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Wisconsin 2004 LSTA Grant Abstracts(March 2004)Abstracts for the LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) projects approved for funding in Wisconsin in 2004 are available below. These abstracts were included as part of the online grant applications submitted by grant applicants in September 2003. The abstracts are arranged in alphabetical order by project number within the LSTA grant categories. A complete list of LSTA projects for 2004 is available. CONTENTS
Northern Waters Library Service 04-113 Delivery continues to be a highly praised and highly valued element of the NWLS service program. A combination of federal, state, county and local library funds support the continuation of this program. The number of interlibrary loans grew by 4.11 % in 2002 and delivery is the means by which these items are efficiently transported throughout our 8,343 square mile service territory and to the rest of the state. Patrons expect and deserve to receive materials in a timely manner while library staff require a delivery method that takes the least amount of time as the volume of business grows. The statewide Delivery Service Study Committee and the LSTA Advisory Committee have authorized this non-competitive LSTA category for NWLS delivery because the NWLS service area is not included in the statewide delivery backbone. It is essential for a statewide delivery service that have all public libraries included. If an area such as NWLS did not participate, additional work of utilizing the United States Postal Service would be required for those libraries sending interlibrary loans to our area. NWLS staff will continue to monitor statistics four times a year and a representative of NWLS will continue to be a participant in the Delivery Service Study Committee. NWLS librarians and staff will conduct an evaluation of the delivery service including the fact that LSTA has been responsible for a percentage of its costs. South Central Library System 04-115 South Central Library System (SCLS) provides the backbone portion of the statewide delivery service. South Central Library System will use the grant funds to pay for the increasing vehicle operating expenses stemming from higher fuel and service costs. Public Library System Technology Projects Arrowhead Library System 04-117 This grant will be used to fund technical services to support the more than 200 computers in the seven public libraries and the system office of the Arrowhead library System. The technical service will be provided on site, by telephone, e-mail and other electronic means. Eastern Shores Library System 04-119 Eastern Shores Library System (ESLS) and Manitowoc-Calumet Library System (MCLS) have been providing wide area network (WAN) access to their member libraries since 1998. The connections to the WAN are TEACH T1 circuits. Each member library in the two systems has a TEACH T1 circuit into an SBC frame-relay cloud, with two TEACH T1 circuits connecting the cloud to networking equipment in the ESLS offices. In addition, two TEACH T1 circuits connect the ESLS office to WiscNet, the system's network services provider. The support for the network services are shared by ESLS and MCLS, 2/3 and 1/3 respectively. This LSTA grant will provide funding for Eastern Shores Library System's share of the T1 lines to WiscNet and one of the T1 lines out of the frame-relay cloud. The grant will also pay for part of the cost of the system's member library's T1 lines to the frame-relay cloud. Indianhead Federated Library System 04-121 The Indianhead Federated Library System (IFLS) is a geographically large system spread across 10 counties in west central Wisconsin. Our membership is made up of 53 mostly small public libraries and 4 county library services, most of which are in rural areas. LSTA funds are being requested for increasing capacity of the IFLS Wide Area Network (WAN), encouraging libraries to establish and maintain websites and assisting libraries to acquire adaptive software and devices for computers to be used by people with disabilities. No LSTA funds will be used for Internet access. IFLS has established a Wide Area Network for Internet access and data transmission by libraries in shared systems. 50 member libraries are connected to the WAN. Because of the increased Internet and data transmission going over our WAN, libraries are experiencing slow downs at peak periods. To help alleviate this, we need to add another T-1 line to our WAN. We are requesting funding for all of our 2004 T-1 line costs and for the one-time charge to move up to 25 libraries to the new T-1 line. To assist 25 member libraries with the costs of maintaining their websites, we are requesting funding for renewing their domain names. Funding would also support the three domain names IFLS uses and encourage an additional 5 libraries to establish websites with the assistance of the IFLS Communications & PR Coordinator who is our webmaster. To work towards our goal that all IFLS member libraries have an accessible computer, we plan to use funds from this grant to assist another 6 libraries to select, purchase and market adaptive software and devices to people with disabilities in their service areas. IFLS staff will assist staff from member libraries to select the adaptive devices and software. We will place the orders to get the best price. The IFLS Technology Manager will install the devices and software. IFSL staff will train local staff on how to use the software and equipment and on how to assist library customers who want to use it. Kenosha Public Library 04-123 The Kenosha Public Library is applying for this 2004 LSTA Library System Technology Project Grant on behalf of the County Library System (KCLS). This is a non-competitive grant category and KCLS is eligible to receive $9,000 in funds, if approved. The grant application would be for custom options to a new web catalog for our Geac ADVANCE online catalog. Since 1991, Kenosha Public Library has used the same online catalog, with just a few upgrades along the way. That catalog has served us well, but in the last few years we have seen that it just doesn't look like or perform like other online catalogs. Many libraries have catalogs that look like Internet websites; you maneuver around with a mouse and some even have pictures of the items, a table of contents, etc., when you are doing a search -- just like Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Our Katalog runs what is called ASCII text. It's a plain looking screen with no color. You maneuver around the database with keystrokes and can't use the mouse. This really confuses first time users and those who are used to surfing the Internet. We've requested a quote from Geac, our integrated system vendor, for the cost of GeoWeb, their version of a web catalog. The basic cost was reasonable and has been included in the KCLS Budget proposal. To make the new web catalog even more user friendly, we would like to purchase some special custom options to the GeoWeb catalog with this grant money. Here is a list of the options: Kid View is a $5,000 custom option that is a custom web catalog for younger patrons. It is a "kid-friendly" interface that allows searching by words and pictures. GeoWeb 3rd Party Interface (Syndetic Solutions Inc.) is an option at a cost of $2,127 that would allow us to use this 3rd party vendor to display on our database: cover images, table of contents, fiction and biography profiles, book reviews, annotations, author notes, excerpts and first chapters. GeoWeb Balloon Help is a custom option at the cost of $750. It will allow a user to display "mouse over" text whenever the mouse is left on top of a hyperlink (usually underlined item on a webpage) in GeoWeb to indicate to the user what the hyperlink will do. I see this as a great benefit to users who may not be "web savvy." GeoWeb Location Link is another custom option at the cost of $1,500 that would create a web page for each library location in the holdings area of the item record. This would allow a patron who doesn't know the address, lets say, for our Northside Library to click on the location name and be taken to a web page with that branch information. The total cost of the options listed above is $9,377.00. Monies from KCLS would cover the additional cost above $9,000. Lakeshores Library System 04-125 Lakeshores Library System proposes to support its existing technology projects: a wide area network (WAN), a portable wireless lab, and the shared automated system. Typical expenses include: repairs, equipment maintenance contracts and consulting and technician fees. Other expenses would involve yearly maintenance agreements for the shared system. Manitowoc-Calumet Library System 04-127 This project will help the Manitowoc-Calumet Library System (MCLS) and its six member libraries to continue to participate in a high-speed wide area network that is supported cooperatively by MCLS and the Eastern Shores Library System. In addition, a very small portion of the grant will be used to help fund a workshop for MCLS member library staff on a topic related to new technology, such as digitization. LSTA funds will be used to pay for T1 lines for Manitowoc-Calumet's six member libraries at the TEACH-subsidized annual rate of $1,200 per library. The grant also will pay for MCLS's share of three T1 lines that serve the network's central site. Under a contract with the Eastern Shores system, MCLS will use local funds to pay for central site costs, administration, technical support, and the MCLS share of WiscNet email and Internet service. The wide area network supported in part by this grant provides the telecommunications backbone for shared automation systems in both Manitowoc-Calumet and Eastern Shores. Within MCLS, five member libraries currently participate in a shared Dynix system through the Manitowoc-Calumet Libraries Automated Resource Sharing Consortium (LARS), with the sixth scheduled to come online with LARS before this 2004 project starts. MCLS and all of its member libraries have Web pages which are hosted on the network's central site server. All of the library OPACs are available over the network, and all six libraries use the network for Internet access. (Even though Interent access is enabled by the wide area network, use of LSTA funds for T1 telecommunications lines as proposed in this project does not trigger Children's Internet Protection Act filtering requirements for participating libraries.) As a small public library system that does not have a designated technology position on its staff, Manitowoc-Calumet has been challenged to meet the technology needs of its member libraries. Providing high-speed, reliable telecommunications through the Eastern Shores/MCLS wide area network is one way for MCLS to offer a valuable and much-needed service without adding costly personnel. MCLS member libraries have repeatedly confirmed that they want the System to continue to maintain the network as a system service. By paying for the T1 lines which represent a substantial portion of network costs, this grant will help assure that Manitowoc-Calumet libraries and their users continue to have ready and reliable telecommunciations to support resource sharing, communication, Internet access, and other activities. The T1 line costs will absorb all but $100 of the $8,700 that is allocated to MCLS in this noncompetitive grant. In line with other permissible uses for grant funds, the remaining $100 will be used to offset part of the cost of a technology-related workshop for MCLS member library staff, with local System funds covering the balance. Mid-Wisconsin Federated Library System 04-129 LSTA 2004 funds in the Library System Technology Projects noncompetitive category will be allocated to the following MWFLS projects. 1) Virtual Reference: 11,000 of LSTA funds will be used to cover the costs for the first year of a virtual reference service. The service will provide at-home reference service over the Internet to all patrons of MWFLS libraries. 2) Technology Training: $6800 of LSTA funds will be used for technology training for MWFLS System, member libraries' staff, and the patrons of MWFLS libraries. This technology training could include equipment and certification training, application software and Internet training. Milwaukee County Federated Library System 04-131 MCFLS plans to utilize the 2004 LSTA Library System Technology Project funds for improvement in the category of license application software enhancements or upgrades for an existing automation system and for the maintenance of system hardware. The funds will be used by MCFLS to fund costs billed by its software vendor, Innovative Interfaces. These monies are used by Innnovative to develop new products, new software releases (and phases within each release), and to troubleshoot problems that might be unique to each customer. These costs directly relate to MCFLS' ability to keep its software application current and up-to-date. In 2004, MCFLS will load Release 2003. Monies will also be used to fund hardware maintenance costs. Any remaining grant funds will be applied to costs associated with the roll-out of the Millennium Cataloging module, most specifically as those costs apply to Milwaukee Public Library's use of the new Cataloging Module and its role as MCFLS' contracted cataloging vendor. Nicolet Federated Library System 04-133 NFLS has a contract with the Outagamie Waupaca Library System (OWLS) to act as agent to provide automation services to all the Nicolet Federated Library System (NFLS) member libraries participating in the OWLSnet consortium. As a part of this contractual agreement between the two systems, NFLS agrees to provide subsidies to OWLS in order to keep the cost to its member libraries affordable. One of the most significant costs that both systems continue to subsidize is telecommunications access for all OWLSnet consortium libraries. Every library in the consortium has had a T-1 line installed in order to provide faster connectivity as well as enhance the delivery of resource rich databases. These databases include the state sponsored BadgerLink products as well as NFLS/OWLS sponsored Gale databases. All these products, as well as the web-based GEAC automated circulation system require substantial bandwidth and high speed telecommunications links. Two years ago, NFLS and OWLS added 17 new AT&T-supplied T-1 lines to the system infrastructure, lines which were not TEACH subsidized. This required an extended contract with AT&T, which must continue to be supported through 2004. Pending the new state infrastructure contract OWLS is not switching over the lines until a new contract is signed, and the system is in place to support the telecommunications network that has been developed. The LSTA funds made available to NFLS will be used to continue to help subsidize the overall telecommunications costs associated with the OWLSnet consortium. The telecommunications infrastructure is needed in order to deliver automation services and enhanced database content to all member libraries. Northern Waters Library Service 04-135 These technology funds will allow NWLS to continue a basic level of technology support for libraries through: *Contract for NWLS webpage improvement, including editing, consulting and trouble-shooting. Member libraries were involved in the development of this application in two ways. 1. The elements of this project are included in the NWLS 2004 Plan of Service and were discussed at the annual Membership Meeting held on September 4, 2004. Outagamie Waupaca Library System 04-137 This project includes two specific activities. First, OWLS proposes to replace its aging mail server with a new mail server in order to continue providing adequate e-mail services to OWLSnet member libraries in the Outagamie Waupaca Library System and Nicolet Federated Library System. The current mail server is slow, frequently creating a bottleneck for e-mail messages. In addition, the server is not adequate for providing web-based e-mail services. The manufacturer's extended warranty on the current mail server will expire soon, potentially making it difficult for OWLS to support the server. Second, OWLS proposes to replace WebEvent Basic calendar software with WebEvent View in order to continue providing adequate web calendar services to OWLSnet member libraries whose web sites are hosted by OWLS. OWLS WebEvent Basic software license provides access to 100 calendars/users, which are made available at no cost to libraries with web sites hosted by OWLS. Each library is limited to two calendars, but because the system uses a number of calendars and because each library generally requires more than two defined users, we will not have a sufficient number of calendar/users to continue providing this service as additional libraries develop web sites or move their sites to OWLS server. Some libraries would also like to have more than two calendars available to them. In addition, WevEvent Basic is no longer being developed and is not likely to be supported in the future. South Central Library System 04-139 The LSTA 2004 funds from the Library System Technology Projects noncompetitive grant category (in the amount of $42,800) will be allocated to the following SCLS projects, as approved by the Joint Technology Committee and the Board of SCLS: I. LIBRARY STAFF TECHNICAL TRAINING: $6,000 of the LSTA funds will be allocated to requesting libraries for training of technical staff. These funds will be used for training on specialized, technical topics including workstation management and configuration, network management and security, and other topics. II. PATRON TRAINING ON THE INTERNET AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY: $9,000 of the LSTA funds will be provided to SCLS libraries to train patrons on the use of the Internet and other technology. Training for non-English speakers will be encouraged. III. Z39.50 CAPABILITIES FOR PORTAGE COUNTY AND MARSHFIELD: Portage County Public Library and Marshfield Public Library will implement and configure Z39.50 modules on their automated catalogs. This will improve service to local library users and eventually provide more access for patrons throughout the SCLS service area to these catalogs. $3,000 of the LSTA funds will be provided to Portage County Public Library and Marshfield Public Library to implement this capability. IV. GALE DATABASE PURCHASE: For the past few years, SCLS has subscribed to the Literature Resource Center database from Gale, with the limitation that only 5 patrons from the system could use it at any time. Our usage of this database has been increasing, resulting in patrons being turned away when attempting to use this resource. Gale has a new program where SCLS can purchase the contents of the database, with the purchase price being divided over 3 years. Gale will continue to host the database for us, but SCLS will receive unlimited use of the database, smaller access fees, and a free Reader's Advisory resource called "What do I Read Next." $15,800 of the LSTA funds will be put toward the purchase of this database. V. DIGITIZATION OF A LOCAL HISTORY TITLE: $2,000 will be used to digitize a local history title. The volume will be digitized and available through the SCLS web server. VI. DRIVESHIELD PURCHASE: Maintaining and repairing library patron workstations is a major staff effort. Driveshield is a product that makes this task easier. When a computer with Driveshield installed is restarted, all of the changes made to the computer are forgotten, and the computer is returned to its original configuration. This will improve security and performance on the LINK network. $7,000 of the LSTA funds will be used to put Driveshield on 350 library patron computers on the LINK network. Southwest Wisconsin Library System 04-141 This project will enable each of 24 SWLS member libraries to defray about 42% (about $508 of the total $1,200 annual cost) of the cost of their T-1 data lines for the year 2004, and in addition, cover the cost of two T-1 lines for the SWLS Headquarters for 2004. Each library will pay the remaining amount of the T-1 cost with local municipal and county funds. This use of the LSTA funds is stated explicitly in the grant categories as "direct access for telecommunications." Waukesha County Federated Library System 04-143 This project will have two components: public Internet training classes and software application training for library staff. Both components will be continuations of successful TEACH training opportunities in prior years. Each member library will be allotted three public training sessions on genealogy and investment resources on the Internet. Library staff will receive individualized assistance in their library on Office applications or webpage creation. Winding Rivers Library System 04-145 The WAN Development and Maintenance project addresses issues relating to Shared Automation Systems, by providing support for the central site capabilities of WRLSWEB, our shared technology network, which delivers library automation services to member libraries, the resource library, and WRLS staff. The majority of the grant funds will be used to enhance the central site databases and cover the licenses that provide access to these resources for sharing among member libraries. There will also be funds expended for training of staff to optimize use of the information technology capabilities, and a small amount used for supplies related to training and database support. Finally, about 17% of the funding will be set aside to allow the System to upgrade some hardware and resource sharing software to assure that we can fulfill our obligations to members in regard to promoting dependable shared technology. By the end of 2003, fifteen members (44.1%) will be full participants in WRLSWEB; another thirteen libraries (38.2%) are pursuing preliminary connectivity in preparation for becoming full participants in the future. This means that nearly three quarters of WRLS' member libraries will be dependent in some fashion on the WRLSWEB network before 2010. Continued development and maintenance of that network is, therefore, crucial. Specific steps in the project will include: 1) Contract with La Crosse Public Library (LPL) for training and technical support services for Winding Rivers and member library staff ($3,982 + $9,043 = $13,025); With thirty-four public libraries as members of WRLS and twenty-eight of them connected to WRLSWEB for some level of service, this leaves just six libraries which have chosen other methods than the TEACH T1 for connectivity. Of those six, two have other higher speed, dedicated connections, either DSL, cable, or T1 service. Only four public libraries remain in our region which are using dial-up service for Internet. WRLS will continue to work with these institutions to improve their service; one of these libraries has already expressed a desire to begin planning for dedicated service within the next five years. In two of the remaining cases, the fear is that funding on an ongoing basis will be a problem; in such a situation, system block grant funding cannot address the concern because it is inappropriate to fund this service over the long haul using LSTA funds. In the fourth case, the library has adequate funding but not the motivation or vision to enhance their telecommunications. Notwithstanding these four holdout libraries, WRLS feels that the system technology category has been a great success and has allowed many people to obtain significantly improved library service within an environment that has not traditionally been supportive of new technologies or commitment to the future. Winnefox Library System 04-147 The hardware for our current DRA shared system is nearing the end of its lifespan and needs to be replaced. This grant will be used to help pay for the costs of our migration to a SIRSI system running on a new hardware platform. The best use of this grant will be to help pay for this upgrade, taking some of the financial burden off Winnefox and our member libraries. Wisconsin Valley Library Service 04-149 There are four parts to this project. In the first part, The Wisconsin Valley Library Service (WVLS) proposes to purchase a 19 inch monitor along with screen reading software for a public computer workstation that is adapted for use by patrons with disabilities. These are the expensive items which libraries need to be able to provide this availability to special needs patrons. Individual libraries have indicated that they are willing to purchase the alternate input device and the long keyboard cord. In some cases these pieces are already available in the libraries. All of the participating libraries have the needed headphones. They have also indicated that due to the high cost and extremely low demand for the large monitor and screen reading software, these pieces are near the bottom of the priority list for local purchase. This is the second year that part of the LSTA technology grant has been used for this purpose. When this grant is implemented, all of the pubic libraries in the WVLS area which are handicapped accessible will have a handicapped accessible public workstation. The libraries which did not get the packages in 2003 are looking forward to getting them in 2004. This grant will be used to purchase membership in ASK Wisconsin. This is a program being administered by WILS and it provides virtual reference to patrons. All people in the WVLS area will be able to take advantage of this opportunity. They can ask a reference question via a chat room and a live reference person will be there to work on answering the question. This membership requires each member to contribute 4 hours of reference service per week. This time will be split equally between WVLS reference staff and headquarters reference staff (Marathon County Public Library). Providing this opportunity for answering reference questions will help expand the hours of all the public libraries in the WVLS area. The headquarters library asked WVLS to consider this service as a part of this grant and other area public libraries are becoming interested in it also. The number of computers in the area libraries going through the WVLS firewall has increased beyond the capacity of the firewall. WVLS needs to purchase additional firewall licenses to increase the capacity of the firewall. These firewall licenses are a necessity for the WVLS wide area network and they are very expensive. Having the proper capacity effects all of the WVLS libraries which are using the WVLS central Internet site. The remaining funds will be used to asist V-Cat member libraries in customizing their iPac. The iPac is designed so that each location can have its own customized site for its patrons. Each URL needs to be customized separately and this is very labor intensive. Due to the interconnectedness of the sites and the software, each library should not be doing this for themselves and they do not have the time or expertise to do it for themselves. These funds will be available for libraries to share to have the custom work done by a contractor who has experience customizing the Dynix/Horizon online catalog product. This work will probably cost more than the available grant funds and the libraries which want the customization are prepared to cover the balance of the costs. The V-Cat Council, comprised of one representative from each V-Cat member library, has discussed this proposal and endorses the use of LSTA funds for these purposes. The WVLS Library Advisory Committee (LAC), comprised of 15 librarians from all types of libraries, has also discussed this grant proposal and agrees with it. Although there is some overlap, the membership of these two groups is different. The WVLS Board of Trustees has also agreed with the use of these funds for these purposes. The implementation of this grant will be on various tracks. The grant administrator will purchase the 19 inch flat monitors and the screen reading software during the first quarter of 2004. WVLS staff will provide training for the software for those libraries which want it. Each library will publicize the availability of this workstation for patrons with special needs and provide training on the software to patrons. Library staff will evaluate the package based on ease of use, useage by the public, feedback from those who use it., etc. The grant administrator will work with the headquarters library and WILS to implement ASK Wisconsin. The WVLS reference staff will also be involved in implementing this portion of the grant. WILS will be contacted as soon as is reasonable in 2004 to get started on providing this service. The scheduling of staff to work the reference hours will be arranged between WILS, MCPL & WVLS reference staff. The grant administrator will order the additional firewall licenses from the vendor in early 2004. These will be electronically added to existing hardware. The V-Cat member libraries will each decide if they want to have their iPac site customized for their local library. Those that do will determine how they want it to look & what features they want to incorporate into the design. They have already been given a list of other sites using the same software so they can review the various possibilities. The grant administrator will contact the contractor which will be working on customizing the iPac early in 2004. The contractor will provide an estimate. Shared Automated Library Systems Northern Waters Library Service 04-151 The purpose of this application is to provide start-up costs for the Vaughn Public Library in Ashland to join the Merlin Consortium; the NWLS shared automated circulation system. The Vaughn Public Library has a computer workstation adapted for persons with disabilities, as required in the LSTA Information and Guidelines for Wisconsin 2004. The Vaughn Public Library's service population is 13,573. In addition to the service population, the Vaughn Public Library serves several times this population because of heavy use by tourists. The Merlin system is unique because the Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) includes the holdings of all 29 NWLS member libraries. Each NWLS library collection is fully scoped on the OPAC, which is Z39.50 compatible. Merlin was implemented after a thorough planning process, support from several grants--LSTA and foundation grants, plus a loan and grant from the Rural Development Association, a federal agency supporting the growth and vitality of rural areas. The NWLS Merlin Team made up of the network administrator, database manager and circulation manager is responsible for the implementation of this project. The Vaughn Public Library will participate in the evaluation of the project. Our challenge is to continue to ensure that the Merlin system adds new members with the goal of eventually having 100% of NWLS libraries circulating their materials and sharing resources via this efficient and up-to-date method. This project is another step toward fulfillment of the NWLS Technology Plan and moves us closer to realizing the vision of the state's technology plan: Access for anyone, From anywhere, At any time. Poynette Public Library 04-153 The Poynette Area Public Library is planning to join the LINK library consortium made up of 38 other libraries that jointly own and operate a Dynix automated library system. As a result of this project the library will more fully automate its circulation process, the public catalog, cataloging and authority control, and community information. It will provide "self-service" to the public for such functions as placing holds on materials in other libraries. In addition, it will be able to offer high-speed Internet access to magazine and newspaper databases and other electronic reference databases through workstations connected to the LINK telecommunications network. Waukesha County Federated Library System 04-155 This project will enable the Mukwonago Community Library and the Pauline Haass Public Library of Sussex/Lisbon to join a shared automation system, Cafe. Cafe is operated by the Waukesha County Federated Library System's resource library, Waukesha Public. Currently this group has five members, Big Bend, Brookfield, Butler and Muskego and runs a SIRSI Unicorn system. Currently both libraries are automated on stand alone Dynix systems. The Pauline Haass Public Library has a collection of 71,195 items and circulates 296,936 items per year. Its library service area is 20,958. The Mukwonago Community Library has a collection of 66,517 items and circulates 247,555 items per year. Its library service area is 18,301. When these two libraries are added to the group of five libraries sharing the SIRSI system, also known as Cafe, residents will have access to over 675,000 items. The system will serve a poppulation area of 216,169 residents. Residents of these libraries will also be able to utilize services such as patron renewals, holds and enhanced content in the form of jacket art, book reviews, etc. Winding Rivers Library System 04-157 The LSTA Guidelines for 2004 state that, with the Shared Automated Library Information Systems category, "Funds will assist public library systems ... in ... adding libraries to existing shared systems." One of the types of eligible requests is "Grants to enable public libraries to join an existing shared automated system." The WRLSWEB Expansion, 2004 project consists of precisely these objectives. Winding Rivers coordinated the development of a shared automation consortium in 1998-99, bringing together the Black River Falls Public Library, Taylor Memorial Library, La Crosse Public Library, and WRLS. Libraries in Coon Valley and Wonewoc joined in 2000; libraries in Ettrick, Galesville, Kendall, Mauston, and Viroqua joined in 2002; libraries in La Farge, Necedah, Ontario, Sparta, and Wilton are joing in 2003. WRLSWEB is designed to serve the information technology needs of public libraries throughout Buffalo, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Monroe, Trempealeau, and Vernon Counties in west central Wisconsin. Except for La Crosse County, the area is predominantly rural with the majority of the public libraries in communities with fewer than 1,600 people. The sharing of resources is a crucial matter for regional library users. The desire to foster cooperative ventures to accomplish this sharing is a hallmark of this region. Therefore, the WRLSWEB Expansion, 2004 project is designed to 1) enhance the availability of materials and resources for local library users through a collaborative venture and 2) move the consortium towards the ultimate goal of having all public libraries in this seven county region participing in the shared technology network. This project will allow the libraries in Arcadia, Elroy, Hillsboro, New Lisbon, Trempealeau, and Westby to become full participating members in WRLSWEB by the end of 2004. The project is seeking the maximum $10,000 for each of the five libraries. Funds from this grant will be administered by Winding Rivers Library System but will be utilized exclusively to provide hardware, software, and membership eligibility for the local libraries. None of the requested funds will be used to enhance capabilities or infrastructure at the central site which is founded on the Dynix Horizon platform. While the needs and priorities of each library differ, overall the grant funds will be devoted to the following categories of expenditure: -- Peripheral hardware such as barcode readers, uninterruptible power supplies, adapted equipment for ADA stations (monitors, trackballs, headphones, keyboard cables), and furniture to accommodate stations; Technical support for installation and training will be provided to the participating libraries through consortium contracts by staff from the Technical Services department of La Crosse Public Library and Winding Rivers Library System. These same staff will also provide guidance in performing the conversion process, though the primary responsibility for conversion will rest with the local public library. By the end of this project, twenty-one (62%) of the thirty-four libraries in Winding Rivers will be full members of WRLSWEB. Of the remaining thirteen libraries, eight have expressed interest in taking advantage of the shared system grant in the future and some of these libraries already have dedicated telecommunications connections to WRLSWEB. Department of Corrections Library Services Department of Corrections 04-201 This grant application seeks LSTA funds in the amount of $25,000 to partially cover the salary of the Library Services Coordinator position and certain position related costs: travel, training materials, professional books and subscriptions, and training and workshops for institution librarians. The Departments of Corrections (DOC) and Health and Family Services (DHFS) will fund $73,094 (DOC $47,511; DHFS $25,583) towards the Coordinator's salary and fringe, and the Department of Corrections will absorb position related office overhead costs of approximately $260. The position of Institution Library Services Coordinator was established in 1985 in the Department of Health and Social Services. In 1989 the Coordinator position was transferred to Corrections for the Department of Health and Social Services and is now administratively placed within Corrections' Division of Adult Institutions (DAI)). When Corrections and Health and Social Services became separate agencies in 1990, an inter-agency agreement was drawn up confirming the unchanged nature of the Coordinator's job responsibilities and continued services to institutions in both departments. The Library Services Coordinator has responsibility for planning, developing, coordinating, and evaluating all library services in DOC and DHFS institutions. The position reviews current policies and practices, develops and recommends alternative policies and programs to department heads, division administrators, institution wardens and directors, and the institution librarians. The Coordinator administers library grants and acts as consultant on all aspects of library planning and management, facilitates management decisions, and serves as liaison person with outside organizations and agencies on library related issues. Following the Spring 2003 structural reorganization of the Department of Corrections, the responsibility for coordination of education technology was moved to the Library Services Coordinator position. The position seeks to accomplish both long- and short-term objectives, some of which are outlined in Section IV of this application. Most functions are of a continuous nature, but responsibilities and work assignments change as specific objectives are achieved and new needs arise. (See also attached position description). Arrowhead Library System 04-203 The grant, Building Literacy Coalitions to Support Library Services to Spanish Speaking Families, will continue an LSTA program providing library and literacy services to Spanish speaking families in Rock County. During the past year, the Janesville Literacy Council, the Stateline Literacy Council and the member libraries of the Arrowhead Library System have worked together and renewed a coalition to provide bilingual storytelling and computer classes at the literacy offices and the libraries in Rock County. All agencies involved in this grant work to promote family literacy and are interested in continuing and expanding the cooperative activities. Staff training in the culture and language of the Spanish-speaking community has also been provided. Translations of promotional materials and library policies are also an important component of this grant. This grant would focus on library service to families in the Rock County Spanish speaking community to promote family literacy and integration into the community. It would promote library summer reading programs and other special programs that would appeal to bi-lingual families. Cooperation between the literacy councils and the Arrowhead Library System and member libraries has lead to improved communication with the staff. There is a new awareness by library staff of the diversity of the community and the need for special services to the Spanish speaking population. This grant will continue that cooperation by providing storytelling sessions at the Stateline Literacy Council in Beloit, summertime programs in the public libraries, family tours of the libraries, staff training and computer training with translations for Spanish speaking literacy students. The grant will also improve publicity and public relations by providing a kit with information in Spanish and English to promote literacy and library services. Translation of promotional materials is an important component of public relations, in order to reach out to the rapidly growing Spanish speaking population in Rock County. The kits will be available at Rock County Libraries, the two active literacy councils in Rock County, the YWCA Hispanic Outreach Center and other social services agencies that serve Spanish speaking families. Brown County Library 04-205 Each year thousands of Mexicans leave the security of their homeland to pursue better opportunities and better lives in the United States. Many of these hopefuls travel to Wisconsin, specifically to Brown County, for better schooling and higher paying jobs. According to American Demographics Magazine, Brown County, Wisconsin was the sixth-fastest growing Hispanic community in the nation in the 1990s. The Brown County Library has recognized this trend and has responded accordingly by diversifying its services to welcome and encourage the Hispanic population to use its resources. Bilingual storytimes have been offered at the Central and East libraries; the library card application has been translated to Spanish; and a county-wide staff development meeting was focused on the Hispanic community in Brown County. Books in the Spanish language were also purchased. Contact with Hispanic community leaders has revealed that, while Spanish language books and magazines are appreciated, Hispanic customers are more interested in learning English than in reading Spanish books. While the Brown County Library has seen a rapid increase in the number of Hispanic patrons, more must be done to increase accessibility and convenience for this fast growing minority. We need to make them feel welcome and comfortable in their new hometown, level the educational playing field, and help Hispanic men and women become proficient in English to give themselves access to higher paying jobs. "When I came from Mexico to work for Schneider, one of the most important aspects was to know how to speak English." Ricardo Brieno said in a February 9, 2003 Green Bay Press-Gazette article. "You can be brilliant, but if you don't dominate the language, doors will close." With this "Reaching Out to Hispanics in Brown County" project, the Brown County Library will: *Purchase bilingual materials to enable Spanish speakers to learn English at a comfortable pace; Through the efforts of Brown County librarians and local agencies that work with Hispanics, we will do our part to encourage and enable their literacy and success in the community. Dane County Library Service 04-207 In 2002, Dane County Library Service and Madison Public Library collaborated on very successful LSTA Play Literacy grant. Evaluations from classroom teachers participating in Play Literacy provided us with overwhelmingly positive feedback. Play Literacy staff have seen many children, formerly uninterested or intimated by "reading" and "writing" eagerly become our best Play Literacy participants. Children become empowered by purposeful play and actually being to understand the importance of reading and writing. As one child once stated during a "Grocery Store" Play Literacy experience, "Good thing I wrote a list before I went shopping! Otherwise I would have forgotten the eggs!" Play Literacy fosters literacy learning in a self directed and safe environment. Children feel comfortable experimenting and taking chances, as in play there is no risk of doing things "wrong". A typical Play Literacy would work as follows: a theme, such as having a pizza delivered, would be introduced to the children by a normal storytime activity- reading picture books. After reading about that day's theme, the Play Literacy facilitators and other teaching staff would then introduce behavior modeling to the children. Various pizza delivery "play" materials, such as order pads, signage, menus, and small mobile kitchen pieces would be used to model behavior. The facilitator might work with children on writing out delivery orders, addresses, or pizza receipes. Although many of the children will be pretending to "read" and "write", it is through play that we will foster comfort with language and literacy. After the facilitator has taken time with the children to model behavior with various play pieces, children would then be allowed time to explore on their own. The Play Facilitator and other teaching staff would assist children and guide them in their play. After free play is concluded, children then move on to book selection and check out. Before leaving the Play Facilitators would leave behind various ephemera to encourage Play Literacy (writing materials, a small set of appropriate imaginative toys, order forms, recipe cards, etc.) and tips for teachers to continue Play Literacy activities. This grant seeks to build off our current success by giving children "take home" Play Literacy bags that they can keep and share with their parents. According to Parent-Child Play by Dr. Robert D. Strom, "There are unique benefits that come from parent-child play. Children gain a broader perspective than when they play with friends or alone. Whatever play theme children choose, parents can help them enlarge vocabulary by introducing and defining new words in context. The more words boys and girls understand because of play - the greater their comprehension when they begin reading." This grant will allow children and parents to have a unique literacy and bonding Play Literacy activity to share. By providing an opportunity for the children to have a Play Literacy experience at both home and school we will reinforce the value and quality of both school and home activities. Play Literacy has been a huge success for Dane County Library Service and Madison Public Library. This grant will enhance and extend Play Literacy's benefits to include a child's most important literacy partner- their parents. DeForest Area Public Library 04-209 The DeForest Area Public Library moved into a new facility in March, 2002. The additional space has allowed a number of natural partnerships to arise which involve sharing space in the new building. The library houses the offices and gallery of the DeForest Area Historical Society, the Alternative Education Program of the DeForest Area High School, and since the beginning of the summer, the Dane County Public Health Nurse. All three of these tenants have brought a more diverse clientele to the library. The presence of the Alternative Education Program and the Public Health Nurse in the library have brought these hard-to-reach and hard-to-serve patrons through the doors of the public library, but to-date these potential patrons have made little use of the library. This project will identify the types of materials and services these patrons need. It will also strengthen these partnerships through the collaborative work of staff members from each of these entities as students of the Alternative Education Program and clients of the Public Health Nurse become aware of the materials and services provided by the library and begin to use them. Specifically, this project will interest-inventory the Alternative Education and At-Risk students of the school district and the WIC families, and other ESL clients of the Public Health Nurse to determine the areas of need, interest, and appropriate material formats for these patrons. Materials in appropriate formats, and at the interest and reading levels indicated will be purchased and processed. These materials will be made available for checkout through the library, the Public Health Nurse and the Alternative Education Coordinator. School district staff and Dane County Public Nursing staff will also provide suggestions about titles to purchase, formats, and realia which might be appropriate for use with these groups. A document summarizing the interest inventory data as well as a bibliography of materials purchased - and in the case of more obscure items, the purchasing source - will be created and made available to the public library community. Students and WIC families will be asked to self report on their attitudes about the library, what they think is available at the library, and their use of the library at the beginning and the end of this project. Library staff and project staff will offer workshops about using the library that will highlight the materials bought in response to the interest inventories. A monthly, single-sheet newsletter will be produced by project staff and distributed to each target population. Parts of these newsletters will be published in the school district's faculty newsletter, "Chalk Talk", and in the school district's community newsletter, "District Dialogue". Publication through these two newsletters as well as distribution at the library will ensure that the greatest number of households in the community know about the materials available through this project. This project will not only collect pre and post attitudinal survey information from the students and clients of the Public Health Nurse, but it will also track library use by these groups and the circulation of the materials purchased. Eastern Shores Library System 04-211 This project will help the thirteen public libraries and the ESLS bookmobile improve their services to Latinos/Hispanics that reside in Sheboygan and Ozaukee counties. The Hispanic population in Sheboygan and Ozaukee Counties is increasing. The % increase from 1990-2000 was 127% in Sheboygan County and 107% in Ozaukee County. Every municipality reports having some Hispanic residents. Each of the 14 school districts in the two counties has children of Hispanic origin enrolled. Head Start serves 30 Hispanic families in Sheboygan County. The Family Resource Centers of Sheboygan County have 26 families that are either Spanish-speaking or bilingual. They have a bilingual parent educator who goes into the homes of first-time parents. Food pantries in Ozaukee County report that Hispanic families are using their services. The bookmobile stopped at the Lakeside Canning Seasonal Workers Camp in northern Ozaukee County during the summer of 2003 at the request of a priest who works closely with the Hispanic families who reside there. The Sheboygan County Literacy Council tutors individuals who want to learn English and is also involved in Workplace Literacy, a program that helps workers learn basic English so they can perform their jobs. Last year the Sheboygan County Health and Human Services Department received a mini-grant to assess the health needs of Hispanics in Sheboygan County. Individuals who work directly with Hispanics report that census numbers are probably not realistic and that we can expect to see the numbers increase in the future. The research for this grant has led the Eastern Shores Library System to draw the following conclusions: The Hispanic population will continue to grow. Libraries need to reach out to them and provide service geared to their needs. Hispanics need to know about the services that libraries offer. They would appreciate having personnel at the libraries who can communicate with them and have information written in their language. They also need to remain proud of their heritage, while the non-Hispanic population needs to be made aware of the rich heritage of this culture. To improve service to the Latino/Hispanic population, we are proposing this project with four activities: * A 20-hour conversational Spanish course with an emphasis on library phrases and terminology for member library staff . A number of community agencies who work with Hispanics were interviewed for the project. They offered suggestions and were supportive of the ideas and agreed to publicize the programs and materials when they became available. Indianhead Federated Library System 04-213 The Indianhead Federated Library System's 10-county region in Mid-Western Wisconsin has approximately 8, 750 Asian, Hispanic/Latino, Somali, and members of other minority ethnic groups. This represents 2.1% of the region's total population. According to system member library staff, local literacy and cultural partner agencies, and local media, many members of these minority groups are newly-arrived immigrants who speak little or no English and face language and other cultural barriers. The goal of this project is to remove barriers between public libraries and non-English speaking residents. Thirteen system member libraries, along with local literacy/cultural agencies, have identified five minority groups in their service areas who would benefit from this project. Each of the 13 participating libraries will purchase print and/or non-print materials in one or more of the following languages: Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Ukrainian, and Serbian; along with English as a Second Language (ESL) materials. Once the materials have been purchased and cataloged, booklists featuring materials for each of the languages will be developed, and local volunteers will translate the lists and information about general library services. The back-to-back booklist/fliers will be distributed throughout the respective communities, such as work sites, medical facilities, religious institutions, and grocery stores, with the assistance of the partner literacy/cultural agencies. The booklists will also be posted on the system's web site. Representatives of the various cultural groups will assist the system in providing a workshop aimed at increasing cultural awareness for system member library staff. It is hoped that by the end of the project, each foreign language and ESL item purchased with grant funds will have circulated at least once since the time it was cataloged and made available to the public to the end of the project calendar year. It is also hoped that at least two staff members from each participating library will attend the cultural awareness training session and learn at least one new way to better serve non-English speaking patrons. By the end of the project, a desired objective is that at least 75% of surveyed residents for whom English is not their primary language will express satisfaction with their local public library. Janesville, Hedberg Public Library 04-215 As is the case all over Wisconsin, the number of Latino residents in Janesville is increasing dramatically; over 325% from 1990 to 2000. Keeping in mind our core values (which are: 1. Welcome all. 2. Serve Customers Well. 3. Maximize Access and Use. 4. Be accountable. 5. Respect the work team), the Hedberg Public Library has been making efforts to serve this population for some time. We have collections of Spanish language materials for both adults and children, we have some of our brochures and forms translated into Spanish, and we have done some bilingual and Spanish language family programming. In the spring of 2003, we formed a team made up of staff and members of the Latino community to review our services and brainstorm how to improve them. Eighteen members of the Latino community graciously gave us their time in two meetings, and together we developed a plan that was approved by the Hedberg Public Library Board in June. It is apparent that the Latino community could use the resources of the library, but also apparent that our traditional methods of promotion and advertising are not going to be adequate. This grant funds a Bilingual Outreach Coordinator, who will work with staff throughout 2004 to build our relationships with the Latino community so we can communicate better and make the library and its resources more accessible to these new neighbors. The Bilingual Outreach Coordinator will coordinate tours, programming, community events, and will be involved in an outreach program to Spanish-speaking mothers of pre-schoolers, working with the Janesville Literacy Council and the YWCA's Hispanic Outreach Program. Kenosha Public Library 04-217 Kenosha Public Library is applying for this grant on behalf of the Kenosha County Library System, for which Kenosha Public Library (KPL) acts as an administrative and fiscal agent. Kenosha County Library System (KCLS) is a single-county library system comprised of two multi-branch public libraries. The Kenosha Public Library is located in the city of Kenosha and consists of four branches and a Bookmobile, while Community Library serves the western part of the county with libraries in Salem, Twin Lakes and Silver Lake. This project will focus on satisfying a need to serve children and parents/caregivers from low literacy, low-income families. In the 2000 Census data reported by Kids Count for Kenosha County, there were 40,502 children under age 18, of whom 9.9% or nearly 4,000 were living below poverty. Kids Count for Kenosha County also reported that 3.3% or 790 children age 5 to 17 have difficulty speaking English. The ESL (English as a second language) children are overwhelmingly Spanish speaking, however, the Arabic speaking population in Kenosha County is on the rise. This "Raising Readers" project will provide an opportunity for parents and caregivers to improve their literacy skills and for children to become better readers and thinkers. One goal of this project is to educate parents on how to enrich their lives and their relationships with their children by using children's books and to help them become reading role models for their children. Another goal of this project is to inform parents and caregivers about the public library and promote the services, programs and materials available to them. Finally, ESL books, bilingual books and manipulatives (letter tiles, sentence building cubes, etc.) for children will be purchased, as well as materials for parents and caregivers. Promotional materials to support this project will be developed in English, Spanish and Arabic to reflect the needs of the community. To meet the goals and objectives of this project, the Kenosha Public Library will partner with several community agencies in the Early Childhood Consortium that provide services for children and their caregivers including the Kenosha Achievement Center/Early Head Start, SPROUTS (Supporting Parenting Resources and Outreach United Together for Support), the Spanish Center, Every Child's Place, Inc. Childcare Center, Kenosha Job Center/Goodwill, Even Start and the Community Impact Program. The Kenosha Literacy Council, which serves adults, will assist in marketing the project to their clients who are parents. Kenosha Public Library staff and members of this coalition of agencies will achieve the objectives of this project by training library staff and select staff from the Early Childhood Consortium in the Motheread/Fatheread humanities-based family literacy program. The personnel that are trained in the Motheread/Fatheread program will then present classes to parents, which will enable parents to read and discuss books with their children. Library staff will visit parenting classes, foster parent certification training classes and home child care certification classes, which are held at all of the agencies listed above, to market the public library, raise awareness of the public library services and programs and distribute promotional materials. The promotional materials will include a growth chart that parents may use to record the "growth in reading" of their children. A make-it and take-it project will also be included for children to use at home to reinforce their literacy skills. Library staff will also promote the collection of ESL books and bilingual books and manipulatives (letter tiles, sentence building cubes, etc.) purchased and encourage parents and childcare providers to visit their local library, acquire library cards and check out these materials. To aid non-English speaking patrons in acquiring a public library card, the Kenosha County Library System library card application was translated into Spanish in 2003 with LSTA funds and is being used by the Spanish speaking community. In 2004, the KCLS library card application will be translated into Arabic with funds from this grant. Throughout the year, the library will work closely with the community partners to reach the target audience and monitor the progress of the grant. Lakeshores Library System 04-219 The Hispanic population in the Lakeshores Library System service area has grown significantly from the 1990 census to the 2000 census. In Racine County, the number of Spanish speaking residents has increased by 66%, while in Walworth County the Hispanic population has increased 204%. The Lakeshores Library System's "Libraries and Literacy: Services for Latinos" project will provide programming and literacy services for Spanish speaking youth, families, and adults at the 15 member libraries in Racine and Walworth Counties. This project continues and enhances the library services provided to Hispanics by previously funded LSTA grants, including 2000's "Usa la Biblioteca", 2002's "Library Services for Latinos", and 2003's "Services to Latinos: Libraries and Literacy." The Lakeshores Library System member libraries, the Racine Literacy Council, the Walworth County Literacy Council look forward to promoting library services to Latinos in our communities. "Libraries and Literacy: Services for Latinos" includes the following components: 1) Hire a bilingual Storywagon series performer for summer library programs in 2004. Manitowoc-Calumet Library System 04-221 This project will help Hispanic families in Manitowoc and Calumet counties, particularly those working on dairy farms, to learn about materials and services available from their local public library and will provide encouragement for them to start using their local public library. It will assist the six public libraries in the Manitowoc-Calumet Library System in making improvements to their family literacy resources for Hispanic families and in developing staff awareness and comfort in providing services to this target population. The Hispanic population in Manitowoc and Calumet Counties has grown substantially, with census data showing a 131% increase from 1990 to 2000 compared to 107% growth for the state's Hispanic population as a whole during that period. The current Hispanic population in the Manitowoc-Calumet Library System's service area is estimated to number about 1,825 people, many of whom are parents with young children. Each MCLS member library has a small collection of bilingual and Spanish language materials. Use is steady but not as great as expected. Registered borrowers who list Hispanic or Latino national origin represent only 17.5% of the Hispanic population while 53% of the population as a whole is registered for borrower's cards in the two-county area. There is a need for Hispanic families to find out about collections and services offered by their local public libraries. MCLS has decided to continue to target its efforts very specifically. Instead of trying to initiate a marketing plan to reach all the Hispanic families in the area, MCLS will partner with the UW-Extension Offices in Manitowoc and Calumet Counties to market library services to Hispanic families in which one or both parents are employed on area dairy farms. This approach continues to be recommended by the Manitowoc County UW-Extension Family Living Educator who in 2001 completed a focus group study to identify problems and needs of the Hispanic residents of Manitowoc County. Her findings showed that within Manitowoc County there are 20 to 30 dairy farmers employing Hispanic workers (with another 10 similar farms in Calumet County). Many of these farmers are trying to help their employees learn English. A number belong to the Manitowoc County Hispanic Consortium, and UW-Extension staff maintain mailings and direct contacts to support these efforts. MCLS will work within these established lines of communication to inform the farmers, and their Hispanic workers and their families, about library resources and services. MCLS will use project funds to provide a training workshop for MCLS member librarians, further develop small family literacy collections in each of the six libraries, contract with a local translator, collaborate with UW-Extension in both counties on outreach and promotional efforts to this target group, and contact and meet with other area literacy providers to plan for expansion of library resources and services for Hispanic residents in future years. The most significant component of this project centers around personal contact to be made by MCLS member library staff with 10 farmers and about 50 of their Hispanic employees and their families. Through outreach services including personal visits to farms with a translator, deposit collections left at the farms after the visits, and follow-up interviews, these farm workers will become comfortable with library staff and become familiar with library services. They will want to use their local public libraries and will want to encourage their friends to do so also. With this grant, MCLS will be able to carry out objectives from its annual System Plan as well as model a very specific project to demonstrate the role of public libraries in providing adult and family literacy services, as called for in the LSTA Five-Year Plan for Wisconsin. Menasha, Elisha D. Smith Public Library 04-223 The overall purpose of this project is to enhance the preschool literacy skills of the at risk birth to three population in the service area of the Elisha D. Smith Public Library. A secondary purpose is to aid in the delivery of literacy materials to the at risk children enrolled in area preschools and to help their caregivers achieve a high level of optimal use of these literacy materials. To achieve this purpose, children's librarians at the Elisha D. Smith Public Library will collaborate with the members of the Interagency Community Preschool Council serving the area of the Menasha School District in the planning, implementation and evaluation of this grant. This group of area service providers came together in January, 2002, when "the Menasha community established its concern for and commitment to increasing the number of local early childhood councils," with the goals of 1) reaching consensus in regard to developmentally appropriate expectations and practices designed to enhance the success of all young children in early childhood general education settings; and, 2) increasing the number of three-year-olds with disabilities and their families who experience a smooth transition from "birth to three" services to public school special education services. As a member of this group, Elisha D. Smith Public Library collaborates with other ICPC members to improve the early childhood experiences of preschoolers in the community and to help enhance their quality of life and their success in early education settings. With the collaborative help of the members of the ICPC group, librarians at Elisha D. Smith Public Library plan to select, process, package and place rotating collections of literacy materials for use by preschoolers and their caregivers in the schools included in the service population. The library has already demonstrated its commitment to the preschool population with a vibrant collection of preschool materials and a superior parent-teacher collection (which has recently been enhanced with approximately $1,000.00 worth of additional materials.) The member institutions of ICPC include Banta Early Learning Center, Head Start, YMCA of Neenah-Menasha Child Care, University Children's Center Child Care, Early Intervention of Winnebago County, the Menasha Parks & Recreation Department's Tiny Tots, and the Elisha D. Smith Public Library. A special Saturday workshop will introduce the materials available in the proposed rotating collection for use by preschoolers, their parents and caregivers. This workshop will be open to parents, caregivers, librarians, and members of the general public. Topics at the workshop will include how to use music to enhance the preschool curriculum, information on early brain development and the importance of early literacy, how to use literacy materials with preschoolers for maximum effect and how to conduct fantastic storytimes. With these activities, this grant will achieve the behavioral outcome of promoting and enhancing the educational success of the at risk birth to three preschool population served by the cooperating member institutions. These purposes are in accord with ICPC planning documents and with library planning documents at the local and state level. Milwaukee Public Library 04-225 Books2Go - Libros para Llevar is a continuing outreach program for Latino children 0-3 years old, their parents, and child care providers in the city of Milwaukee. In 2003 the program targeted child care centers in the Forest Home Library area because of the high concentration of Latinos living in this area (60%). In response to reports from community partners and library staff regarding increases in Latino patron usage and child care provider residences, the second year will expand to the libraries neighboring Forest Home Library and the River West area. This program builds upon the award winning Books2Go - Outreach to Milwaukee Preschoolers program, which was started as an LSTA project in 2000 and continued as an LSTA project through 2002. The Books2Go - Libros para Llevar program will specifically target the Latino population to develop pre-reading skills in children 0 - 3 years old. The grant will educate families and child care providers on child developmental milestones related to reading and language development and promote how the library supports families and child care centers to enrich these young children's lives. The program will work closely with community partners in the Latino community and will develop the language skills of library staff to better interact with the Spanish speaking community. A key component of the Books2Go - Libros para Llevar program is a bilingual Outreach Educator. The Outreach Educator will be the main promoter of the program and will distribute most of the marketing materials. The Outreach Educator will be responsible for contacting and visiting Latino childcare centers, signing them up as members of the Books2Go - Libros para Llevar program, and distributing library cards, library materials, and promotional items. The Outreach Educator will model read-aloud techniques, schedule the first story time, and maintain statistics for the program. The Outreach Educator will also present to parents and childcare providers information on the importance of reading to infants to help develop pre-reading skills. The library will partner with and present training on developing pre-reading skills and information about the library and this program at two community agencies, Esperanza Unida and Guadalupe Head Start Day Care Center. These agencies' missions include a focus on providing children and their families with quality services to nurture healthy families, enhance community stability, and maximize personal development and self-sufficiency. The library will also work with these partners to hold meetings at libraries to make their clientele aware of library resources and benefits. Additional materials will be purchased for use with children 0 - 3 years old. Items will include wordless board books, and Spanish and bilingual materials to meet the needs of a growing community of non-English speaking families. Shell Lake Public Library 04-227 With this grant, the Shell Lake Public Library and the Spooner Memorial Library, the only libraries in Washburn County (857 square miles), propose to continue their 2003 LSTA grant; Traveling Librarian. The Traveling Librarian grant of 2003 enabled programing such as; rotating collections, and story hour visits to Head Start classes, preschool classes and home based daycare providers residing within the county. The libraries targeted children from birth to three years old and their caregivers, where they gather, in order to meet the rising educational, literate, social and socioeconomic needs. There are many children who don't have access to a library because they live in a remote location. Thus, the libraries must reach out to these children and bring library services to where they gather. The library's focus will be on home based daycare providers who do not have the means to bring groups of children to the libraries and Preschool and Head Start, who concentrate on serving socio-economically disadvantaged children. Major activities include weekly (for 10 weeks) site visits during the summer to at least 16 home based daycare providers by the Traveling Librarian who will provide each visit with a rotating tub of materials and a story hour. Provide monthly story hours and material rotations to the Head Start and Salem Lutheran Preschool classes. The libraries will offer three evening and four afternoon programs at the libraries to promote literacy in the context of family and multi-generational units at appropriate times when families usually spend time together. If the libraries hope to continue to reach at-risk children, they need to continue going out into the community where children gather and provide the same level of excellent service to them as to the ones who can access the library. South Central Library System 04-229 "Welcome Home: Adult Literacy and ESL programs for Immigrants" In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Wisconsin was called "the most European of states," for it's tradition of welcoming immigrants from other countries. (Holmes, Fred. Old World Wisconsin: Around Europe in the Badger State Eau Claire, WI: E. M. Hale, 1944.) This tradition continues into the 21st Century, as immigrants are still moving to Wisconsin. According to the 2000 Census, the Latino population of all seven counties served by the South Central Library System (SCLS) has increased by 139.4%. These astounding percentages keep rising and in addition to Latino immigrants, émigrés from countries such as Albania and Russia have moved to communities within the SCLS service area. In order to meet the needs of their communities' newest residents, many libraries in SCLS recognize that they must provide new programs, materials and services. While several libraries circulate foreign language materials, nearly all library staff are unable to communicate with their patrons who speak English as a foreign language. Many libraries serve as Community Resource Centers. In order to meet the resource needs of everyone in their communities, libraries recognize that they must reach out to and partner with community agencies, such as literacy councils, to provide training and educational opportunities at the public library. Wisconsinites are proud of their communities' individual characteristics and community identity is enhanced through the addition of new community members. Libraries recognize the distinct cultures and traditions that immigrants bring to their new homes and they strive to provide a shared space for immigrants to share their culture with the entire community. Funds from the 2004 LSTA grant project, "Welcome Home," will allow participating libraries to: *Train library staff in techniques for communicating with new community members who do not speak English. The typical "Welcome Home" activities at participating libraries will include a series of ESL/adult literacy instruction classes (childcare provided by partnering agencies will be available during instruction), a series of "life-skills" literacy classes and cultural celebrations held at the participating libraries throughout 2004. While the focus of this grant is on adult literacy, entire families will benefit from the increased services, materials, library staff education and community recognition. Funding of this program will assure immigrants that Wisconsin libraries are welcoming places that recognize their distinct needs and wishes. Waukesha County Federated Library System 04-231 This project is designed to promote the role of public libraries in Waukesha County in improving literacy and reading skills for those having difficulty using libraries because of their cultural background. It addresses the need to increase library services to adults and youth of culturally diverse backgrounds in response to the growth of racial and cultural diversity within Waukesha County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Waukesha County's 2002 population was estimated to be 370,554. In 2000, there were 13,017 foreign-born residents in Waukesha County. Those speaking a language other than English at home (age 5 and older) totaled 5.9% of the population, or 21,285. According to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, during the period 1991-1998, the number of immigrants to Waukesha County from India and China exceeded those from Mexico. In addition to these three countries, Canada, the Soviet Union, the UK, Germany, Korea, Philippines and Pakistan constituted the top ten countries of immigrant admissions during that time period. Because these populations have settled in "pockets" or within mini-communities throughout Waukesha County, several, but not all, WCFLS libraries have indicated a need to increase services and outreach to these populations. Libraries expressing an interest in this project are: Brookfield, Eagle, Elm Grove, Menomonee Falls, Mukwonago, Muskego, Oconomowoc, Pewaukee, and Waukesha. The greatest perceived need is to address library services to the Hispanic, or Latino, population; however, participating libraries will be able to focus their activities according to their local needs. Building on a 2003 LSTA grant to reach out to those for whom English is a second language, this project includes a youth focus. The three components to this grant are: increase the relevancy of libraries to the targeted population by adding materials that meet their educational, recreational and informational needs; continuing education and awareness raising opportunities for staff of member libraries; and, outreach and marketing. Participating libraries that wish to increase or update their bi-lingual, community language (formerly referred to as foreign language) or ESL collections in their service area will be given grant funds to do so conditionally: they will need to participate in one of the proposed continuing education programs. Continuing education activities include an in-service to be taken to each library interested in offering it to staff members: this in-service will include information on diversity within the library's service area as well as keys to serving youth and adults of diverse populations. Another continuing education activity will be a class offering Spanish to library staff members. Outreach activities will include scheduling a bi-lingual summer library performer for each library. In addition to providing posters and bi-lingual promotional materials, the outreach and marketing component will include an opportunity for participating members to have two pieces of their library's promotional materials translated into Spanish or other language as well as provide for printing costs of having the translated pieces printed. WCFLS staff will also partner with Waukesha Literacy Council staff to promote use of public libraries to their students and continue activities to promote libraries with LaCasa and other agencies serving ESL constituents. There are three goals to this project. The first goal is to increase the relevancy of libraries to the targeted population by adding materials in print, audio, video and other formats that meet their educational, recreational and informational needs. The second is to raise awareness amongst member library staff members regarding Waukesha County's culturally diverse population and what public libraries have to offer, thereby lowering barriers to serving this population. The third is to reach out those having difficulty using libraries because of their difficulty in communicating in second language and/or diverse cultural background. Winding Rivers Library System 04-233 The Winding Rivers Library System will coordinate a project to address three elements important in the achievement of comprehensive literacy today: print literacy, financial literacy, and information literacy. WRLS will work with the Hatch Public Library in Mauston and the Juneau County Area Literacy Council to develop and offer training in all three areas for persons incarcerated in the jail at the Juneau County Justice Center in Mauston. WRLS will provide print, electronic, and technology resources for the persons in the Justice Center. The project will also result in the production of a CD-ROM product which will enable trainers to use a non-networked computer to introduce persons to the navigation of the Internet. In addition to the opportunities for comprehensive literacy instruction, the purpose of the grant is to provide experience and familiarity, for persons with few or no computer skills, with the technology through which many libraries provide access to their resources. The ultimate goal is encourage persons to discover and use their local public libraries. Winding Rivers Library System 04-235 The Winding Rivers Library System plans to work with the Torkelson Memorial Library in Cashton and the Cashton School District, and the public libraries in Norwalk, Wilton, and Ontario and the Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District, to raise awareness among community residents, and particularly families with infants and young children, of the importance of reading and language connections for babies. Other regional agencies, including the Scenic Bluffs Community Health Center, Monroe County Birth to Three, Monroe County WIC Program, and Monroe County Home-Based Head Start, will participate in a coordinated effort to share information about the connections between reading and infant brain development, and the importance of libraries as resources for parents, families, and child care providers. Libraries will update their collections of resources, present infant storytime programs, and participate in preschool screening events. Recommended titles for reading to babies and young children will be made available in two clinic sites, and in the child development classes of the two schools. Information will be delivered through posters, handouts, bookmarks, and various media, including newspapers, newsletters, radio, and cable access television. Wisconsin Valley Library Service 04-237 For north central Wisconsin as well as the rest of the state, Latinos now comprise the fastest-growing minority group. Since 1980, when our seven county service area was one of the whitest in the nation, the faces of our customers have changed. The number of Latinos has more than doubled in the past ten years, as this population has begun to discover the benefits of rural life and industries in WVLS communities. To make our public libraries relevant and welcoming for Latinos, WVLS librarians and libraries are desperately in need of additional training and materials. "Library Services for Latinos in North Central Wisconsin, Part II" will continue and enhance the efforts initiated by WVLS and 19 member libraries with a 2003 LSTA literacy grant. The 2004 LSTA intiative will also be expanded by the participation of two additional public libraries. Components of the project will include: *A continuing education workshop on cultural diversity, literacy materials/area providers, and the special needs of the Latino population.
Last updated on 2/25/2008 9:00:48 AM |
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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Elizabeth Burmaster
Department of Public Instruction, 125 S. Webster Street, P.O. Box 7841, Madison, WI 53707-7841 (800) 441-4563  Contact Us About Us Copyright Privacy Non Discrimination Accessibility DPI Home
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