Summary of Organizations and Service Programs

The State Superintendent, Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is required to report on interlibrary cooperation and resource sharing each biennium. Wis. Stats. 43.03(3)(d) says "the state superintendent shall submit to the council on library and network development a biennial report which describes the programs and policies to promote cooperation and resource sharing among all types of libraries and to plan, coordinate, evaluate and set statewide priorities for the development of networks to enable interlibrary cooperation and resource sharing carried out in the preceding biennium and the programs and policies to be carried out in the succeeding biennium".

This report discusses the activities of the following Wisconsin organizations and committees:

Department of Public Instruction, Division for Libraries, Technology and Community Learning
Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND)
Library Information and Technology Advisory Committee (LITAC)
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Advisory Committee
Wisconsin Library Services (WiLS)
Wisconsin Heritage Online Planning Committee (WHO) (formerly Digital Exploratory Committee)
Department of Administration, Technology for Educational ACHievement (DOA TEACH)
BadgerNet Converged Network Advisory Committee (formally Wisconsin Collaborative Network Initiative)
Delivery Services Advisory Committee

This report covers the following programs and projects:

Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) (federal funding for library services)
The Wisconsin Library Technology Strategic Plan
Channel and Channel Weekly (print and electronic newsletters)
Library listservs WISCAT-L, WISCATILL-L (interlibrary loan), WIPUBLIB, WEMA-L, WPK-12, and BadgerLink-L)
BadgerLink (full text of magazines and newspapers and links to library resources)
Wisconsin Document Depository Program
State government portal (Wisconsin.gov)
Wisconsin Digital Archive
Creation and management of digitized library resources
The University of Wisconsin Digital Collections Center (UWDCC)
The Wisconsin Heritage Online (WHO)
Internet access for schools and libraries
E-Rate program (discounted telecommunication services from federal government)
WISCAT/WISCATILL (statewide union catalog and gateway to library catalogs)
University of Wisconsin System integrated library system
Public library systems integrated library systems
Interlibrary loan services
Reference services
Delivery of library materials (provided through public library systems and South Central Library System)
Newsline for the Blind (telephone access to national and Wisconsin newspapers)
Child Care Information Center (CCIC)
Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

I. Introduction

The State Superintendent, Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is required to report on interlibrary cooperation and resource sharing each biennium. Wis. Stats. 43.03(3)(d) says "the state superintendent shall submit to the council on library and network development a biennial report which describes the programs and policies to promote cooperation and resource sharing among all types of libraries and to plan, coordinate, evaluate and set statewide priorities for the development of networks to enable interlibrary cooperation and resource sharing carried out in the preceding biennium and the programs and policies to be carried out in the succeeding biennium".

This report focuses primarily on the activities of the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning (Division) in the previous and the current biennium relative to the State Superintendent's responsibilities to promote cooperation and resource sharing among all types of libraries in Wisconsin.

The 2003-2005 and 2005-2007 biennia saw cuts in a number of state funded library programs. The statewide library contracts sustained a 15% cut in 2003-2005 and were held at the same base level for 2005-2007. The impact on services cuts was deeper in that staff salary and inflationary increases caused further actual reductions. The funding cuts caused deep reductions in the interlibrary loan contracts with Milwaukee Public Library and Wisconsin Library Services (WiLS) The indexing formula for public library system funding continued to fall behind past levels during this period. The indexing formula is the ratio of state aid to local and county aid and was at 8.56% in 2003, 8.2o% in 2004, 8% in 2005 and an estimated 8.10% in 2006. The statutory level is (13%).

II. Planning for Interlibrary Cooperation and Resource Sharing

The Division works with a variety of library groups, organizations, and associations to plan and carry out library programs in Wisconsin. The Division continues to appoint representatives from all types of libraries to DPI or Division advisory committees, task forces, and other groups for the purposes of planning for interlibrary cooperation and resource sharing.

Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND). According to Stat. 43.07, the State Superintendent and the Division shall seek the advice of and consult with the Council on Library and Network Development in performing their duties in regard to library service... The council shall:

The Council membership consists of 19 members, nine of which represent library science, audiovisual and informational science professionals representative of various types of libraries and information services, including public library systems, school libraries, public and private academic libraries, special libraries and library educators. Ten members are public members who have demonstrated an interest in libraries or other types of information services.

COLAND Goals: 2005-2007

To provide leadership to the state and the library community on improving library services and cooperation by:

Ongoing goals

1. Review, provide advice, and take action on library related initiatives, programs, policies, and problems which are brought to the attention of COLAND by the Division staff or the Wisconsin library community.
2. Make recommendations to the Division regarding the development of standards for the certification of public librarians and standards for public libraries.
3. Advise the State Superintendent regarding the general policies and activities of the state's program for library development, interlibrary cooperation, and network development.
4. Advise the State Superintendent regarding the general policies and activities of the state's program for the development of school library media programs and facilities, and the coordination of these programs with other library services.
5. Receive complaints, suggestions and inquiries regarding the programs and policies of the DPI relating to library and network development, inquire into such complaints, suggestions and inquiries, and advise the State Superintendent and the Division on any action to be taken.
6. Improve the knowledge and understanding of the members of COLAND on key issues and programs of significance to Wisconsin libraries by inviting individuals with special knowledge of these issues and programs to make presentations at COLAND meetings and by holding hearings when appropriate.
7. Review the work of other Division advisory groups and taking appropriate action.
8. Cooperate with other library groups in planning, advocacy, and sharing information for the improvement of library service to Wisconsin residents.
9. Monitor and actively support library budget and legislative initiatives endorsed by COLAND.
10. Support funding and staffing levels for the Division adequate to meet its mission of service to Wisconsin libraries.
11. Review issues relating to all libraries including school library media centers, public, special, and academic libraries, and provide advice on potential solutions.
12. Identify and support those initiatives designed to improve public awareness of current library issues and the need for strengthening local libraries.
13. Monitor and actively support library budget issues and legislative initiatives endorsed by COLAND.
14. Support legislative issues that provide viable funding for libraries of all types.
15. Proactively communicate and recommend initiatives that support libraries and librarians in Wisconsin.

2005-2007 Goals

1. Monitor and make recommendations concerning the four statewide resource contracts.
2. Contribute to the evaluation of Wisconsin's Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) five year plan.
3. Endorse and support legislation to implement the recommendations of the State Superintendent's Task Force on Public Library Legislation and Funding.
4. Participate in and review the Division's planning for the future of the statewide interlibrary loan and resource sharing network.
5. Participate in and reviewing the Division's update of the Wisconsin Library Technology Strategic Plan.
6. Review and make recommendations based on the results of the school library impact study conducted by the Division.
7. Review and make recommendations based on the study of shared integrated library systems in Wisconsin.
8. Hold a biennial meeting during 2006 to discuss the Division report on the library cooperation and resource sharing programs and policies of the Division in the preceding biennium, and those planned for the next biennium, and make follow-up recommendations to the State Superintendent regarding the report and any other matters.
9. Transmit to the State Superintendent a descriptive and statistical report on the condition and progress of library services in the state and recommendations on how library services in the state may be improved.
10. Review and make recommendations concerning the content, format and distribution of Channel.

Library Information and Technology Advisory Committee. The Division appointed the Library Information Technology Advisory Committee (LITAC) to provide ongoing advice on the planning and implementation of technology projects affecting all types of libraries. The committee continued to plan activities that would work toward the Division's vision for use of technology.

The purposes of the committee included:

1. Periodically review the Wisconsin Library Technology Strategic Plan.
2. Assist and advise the Division in developing priorities on the use of federal LSTA funds for technology-related grant categories and projects.
3. Assist and advise the Division in developing priorities and proposals for state funding requests related to technology.
4. Work in subcommittees to provide advice and assistance on specific Division projects and programs.
5. Work in cooperation and coordination with library constituencies and organizations that may have their own technology planning processes.
6. Work to provide awareness of and support for technology-related programs and initiatives among the library community, key stakeholders, and the public.
7. Members serve as liaisons to report back to their constituents on the technology plans and programs of the Division and of other library constituencies and organizations.

During 2003-2006, committee members reviewed and commented on issue papers in the following areas: 1) Internet access in schools and libraries, 2) Linking automated library systems, 3) Interlibrary loan, 4) WISCAT, 5) BadgerLink, 6) Electronic Collection Development, and 7) Shared integrated library systems In addition, members discussed the state government portal project, the Wisconsin Heritage Online (WHO), the new BadgerNet program, E-Rate and filtering legislation, authentication systems, instructional technology initiatives and other projects and activities. The committee also spent considerable time developing needs assessments and planning activities; a list of purposes and criteria for future resource sharing systems; future technology scenarios; and goals, priorities and functionality for the next generation resource sharing and information access system.

LITAC activities for 2005-2007

1. Revise the goals and objectives in The Wisconsin Library Technology Strategic Plan.
2. Revise key issue papers and develop issue papers in other identified by the committee.
3. Review issues related to implementation of new generation resource sharing system.

The Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Advisory Committee. The Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) program, administered by the Division, continued to fund a number of major state level resource sharing programs in Wisconsin, including some of the projects described in this report, as well as local library and public library system resource sharing programs. The Division has published a five-year plan that outlines goals and objectives for use of LSTA money for the years 2003-2007. The purposes of the LSTA program are to improve library services through the use of technology, encourage libraries to establish consortia and share resources, and to target library services to persons having difficulty using a library.

LSTA Advisory Committee planning activities for 2005-2007

1. Develop a new five year plan for 2007-2012.
2. Develop annual purposes and criteria for using LSTA funding and carry out a grant allocation process.

Wisconsin Library Services (WiLS). The primary purpose of WiLS is to operate a consortium of member libraries that offers services in areas of shared bibliographic information, resource sharing, in-service training, and other cooperative activities relating to the changing nature of information technology. WiLS provides access to OCLC services statewide and has made a major effort to facilitate cooperative purchasing of library databases, software, and other library supplies and services for all types of libraries in Wisconsin. New products emerged to assist with the development of digitization including ContentDM and the OCLC Digital Archive.

Over the last several years, WiLS took the initiative to encourage digitization of library resources. WiLS hosted a series of workshops on digital and preservation aspects, beginning with Developing and Managing Digital Projects, which was co-hosted by the Department of Public Instruction. In 2004, WiLS hosted another workshop designed to highlight planning models for digitization in other states and to spark interest in planning in Wisconsin. WiLS has coordinated the activities of the Wisconsin Heritage Online (WHO) planning committee and has made major progress in establishing a statewide WHO collaborate program. WiLS also continued to facilitate the establishment of virtual reference services statewide.

The WiLS 2006-2008 Strategic plan includes goals to 1) Work together as a community to position libraries to be where and when users need information, 2) Work together as a community to address the next generation of issues surrounding electronic content, 3) Work together as a community to enhance the user experience in obtaining needed information, and 4) Expand participation by Wisconsin libraries in the OCLC cooperative in order to strengthen the cooperative, to increase the "Wisconsin voice" within the cooperative and to extend the values of the cooperative to more libraries in the Wisconsin community.

Division planning activities related to WiLS for 2005-2007:

1. Serve as an ex-officio member of the WiLS board.
2. Participate in WiLS ongoing and special activities.

Communications. The Division publishes Channel, a print newsletter, and Channel Weekly, an electronic newsletter, and distributes these publications to libraries and individuals throughout the state.

The DPI and the Division continue to provide information to all types of libraries through DPI web sites, including the BadgerLink web site. Division staff manages Internet discussion lists on behalf of different library interest groups and projects. Examples include: WISCAT-L, WISCATILL - L (interlibrary loan), WIPUBLIB, WEMA-L, WPK-12, and BadgerLink-L.

The Division plans to continue these communications activities for 2005-2007.

III. Impact of Technology on Interlibrary Cooperation and Resource Sharing

Technological developments provided libraries with increased opportunities for expanding access to knowledge and information resources for the state's residents. Access to the Internet improved for all types of libraries, and BadgerLink continued to provide a major source of information for libraries, schools, universities, businesses, and Wisconsin residents. The Division planned for and will work to implement the next generation resource sharing and information access system for participating Wisconsin libraries.

BadgerLink. BadgerLink, provides World Wide Web (WWW) access to full text information, WISCAT, WorldCat, government information, Wisconsin digitized library collections, Reference and Loan Library databases, and links to other web sites.

The Division received approximately $2 million from the Universal Service Fund for each year of the 2003-2005 biennium to continue the BadgerLink service. The Division continues to contract with vendors to provide full text materials: EBSCO provides access to over 11,000 magazines, journals, visual images, and other reference materials, and ProQuest provides access to over 500 newspapers including 10 Wisconsin papers. The Division issued a new Request for Proposal (RFP) for BadgerLink in 2003. This process resulted in increased resources from EBSCO and ProQuest and the addition of LitFinder from Thomson Gale and TeachingBooks.net from a Madison-based vendor. In 2006, NewspaperArchive Elite was no longer marketed by EBSCO and was displayed under its own name.

The Division made BadgerLink services available to libraries, schools, businesses, and other organizations and to Wisconsin residents at home, in the office, or in other locations. During 2003-2005, Wisconsin library staff and residents made approximately 20 million searches using BadgerLink magazines and newspapers. EBSCO, ProQuest, and Division staff provided about 80 training sessions to library staff. Reference and Loan Library staff maintains IP addresses for 152 Internet Service Providers. Approximately 982 libraries have officially registered for BadgerLink use and 323 staff subscribe to the listserv. Publicity materials were provided for library staff to use in promoting the service. A directory of libraries using the system is maintained and a listserv (BadgerLink-l) is used in order to provide library staff updates for the project. Some libraries have set up local authentication through local automated systems. The Division maintains a list of library card numbers from Wisconsin libraries to be used for authentication of users. The Division has registered BadgerLink as a trademark.

In 2004, the Division purchased a Content Management System (CMS) for use in managing links on the BadgerLink page. The CMS was used to create a database of digitized collections in Wisconsin libraries. Using funding provided by the Gates foundation, staff contracted for the provision of hands-on training for BadgerLink resources and created Quick Start Guides for online resources for public libraries.

Division BadgerLink activities for 2005-2007

1. Redesign the BadgerLink home page to provide easier access to specialized resources provided by full-text vendors, provide easier access to library card authentication, and provide better online training resources.
2. Seek funds to continue to add an encyclopedia to BadgerLink.
3. Assess ways to further advertise BadgerLink to Wisconsin residents.
4. Explore and implement additional methods of authenticating users to assure the widest possible participation for libraries and Wisconsin residents.
5. Continue to produce Quick Start Guides and develop training using Gates Foundation funding.

Wisconsin Document Depository Program. The Division collects and distributes state government publications to 50 state and regional libraries that provide access to the public. Depository libraries include state government agency libraries, public libraries, and academic libraries. The Wisconsin Historical Society maintains the most complete collection of materials and catalogs and classifies the documents. Several other libraries collaborate in the cataloging process.

As state agencies increasingly produce publications electronically, it has become more difficult to distribute publications. During 2003-2005, in order to improve access, the Division staff continued to work with the Department of Administration on the state portal project. Division staff maintained a thesaurus of terms describing state government services and consulted with state agencies to metatag their web pages. A subject directory was mounted on the Wisconsin.gov portal. A Division staff member served on various portal advisory groups. DPI, Wisconsin Historical Society, and DOA staff attended a national planning session for managing and preserving electronic publications. DPI staff also took part in two federal projects for the purpose of furthering research and experimentation of new technologies and processes for archiving and preserving state government information in electronic form. Division, Wisconsin Historical Society, and Legislative Reference Bureau staff worked together to create a pilot project, the Wisconsin Digital Archive, by harvesting, cataloging, and storing electronic publications from state agency websites that would otherwise be lost in the future.

Division Document Depository Program activities for 2005-2007

1. Work with the Department of Administration, Division of Enterprise Technology to redesign the state portal and to improve the performance of the search engine.
2. Continue to offer guided subject searching to state government services by including the state thesaurus as a part of the state government portal.
3. Develop for the redesigned portal a service index, authority control for classification of various sections of the portal, information on how to use the portal, and a library services section.
4. Establish the Wisconsin Digital Archive as an ongoing project to harvest, catalog, and store web-based publications and provide access to the publications.
5. Continue to take part in federal projects and activities related to digitization and preservation of state government information.

Creation and management of digitized library resources. During 2003-2005, University of Wisconsin System libraries maintained the UW Digital Collections Center, a consortium for collaborative digitization. The University of Wisconsin-Madison continued to develop an advanced digitization facility The Wisconsin Historical Society, private academic libraries, and other libraries also made substantial progress in developing digital collections. UW-Madison developed a gateway to search selected Wisconsin digital collection servers and return combined results sets.

A Digital Exploratory Committee was established during the summer of 2004 to discuss mission, goals, governance and technology models, and potential funding sources. Facilitated by WiLS staff, this group made major progress in establishing Wisconsin Heritage Online (WHO) and its governing group. The University of Wisconsin-Madison has created a gateway to search digitized collections and return a combined result set which includes the digitized images and metadata.

The Division has award LSTA grants to public libraries and state government agencies to digitize local history materials of statewide interest and to place these on the UW-Madison website in the Wisconsin collection. The services of the UW-Madison libraries digitization lab has been used to carry out digitization activities.

Division digitization activities for 2005-2007

1. Maintain and add to the Great Lakes Maritime History website as funds are available.
2. Participate in the WHO governance group.
3. Implement LSTA grants for digitization projects using the resources of UW-Madison libraries.
4. Develop and place on BadgerLink a database of digital and historical library sites in Wisconsin.
5. Place the WHO gateway on BadgerLink and assist in publicizing this resource.

The Internet and Telecommunications. Internet and World Wide Web (WWW) access has increased the ability of libraries of all types to share resources. Statewide resource sharing programs such as BadgerLink, WISCAT, and development of shared integrated automated systems utilize these telecommunication services. Wisconsin's DOA TEACH program has been instrumental in making high-speed Internet connections available to Wisconsin's schools and libraries. All Wisconsin academic, school and public libraries now have Internet connections, and almost all now have high-speed (i.e., broadband) Internet access.

Forty-two percent of American adults have a high-speed internet connection at home, compared to just 30% of adults in March 2005. Broadband adoption grew by 68% since March 2005 among people living in households with incomes between $40,000 and $50,000 per year. Broadband adoption among African Americans increased by 121% and home high-speed adoption grew rapidly in the 2005 to 2006 timeframe. among those with less than a high-school education (by 70%) and senior citizens (by 63%). Wisconsin's public school library media centers now provide a total of over 32,000 computers for the use of their students in completing class assignments and research. The number of Internet-connected public-use computers available at public libraries increased to over 4,300 by 2005. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation distributed 743 PCs and servers to 235 Wisconsin public libraries and branches in 2003, and the Gates Foundation continues to provide grants to the DPI to support public access computing in Wisconsin public libraries.

The DOA TEACH program continues to provide funding for discounted telecommunications lines for K-12 schools and public libraries and their branches. This program has proven to be very popular and without it many libraries could not provide their patrons with high-speed Internet access. The TEACH data line program allows every public library and high school in the state to get a high-speed data line for just $100 a month. For many libraries and schools this represents a discount of over 80% compared with paying for the line on the open market.

The federal government allocates funding from the Universal Service Fund for libraries and schools to subsidize telecommunications services and Internet access. The program, popularly referred to as the E-rate (Education-rate) is designed to provide K-12 schools and public libraries with discounts from 20-90%. Division staff provides both libraries and schools with information on the program and conducts workshops on the E-rate application process. Unfortunately, passage of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) has resulted in a dramatic decline in the number of libraries using this source of funding for Internet costs. CIPA requires all Internet connected PCs in the library to be filtered to be eligible for the E-rate's Internet discounts. Most Wisconsin libraries have elected not to filter. DPI staff serves on several national E-groups and one staff member currently is Chair of ALA's E-rate Task Force. As part of the federal E-rate program and the TEACH Wisconsin program, all participating public libraries in the state must have their own certified technology plan or they must rely on the technology plan submitted by their public library system. The Division is the official technology plan certification agency for Wisconsin's public libraries and public schools. Division staff has worked closely with federal E-rate staff and TEACH Wisconsin staff in developing six technology planning criteria that must be addressed in the individual library technology plan.

In March 2004, the Wisconsin Collaborative Network Initiative was created by Governor Doyle to help guide the next generation statewide telecommunications network procurement process and included representatives from key stakeholders, including DPI, higher education, and the school and public library communities. This group is now called the BadgerNet Converged Network Advisory Committee. The procurement process took place in 2004-2005.

The conversion of 408 library circuits to the new BadgerNet Converged Network (BCN) started in January 2006 and was completed as of October 1. Unfortunately, there are about 90 libraries (22% of all BCN libraries) that have reported slow Internet access after their new BCN circuit was installed. For the majority of libraries, their circuit is simply too small to support the number of Internet workstations in the library. Normally when bandwidth is insufficient, the TEACH Wisconsin program increases the library's bandwidth as needed. Unfortunately, TEACH has committed all of its funding for 2006-2007.

Division Internet and telecommunications activities for 2005-2007

1. Continue to work with schools and libraries to promote Internet use.
2. Assist federal E-rate staff by serving as formal statewide E-rate coordinators. Work with the American Library Association, the State E-rate Coordinator's Alliance and other groups to advocate for improvements in the E-rate program.
3. Continue to work with DOA and the state's education and library communities to improve bandwidth capabilities for libraries at affordable costs.

WISCAT/WISCATILL. WISCAT/WISCATILL is Wisconsin's statewide bibliographic database of library holdings and interlibrary loan management system. As of June 2006, the database contained 7.1 million titles and 34.9 million holdings identifying materials in 1,204 Wisconsin libraries of all types. The Division negotiates and manages the contract for the production of WISCAT and provides technical support to WISCAT users. Participating libraries received nearly a quarter million requests in each year for 2003-2005. This program is funded through LSTA funds.

In 2003-2005, the Division continued WISCAT union catalog and interlibrary loan management system architecture with two vendors. Auto-Graphics, Inc. provided software for the WISCAT database development and maintenance, and Fretwell-Downing, Inc. provided the interlibrary loan management system (WISCATILL). The linked system project was merged with the WISCAT project since the software also had the capacity to manage Z39.50 searching and conformed to ISO interlibrary loan standards. Reference and Loan Library staff have configured 40 catalogs so they can be searched using the Fretwell-Downing Z39.50 Gateway. These catalogs were automatically searched once an interlibrary loan request is initiated and holdings from the catalogs are added to those obtained from the WISCAT union catalog. The Division experimented with setting filtering based on availability of library materials and tested ISO transfer of requests between Fretwell-Downing and OCLC interlibrary loan systems.

In 2004, the Division began a series of planning and needs assessment activities in order to determine what functions and services should be provided by the next generation Resource Sharing and Information Access System. Russell Consulting, Inc. was hired to develop a library survey and focus group process to determine library needs. The publication, A Report on Library Resource Sharing Experiences, Expectations, and Preferences of Wisconsin Libraries, was disseminated in January 2005. The Division also developed a Request for Information (RFI) to determine potential vendors and costs for a future resource sharing project and conduct vendor demonstrations for the library community.

A new standard NCIP (National Circulation Interchange Protocol) was developed and issued by the National Information Standard Organization. This standard will allow an interlibrary loan management system to exchange information with a circulation system. This standard is expected to further facilitate the concept of linking automated systems.

The Division conducted a Request for Proposal (RFP) process in 2006 and chose Auto-Graphics to implement the resource sharing and information access system.

Division Wisconsin Resource Sharing and Information Access activities for 2005-2007

1. Conduct a Shared Integrated Library System Cost Study to determine the status and investment made by public library systems in online catalog/circulation systems and their relationship to statewide resource sharing.
2. Continue to identify the functionality needed in a new resource sharing and information access system by working with Division advisory groups.
3. Implement the new resource sharing system by January 2007.
4. Develop a new fee structure for the new resource sharing system.

UW System integrated library system. During 2005-2007, the Council of University of Wisconsin Libraries (CUWL) continued operation of a Universal Borrowing system which allowed UW campuses to borrow directly from each other. The UW libraries also used Illiad software to assist in the management of interlibrary loan requests and to manage electronic document delivery. ExLibris' MetaLib and SFX systems are used to search across multiple databases and manage access to electronic resources. The UW libraries are also focusing on collaborative collection development of books, serials, and electronic resources.

Division activities for 2005-2007.

1. Monitor the impact of the University of Wisconsin circulation system and online catalog project on interlibrary loan patterns and procedures in the state.
2. Monitor activities related to document delivery, electronic serials management, and cross database searching.

Public Library Systems Integrated Library Systems. Public library system efforts to develop shared integrated systems have greatly contributed to the accessibility and growth of resource sharing among public libraries. Staff in other types of libraries also checks the public library system integrated library system in order to determine if materials are available locally or regionally. Currently, 83 percent of Wisconsin residents are served by the 310 public libraries participating in shared integrated systems. Interlibrary loans continued the double-digit annual growth that began in the mid 1990s. The Division completed a study of shared automated systems that asked about current and potential participation by other types of libraries.

Division activities for 2005-2007

1. Continue to use state aids to public library systems and LSTA funds to support development of public library system integrated library systems.
2. Conduct a study of the feasibility of extending public library system ILS to school libraries.

IV. Impact of Interlibrary Loan, Reference Services and Other Services on Interlibrary Cooperation and Resource Sharing

Interlibrary loan services. Interlibrary loan in Wisconsin has a long and successful history and during 2003-2005, resource sharing activities continued. Patrons use libraries to request a wide variety of book, non-book, and photocopied materials. Libraries of all types and sizes borrow and lend materials to each other in ever increasing numbers to fill the needs of their patrons. The goal of interlibrary loan is to obtain the material needed for the patron in the least amount of time possible. Partners in interlibrary loan include: Reference and Loan Library, Wisconsin Interlibrary Services (WILS), school libraries, special libraries (medical, corporate), state agencies and institutions, public libraries, 17 public library systems, technical college libraries, private college libraries, and university libraries. Wisconsin continues to rank number 1 nationally in the number of public library interlibrary loans.

WiLS operates an interlibrary loan clearinghouse for academic libraries and other members. The Reference and Loan Library continues to operate a clearinghouse for interlibrary loan requests for all types of libraries. The Division contracts with WiLS and Milwaukee Public Library for state level interlibrary loan services. Decreases in funding for 2003-2005 biennium caused a decrease in funding in the Milwaukee Public Library and WiLS contracts resulting in some requests being unfilled. Many public library systems continue to provide interlibrary loan, reference referral, and delivery services for various types of libraries in their system areas.

In 2004, the Division began a needs assessment and planning process related to interlibrary loan and resource sharing. Russell Consulting, Inc. was hired to develop a survey, compile the results and hold focus group sessions to determine needs and trends for various types of libraries. An Interlibrary Loan Work Group was appointed to revise the interlibrary loan guidelines and publish the guidelines.

Division interlibrary loan activities for 2005-2007

1. Conduct an assessment of the practices of interlibrary loan clearinghouses.
2. Implement a new resource sharing system by January, 2007.
3. Develop documentation for and train staff in use of the new resource sharing system.
4. Experiment with electronic document delivery.
5. Disseminate new interlibrary loan guidelines and work with libraries to implement them.

Reference services. During 2003-2005, the Reference and Loan Library staff continued to respond to requests from public library systems, state agencies and employees, state correctional and social service institutions, and other libraries. Direct service is offered to K-12 school personnel seeking information on educational policy and research. Reference staff also provides answers to reference requests when users of the state government portal cannot find the information they are seeking. A toll free number (1-888-542-5543) is available so that users could more easily contact the Reference and Loan Library staff.

Reference and Loan Library staff continued to experiment with virtual reference services and beginning in 2003 began a major effort to work with WiLS to establish a statewide service using OCLC developed "chat" software and an electronic mail service. About 20 public and academic libraries participated in providing service to each other's patrons during late afternoon, evening, and weekend hours. In 2004 OCLC acquired another popular virtual reference service called 24X7, offering the potential of combining the work of additional library staff and expanding hours on a national level.

Division staff worked with social service information and referral providers in the initial planning stages for 211 telephone service in the state. This service would allow residents to dial 211 to obtain information about appropriate social services in their area and may also include an opportunity to refer some questions to public libraries.

Division reference service activities for 2005-2007

1. Establish a statewide virtual reference program with 24.7 coverage using LSTA funding (Ask?Away).
2. Facilitate the discussion of best practices for virtual reference services.
3. Improve publicity about statewide reference services and virtual reference services.
4. Continue communication with 211 service providers.

Statewide delivery services. The Delivery Service Advisory Committee met six times during 2003-2005 via videoconference or meeting. In 2004, the committee revised the concepts to guide development of funding scenarios for different types of libraries. These concepts are listed below.

1. Resource sharing among all types of libraries is a statewide concern and needs to be encouraged by provision of a cost effective statewide delivery service.
2. A pricing structure should be developed that is used consistently for different types of libraries.
3. When a group of libraries of the same type are governed by a state agency, it would be desirable to attempt to contract with that agency for the cost of delivery services. A successful example includes contracting with the University of Wisconsin System on behalf of UW libraries. Future possibilities might include contracting with the Wisconsin Technical College System and the Department of Corrections (for institution libraries).
4. When working with any group of libraries, a consistent process should be used to determine prices for that group as a whole and for libraries in that group. The method of allocating costs should not include a distance factor.
5. In general, the cost to serve a particular library or organization, especially as it relates to distance, should not be a factor in the costs charged to that library or organization.
6. Volume should not be a factor in allocating costs to specific libraries. It may need to be considered as a part of the cost of serving a group of libraries. The delivery service does not collect per item volume statistics. Sample statistics are collected from time to time on the number of containers handled.
7. The delivery service should not require libraries to individually package and count items sent through the service.
8. South Central Library system, in cooperation with Northern Waters Library Service, incurs additional costs in order to connect the system level service to the backbone operated by SCLS. These costs should be considered part of the overall delivery service costs to public library systems.
9. The Reference and Loan Library should be considered a part of the public library system group for the purpose of allocating costs.
10. South Central Library System should receive payment for the full cost of the delivery services it provides to libraries outside the SCLS area.
11. It may be necessary for the Division to subsidize the delivery service from time to time as costs are adjusted among library groups.

Pricing structures were recommended for public library systems and private academic libraries and accepted by those groups. The Division and committee members also met with representatives of the Wisconsin Technical College System to discuss extending the delivery service to libraries in these institutions, and progress was made in including state correctional and social service libraries in the statewide delivery service. The committee has worked on strategies for extending delivery services to school library media centers. The decrease in state contract funding and public library system funding caused a gap in delivery services to Milwaukee Public Library during late 2003, which was restored in part in 2004.

The Delivery Services Advisory Committee member list, minutes, and other documents have been posted to the Reference and Loan Library web site at http://dpi.wi.gov/rll/inddel.html

South Central Library System completely revamped its delivery service site, making it possible to easily navigate the delivery networks, times, sample volume statistics, and service information. The new web site can be found at http://psw.scls.lib.wi.us/delivery/index.html.

Major progress was made in improving delivery services for the Indianhead Federated Library System, Northern Waters Library Service, Wisconsin Valley Library Service, and Nicolet Federated Library System and for materials delivered to and from MINITEX. All four systems and MINITEX use Waltco, Inc. for their internal system delivery services. Waltco agreed to deliver materials from MINITEX directly to the four northern systems without going through Madison first. Waltco also agreed to deliver directly to South Central Library Services instead of going to WiLS. These changes improved sorting procedures, decreased workload, and improved delivery times.

Division delivery service activities for 2005-2007

1. Develop annual funding recommendations for a statewide delivery service.
2. Continue to assess means to involve more school, special, technical college, and correctional institution libraries in the delivery service.
3. Continue to improve the WISCATILL process to facilitate delivery to all kinds of libraries.
4. Develop best practices for statewide and public library system delivery services.

NFB Newsline for the Blind. The Division and the Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped worked with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) to provide access to the Newsline service. This service allows blind individuals to use a telephone to listen to the nearly 100 national and local newspapers being read by an electronic voice. The newspaper text is received each day by the NFB from local feeds, reformatted for use, and made available for listening by users. There are currently thirteen Wisconsin newspapers available on Newsline. Residents throughout the state can access the service through a toll-free line. There are over 2115 registered active Wisconsin users of the Newsline service. Users make approximately 1,150 calls per month with the average length of the call at 18 minutes.

Division Newsline activities for 2005-2007

1. Add newspapers from Janesville, Eau Claire, and Racine.
2. Develop publicity materials to attract additional users.
3. Develop additional technical support materials to assist users.
4. Compensate the Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped for providing technical and training support to users.

Child Care Information Center (CCIC). The CCIC operates a mail order library and a clearinghouse for information on child care topics. The CCIC serves a wide range of child care providers, teachers, hospital staff, educators, and staff in public, school, academic, vocational technical college, and other libraries. The CCIC has a web page and its materials are listed in WISCAT. Staff produces a quarterly newsletter mailed to about 13,000 users.

Child Care Information Center activities for 2005-2007

1. Increase information on the CCIC web page.
2. Publish four newsletters per year for child care center personnel and educators.
3. Expand the continuing education calendar to include formal courses and additional listings.
4. Incorporate donated collections into CCIC collection.

Cooperative Children's Book Center. The CCBC staff of one full-time and three part-time professional librarians works closely with the University of Wisconsin, libraries of all types, and schools across the state to provide a wide range of information services about children's and young adult literature. The Division pays for a portion of the CCBC operations through a contract with the University of Wisconsin- Madison.

From 2003 through 2005, the CCBC planned and conducted 139 presentations and exhibits featuring hands-on book examination for public library systems, reading councils, CESAs, the Wisconsin Library Association, the Wisconsin Educational Media Association, the Wisconsin State Reading Association and other organizations. These presentations took place at the CCBC and throughout the state. CCBC staff also hosted 52 groups of youth services librarians from around the state who came to the CCBC for hands-on book examination.

The CCBC's newly redesigned website was launched in the fall of 2004. It includes an online database of Wisconsin Authors and Illustrators who are willing to make public appearances, as well as a question and answer forum to address the principals of intellectual freedom.

Early in 2006, CCBC staff was trained to use WisLine to present a program to librarians in the South Central Library System. Staff continued the ITV series on outstanding and award-winning books which goes out to nearly 100 sites on Wisconsin Association of Distance Education Networks (WADEN), and is also streamed in an archived version from the Four Lakes Distance Education Network. The CCBC celebrated the 25th Anniversary of CCBC Choices. All 25 years of this annual publication have been digitalized and are now accessible, free of charge, on the Minds@UW website.

The CCBC sponsored several free public lectures by notable figures in children's and young adult literature, including Ji li Jiang, Francisco Jimenez, Angela Johnson and Linda Sue Park. The latter two are available as archived streaming video on the CCBC's website.

The CCBC responded to 66 requests for information related to intellectual freedom issues with 55 requests in 2004, and 74 requests in 2003.

Cooperative Children's Book Center activities for 2005-2007

1. Increase education and training on Intellectual Freedom by developing statewide programs to be presented at conferences and library systems.
2. Develop and deliver more distance education programs using technology such as WisLine to reach a larger number of librarians.
3. Explore ways to make CCBC resources about multicultural literature more widely available, e.g. update the popular publication Multicultural Literature for Children and Young Adults, perhaps as an electronic publication.

V. Division Publications Related to Interlibrary Cooperation and Resource Sharing (1997-2006)

A Report on Library Resource Sharing Experiences, Expectations, and Preferences of Wisconsin Libraries; A final report on the findings; Russell Consulting, 2005

Dealing with Selection and Censorship, a Handbook for Wisconsin Schools and Libraries, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 1999.

Delivery of Library Materials in Wisconsin, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 1997.

Information & Technology Literacy: A Collaborative Planning Guide for Library Media and Technology, 2002.

Information and Technology Literacy-Standards Matrix, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 2000.

Library Services and Technology Act Five-Year Plan for Wisconsin 2003-2007, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 2002.

Library Services and Technology Act Plan for Wisconsin 2003-2007, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 2003.

Library Services and Technology Act Five-Year Evaluation for Wisconsin 1997-2002, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 2002.

Library Services and Technology Act Information and Guidelines for Wisconsin 2007, Wisconsin Department of Pubic Instruction, 2006.

Technology Literacy Challenge Fund, Fiscal Year 2001 Application Guidelines, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 2000.

Wisconsin Interlibrary Loan Guidelines, 2005, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 2006.

Wisconsin Education Technology Plan PreK-12, Department of Public Instruction, 2001.

Wisconsin Educational Information & Technology Plan PK-12, 2003.

Wisconsin Library Technology Strategic Plan, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 1998.

Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards for Information and Technology Literacy, Department of Public Instruction, 1998.

For questions about this information, contact Sally J. Drew (608) 224-6161

Last updated on 6/11/2007 7:34:07 AM