Yet Another Measure Threatens the Common School Fund

Senate Bill 95, a school reform bill, threatens the Common School Fund by eliminating the current 25 percent limit on the amount of CSF money that may be used to purchase school library computers and related software.

The full Senate is scheduled to vote on this bill at 11:00 a.m. today, Thursday, October 20.

Please contact your senator right away and request an amendment to SB-95 that would remove the provisions in the bill that relate to the Common School Fund.  Thank you for your help!
Points to raise:

• The common school fund is the major source of school library resources, both print and electronic. These resources are critical to a quality education for our students to prepare them for work and college.
• It is important to uphold the constitutional intent of the Common School Fund for its intended purposes. School libraries in Wisconsin continue to be a cornerstone of a strong educational system.
• Direct them to the updated Common School Fund recommendations and clarify what the funds can be spent on. This recently updated list takes into account the need for the purchase of learning resources in various formats. For example, Kindles are actually allowable outside of the 25 percent cap.
• Cite the research that libraries staffed with qualified library professionals with strong collections of materials raise student achievement. Qualified library professionals are able to determine the appropriate resources for their library within the revised CSF standards.

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR SENATOR
BY PHONE: Call the legislative hotline toll-free at 1-800-362-WISC (9472) (266-9960 in the Madison area) to leave a message for your senator.  This hotline can also tell you who your State Senator is.

BY E-MAIL or PHONE:  Visit http://www.legis.state.wi.us/ and click on "Who Represents Me?"  After entering your address, your representative and senator will appear along with a phone number or link to email them.  If you send e-mail, include your name and mailing address in the body of the message, or your concerns may not be recorded.

Generally, senators' e-mail addresses use the following format:
Sen.Lastname@legis.state.wi.us  (example: Sen.Smith@legis.state.wi.us)
--Allison Kaplan and Kathy Sanders, Legislative Committee Co-chairs, Wisconsin Educational Media & Technology Association

OSRT Honors Ruth Sias with the Frances de Usabel Outreach Services Award

The Outreach Services Roundtable has chosen Ruth Sias as the 2011 recipient of the Frances de Usabel award.

Ruth Sias is the Children's Librarian at the Goodman South Madison branch of the Madison Public Library. She was chosen for exemplary work with children and families in local hospitals. Ruth was nominated for the award by Dipesh Navsaria, the director of the University of Wisconsin Pediatric Early Literacy Projects.

According to Dr. Navsaria, Sias was instrumental in developing an outreach program to promote reading and literacy to children and families at local clinics. In addition to providing direct services, she trained volunteers to engage children and parents in stories using effective modeling and reading techniques. After working closely with hospital and university professionals to make this program successful, she initiated plans to expand the program to reach more families in her service area and beyond. Furthermore, she has shared her experiences as a conference presenter, teaching other librarians about this innovative collaboration.

Sias will accept her award at the WLA Awards & Honors Banquet on Thursday, November 3 in Milwaukee.

Paul Nelson to Receive WLA President’s Award

Paul Nelson, adjunct assistant professor at UW-Madison SLIS and retired director of Middleton Public Library, will receive the WLA President’s Award at the WLA Conference Awards & Honors banquet on November 3, 2011, at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center.

Nelson, who has been in WLA’s legislative leadership for many years and was WLA President in 1998, will end his most recent term as the legislative committee chair at the end of 2011. His leadership was especially important this year as libraries faced some of the biggest challenges in memory, including budget cuts to library programs and institutions, threats to WiscNet and the elimination of maintenance of effort funding requirements for public libraries. 

Nelson’s efforts to keep people informed and motivated to advocate for libraries extends beyond official legislative alerts and communications.  His “Retiring Guy’s Digest” blog provides his personal, behind-the-scenes commentary about library and political activities in Wisconsin. There he often uses humor and a well-honed sense of irony to inspire, enlighten or even spark outrage. It has become a “must-read” blog for library supporters – or anyone - who loves politics and analysis of current issues.

The WLA Board and President Rhonda Puntney thank Paul Nelson for his exemplary legislative leadership during 2011.

The WLA President’s Award is given at the discretion of the WLA President and the Board of Directors.

Common School Fund Threatened: Contact Legislators!

Legislation related to nursing home regulation, introduced as companion bills AB-302 and SB-212, will reduce funding available to the school libraries, if passed. The Wisconsin Educational Media & Technology Association (WEMTA) says the legislation could cost the Common School Fund (CSF) at least $1.5 million per year because it diverts fines and forfeitures on nursing homes from the CSF. 

The Assembly Committee on Aging and Long Term Care will vote on AB-302 on Thursday, October 20, at 9:00 a.m. in room 400 Northeast of the State Capitol. The Senate Committee will meet that same date and time in room 330 Southwest.

If the bills are approved by committee, they go straight to the full Assembly and Senate.It is very important to reach out to legislators in both the Assembly and Senate, and if you are represented by someone on the committees who vote on October 20, your call is essential.

Assembly Committee members are as follows: Representatives Dan Knodl (R-Germantown, District 24), Warren Petryk (R-Elva, District 93), Karl Van Roy (R-Green Bay, District 90), Kathy Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls, District 68), Peggy Krusick (D-Milwaukee, District 7) and Elizabeth Coggs (D-Milwaukee, District 10).

Senate Commitee members are: Senators  Pam Galloway (R-Wausau, District 29) Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin, District 28), Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa, District 5), Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee, District 3), Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse, District 13)

Key points to address with legislators:

• Nursing home regulation reform is a worthy goal, but such reform should not penalize school libraries and the school children who count on them. 

• Any proceeds from fines or forfeitures should go into the Common School Fund. Though unintended, this bill costs the CSF $1.5 million per year.

• We respectfully request that AB-302 and SB-212 be amended to require that all fine and forfeiture proceeds collected thereto be deposited into the Common School Fund.

You can email your legislators directly from the WLA Legislative Alert center, or get their telephone numbers there. Type in your home address, and it will tell you who represents you and direct your message appropriately.

Penworthy Announces WLA Attendee Sponsorship Award

The Penworthy Company is pleased to announce Julia Davis of Kiel Public Library in Kiel, WI as the winner of our 19th annual WLA Attendee Sponsorship Award. Every year, we award a Wisconsin librarian with a $400 sponsorship award to attend WLA’s annual conference, which holds programs to refresh library services, boost professional skills, and help librarians make connections. Congratulations Julia!

WLA thanks The Penworthy Company for their wonderful support of WLA through this sponsorship and decades of exhibiting at the WLA Conference.

The Penworthy Company makes buying children’s books the pleasure it ought to be® with an exceptional selection, sturdy Penworthy Prebound Books and a level of personal service you can trust. Based in Milwaukee, WI for 29 years, we’re proud to support the librarians in our home state.

The Case for Attending the 2011 WLA Conference: The Facts…Just the Facts

‘Dragnet' theme music 

This is the city. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I’ll work here November 1 – 4. I’ll carry a (name) badge.

The story I’m about to impart is true. Only some names have been changed to protect the innocent.

My name is Kenney.  It was Wednesday, October 12th. It was sunny. I was working the day watch out of PR when a call came in from the chief.

“We need to inform everyone about the outstanding line-up of speakers and events taking place at this year’s 2011 WLA Conference, and we’ve got to do it now, because time is of the essence,” said Chief Bellin.

“I’m on it, Chief,” I replied.  And here is my report:

The Pre-Conference Line-up  

Three sessions: Tell Me What Democracy Looks Like; Leading Through Communication; Lightning Fast Succession Planning

(Vendor Reception on opening night!)

Keynote Address by the Internationally Sought After Stephen Abram

Hear Abram’s dynamic presentation entitled FrankenLibraries or Librarytopia:  Our Choice.

Exhibit A:  The Frontier Airlines Center Exhibit Hall

Over 70 exhibitors in one convenient location.   It will also be the scene of the Silent Auction, where there are sure to be some great steals!

Over 80 Educational Sessions
Training sessions covering the latest information and trends in the field of librarianship.

Tours, Connections, Mug Shots

Krug Rare Books Room of the historic Milwaukee County Public Library Central Branch; the Milwaukee County Zoo Library and the Milwaukee Art Museum.  Also the WLAF Fundraiser: SPiNGALACTIC! At SPiN Milwaukee for an evening in support of the Campaign for Wisconsin Libraries and the WLA Foundation.

Be sure to attend alumni receptions hosted by UW-Milwaukee SOIS at the Pabst Mansion or the UW Madison SLIS at the Hilton.  Also partake in a frosty mug at the Tweet-up and Meet-up at the Miller Time Pub.

Recognition
WLA Awards & Honors Banquet. The annual celebration in recognition of those professionals who symbolize the best in librarianship and support of libraries.

The facilities

Check-in at The Hilton Milwaukee City Center Hotel at affordable WLA conference rates! Click here to make your room reservations.

The fax…just the fax?

Heck no!  Just click here to sign-up today. (Or visit http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/conferences/2011/index.htm)

Connect.  Find solutions. Celebrate successes.  Refresh your perspective. Break out with new ideas.  Enjoy world class speakers. Think, create, laugh and learn…and return home the better for it!

So that’s my report.  Not to over-simplify it, but in this officer’s opinion, to not attend would be “Dumb, duh dumb, dumb!”

Over & out,
--Michael Kenney, 2011 WLA Conference Publicity Chair

Library as Incubator Project Launched by SLIS Students

The co-founders of the Library as Incubator Project have launched the project’s virtual “hub,” www.libraryasincubatorproject.org.  Three UW-Madison SLIS students are the project managers: Laura Damon-Moore, Erinn Batykefer, and Christina Endres. 

The Library as Incubator Project seeks to learn how artists (writers, visual artists and performing artists) use libraries in the research, creation and promotion of their artistic work. The presenters are in the process of creating a web resource that highlights artists and projects that have been "incubated," in part, by library collections, spaces and/or staff. It will also serve as a resource for librarians who want to better serve artists patrons through programming, collections, and partnerships.

Damon-Moore, Batykefer and Endres are presenting a WLA Conference program about their project  November 4 in Milwaukee at Hilton Milwaukee City Center, 10:30 a.m.

Learn more about the Library as Incubator Project at the conference, or subscribe online via Facebook, Twitter, or RSS feed on the website to get updates and announcements. 

libraryasincubatorproject.org
libraryasincubatorproject@gmail.com
Facebook: Library as Incubator Project
Twitter: IArtLibraries

Foundation Silent Auction Seeks Donated Items

On behalf of the WLA Foundation, I want to remind all conference attendees about the Silent Auction at the WLA conference in Milwaukee.  Once again this year we will have both an on-site and an online silent auction.  Last year’s auctions raised more than $4,000 for the Campaign for Wisconsin Libraries and with your help we should be able to surpass that amount this year!

We need your help in two ways:  first, by donating items for the auction and, second, by bidding on the items either online or in person at the conference.

Donated items that have created bidding excitement at past auctions include (but are not limited to –creativity is appreciated!):
• Fine arts, including jewelry, paintings, sculpture, pottery
• Products or services that a library or librarians would find useful (story hour, consulting)
• Entertainment packages (theater or sporting event tickets, golf packages)
• Hotel packages (e.g., weekend getaways with one or more meals included)
• Theme baskets (a great and economical gift donation for library staff to create collectively!)
• Trips inside or outside Wisconsin
• Collectibles, antiques and memorabilia

Keep the following guidelines in mind as you consider donating items for the auction:
• Please donate items that are $50 or higher in value
• Items are tax-deductible as charitable contributions at their actual value
• WLAF owns the items once contributed

In addition to the satisfaction of raising money to support the Campaign for Wisconsin Libraries and adding to the fun of Silent Auction bidders, those who donate auction items will benefit by:
• Having your name listed on the bid sheet and on the receipt provided to the winning bidder.
• Name recognition on the conference Web site auction information
• Receiving recognition on the WLA website

So, don’t forget to donate those “unused” or handmade treasures you have on hand to the Silent Auction held during the conference.  Visit the WLA Conference Silent Auction site for more information and access to the Auction Contribution forms:
http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/wlaf/silentauction/auction.html

See you in Milwaukee!
--Joe Rice, 2011 Silent Auction Chair

WLA and SRLAAW Support Public Library District Enabling Legislation

With much yet to be done, WLA and the System and Resource AdministratorsAssociation of Wisconsin (SRLAAW) have been working the introduction of on enabling legislation to authorize districts as an option for public library governance and funding in Wisconsin.

There are currently four options for public library organization and governance under state law; public library districts would be an alternative choice. In very basic terms, a public library district is defined as an independent taxing authority that is authorized by state law to establish and operate a public library.  According to statistics collected by the Institute for Museum and Library Services, nearly 15% of U.S. public libraries are organized as districts.

As are the four current methods of public library governance, the formation of a public library district is a matter of local choice.

The WLA Board and SRLAAW has endorsed these recommendations and encouraged the public library community to review them carefully in order to gain a clear understanding of what is being proposed. 

Paul Nelson, chair of WLA’s legislative committee, and Doug Baker, SRLAAW district committee chair, will present information about districts at the WLA Conference program “What’s New Under the Dome,” Thursday, November 3, 4:15 to 5:00 p.m. in Room 201A of the Frontier Airlines Center, Milwaukee. (Other legislative issues will be also be discussed, and Kurt Kiefer, Assistant State Superintendent, DPI, and Julie Schneider, Federal Legislative Advocate, will also present.)

Representatives of the district committee will attend the board meetings of the Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL) and the Wisconsin Small Libraries Section (WISL) at the WLA Conference to discuss the proposal.

Read the complete proposal and other resources…

WLA Election Results

The WLA Nominations & Elections Committee has tabulated the results of the 2011 WLA elections.  On behalf of the WLA Board of Directors and the Nominations & Elections Committee, I would like to congratulate all candidates for their willingness to present themselves in service to the membership.   The winners of contested elections are indicated with asterisks. Uncontested elections merely list the name of the candidate who will take office.

Again, thank you to all those individuals who were willing to step forward in service to the profession.  Your colleagues are grateful for your leadership.

WLA ELECTION RESULTS

WLA Vice-President/President-Elect

*Paula Ganyard 301

Julie Schneider 294

WLA ALA Councilor

*Marge Loch-Wouters 423

Lynn Stainbrook 183

WLA Foundation Board of Directors

*Cheryl Becker 364

Nikki Busch 236

Association of Wisconsin Special Librarians (AWSL) Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect

Megan Wiseman

AWSL Secretary

Amy O’Shea

Government Information Round Table (GIRT) Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect

Eileen Snyder

GIRT Secretary

Karen Probst

GIRT Planning Committee

Nyama Marsh

Library User Education Round Table (LUERT) Secretary

Cynthia Huebschen

LUERT Member-At-Large

Karen Eckburg 12

*Joseph Hardenbrook 22

Shannon Schultz 17

New Members Round Table (NMRT) Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect

Katharine Clark

Outreach Services Round Table (OSRT) Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect

Cassie Payne

Readers Section (READ) Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect

Brett Rohlwing

Reference & Adult Services Section (RASS) Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect

Melissa Kazmer

Resource Sharing Round Table (RSRT) Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect

Christine Barth

Support Staff Section (SSS) Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect

Kelly Kroes 12

Katie Skull 1

*Jennifer Williams 20

SSS Secretary

Jodi Bennett

SSS Public Library Director-at-large

Chris Raulusonis

Technical Services Section (TSS) Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect

Inese Christman 20

*Cheryl Nessman 44

TSS Secretary

Leah Ujda

Wisconsin Association of Academic Librarians (WAAL) Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect

Kathy Myers

WAAL Secretary

*Joshua Hickman 100

Emily Rogers 63

WAAL ACRL Liaison

Sheila Stoeckel

Wisconsin Association of Public Librarians (WAPL) Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect

Linda Vincent

WAPL Director

Katharine Clark 114

*Denise Anton Wright 201

Wisconsin Genealogy & Local History Round Table (WIGLHR) Secretary

Anne Kasuboski

Wisconsin Library Trustees & Friends (WLTF) Chair

Carol Chapman

WLTF Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect

Carole Edland

WLTF Liaison to the WLA Board

Alice Sturzl

Wisconsin Small Libraries Section (WISL) Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect

Lee Schauer

WISL Secretary

Edie Phillips

WISL 1^st Year Director

Laura Rose

Youth Services Section (YSS) Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect

Sue Abrahamson

YSS Secretary

Jennifer McNaughton

YSS Director-at-Large

*Ellen Jepson 56

*Anna Haase Krueger 69