Bob Bocher, DLTCL Consultant, named ALA OITP Fellow

The American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP) has appointed Bob Bocher, Library Technology Consultant with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s Division for Libraries, Technology and Community Learning (the State Library Agency), as an OITP Fellow. Mr. Bocher will provide OITP with strategic advice [...]

You may view the latest post at
http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=3387

UWM Daniel M. Soref Learning Commons to Open August 24

The remodeled UW-Milwaukee Golda Meir Library now houses a learning commons that can hold up to 400 students in open and flexible study space, the Daniel M. Soref Learning Commons. Student surveys and focus groups were used to plan the project. Get more information about the space, which is part one of a two-phase library renovation and expansion.

Lawrence University's doggone study break

Check out Lawrence University's cool study break program featuring Sophie, the Best Dog in the World, and other canine friends.

CNN.com covers West Bend book challenge

The West Bend Public Library's defense against those who would remove, or relocate books they deem questionable has made national news again. CNN.com covers the most recent developments.

Planning Commissioners Journal Touts Public Libraries

The Planning Commissioners Journal offers a complimentary download of an article in their Summer 2009 issue, "Libraries at the Heart of Our Communities." Share it widely! Thanks to Tom Hennen for spying this article.

Want to catch up on technology? Come to WiLSWorld!

Registration is open for WiLSWorld 2009, scheduled in Madison on July 28th-29th at the Pyle Center at UW-Madison, with a great lineup of plenary and breakout speakers. See more information and register here.

The opening day keynote is Joan Frye Williams, a successful librarian, consultant, vendor, planner, trainer, evaluator, and user of library services. Since 1996, she has been an independent consultant specializing in innovation, technology, and the service needs and preferences of non-library "civilians." Her many clients include libraries of all types and sizes, library consortia, state library agencies, professional library associations, library boards, library vendors, and architects. Joan is best known as an acute—and sometimes irreverent—observer of emerging library trends, issues, and practices. She is an internationally recognized library futurist and designer of innovative library services.

Our second day keynote is Karen Schneider, Community Librarian at Equinox, the support and development company for Evergreen open-source library software. She is a writer and librarian who has published over 100 articles and two books. Schneider's technology writing has been recognized in a variety of venues for being both lively and learned. From 2005 through 2007 she contributed to ALA Techsource. From 1995 to 2001, as the Internet Librarian columnist for American Libraries, Schneider consistently ranked in magazine surveys as AL's most popular author. Schneider is an enthusiastic speaker, presenter, and educator who in 2000 was named by PUBLIB as one of the top ten speakers in librarianship.

Other speakers include Andrew Nagy, Senior Discovery Services Engineer for Serials Solution and the Lead Developer of VuFind; Dorothea Salo, Digital Repository Librarian at the UW-Madison; Tasha Saecker, director of Menasha Public Library.

Baraboo Bookers Compete at ALA Conference

The Wisconsin Book Cart Drill Team champions, the Baraboo Bookers of Baraboo Public Library, competed at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago this past Sunday, July 12, but the Oak Park, (IL) Public Library Warrior Librarians took home first place. Other teams in the contest, sponsored by DEMCO, were “Delaware Diamonds,” The State of Delaware, the “Steel City Kings,” University of Pittsburgh, and the “Cart Wheels,” Des Plaines (IL) Public Library. A story on NPR features quotes from Baraboo's Gretchen Roltgen, who sported blue hair for the competition.

According to ALA, DEMCO provided book carts for the event as well as prizes. Award-winning children’s book author/illustrator Mo Willems (The Elephant and Piggie books) and Jon Scieszka (“The Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Fairy Tales”) served as Color Commentators for the event.

Wisconsin Library Heritage Center Seeks Hall of Fame Nominees

The Wisconsin Library Heritage Center Steering Committee invites your nominations for the Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame for 2009. Nominations are due by August 10, 2009. In 2008 the first group of individuals were inducted into the Hall of Fame. They are indicative of the kind of individuals which the WLHC Steering Committee feels should be included in the Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame.

This will be the first year that living individuals will be considered for the Hall of Fame. In lieu of multiple testimonials, the WLHC Steering Committee seeks documentation and supporting information of :
1) An individual's record of leadership in the Wisconsin Library Association and/or other statewide library organizations/institutions.
2) The overall importance and impact of an individual's contribution to the improvement of library service in Wisconsin.
3) An individual's contributions to the improvement of library service at the national level.
Once an individual has been nominated, he or she will continue to be considered in future years even if not selected for induction in 2009.

Induction of those individuals selected for 2009 will take place at the WLA Awards Banquet at the WLA Conference on October 22.

Please send your completed nomination forms (or questions about the process) to Larry T. Nix, Chair, Wisconsin Library Heritage Center Steering Committee, 608-836-5616, nix@libraryhistorybuff.org.

Milwaukee Public to Hold Community Meetings About Future Service

The Milwaukee Public Library announced in a July 8 news release that it will hold a series of eight community meetings in July and August to give Milwaukee residents "the opportunity to learn more about the need for new models of library service for the future."

"The Milwaukee Public Library remains committed to providing the best service for the City of Milwaukee that its citizens can afford," said Library Director Paula Kiely. The meetings will help MPL determine customer priorities for services, products and facilities.

Learn more about WLA's online directory

WLA members can learn about managing their WLA online membership directory profile by viewing this online video tutorial. Update your contact information, keep it private, view receipts and more in the new online directory. The directory is a great way to connect with peers from around the state. Only the primary contact information you provide at renewal is visible (to other members only) in the directory, such as name, title, institution, email, and a mailing address. Go to http://my.memberclicks.com/wla to give it a try.

Reclaim the Magic - Step One!

The 2009 Wisconsin Library Association Annual Conference is quickly approaching. Reclaim the Magic will be held at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton, October 20-23. The registration form is now available in pdf format at http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/conferences/2009 under General Information. You will also be able to access the form via MemberClicks for easy registration at http://my.memberclicks.com/wla.

At the conference link, you will also find some of the early highlights of the conference, such as keynote speaker and details on the preconferences that will be held. Here are some brief details about the two preconferences:

Make a Splash – Read! focuses on the 2010 Summer Reading Program for children and teens. The day will be filled with great speakers and a visit to A Building for Kids, the Appleton Children’s Museum.

The Ethical Fitness Workshop, presented by Nancy Zimmerman and Veanna Baxter, will explore the issues and challenges to acting ethically. Participants will receive the Ethical Fitness workbook as part of their attendance.

You can also join in the fun with the 2^nd Annual Book Cart Drill Team event which will be planned on a day with no conflicts so that we can all enjoy the skill and grace of the teams together and the laughter too.

Please join us in celebrating the magic that still resides in libraries across our state and register for the conference using either of the links above.

Kathleen (KT) Horning profiled in school Library Journal

Wisconsin's own KT Horning was profiled in a July 1 article in School Library Journal, in which she shares the story of her serendipitous visit to the CCBC that launched her career as a librarian, the perils of book discussions, and her fantasy job.

Sheboygan faces $2.2 million deficit in 2010

A July 5 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article reports that a $2.2 million projected 2010 deficit for the city of Sheboygan may make it difficult to fund the Mead Public Library at the "maintenance of effort" level, required for public library system membership. Maintenance of effort funding, mandated by state law, requires that libraries be funded at least at an amount equal to the average of the previous three years. Mead Library Director Sharon Winkle noted it is early in the budget process and said, "I'm certainly hoping we can work something out."

West Bend librarians and community activists to share their story at ALA Annual Conference

Librarians and community members who are fighting to keep library materials on the shelves in West Bend, Wis. will give a special panel presentation at this year’s American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in Chicago, on Monday, July 13.

Newsweek issues "best books" lists

Newsweek issued it's "Top 100 Books: The Meta-List" on June 29, as well as a list of "What To Read Now." How many have you read? How many does your library own? Just as interesting as the lists are the comments, and suggestions for titles that didn't make the list, but should have.