1. Legislative Audit Bureau releases Best Practices review of public library services
2. Strategic Visioning Summit & Year of the Library's Future background reading list
3. $300 grants available for writers and illustrators
4. Website of the Week - Arts & Letters Daily
5. Calendar
1. LEGISLATIVE AUDIT BUREAU RELEASES BEST PRACTICES REVIEW OF PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICES
This week, the Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) released a Best Practices review of public library services. The report identifies best practices related to collaboration among library systems, effectively using volunteers, securing adequate technology support, and periodically assessing patron needs. The report also:
-- summarizes funding and statutory requirements for libraries and regional library systems
-- analyzes financial and other data from libraries and regional library systems
-- includes information from interviews with 21 public library and all 17 regional library system directors, as well as representatives of the Wisconsin Library Association and League of Wisconsin Municipalities; and
-- reports results from 180 of the 388 public library directors, and all 17 regional library system directors who responded to LAB online surveys.
A summary report and the full report can be found at http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lab. A pod cast of the highlights of the report is also available at that website.
2. STRATEGIC VISIONING SUMMIT AND YEAR OF THE LIBRARY'S FUTURE BACKGROUND READING LIST
In preparation for the Strategic Visioning Summit, Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning staff and the Visioning Summit Executive Planning Group have prepared a list of suggested background materials that may be of interest to those preparing for participation in the Library Strategic Visioning Summit to be held on May 5-6 in Green Lake, Wisconsin. The list contains Wisconsin websites for statewide programs, reports of surveys and studies prepared by a wide variety of groups, and articles on topics of interest. Most materials are dated from 2003 to 2008. The list contains materials that may also be of interest to the general library community. The list is posted on the Council on Library and Network Development website at http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/coland/backgr.html.
3. $300 GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS
Using grants awarded by the Wisconsin Center for the Book, communities can celebrate and explore the literature of Wisconsin with its authors and illustrators. The Wisconsin Center for the Book will award up to 4 grants of $300 each to qualifying organizations wishing to sponsor a Wisconsin author or illustrator at a public event. The event must be open to the public and free of charge. The grants are made possible through the cooperation of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters and generosity of donors.
Wisconsin nonprofit organizations interested in books and reading are eligible to apply. Collaboration among groups is preferred. Such groups may include, but are not limited to, public libraries; public and private elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools; community organizations; and places of worship. Libraries are encouraged to look beyond their Friends groups for partnerships.
Applications may be obtained at: http://www.wisconsinacademy.org,
Then under: About Us
Then under: Center for the Book
Then under: Grant Application Information
Time line
* July 1, 2008: Applications due; if mailed, they must be postmarked on or before this date.
* July 30, 2008: Winners will be notified by this date.
* September 1, 2008 - April 30, 2009: Programs must be scheduled between these dates. A final report must be submitted within 10 days of the event or the honorarium will be forfeited.
Definition of a Wisconsin author or illustrator: Any author or illustrator who has lived in Wisconsin for a significant period of time, including someone who may no longer be living in the state.
More information may be obtained by calling Sarah McGowan, WAIS (Wisconsin Authors and Illustrators Speak) 2008-09 Chair. Please contact her at 920-748-2784 or windsong@centurytel.net.
4. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Arts & Letters Daily -- http://aldaily.com/ -- Arts & Letters Daily is widely regarded as the Internet's best source for culture and ideas. A service of The Chronicle of Higher Education, the site provides links to news reports, reviews, latest trends, breakthroughs, disputes, and information of interest in arts and culture.
5. CALENDAR
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 6, 2008 - Council on Library and Network Development, Green Lake
May 14, 2008 - Spring Interlibrary Loan Meeting for Public Library System and Resource Library Staff, Madison
May 15, 2008 - Delivery Services Advisory Committee meeting, Madison
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 5/6/2008 2:45:25 PM
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