Channel Weekly
Vol. 9, No. 20, February 15, 2007

1. Governor's proposed budget includes increases for library system aids, library service contracts, and BadgerLink
2. "Youth with Special Needs" publication distributed
3. 2007 E-rate applications close; $24.67 million requested
4. Library Information and Technology Advisory Committee meets
5. New reports emphasize economic impact of public libraries
6. Website of the Week - National Archives
7. Calendar

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1. GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES INCREASES FOR LIBRARY SYSTEM AIDS, LIBRARY SERVICE CONTRACTS, AND BADGERLINK

On February 13, Governor Doyle proposed a budget for the next biennium that includes the following library-related items:

-- Public library system funding increases of approximately 4% for each year of the biennium (annual increases of $616,800 for 2008 and $645,500 for 2009) to maintain funding at the current 8.1% index level. Increased funding would be from the Universal Service Fund. Total proposed funding is $16,138,000 for 2008 and $16,783,500 for 2009. This compares to 2007 funding of $15,521,200.

-- BadgerLink funding of $2,061,700 for 2008 and $2,111,000 for 2009. This compares to 2007 funding of $2,030,500. The proposed funding would allow for maintenance of the current BadgerLink resources.

-- 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 2008 and $1,097,200 for 2009. This compares to 2007 funding of $876,900. The proposed funding would improve contracted service levels and allow the WRLBPH to upgrade their technology to allow for the delivery of digital talking books.

-- NFB-NEWSLINE funding to support newspapers accessible by telephone for blind and physically handicapped people, annual increases of $38,500 for 2008 and $40,500 for 2009. This includes funds for the Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped for provision of technical support and registration of users.

-- Language allowing the Department of Administration to use funds received under the federal E?Rate program to help subsidize library and K-12 school bandwidth. Use of the E-rate funds is designed to address insufficient bandwidth reported by some libraries and schools that are connected to the BadgerNet network.

In addition, the governor's budget proposes that county reimbursements to libraries in adjacent counties be exempt from levy limits.

The governor's budget will now be reviewed and acted upon by the legislature. Final legislative approval should occur before the start of the next biennium on July 1, 2007; however, there is sometimes a delay during which state operations continue at funding levels approved for the preceding budget.

2. "YOUTH WITH SPECIAL NEEDS" PUBLICATION DISTRIBUTED

The Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning distributed copies of "Youth with Special Needs: A Resource and Planning Guide" to all public library systems this week. The regional systems will forward a copy to every public library and branch. This publication includes national and state background information on various special needs areas, as well as suggestions for overcoming barriers for youth in this population group. The publication expands on the core strategies identified in the original publication published in 1999. This expanded version revises the strategies and includes numerous national and state resources for the targeted areas. Public libraries can contact these agencies as potential project partners, to help market library services, and to get information for their patrons. The publication will be featured as an example of state planning for youth with special needs at a pre-conference for the American Library Association annual conference in Washington, D.C., in June.

Additional copies are available and can be requested by contacting Barb Huntington by phone at 608-267-5077, or by email at barbara.huntington@dpi.state.wi.us. The publication will also be available online in early March.

3. 2007 E-RATE APPLICATIONS CLOSE; $24.67 MILLION REQUESTED

Applications for the E-rate funding year that starts July 1, 2007, closed on February 8. For Wisconsin, $24.67 million was requested in 512 applications submitted by K-12 schools, CESAs, libraries, and library systems. (Nationwide, a total of $2.89 billion was requested by just over 35,000 applicants.) Funding requests by Wisconsin applicants were made in the following E-rate categories:

Category	Funding requested
Internal wiring	$2,196,500
Internet	$2,539,000
Telecommunications	$19,938,000
TOTAL	$24,673,500

Last year in the state, a total of $32.18 million in E-rate funding was requested. The decrease in 2007 primarily reflects over $5 million less in requests for internal wiring. Installing network wiring in a school or library is often a one-time cost. As more buildings get wired, requests for this decrease accordingly. Internet and telecommunication costs are ongoing and show less change from year-to-year.

The Department of Public Instruction's E-rate Website site is at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/erate.html. Anyone in a Wisconsin school or library who works with the E-rate program should also be subscribed to the DPI's E-rate email list. Subscription information is at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/wieratelist.html. Questions on the E-rate program can be directed to Bob Bocher by phone at 608-266-2127, or by email at robert.bocher@dpi.state.wi.us.

4. LIBRARY INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETS

The Library Information and Technology Advisory Committee met on February 9 at the Reference and Loan Library. At the meeting committee members discussed issues for consideration during 2007 and a strategy for recording the issues and recommendations. The strategy included updating the Wisconsin Library Technology Strategic Plan, and developing or revising issue papers on the following topics: BadgerLink, Interlibrary Loan, Electronic Collections, Consumer-driven Digital Products, Shared Integrated Library Systems, Virtual Reference, Digitization/Digital Archive, Information Literacy, Accessibility of Electronic Information, and Privacy and Safety of the Internet. Committee members also discussed a draft BadgerLink issue paper, BadgerLink database access and identity, an outline for a BadgerLink marketing plan, and the development of a BadgerLink Toolkit. Other agenda topics included the LSTA five-year evaluation and plan, Project Safe Childhood, federal legislative program updates, and a WISCAT implementation update.

5. NEW REPORTS EMPHASIZE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Two new studies have been added to the Economic Impact of Public Libraries resource page on DPI's website.

The new studies include one conducted by Levin, Driscoll & Fleeter of Columbus, Ohio, on nine libraries serving four counties in southwestern Ohio and released November 29, 2006. The study, "Value For Money: Southwestern Ohio's Return from Investment in Public Libraries," is described and linked here: http://www.urbanlibraries.org/jan1006makingcitiesstronger.html.

The other study from the Urban Institute, "Making Cities Stronger: Public Library Contributions to Local Economic Development," was released on January 11, 2007 and is described and linked here: http://www.urbanlibraries.org/jan1006makingcitiesstronger.html.

Both studies, as well as other economic impact and taxpayer return on investment studies, are collected here: http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/econimpact.html along with additional resources for libraries interested in conducting local studies.

6. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

National Archives -- http://www.archives.gov/about/ -- Of all documents and materials created in the course of business conducted by the United States Federal government, only 1% - 3% are so important for legal or historical reasons that they are kept by us forever. Those valuable records are preserved and are available to you, whether you want to see if they contain clues about your family's history, need to prove a veteran's military service, or are researching an historical topic that interests you. (Website courtesy of refdesk.com.)

7. CALENDAR

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, Madison

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.

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For information about Channel Weekly or to submit article ideas, please contact:
Roslyn Wise, Editor, at (608) 266-6439

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For questions about this information, contact Roslyn M. Wise (608) 266-6439

Last updated on 3/8/2007 9:15:46 AM