1. BadgerNet conversion in its final phase
2. Court approves extension of CALEA to the Internet
3. Wisconsin's Water Library for Kids
4. 2007 National Library Week Grant available
5. Barbara Bush Foundation Literacy Grants
6. Correction to Disney email address
7. Website of the Week - Virtual Hospital
8. Calendar
1. BADGERNET CONVERSION IN ITS FINAL PHASE
The conversion of 402 public library circuits to the new BadgerNet Converged Network (BCN) is in its final phase. As of July 13, only 33 (8%) of the library circuits had yet to be installed. Most of the remaining installations are in the Nicolet, South Central, Winnefox and Wisconsin Valley library system areas. The last library is scheduled for conversion in mid-August. While installations have generally gone as planned, in any project of this magnitude problems do occur. One of the more vexing issues that is being reviewed is slow Internet access reported by some libraries. Some slow access is related to improper network configurations and some of it is related to the size of the circuit (bandwidth) going to the library. Division staff continue to work with system network staff, the state's Department of Administration, and AT&T to resolve outstanding issues.
2. COURT APPROVES EXTENSION OF CALEA TO THE INTERNET
CALEA, the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, is a 1994 law that required telephone companies to reconfigure their networks to make it easier for law enforcement to place wiretaps. In an order released in August 2005, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) extended CALEA to Internet Service Providers (ISP). In late 2005 the American Library Association joined in a federal lawsuit claiming the FCC did not have authority to extend CALEA to ISPs. But on June 9 the court upheld the FCC's authority. The FCC's regulations do exempt public libraries. However, the library's Internet Service Provider is still covered by the law. Therefore, even if patron privacy is not compromised in the library -- for example by tracking websites patrons visit -- patron privacy may still be compromised by the Internet provider. Exactly what Internet Service Providers must do to comply with CALEA is still not fully resolved. For more information on this complex topic, see the ALA CALEA website at http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/WOissues/techinttele/calea/calea.htm.
3. WISCONSIN'S WATER LIBRARY FOR KIDS
Wisconsin's Water Library for Kids is the newest web site of the UW Water Resources Library. It's a great source for planning programs and classroom projects. Lists of books can be browsed by topic. There are two story hour ideas (Frogs and Fish & Fishing) that would tie in well with this year's Summer Library Program theme. In addition to a list of read-aloud books, there are non-fiction suggestions, craft ideas, rhymes, and pages to color. A link takes users to weird frog facts, frog fables, and even a recipe for
frog bread! There are directions on how to make a fly-catching frog that
can flick its tongue just like real ones do when they try to catch flies.
Parents and other adults can browse through the books on the site and request them and have them delivered to their local library. The site was designed by students enrolled in the UW School of Library and Information Studies Information Architecture course. To learn more about Wisconsin's Water Library for Kids go to: http://aqua.wisc.edu/waterlibrary/kids/
4. 2007 NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK GRANT AVAILABLE
Libraries across the United States are invited to apply for the $5,000 Scholastic Library Publishing National Library Week Grant, which will be awarded to a single library for the best public awareness campaign incorporating the 2007 National Library Week theme, "Come together @ your library(r)."
The grant, in support of libraries, is sponsored by Scholastic Library Publishing, and is administered by the Public Awareness Committee of the American Library Association (ALA). This year's application deadline is October 16, 2006. National Library Week is April 15-21, 2007.
All proposals must use the "Come together @ your library" theme, which incorporates The Campaign for America's Libraries' "@ your library" brand, on any and all promotional and publicity material supporting National Library Week activities.
A grant application form and guidelines are available on The Campaign for America's Libraries Web site at
http://www.ala.org/@yourlibrary/nlwgrant.
5. BARBARA BUSH FOUNDATION LITERACY GRANTS
The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy has announced its 2007 national grant competition. The Foundation's grant-making program seeks to develop or expand projects that are designed to support the development of literacy skills for adult primary-care givers and their children. A total of approximately $650,000 will be awarded; no grant request should exceed $65,000.
"Reading aloud to children, early and often, is the single most important thing that a parent can do to help a child start school ready to learn," said Barbara Bush. "And, parents who are able to read, write, and comprehend can get better jobs, improve their families' lives, and participate more fully in their communities as well. That's why the projects we fund must provide literacy instruction for parents as well as their children."
Applications are due in the Foundation's office no later the 5pm EST on Friday, September 8, 2006. For more information visit http://www.barbarabushfoundation.com/nga.html.
6. CORRECTION TO DISNEY EMAIL ADDRESS
The email address in the June 29 Channel Weekly item about Playhouse Disney Preschool Time Online was incorrect. The correct email address for
librarians to use for information is library@preschooltime.com.
7. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Virtual Hospital -- http://www.vh.org/ -- Virtual Hospital is a digital health sciences library created in 1992 at the University of Iowa to help meet the information needs of health care providers and patients. The goal of the Virtual Hospital digital library is to make the Internet a useful medical reference and health promotion tool for health care providers and patients. The Virtual Hospital digital library contains thousands of textbooks and booklets for health care providers and patients.
8. CALENDAR
July 14, 2006 - Council on Library and Network Development, Madison
September 29, 2006 - Delivery Services Advisory Committee, via video-conference at various sites
October 31-November 3, 2006 - Wisconsin Library Association, Wisconsin Dells
For more details about these and other meetings, see the WISDOM calendar at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/wisdom.html and the BadgerLink and WISCAT training site at http://www.wiscat.lib.wi.us/training.html.
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For information about Channel Weekly or to submit article ideas, please contact:
Roslyn Wise, Editor, at (608) 266-6439
For questions about this information, contact Roslyn M. Wise (608) 266-6439
Last updated on 8/1/2006 9:29:27 AM
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