1. Budget repair bill proposes change in library system funding source
2. Projects recognized for strengthening rural Wisconsin
3. Leadership conference on adolescent literacy for public librarians to be held in Madison
4. IMLS announces results of study on the Internet's impact on libraries and museums
5. School Library Media Month gains momentum with two great spokespersons
6. Julie Andrews shares her thoughts on libraries in new NLW video
7. Lance Armstrong Foundation and ALA team up to deliver cancer survivorship notebooks to libraries
8. Website of the Week - Librarians' Internet Index
9. Calendar
1. BUDGET REPAIR BILL PROPOSES CHANGE IN LIBRARY SYSTEM FUNDING SOURCE
On March 10, it was announced that Governor Doyle's budget repair bill proposes (among many other budget changes) that $11.3 from the Universal Service Fund (USF) be used in FY 2008-2009 to fund public library system aid, replacing General Purpose Revenue (GPR) funds. Under this proposal, all library system funding ($16,783,500) will come from the USF in FY 2008-2009. A special session of the legislature has been called to consider the budget repair bill.
2. PROJECTS RECOGNIZED FOR STRENGTHENING RURAL WISCONSIN
On March 7, State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster recognized 10 programs and activities that strengthen rural communities when she presented her 2008 Standing Up for Rural Wisconsin awards during a ceremony today at the Capitol in Madison.
"Despite increasingly difficult challenges, the teachers, students, and citizens of rural Wisconsin continue to do extraordinary work for the betterment of their schools and communities," Burmaster said." These awards recognize the efforts of rural residents to shape the lives of our children as well as the future of this great state. They are changing the world and are true champions of education."
This is the third year that Burmaster has presented Standing Up for Rural Schools, Libraries, and Communities awards. Projects receiving recognition this year included two library projects:
* A New Library for Lena. For decades, the Lena library operated out of a back room in the Village Hall. Alfred Goldstein, a regular patron, left money through his estate to build a new facility. The community then pitched in: the school board donated land, two local homebuilders volunteered as construction managers, the Lions Club raised funds for equipment and technology, and citizens donated money for books. The library, which opened in 2006, has tripled circulation, provides meeting space for book clubs and other groups, and supports a teen board that promotes activities for youth. Lena Public Library Director Jennifer Thiele accepted the award.
* Seussabration. In 2004, the Oneida Community Library Youth Department celebrated 100 years of Dr. Seuss with a "Seuss-centennial," that included green eggs and ham, stories, games, guest stars, and prizes. The celebration, which involves library staff and personnel in other departments of the Oneida Nation, was repeated in 2005 and is becoming an annual event. It has been an excellent way to bring families into the library and provides an opportunity to focus on food safety and nutrition, issues that relate to the incidence of diabetes in American Indian people. Kymberley Pelky, children's liaison for the Oneida Community Library, accepted the award.
The full list of awardees is available at http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpi2008_48.pdf.
3. LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ON ADOLESCENT LITERACY FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIANS TO BE HELD IN MADISON
The Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning is hosting a Leadership Conference on Adolescent Literacy for Public Librarians on May 15, 2008 in Madison. Participation in the conference is by invitation only. The Division hopes the conference will create momentum to enhance and strengthen public library services to adolescents most at risk of having literacy issues. The Leadership Conference will be followed-up with regional training opportunities.
Statewide assessments of reading achievement show that the proportion of students proficient in reading declines as they move from elementary and middle school to high school. This conference will launch a multi-year initiative that will champion high-quality teen services and build momentum behind Wisconsin's drive to create the most literate, well-educated citizenry and workforce in the nation.
This public library initiative is being planned in cooperation with State Superintendent Libby Burmaster's adolescent literacy initiative that is targeted primarily to schools. The adolescent initiative for public libraries is supported by federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds.
Jim Burke, a nationally prominent expert in adolescent literacy, will be on hand to provide an overview of recent research findings and relevant developments including the challenges and opportunities for improving adolescent literacy in Wisconsin. In addition, Elizabeth Shirtcliff, a UW-Madison researcher on teen brain development, will help frame what is known about the differences in the teen brain and hormonal systems that differ from those of children and adults. The afternoon will include a dynamic panel of teens who will discuss the exciting teen services they helped design at the Waupaca Area Public Library. The day will conclude with a summary of the ways in which electronic gaming impacts the way in which teens think, read, and organize information, based on the latest research, by Kym Buchanan of UW-Stevens Point.
4. IMLS ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF STUDY ON THE INTERNET'S IMPACT ON LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS
Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Director Anne-Imelda Radice released results of the study titled "InterConnections: A National Study of Users and Potential Users of Online Information" March 6 at the 9th annual WebWise Conference on Libraries and Museums in the Digital World in Miami. This new report offers insight into the ways people search for information in the online age, and how this impacts the ways they interact with public libraries and museums, both online and in person.
"Museums and libraries are alive and well in the digital world!" Radice said. "The InterConnections report shows how people currently search for information and makes the case that the libraries and museums must provide service both online and in person."
IMLS sponsored this national study through a cooperative agreement with a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill research team led by José-Marie Griffiths and Donald W. King, recognized leaders in information research. Their findings are based on five surveys of 1,000 to 1,600 adults each that were conducted during 2006. The study found that:
* Libraries and museums are the most trusted sources of online information among adults of all ages, education levels, races, and ethnicities. Libraries and museums rank higher in trustworthiness than all other information sources including government, commercial, and private Web sites. The study shows that the public trust of museums and libraries migrates to the online environment.
* The explosive growth of information available in the "Information Age" actually whets Americans' appetite for more information. People search for information in many places and since the use of one source leads to others, museums, public libraries, and the Internet complement each other in this information-rich environment.
* The Internet is not replacing in-person visits to libraries and museums and may actually increase onsite use of libraries and museums. There is a positive relationship between Internet use and in-person visits to museums and public libraries.
The InterConnections report provides evidence that public libraries and museums are thriving in the Internet Age as trusted providers of information to people of all ages. To view the report, please go to http://interconnectionsreport.org.
5. SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA MONTH GAINS MOMENTUM WITH TWO GREAT SPOKESPERSONS
Carmen Agra Deedy, award-winning author of "Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale," has been named a national spokesperson for the 2008 School Library Media Month, which will be celebrated in April. As spokesperson, Deedy has already agreed to do Public Service Announcements on the importance of school library media programs and will make appearances at schools to promote School Library Media Month. "I love librarians," Deedy said, "I visit hundreds of schools every year, and I can see the difference in those schools that are wise to the value of library media specialists. I look forward to working with AASL to spread the good word about school libraries."
Young actress Abigail Breslin, who can be seen in her recent role as Kit Kittredge in "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" has also been named as a spokesperson for School Library Media Month.
For more information about School Library Media Month, including ideas for fun ways to celebrate it, visit: http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslissues/aasladvocacy/schoollibrary.cfm.
6. JULIE ANDREWS SHARES HER THOUGHTS ON LIBRARIES IN NEW NLW VIDEO
Academy Award-winning actress and honorary chair of National Library Week Julie Andrews discusses the value of libraries in a new video available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieUD9vCeXu0. The clip can be posted on libraries' Web sites or blogs to promote National Library Week (April 13-19, 2008).
"Libraries for me were a place of peace, quiet and joy," says Andrews, recalling her library visits as a child. "Such a new world of adventure opened up for me when I took a book out of my local library."
As part of her role as National Library Week chair, Andrews has also lent her image to radio and television public service announcements (PSAs). Print, radio and television PSAs are available for libraries to use locally and can be found on the National Library Week Web page at http://www.ala.org/pio/nlw.
Other tools available on the National Library Week Web page include a sample proclamation, press release, radio PSA scripts and letter-to-the-editor. All documents are available in both English and Spanish and can be customized for local use. The materials incorporate the National Library Week theme, "Join the circle of knowledge @ your library."
7. LANCE ARMSTRONG FOUNDATION AND ALA TEAM UP TO DELIVER CANCER SURVIVORSHIP NOTEBOOKS TO LIBRARIES
The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) recently announced it is collaborating with the American Library Association (ALA) to provide libraries across the country with reference materials to better serve those seeking health-related information, specifically cancer. Recently, the LAF began shipping LIVESTRONG Survivorship Notebooks to more than 14,200 libraries across the United States. The LIVESTRONG Survivorship Notebooks are a free resource and are designed to help cancer survivors, their families and caregivers organize, keep and access important information related to their cancer experiences. Libraries that have not received a notebook by March 31 can request one from Kelli Craddock at kelli.craddock@livestrong.org.
"Libraries as places of opportunity that make information affordable, available and accessible to all people," said American Library Association President Loriene Roy. "We are pleased to work with the Lance Armstrong Foundation to bring this information to our libraries and to highlight our efforts in keeping our communities healthy and well-informed."
The LAF created the LIVESTRONG Survivorship Notebook to give cancer information access to everyone, especially low-income or uninsured citizens who don't have access to a computer or are denied follow-up care after completing cancer treatment.
"As a cancer survivor and someone who grew up in a city where more than 95 percent of families use the public library, I recognize the importance of providing access to cancer resources through libraries," said Doug Ulman, president of the LAF. "We created the Survivorship Notebook to help cancer survivors be inspired and empowered to live life on their own terms. I am proud that the LAF is partnering with the ALA on such a critical initiative."
Individuals, groups and organizations can order the free LIVESTRONG Survivorship Notebook at LIVESTRONG.org.
8. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Librarians' Internet Index -- http://lii.org/ -- This site is a searchable, annotated subject directory of more than 12,000 Internet resources selected and evaluated by librarians for their usefulness to users of public libraries. This guide is used by both librarians and the general public as a reliable and efficient guide to Internet resources. (Website reference courtesy of refdesk.com.)
9. CALENDAR
March 14, 2008 - Council on Library and Network Development meeting, Hartford
April 3, 2008 - HOLA! Project workshop, Winding Rivers, La Crosse
April 6-8, 2008 - Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association spring conference, Milwaukee
April 9-10, 2008 - Library Services and Technology Act Advisory Committee meeting, Madison
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 Point
May 5-6, 2008 - COLAND Statewide Library Strategic Visioning Summit, Green Lake
May 15, 2008 - Leadership Conference on Adolescent Literacy for Public Librarians, Madison
May 19, 2008 - Library Information Technology Advisory Committee meeting, Madison
June 26-July 2, 2008 - American Library Association annual conference, Anaheim, California
June 29-July 2, 2008 - 2008 National Educational Computing Conference, San Antonio, Texas
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.
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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 3/20/2008 3:07:02 PM
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