DPI’s BadgerLink online library celebrates 25 years

MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is celebrating 25 years of its innovative, online library containing hundreds of thousands of resources for K-12, postsecondary, and lifelong learners being available to any Wisconsinite.

 

BadgerLink, which originated as a collection of 4,000 periodicals and more than 40 newspapers, has grown over the past quarter century to include more than 60 databases holding content of hundreds of thousands of encyclopedia entries and dictionary definitions, over 18,000 full-text magazines and journals, over 22,000 newspaper titles, over 4,700 full-text reference books, over 435,000 images and video, and the complete set of U.S. Federal Census record images from 1780 to 1950. The online library was created 25 years ago, with then-State Superintendent John Benson declaring Sept. 14, 1998, as “BadgerLink Day” in Wisconsin.

 

“BadgerLink is a powerful resource, and I am proud to celebrate its 25 years with many more to come,” State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly said. “Having used BadgerLink myself to access to online newspapers and even scholarly research, I’m thankful all Wisconsin residents have that same access, and I encourage everyone to learn more about Wisconsin’s Online Library.”

 

BadgerLink started in 1998 when the Library Technology Planning Conference’s primary recommendation was for the DPI to support and fund a service to provide access to full-text online magazines, journals, and newspapers. The online library provides equitable statewide access to popular magazines such as Consumer Reports and Sports Illustrated, national newspapers such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal and local and statewide newspapers, professional resources for skill building and test preparation, resources for a variety of topics like health and business news, and genealogy sources for searching family history.

 

Visit the DPI’s website for more information on and to access BadgerLink.