1. Office of Attorney General issues opinion on library director
employment contracts
2. MARC records available for BadgerLink's TeachingBooks author programs
3. Gates Foundation announces new public library computer and Internet grant program
4. Libraries are key to building local economic base
5. "Wild about Wireless" Webinar, January 30, 11:30 a.m.
6. Website of the Week - Calendars from the Sky
7. Calendar
1. OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL ISSUES OPINION ON LIBRARY DIRECTOR EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS
Below is a summary of the Office of Attorney General opinion issued on December 22, 2006, in response to questions about the authority of a public library board to enter into an employment contract with the public library director.
The opinion of the Attorney General was requested by the Sheboygan Common Council, the Mead Public Library Board, and others after questions were raised about the legality of an employment contract entered into between the Mead Public Library Board and the library director. That contract provided that the library director be employed for a term of years, provided that the library director may be terminated for cause, and provided that the director will receive a lump sum payout if terminated without cause. By ordinance, the City of Sheboygan provides that certain other department heads are appointed to five-year terms and may be discharged only for cause by a three-fourths vote of the city council.
The opinion of the Office of Attorney General concludes that "a municipal library board is authorized under Wisconsin law to enter into a contract with a library director that may include provisions specifying conditions of employment that may include provisions stating that the director will be employed for a certain number of years, that the director may be terminated for cause and/or that the library director will receive a lump sum payout if terminated without cause."
The Office of Attorney General opinion did not discuss the potential effect of a municipal civil service ordinance on any of these issues because the City of Sheboygan does not have a civil service ordinance. Similarly, the opinion also did not discuss the appropriate source of funds for any lump sum payment made in case of termination without cause, because termination is not being contemplated.
The full opinion is available at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/pdf/agsheboygan061222.pdf.
2. MARC RECORDS AVAILABLE FOR BADGERLINK'S TEACHINGBOOKS AUTHOR PROGRAMS
Would you like to make the TeachingBooks original Author Programs, filmed in the homes of award-winning authors and illustrators, searchable in your library catalog? Contact Carin Bringelson at carin@TeachingBooks.net so that she can send you the MARC records. TeachingBooks.net is an online product for all Wisconsin schools, libraries, and residents supported by BadgerLink.net.
3. GATES FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES NEW PUBLIC LIBRARY COMPUTER AND INTERNET GRANT PROGRAM
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's U.S. Libraries has announced a new five-year commitment to help U.S. public libraries serving low-income communities continue to provide free, high-quality computer and Internet services and training to their communities. The press release is available at http://www.gatesfoundation.org/UnitedStates/USLibraryProgram/Announcements/Announce-070118.htm. Wisconsin is scheduled to be in the 2008 round of grants. More details will be provided when they are available.
The foundation has worked in partnership with U.S. libraries since 1997 with the goal of ensuring that every person who could reach a public library could reach the Internet. Now, nearly every library nationwide offers computer and Internet services, and 14 million people rely on these computers to further their education and to find employment, health, and government information.
"It is virtually impossible to succeed today without access to computers and the Internet. For the millions of people who don't have those tools at home, the public library helps level the playing field," said Allan Golston, president of the foundation's United States Program. "Unfortunately, some libraries are struggling to keep up with innovations in technology. We want to make sure every library can remain a viable choice for high-quality computer and Internet services for its community."
With almost 40 percent of Americans still lacking Internet access at home, libraries are a critical link to technology for many who cannot afford the service on their own.
The foundation will direct its hardware upgrade grants to public libraries that serve communities where 10 percent or more of the population lives in poverty and which are vulnerable to having their computer and Internet services become obsolete. It is reported that some type of local match will be required.
4. LIBRARIES ARE KEY TO BUILDING LOCAL ECONOMIC BASE
Public libraries build a community's capacity for economic activity and resiliency, says a new study from the Urban Institute. "Making Cities Stronger: Public Library Contributions to Local Economic Development" adds to the body of research pointing to a shift in the role of public libraries-from a passive, recreational reading, and research institution to an active economic development agent, addressing such pressing urban issues as literacy, workforce training, small business vitality and community quality of life. The study was commissioned by the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.
To read the full press release and the report, visit the ULC Web site.
http://www.urbanlibraries.org/jan1006makingcitiesstronger.html.
5. "WILD ABOUT WIRELESS" WEBINAR, JANUARY 30, 11:30 A.M.
Are you thinking about providing wireless access for your patrons? What are the technical requirements? What are the security considerations? Hear from rural libraries that have successfully implemented wireless access for the public. As part of its Rural Library Sustainability Project, WebJunction offers a one-hour "Rural in Focus" webinar on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 at 11:30 a.m. The program will be moderated by Brenda Hough, Technology Coordinator, Northeast Kansas Library System (NEKLS). The webinar uses Microsoft Live Meeting software, as is used by the WisLine Web sessions. The program is free but pre-registration is required. For registration and to check for equipment compatibility, refer to the following site: http://webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=13496
6. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Calendars from the Sky -- http://webexhibits.org/calendars/ -- Calendars are normally based on astronomical events, and the two most important astronomical objects are the sun and the moon. Their cycles are very important in the construction and understanding of calendars. This site lets you explore the history of the human endeavor to organize our lives in accordance with the sun and stars. (Website courtesy of refdesk.com.)
7. CALENDAR
February 9, 2007 - Library Information Technology Advisory Committee meeting, Madison
February 22, 2007 - Gates Foundation "Greener Pastures" Rural Sustainability Project workshop, Madison
February 27, 2007 - Gates Foundation "Greener Pastures" Rural Sustainability Project workshop, Waterford
March 7, 2007 - Gates Foundation "Greener Pastures" Rural Sustainability Project workshop, DePere
March 9, 2007 - Council on Library and Network Development, location to be announced
March 13, 2007 - Gates Foundation "Greener Pastures" Rural Sustainability Project workshop, Rice Lake
March 25-27, 2007 - Wisconsin Educational Media Association Spring Conference, Madison
April 3, 2007 - Gates Foundation "Greener Pastures" Rural Sustainability Project workshop, Fond du Lac
April 12, 2007 - Gates Foundation "Greener Pastures" Rural Sustainability Project workshop, Fennimore
April 17-20 - Wisconsin Association of Academic Librarians, Wisconsin Dells
April 18, 2007 - Gates Foundation "Greener Pastures" Rural Sustainability Project workshop, Mercer
April 19, 2007 - Gates Foundation "Greener Pastures" Rural Sustainability Project workshop, Wausau
April 26, 2007 - Gates Foundation "Greener Pastures" Rural Sustainability Project workshop, Sparta
May 2, 2007 - Gates Foundation "Greener Pastures" Rural Sustainability Project workshop, Eau Claire (WAPL preconference)
May 2-4, 2007 - Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries, Eau Claire
May 11, 2007 - Council on Library and Network Development meeting, location to be announced
May 11, 2007 - Library Information Technology Advisory Committee meeting, Madison
June 21-27, 2007 - American Library Association Annual Conference, Washington DC
July 13, 2007 - Council on Library and Network Development meeting, location to be announced
September 14, 2007 - Council on Library and Network Development meeting, location to be announced
October 12, 2007 - Library Information Technology Advisory Committee meeting, Madison
October 16-19, 2007 - Wisconsin Library Association Annual Conference, Green Bay
November 9, 2007 - Council on Library and Network Development meeting, location to be announced
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.
Return to the Channel Weekly Home Page
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 2/6/2007 1:08:37 PM
Home
Contact Us