Urge Your Legislator to Support SB 375/AB 473 to Delay WiscNet Changes

You may recall that during the state budget process, language was adopted altering the relationship the University of Wisconsin has with WiscNet, effective July 1, 2013.  The budget bill also required the Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) to complete a financial and performance audit of the UW’s relationship with WiscNet by January 1, 2013. This leaves only six months to respond to audit recommendations before the legislation goes into effect!

The new law will directly impact the relationship WiscNet has with its 450 members located throughout the state, affecting service to K-12 schools, higher education, and 95% of the state’s public libraries. During the extensive budget deliberations there was not enough time to adequately discuss this complex issue.  Many questions remain unanswered.

Fortunately, Senator Terry Moulton (R-Chippewa Falls) and Representative Evan Wynn (R-Whitewater) have introduced SB375/AB 473 amending the effective date of the original legislation to July 1, 2014. A bipartisan group of legislators is cosponsoring.

Please contact your legislators to urge them to support AB 473. If your legislators have already signed on as co-sponsors, thank them for doing so.  

The modest extension of time this bill will provide is important from two key perspectives.

• First:  This extension allows the Legislature time to review fully the audit’s findings, recommendations and possible impacts on all WiscNet members.
• Second:  All 450+ WiscNet members—including the UW—need the extra time this bill provides to understand and possibly implement any audit recommendations that impact their budgets and their relationship with WiscNet. 

It may be important to note that WiscNet is a separate, independent 501(c)(3), not for profit, cooperative, with its own operations and organizational structure.  It is not subsidized by the UW and is completely funded through membership fees and services delivered to its members throughout the state.  Decisions are made by the WiscNet Board of Directors, not the UW.

Thank you for contacting your legislators to urge support of SB375/ AB 473!

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

Matt Blessing to Direct WHS Library & Archives

The Wisconsin Historical Society has announced the appointment of Matt Blessing, head of special collections and archives at Marquette University in Milwaukee, as the director of the Society's Library-Archives Division. Blessing, who formerly worked as an archivist at the Society from 1991 to 1999, will begin his new duties on Jan. 17.

Blessing has worked as an archivist for Marquette since 1999, overseeing some of the university's most widely used collections, including the original manuscripts of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" as well as manuscript collections documenting Catholic social justice movements such as Dorothy Day's Catholic Worker Movement. Part of his role has been to digitize significant amounts of material in the university's archival collections for Internet access, something that is also a priority at the Society.
--Bob Granflaten, Wisconsin Historical Society

Call for program proposals: WAPL Spring Conference!

The WAPL 2012 Spring Conference Planning Committee invites proposals for breakout sessions for “Share the Driving” – WAPL 2012: May 9 – 11, 2012 Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center 1001 Amber Avenue Stevens Point WI 54482
Proposals for presentations, panels and workshops are welcome. Possible topic ideas include (but are not limited to):
• Multigenerational programming
• Starting and nurturing a Friends’ Group
• Creative ways to work with Boards of Trustees
• Relationship building with municipalities
• Methods for delegating to staff
• Work flow management
• Community feedback on library services
• Collaborating with local resources for public relations
• Visioning with educational institutions
• Volunteer success stories
• Teamwork with other non-profits
• Libraries as early literacy builders
• Neighboring libraries working together
• Innovative ways of working with youth
• The current technological frontier
• Wakanheza—a winning concept for everyone
• Local authors and how to work with them

Sessions / programs generally run 60-75 minutes in length. Every WLA unit has a special perspective to offer as we assemble our programming.
DUE January 15, 2012

Please use the online proposal form (no login required):

Elizabeth M. Timmins, (etimmins@mail.owls.lib.wi.us) WAPL Spring Conference 2012 Program Chair. Questions?? Telephone 920-833-2725. Thank you and have a creative day!

Poster Session Proposals Sought for WAAL Conference

The WAAL 2012 Conference Planning Committee is accepting proposals for posters to be presented at Quest for Excellence: WAAL 2012. The conference will take place at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, April 17-20, with the poster session scheduled for Thursday April 19 from 3:30-5PM.

To submit a poster session proposal, please send the following information to Leah Ujda (ujda@wisc.edu):

1. Abstract of the poster content (150 words or less). The submitted abstract for accepted proposals will appear in the conference program.
2. Presenter name(s), institutional affiliation(s), and contact information.
3. Type of equipment you will bring.

All poster presenters will be assigned a skirted table space. No other equipment will be provided. Wireless Internet access will be available.

Poster session proposals are welcome from all who have ideas to share with Wisconsin's academic library community.

Ribbons will be awarded for Best Content, Best Visual Display, and Best Student Poster.

Proposals are due by Friday January 13, 2012. Please send all proposals and questions to Leah Ujda (ujda@wisc.edu) via email.

--Leah Ujda, WAAL Conference Committee

Stephen Abram, Scott Dikkers and Everything in Between: WLA Conference Recap

Despite concerns about library budgets and costs of the Milwaukee venue, 834 registrants enjoyed the 2011 Annual Conference, including a sold-out exhibit hall, dozens of programs, five tours and a grand awards banquet in the Hilton’s Empire Ballroom. Both the keynote speaker, Stephen Abram, and President’s Luncheon speaker, Scott Dikkers, were provocative on completely different subjects!

Attendees surveyed said their main reason for attending was the chance to interact with others in the library field, followed closely by the program schedule and topics. The schedule included technology topics such as e-books, Koha ILS, technology in children’s programs and Google tools, while also hitting topics on staff and self-management, hiring, diversity, literature, outreach, ethics and more.

Five tours of libraries and library resources rounded out the educational experience, though two tours sold-out, to the disappointment of later registrants. WLA thanks Milwaukee Public Library for providing access to their Krug Rare Books Room, the Villard Square Library and hosting a fabulous reception and tour at the Central Library.

The WLA Foundation raised nearly $4,000 with their annual silent auction and a fundraiser at SPiN, a table-tennis nightclub in the Third Ward. Thanks to Foundation board member Bill Robison, a partner at Engberg Anderson, which designed the facility, fundraiser attendees were able to enjoy a private room for their friendly competition.  In addition to Engberg Anderson, sponsors of the event were Maris Associates, Alpine Book and Quality Books.

Thanks to all who attended the conference in Milwaukee. We hope to see even more of you next year in La Crosse!

Money Smart Week® @ Your Library Program

At the recent WLA Conference, many attended the program about Money Smart Week® @ Your Library. The partnership of the libraries are key to the program and Wisconsin libraries are in a unique position to profoundly affect their communities with the opportunities and security given through financial literacy.  This partnership extends nationwide between the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the American Library Association.

There were requests at the recent conference regarding how to participate in Money Smart Week Wisconsin’s campaign.  Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.  You may contact the chair of your regional planning team, if you have one.  The planning team contacts and chairs are listed at http://www.moneysmartwi.org/uploads/MSWWCommitteeChairs.pdf.   If there is not a committee in your area, you are highly encouraged to contact the WI Department of Financial Institutions, Office of Financial Literacy - Teresa Walker (teresa.walker@wisconsin.gov, 608-267-1713) or Dave Mancl (david.mancl@wisconsin.gov).  DFI will be happy to work with you.

For those who were unable to attend the session regarding Money Smart Week® Wisconsin, you may find information about Money Smart Week® and the @your library program at  http://www.chicagofed.org/webpages/education/msw/ala/index.cfm and additional information about Money Smart Week® Wisconsin at http://www.chicagofed.org/webpages/education/msw/index.cfm.   This program began in 2002 and is the brainchild of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.  In 2006, Wisconsin was the first to take the program statewide enhancing our reputation as financial literacy leaders.  Now with the American Library Association’s as a main partner, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is expanding Money Smart Week® to a national program.  Any attention and assistance with this is greatly appreciated.
--David Mancl, Director, Office of Financial Literacy, WI Department of Financial Institutions

Broadband Grant Lawsuit by Access Wisconsin is Dismissed

On Friday, November 11, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Peter Anderson dismissed a lawsuit by Access Wisconsin against UW-Extension and others, thus allowing a federal Building Community Capacity through Broadband (BCCB) grant project to proceed. The grant will fund broadband internet expansion in four areas of Wisconsin. 

“This work by the University of Wisconsin-Extension and our many community partners is vital to the future of the Wisconsin economy,” said Ray Cross, chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Extension and University of Wisconsin Colleges.  “I hope that now government, the university, private businesses and communities in every corner of the state will be able to work together to assure Wisconsin is connected to the global economy.”

Read the entire news release: http://broadband.uwex.edu/blog/2011/11/lawsuit-dismissed/

An appeal is likely.

Read more about this story at WisBusiness.com.

Edgerton Library Director Selected as Emerging Leader

[Rock County, WI] Edgerton Public Library Director Sherry Machones is one of 75 individuals who have been selected throughout the nation as an American Library Association (ALA) Emerging Leader.  To  become an Emerging Leader, each candidate goes through a very competitive process and needs to be sponsored by a library association. Sherry was sponsored by the Library Leadership & Management Association (LLAMA). Each sponsor commits to financial support of an Emerging Leader in order to defray a portion of costs for attending the ALA Midwinter Meeting and the ALS Annual Conference.

Machones said, “This is a great honor and a wonderful opportunity to grow as a  professional and learn from some of the best (librarians) in the country!”

The ALA Emerging Leader program, now in its sixth year, kicks off with a daylong session during the 2012 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Dallas.

The program enables librarians and  library staff from across the country to participate in project planning workgroups; network with peers; gain an inside look into ALA structure; and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity early in their careers.

Following the kickoff session, the program will continue in an online learning and networking environment for six months, culminating with a poster session in which the 2012 Emerging Leaders will showcase the results of their project planning work at the 2012 Annual Conference in Anaheim, California. Participants commit to taking part in all aspects of the program and may have an opportunity to serve on an ALA, Division, Chapter or Round Table committee or a taskforce or workgroup upon completion of program.

Machones is a WLA member currently serving on the board of the WLA's Wisconsin Small Libraries Section (WISL).

Library Legislative Day is February 14

Library Legislative Day is Tuesday, February 14, 2012. "Libraries at the heart of the community" is this year's theme, whether your community is an academic institution, a K-12 school, a municipality, or a museum, law firm or hospital. Legislators need to hear from you about important library issues.

Major issues in 2012 include gaining support for:
• A bill extending the deadline for changes to the UW System’s research functions and WiscNet
• Protection of the Common School Fund for school library use
• A bill to enable public library districts
• A bill to improve options for recovering overdue library materials

Participate in Library Legislative Day to learn what is important to public officials and, in the process, position yourself as a resource on library issues. Appointments will be made for you and others from your legislative district. Background materials and briefing provided in advance give you talking points on the issues. Professional lobbyists will provide tips on having an effective meeting.

Register at http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/legis/day/index.htm.