1. Burmaster announces 2008 LSTA grant awards
2. Nancy Pearl picks Milwaukee Central Library as one of her ten favorite libraries
3. Website of the Week - American FactFinder
4. Calendar
1. BURMASTER ANNOUNCES 2008 LSTA GRANT AWARDS
State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster recently announced the award of nearly $3 million in federal library funding that will help Wisconsin libraries demonstrate innovative uses for technology, create digital copies of historical resources for statewide use, and improve literacy and reading skills in their communities.
"Libraries are a valuable resource for lifelong learning and economic development," said State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster in announcing the 76 projects funded through 2008 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants. "Wisconsin libraries are to be commended for writing grant proposals that promote library access, build literacy skills, and improve the quality of life in their local communities."
Grants totaling $56,335 will help a number of libraries offer wi-fi service to the public. Through grants and local efforts about two-thirds of Wisconsin public libraries will be offering wireless Internet access by the end of 2008. Six public libraries received grants for digitization of library materials of unique or special interest, such as local history, old maps, and old photographs. These digitized materials will be available on-line through the University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries State of Wisconsin Collection at http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/WI/.
A number of this year's grant projects will help public libraries better serve senior citizens with disabilities that make it difficult for them to visit the library. These projects include home delivery services as well as improved library services to caregivers. Other grant projects target younger library users, including several that will help public libraries better meet the literacy needs of teens.
"These federal grants support our efforts to provide library services that improve educational, economic, and quality of life resources for all Wisconsin residents," Burmaster said. "Libraries help us ensure that all the people of Wisconsin have the broadest possible access to the informational resources and materials they need for lifelong learning."
The Department of Public Instruction Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning administers Wisconsin's yearly LSTA allocation from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency responsible for strengthening museums and libraries. The Wisconsin 2007 LSTA Advisory Committee reviewed all grant applications and made recommendations on grant awards for projects to take place from January through December 2008. A full list of the 2008 awards is available at http://www.dpi.wi.gov/pld/pdf/08grants.pdf.
2. NANCY PEARL PICKS MILWAUKEE CENTRAL LIBRARY AS ONE OF HER TEN FAVORITE LIBRARIES
In a recent USA Today article, NPR book commentator, author, and librarian action figure model Nancy Pearl, picked the Milwaukee Central Library as one of her ten favorite libraries. Pearl said "the library has all the bells and whistles that today's modern users expect, yet it still gives the impression of being a cherished old friend." The full article is at http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/10great/2008-03-06-10great-libraries_N.htm.
3. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
American FactFinder -- http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en - Visitors to this site by the U.S. Census Bureau can find links to data in the form of maps, tables, and reports from a variety of Census Bureau sources.
4. CALENDAR
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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Roslyn Wise, Editor, at (608) 266-6439
For questions about this information, contact Roslyn M. Wise (608) 266-6439
Last updated on 4/1/2008 11:17:10 AM
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