Division for Libraries and Technology (Working Title: Division of School and Library Operations)

Chanell Crawford, Assistant State Superintendent
Telephone: (608) 266-5880
Email: Chanell.Crawford@dpi.wi.gov

Benjamin Miller, State Librarian
Division for Libraries and Technology
Telephone: (608) 224-6168
Email: benjamin.miller@dpi.wi.gov

The Division of School and Library Operations (DSLO) is responsible for administering a wide range of operational programs and services that are foundational to the effective functioning of Wisconsin’s education system. From managing school funding and educator licensing to supporting nutrition programs, educational choice, and library services, the division ensures that schools, districts, and communities have access to the tools and resources they need to serve students effectively.

• School Financial Services - administers programs that support schools with general and categorical aids and grants for special projects.
• School Nutrition - administers federal and state school nutrition programs.
• Community Nutrition - administers federal and state community nutrition programs.
• Education Options - provides administrative management services to school districts and assists them with federal aids and audits.
• Libraries - provides leadership, support, and oversight to Wisconsin’s network of more than 467 public libraries, 15 regional library systems, and school libraries, while also fostering connections and offering support for the state’s tribal, academic, and special libraries.
• Educator Licensing - is responsible for overseeing educator licensure and ensuring that Wisconsin’s schools are staffed with qualified, well-prepared, and appropriately credentialed professionals.

Library Services Team

• BadgerLink is Wisconsin’s Online Library, a service provided by the Department of Public Instruction, providing a foundational collection of licensed trustworthy resources serving all Wisconsin residents, augmenting those available through K-12 schools, public libraries, public and private universities and technical collections, medical and health-care facilities and practitioners, and state agencies.
• Public Library Development Consultants provide leadership, advocacy, expert assistance, planning, coordination, and funding for the improvement of library systems and public libraries so that Wisconsin residents will have convenient and equitable access to knowledge and information resources.
• School Libraries pages provide essential information about district library planning, Common School Funds, evaluation tools, and essential resources for library media specialists, as well as connections to the school library media education consultant for assistance and leadership.
• WISCAT/ILL is a resource sharing tool that can be used by Wisconsin libraries of all types and sizes to locate materials for interlibrary loan, as well as a cost effective method by which libraries can convert their collections to the MARC bibliographic standard for use as the basis of local automation projects.
• The Wisconsin Digital Archives and Wisconsin Document Depository Program is a growing collection of documents published by state government from 2001-current. These full-text documents provide a record of major state government programs and cover current, newsworthy topics about life in Wisconsin.