1. Library systems to share $16.1 million in state aid
2. Common School Fund changes take effect
3. Most libraries and schools must file form with TEACH by December 21
4. IMLS Calls for 2008 Coming Up Taller Award nominations
5. Website of the Week
6. Calendar
REMINDER - Due to the upcoming holidays, Channel Weekly will not be published for the next two weeks. The next issue of Channel Weekly will be the January 10, 2008, edition.
1. LIBRARY SYSTEMS TO SHARE $16.1 MILLION IN STATE AID
State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster has announced that Wisconsin's 17 federated public library systems will share $16.1 million in state aid during 2008.
Systems received the first of two aid payments, which will total $16,138,000, in November. Aid supports regional cooperation and sharing of library resources so libraries can provide higher levels of service while reducing duplication. Library system funding is the state's primary program of support for public library service statewide.
"This state funding for public library systems allows communities to maximize the effectiveness of their local libraries," Burmaster said. "System aid supports materials and service sharing and open access arrangements for the region's residents. These funds also assist public libraries in helping to close the digital divide between those with computer and Internet access and those without."
Wisconsin's 388 independent public libraries have all voluntarily joined a public library system. The systems are regional library organizations created to improve public library services and to increase Wisconsin residents' access to library materials and services. Systems use funds according to plans developed and adopted by regional boards to meet the needs of each public library system area. Library system services include:
* ensuring that system residents have complete access to all public libraries within the system area. State residents made 33 million visits to public libraries and checked out nearly 60 million items last year.
* coordinating the loan of library materials among participating libraries to meet user needs. Annually, 6.4 million items are sent from one public library to another library in response to users' requests and are delivered by system-supported delivery networks.
* providing training and continuing education for local library staff to help them provide the best possible service to their communities.
* coordinating cooperative library technology projects. About 90 percent of the state's public libraries now participate in shared computer systems that offer users on-line catalog access to regional library holdings. All public libraries provide the public with the use of computers with high-speed Internet connections.
"As local and county governments strive to provide needed services while holding down property tax increases, public library systems help local libraries to make the most of their community's library investments and resources," Burmaster said. "The Legislature and governor deserve praise for providing funding that allows the state's public libraries to operate in a coordinated and cost-effective manner."
2. COMMON SCHOOL FUND CHANGES TAKE EFFECT
With passage of the state budget in October 2007, Wisconsin Statute 43.70(3), which guides use of the Common School Fund (CSF), was amended. With the amendment school districts may now use up to 25 percent of the [CSF] moneys received in a fiscal year to purchase school library computers and related software to be housed in the school library. These purchases must be made in consultation with the school district's library media coordinator, as per Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 8.01(2)(h).
The following guidelines have been established to assist school districts with this change:
* Only computers and related software for the school library and its instructional program may be purchased under this amendment. Related software refers to that which comes pre-installed on the computer at the time of purchase.
* As with other library materials, the items purchased must be housed in and made accessible from the school library for their lifetime.
* All computer purchases made with the "up to 25% of CSF" must be coded in WUFAR category 222000, Object Code 550 (Equipment addition) or Object Code 56 (Equipment replacement).
* All software purchases must be coded in WUFAR category 222000, Object Code 435 (Computer Software Programs).
* The total expended using the Common School Fund in Object Codes 550 and 560 may not exceed 25% of a district's CSF allocation.
* If a district does not expend the entire Common School Fund within Function 222000 Object 430, it will be required to provide additional detail in the Financial Annual Report for expenditures coded in Object Codes 550 and 560.
This change applies to the 2007-08 school year based on the school district's 2008 CSF allocation; it does not apply to any unspent CSF monies received in a prior year. School districts will receive notification of their official 2008 CSF Library aid estimate in January 2008.
All existing CSF guidelines remain applicable and in effect. Updated information on the Common School Fund and guidelines for its use is available at http://www.dpi.wi.gov/sfs/comsch.html. Further clarification can be obtained by contacting Kate Bugher, School Library Media Consultant, Kathryn.bugher@dpi.state.wi.us, 608-267-9287 or Brad Adams, Finance Services Consultant, Bradley.adams@dpi.state.wi.us, 608-267-3752.
3. MOST LIBRARIES AND SCHOOLS MUST FILE FORM WITH TEACH BY DECEMBER 21
Over 95% of our state's public libraries and K-12 schools receive discounted datalines through the state's TEACH program. These lines are used for accessing the Internet and for shared automated systems in libraries. As required by state statute, TEACH applies for the federal E-rate program to help subsidize the datalines. One of the E-rate's requirements is that all libraries and schools must have a Letter of Agency (LOA) on file with TEACH giving it permission to apply for E-rate on behalf of each library and school.
Information on completing the two-page Letter of Agency was mailed in early November to each school administrator and library director served by TEACH. The LOA form must be completed and faxed back to TEACH at 608-267-0626.
NOTE: The deadline to fax the LOA is Friday, December 21. Failure to file the LOA will cancel your TEACH subsidized dataline.
If you have any questions on this, contact Bruce Vande Zande with the TEACH program (bruce.vandezande@wisconsin.gov, 608-264-6381).
4. IMLS CALLS FOR 2008 COMING UP TALLER AWARD NOMINATIONS
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2008 Coming Up Taller awards that recognize and reward outstanding after-school, out-of-school, and summer arts and humanities programs for underserved children and youth. The program, in its eleventh year, is sponsored by the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
By honoring excellence in after-school, out-of-school, and summer arts and humanities programs, the Coming Up Taller awards promote a creative, engaged, skilled, and confident generation of young people. Eligible museums, libraries, performing arts organizations, universities, arts centers, community service organizations, schools, businesses, and eligible government entities are encouraged to participate.
Recipients of a Coming Up Taller award receive $10,000 at a special ceremony in Washington, DC, an individualized plaque, and an expense-paid invitation to attend the annual Coming Up Taller Leadership Enhancement Conference. Visit http://www.cominguptaller.org/downloads/2008CUTNominationApplication.pdf
for the nomination guidelines and application (PDF, 227KB). The deadline for nominations is January 31, 2008.
5. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
HealthyToys.org -- http://www.healthytoys.org/home.php -- No government agency requires labeling or disclosure to inform consumers about the chemical components of children's products. HealthyToys.org was launched as a first step in providing parents, grandparents, and others who care about children with the information they need to make better choices when purchasing toys and other children's products.
6. CALENDAR
January 11, 2008 - Council on Library and Network Development meeting, Madison
January 17, 2008 - HOLA! Project workshop, Wisconsin Valley, Wausau
January 18, 2008 - HOLA! Project workshop, Northern Waters, Hayward
January 24, 2008 - HOLA! Project workshop, Kenosha-Lakeshores-Mid Wisconsin, Waterford (Snow date January 31)
January 31, 2008 - Delivery Services Advisory Committee, via WisLine
February 1, 2008 - Library Information Technology Advisory Committee meeting, Madison
February 22, 2008 - HOLA! Project workshop, South Central, Madison
February 29, 2008 - HOLA! Project workshop, South West, Fennimore (Snow date March 7)
March 5, 2008 - HOLA! Project workshop, Nicolet, DePere
March 6, 2008 - HOLA! Project workshop, OWLS and Winnefox, Appleton
March 14, 2008 - Council on Library and Network Development meeting, Hartford
April 3, 2008 - HOLA! Project workshop, Winding Rivers, LaCrosse
April 6-8, 2008 - Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association spring conference, Milwaukee
April 16, 2008 - HOLA! Project workshop, Milwaukee and Waukesha, Milwaukee
April 16, 2008 - HOLA! Project workshop, Eastern Shores and Manitowoc-Calumet, Manitowoc
April 16-18, 2008 - Wisconsin Association of Academic Librarians annual conference, Manitowoc
April 24, 2008 - HOLA! Project workshop, Arrowhead, Janesville
April 30-May 2, 2008 - Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries annual conference, Stevens Points
May 5-6, 2008 - COLAND Statewide Library Strategic Visioning Summit, TBA
May 19, 2008 - Library Information Technology Advisory Committee meeting, Madison
October 10, 2008 - Library Information Technology Advisory Committee meeting, 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://dpi.wi.gov/rll/wiscat/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 1/3/2008 11:28:57 AM
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