John DeBacher Named New Director of Library Developoment at DPI

The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) announces the appointment of John DeBacher as the new Director of the Library Development Team in the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning (DLTCL).  John will begin his new role effective January 15, replacing Mike Cross who retired in September.  For the past seven years John has served as the Public Library Administration Consultant for DPI, providing significant support to libraries and library systems across the state on many different and complex regulatory, fiscal, and programming matters.  Since early 2009 he has also served as the data collection liaison for various state and federal collections and surveys.

Prior to joining DPI, John was a public library director for fifteen years, including ten years as the director of the Monona Public Library where he led a successful library expansion project and made technology an integral component of the library program.  John also served as a librarian in the Chicago Public Library system, as an editorial assistant with the University of Chicago’s Center for Children’s Books, and he has private sector experience in the publishing and software industries. John’s wide array of experiences and strong leadership skills have been and will continue to be an asset to the entire Wisconsin library community as it continues to adjust to rapidly changing work and learning environments.

--Channel Weekly, The DLTCL Electronic Newsletter, Volume 14, Number 13 – December 22, 2011      Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Wisconsin Gets Broadband Mapping Grant; DPI Seeks Input

On Friday the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced it awarded grants to fund state broadband mapping to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission and to six other states. (Press release at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/press/2009/BBMappinggrants_091106.html.) The PSC has already contracted with LinkAmerica (http://www.linkamericaalliance.com) to conduct the mapping for Wisconsin.

**Your input requested.** Next week Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) will be meeting with LinkAmerica to discuss the state of broadband access, focusing on Wisconsin's K-12 schools and libraries. As part of this process both Steve Sanders and Bob Bocher invite you to send them any comments, thoughts, concerns, etc., you have about getting your schools and libraries adequate broadband at affordable prices. They are especially interested in connectivity issues for the large majority of schools which do not qualify for a TEACH discounted circuit. Send any comments to Bob Bocher by this Friday, November 13. All comments will remain anonymous. Thanks for your input.

Bob Bocher, Technology Consultant
Wisconsin Dept. of Public Instruction

Division for Libraries, Technology and Community Learning
Madison, WI 53707-7841 - 608-266-2127 - robert.bocher@dpi.wi.gov