1. Article describes use of enGauge in Wisconsin school districts
2. WebJunction's Rural Library Sustainability course now available online
3. WebJunction webinar and guide to library technology competencies scheduled for July 25
4. "Cookbook" guide to support public access computing
5. Interim contacts for LSTA and certification issues
6. Website of the Week - FirstGov for Consumers: Your Money
7. Calendar
1. ARTICLE DESCRIBES USE OF ENGAUGE IN WISCONSIN SCHOOL DISTRICTS
How Wisconsin school districts use enGauge to promote Systemic School Reform is the topic of an article written by Stuart Ciske, Education Consultant on the Instructional Media and Technology Team, for the online version of the July 2007 issue of T.H.E. Journal at http://www.thejournal.com/the/magazine/currentissue/ (scroll down to CASE STUDIES > Systemic School Reform). The article will also be published in the print version of the magazine.
2. WEBJUNCTION'S RURAL LIBRARY SUSTAINABILITY COURSE NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
With funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, WebJunction's Rural Library Sustainability Program partnered with state libraries to provide workshops in 42 states, including Wisconsin, introducing seven areas key to sustaining public access computing. The curriculum and project follow-up enabled libraries to accomplish goals associated with these areas through a supportive evaluation and planning process. More than 250 directors of public libraries in small or rural communities throughout Wisconsin attended the ten regional "Greener Pastures" Rural Library Sustainability workshops this year.
Now WebJunction has produced and packaged the workshop as a free, self-paced online course. The course is designed for any library staff or trustees seeking strategies for sustainability or for those who wish to facilitate the action planning process with their staff, library boards, or others in their rural community. More information about the online course and registration is available here: http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=16846.
3. WEBJUNCTION WEBINAR AND GUIDE TO LIBRARY TECHNOLOGY COMPETENCIES SCHEDULED FOR JULY 25
On Wednesday, July 25, at 1:00 p.m., WebJunction will offer a free, one-hour online Webinar, "Core Competencies for Library Staff." The program will discuss how defining core competencies builds a foundation for identifying skills and knowledge gaps and leads to targeted training that will help keep libraries viable in the 21st century. In addition, the newly expanded WebJunction competencies for sustaining public access computing will be discussed. Information and registration instructions for the Webinar can be found here: http://webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=15543.
Information and links to the free WebJunction guide, "Sustaining Public Access Computing Programs: Technology and Management Competencies" are available here: http://www.webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=15659.
WebJunction's competencies are divided into three sections-two of which address technical skills and knowledge, and a third that addresses the management of public access computing programs. Technology Competencies for Patron Assistance defines skills that frontline library staff need in order to provide direct assistance to patrons on the public computers. The System Administration section defines skills necessary to set up, configure, and maintain the public computers and networks. The Management Competencies are the umbrella over all, covering the master-planning, coordination, and integration aspects of running a public access computing program. The publication's general orientation is toward all public libraries across the spectrum with an emphasis on smaller and rural libraries.
4. "COOKBOOK" GUIDE TO SUPPORT PUBLIC ACCESS COMPUTING
The MaintainIT project (http://maintainitproject.org), funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and a project of TechSoup (http://www.techsoup.org/), has published its first "cookbook" style guide to support libraries providing public access computers.
The "Joy of Computing: A Cookbook for Small and Rural Libraries" contains how-to details geared toward the technical concerns most pertinent to today's small, rural library. The book provides detailed instructions and comparison charts for computer protection, software maintenance options, volunteer recruitment, and technology training resources for remote locations. The 84-page book is available as a free downloadable PDF file at http://maintainitproject.org/cookbooks.
5. INTERIM CONTACTS FOR LSTA AND CERTIFICATION ISSUES
Peg Branson's last day as the DPI's LSTA Coordinator and Certification Consultant was Friday, July 6. We will be recruiting to fill this position, but during the time period until a new person starts, please contact the following staff:
Certification and continuing education issues:
John DeBacher at john.debacher@dpi.state.wi.us or 608-266-7270
General LSTA issues:
Mike Cross at michael.cross@dpi.state.wi.us or 608-267-9225
6. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
FirstGov for Consumers: Your Money -- http://www.consumer.gov/yourmoney.htm -- FirstGov for Consumers is a "one-stop" link to a broad range of federal information resources available online. It is designed so that you can locate information by category -- such as Food, Health, Product Safety, Your Money, and Transportation. Each category has subcategories to direct you to areas within individual federal web sites containing related information.
7. CALENDAR
July 13, 2007 - Council on Library and Network Development meeting, Verona
September 14, 2007 - Council on Library and Network Development meeting, Cable
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://dpi.wi.gov/rll/wiscat/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 8/7/2007 10:49:47 AM
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