recognized as a mentor, and for her commitment to ALSC and intellectual freedom. Thanks to Marge Loch-Wouters, who reported this breaking news, live from ALA Midwinter.

Kathleen Horning, CCBC Director, to Deliver Arbuthnot Lecture

ALA reports that Kathleen Horning, director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC), will deliver the 2010 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture. The announcement was made by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA) during the 2009 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Denver.

“I am struck by the clarity of Horning’s thought processes as well as her ability to express those thoughts gracefully,” stated Arbuthnot Committee Chair Kristi Jemtegaard. “She will make a distinguished addition to the already distinguished list of Arbuthnot Lecturers."

Read the complete announcement, released yesterday.

Horicon School District Considers Cutting Elementary School Librarian

Horicon School District, facing a deficit of $607,303 in the 2009-10 budget, is considering saving $60,261 by eliminating an elementary librarian position, combining those duties with the high school librarian duties and adding an aide. Dozens of other potential cuts are being considered, according to a report in the Beaver Dam Daily Citizen, to make up the deficit. A referendum is also a possibility. School officials are working on all options and getting input from the community.

Marquette County Libraries Promote Services with Online Video

Marquette County Libraries recently produced a video to show how libraries have changed and promote the value of their current services to the Marquette County board. The public libraries of Endeavor, Montello, Neshkoro, Oxfordville, and Packwaukee have all posted the video on their Web sites. The video starts with a brief homage to libraries past (complete with the theme song from "Leave It To Beaver") but quickly moves to present-day library service, featuring library users from around the county telling what they value about their libraries.

Libraries Continue to be a Hot News Topic

Public libraries continue to get media attention for their booming business during tough economic times, in part because of efforts by the American Library Association and President Jim Rettig to promote their value. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal as well as several in Wisconsin newspapers (for example, see the Wisconsin State Journal, a blogged testimonial on using Hedberg Public Library to save money, and a Fond du Lac Reporter story) touts increased use of computers, Wi-Fi, as well as movies and books, as people search for jobs and try to save money.

U.S. News & World Report Says Librarianship Top 2009 Career

Calling librarianship one of 2009's best careers, an article in the December 11 US News and World Report says the underrated professionals must be "clever interrogators" to help patrons solve their problems and learn. The article says, "Librarians then become high-tech information sleuths, helping patrons plumb the oceans of information available in books and digital records, often starting with a clever Google search but frequently going well beyond." In sum, librarians rock.

5 candidates running for State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Various news outlets report that five individuals have filed to run for the top DPI seat currently occupied by Elizabeth Burmaster, who is not running for re-election. Candidates for the April election are DPI Deputy Superintendent Tony Evers, former Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families President Rose Fernandez, Beloit School District Superintendent Lowell E. Holtz, National-Louis University professor Todd Alan Price and Concordia University professor Van Mobley.

Madison Central Library Project Proposals Reviewed

Two proposals for a new Madison Central Library, one a stand-alone building costing about $80 million and the other a mixed-use project estimated at $46.5 million, were presented at the city's Library Board meeting January 8. The Board still must determined how to fund the project to replace the current library at 201 West Mifflin Street, just off the Capitol Square. The proposals were outlined in recent news stories in The Capital Times and the Wisconsin State Journal.