1. State superintendent announces budget initiatives for next biennium
2. LSTA applications received for 2007 projects
3. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awards ALA grant to improve Internet connectivity in public libraries
4. 21st Century Librarian grant program
5. We the People Bookshelf grants available
6. Get Active @ your library(r) is theme of Teen Read Week 2006
7. Website of the Week - Identity Theft Resource Center
8. Calendar
1. STATE SUPERINTENDENT ANNOUNCES BUDGET INITIATIVES FOR NEXT BIENNIUM
On September 21, State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster presented a budget request for the next biennium that includes the following library-related items:
-- Public library system funding at the 13% index level of $25,160,600 for 2007-08 and $25,915,400 for 2008-09. This compares to 2006-07 funding of $15,521,200.
-- BadgerLink funding of $2,519,600 for 2007-08 and $2,568,900 for 2008-09. This compares to 2006-07 funding of $2,030,500. The requested funding would allow for the addition to BadgerLink of one or more encyclopedias and/or materials to assist pupils in completing classroom assignments.
-- Library service contract funding for the Wisconsin Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (WRLBPH), the Milwaukee Public Library, Wisconsin Library Services (WiLS), and the Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) totaling $1,134,200 for 2007-08 and $1,097,200 for 2008-09. This compares to 2006-07 funding of $876,900. The requested funding would improve contracted service levels and allow the WRLBPH to upgrade their technology to allow for the delivery of digital talking books.
-- Library delivery service funding of $382,000 for 2007-08 and $401,000 for 2008-09. This funding would cover statewide backbone delivery costs currently incurred by public library systems and LSTA funds.
A summary and copy of the full DPI biennial budget request are available on the DPI's web site at http://dpi.wisconsin.gov/pb/index.html.
The budget request will now be reviewed by the Governor, who will submit a proposed budget to the legislature early in 2007.
2. LSTA APPLICATIONS RECEIVED FOR 2007 PROJECTS
Sixty applications for Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) projects to take place in 2007 were submitted by public libraries, public library systems, and other agencies. The applications requested funds for a variety of projects. Outside reviewers (librarians from around the state) will evaluate the applications submitted in the competitive grant categories over the next few weeks. The projects, grant category rankings, and overall LSTA program for 2007 will be reviewed by the LSTA Advisory Committee at its meeting on November 29-30. State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster will announce the grant awards by the end of December.
The preliminary dollars budgeted for each grant category, the dollars requested in the applications, and the number of applications received, are listed below. Some of the grant categories are noncompetitive; others are competitive.
Library System Technology Projects: $370,000 budgeted and requested; 17 applications
Shared Automated Systems Projects: $275,000 budgeted; $291,425 requested; 7 applications
Digitization Projects: $35,000 budgeted; $40,597 requested; 9 applications
Delivery Projects: $75,000 budgeted and requested; 2 applications
Literacy Projects: $230,000 budgeted; $362,929 requested; 18 applications
Disabilities Projects: $125,000 budgeted; $102,648 requested; 6
applications
State Institution Coordination: $15,000 budgeted and requested; 1
application
The total budgeted for these categories was $1,125,000; the total requested was $1,257,599.
For more information, contact Peg Branson, LSTA program coordinator, at (608) 266-2413 or peg.branson@dpi.state.wi.us.
3. BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION AWARDS ALA GRANT TO IMPROVE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded the Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP) of the American Library Association (ALA) $525,000 in support of the ALA's efforts to ensure free public access to the Internet in all of America's public libraries. The three-year general operating grant will allow OITP to help libraries meet increasing demand for public computing and Internet access by supporting libraries' participation in the federal E-rate program.
"Millions of people in the United States, most of them low-income and disadvantaged individuals, rely on public libraries for their primary access to computers and the Internet," said Jill Nishi, Program Manager of the foundation's U.S. Library Program. "It is critical that libraries have the resources necessary to sustain these essential technology tools so that all citizens can access the information they need."
Although virtually all of America's public libraries now offer public access to the Internet, many public libraries have difficulty funding necessary hardware and connectivity upgrades to sustain quality services for their patrons. Without continued improvements to technology infrastructure, libraries' ability to provide quality Internet access to the public is threatened. The foundation estimates that 63 percent of libraries that participated in its original U.S. Libraries Program are vulnerable to having their public computing programs become outdated because they have not been able to maintain or update hardware or have insufficient Internet connectivity.
"The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's generous support means that OITP can expand its efforts to ensure that our communities have free public access to the Internet," said Rick Weingarten, Director of OITP. "OITP is so pleased to be working with the foundation to close the digital divide by ensuring that all Americans-regardless of income, race, age, or geography- have equal access to online content."
Bob Bocher, on DPI's Public Library Development Team, is on the ALA's Office for Information Technology Policy Advisory Committee. Bob and other committee members met in August with Gates' staff to help develop the ALA's grant proposal.
4. 21ST CENTURY LIBRARIAN GRANT PROGRAM
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) invites libraries, archives, and library agencies, associations, and consortia to apply for the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian grant program. The program supports efforts to recruit and educate the next generation of librarians and the faculty who will prepare them for careers in library science. It also supports grants for research related to library education and library staffing needs, curriculum development, an early career development program for untenured, tenure-track library and information science faculty, and continuing education and training. Guidelines are available on the IMLS Web site at http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/pdf/L21_2007.pdf. The application deadline is December 15, 2006. Awards will be announced in
mid-June 2007.
In 2003, with a shortage of professional librarians on the horizon, First Lady Laura Bush called on the Institute of Museum and Library Services to help recruit "a new generation of librarians" through a special funding initiative. Since then, the Institute has funded 2,224 master's degree students, 149 doctoral students, 1,016 preprofessional students, and 4,190 continuing education students. The program also supported a major national
study on the future of librarians in the workforce.
The program supports
* recruiting and educating students at the doctoral and master's levels
* graduate schools of library and information science to build
institutional capacity through curriculum development in key areas
* research to develop strategies for recruiting and retaining librarians with the appropriate skills and characteristics to meet future users' needs and to evaluate program effectiveness
* efforts to recruit future librarians from the ranks of promising junior high, high school, and college students;
* updating the skills of current librarians and library staffs through
continuing education programs
* early career development programs that help promising untenured library and information science faculty in tenure-track positions gain tenure by supporting their research at a critical stage in their careers. Research topics in early career programs address the investigator's individual field of inquiry
Applications, guidelines, and examples of successful proposals can be found on the agency's Web site. All applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. Instructions for completing and submitting applications through Grants.gov are in the guidelines and on the IMLS Web site. Contact Senior Program Officer Stephanie Clark at sclark@imls.gov or Program Specialist Karmen Bisher at kbisher@imls.gov with questions or for more information.
5. WE THE PEOPLE BOOKSHELF GRANTS AVAILABLE
We the People Bookshelf is a joint initiative, between the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office to encourage young people to read and understand classic books in the K-12 reading levels while exploring themes in American history, culture and ideas.
This year's theme is the PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. A collection of 15 books for young readers will be given to 2,000 libraries across the United States through a competitive grant application. Book titles are noted below. Programs promoting these titles will be conducted in libraries between May 1, 2007 and April 30, 2008.
The online application for this new theme will be available September 20, 2006 through January 31, 2007 at http://www.wethepeople.gov/bookshelf. The deadline for receipt of the grant application is 5:00 p.m. (local time) January 31, 2007.
Only school (K-12) and public libraries in the United States and its territories are eligible to apply. Other organizations are encouraged to partner with their local library to promote community-wide reading and exploration of the theme. This year, once again, school districts and library systems are invited to apply for Bookshelves on behalf of the multiple schools or branches they comprise. Changes in the application system will make it faster and simpler this year. Individual branch or school libraries are also encouraged to apply.
6. GET ACTIVE@YOUR LIBRARY IS THEME OF TEEN READ WEEK 2006
The ninth annual Teen Read Week will be held October 15 - 21, 2006, with the theme "Get Active @ your library(r)." Teen Read Week is the national adolescent literacy initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest growing division of the American Library Association. This year's theme encourages teens to use the resources in their library to lead active lives.
Judy Nelson, YALSA's president, feels that "today's teens seem to have less and less free time, and there are increasingly more activities for them to take part in during what little leisure time they have. That is why it's important to encourage teens to set aside some time to read." Literacy is a topic of both local and national concern, and falling test scores and lower graduation rates among teens today are a serious issue.
Studies show a regular reading habit increases reading proficiency. Being around adults who are avid readers can counteract the latest statistics from The Nation's Report Card (http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard), which indicate that in homes across America the number of different types of reading materials has decreased, and a smaller percentage of seventeen-year-olds saw adults reading in their homes.
Teen Read Week is held annually during the third week of October.
7. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Identity Theft Resource Center -- http://www.idtheftcenter.org/index.shtml
-- The Identity Theft Resource Center is a nonprofit, nationally respected program dedicated exclusively to identity theft. The Center provides consumer and victim support and advises governmental agencies, legislators and companies about this evolving and growing crime.
8. CALENDAR
September 22, 2006 - Fall interlibrary loan meeting for system and resource library staff, Madison
September 26, 2006 - System Continuing Education/Certification Consultants annual meeting, Madison
September 29, 2006 - Delivery Services Advisory Committee, via video-conference at various sites
September 30, 2006 - National Book Festival, Washington D.C.
October 5, 2006 - Instructional Media and Technology regional meeting, Oconomowoc
October 6, 2006 - Instructional Media and Technology regional meeting, Neenah
October 12, 2006 - Instructional Media and Technology regional meeting, Wisconsin Dells
October 13, 2006 - Instructional Media and Technology regional meeting, Rice Lake
October 13, 2006 - Public Library System Youth Liaisons annual meeting, Madison
October 18-22, 2006 - Wisconsin Book Festival
October 25, 2006 - Annual fall reference meeting for system and resource library staff, Oshkosh
October 31-November 3, 2006 - Wisconsin Library Association, Wisconsin Dells
November 10, 2006 - Council on Library and Network Development, Madison
November 29-30, 2006 - LSTA Advisory Committee meeting and public hearing, Madison
January 12, 2007 - Council on Library and Network Development, location TBA
January 23, 2007 - Wisconsin Library Legislative Day, Madison
March 25-27, 2007 - Wisconsin Educational Media Association Spring Conference, Madison
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 10/6/2006 11:36:35 AM
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