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Supporting Collaboration Survey: The Results Are In!

Monday, July 27, 2020

Beginning with interviews at the WLA Conference last fall and continuing with an online survey open through winter 2020, 90 public and school librarians shared their thoughts with Connecting Wisconsin Libraries about collaboration in their communities. It was encouraging to see that 95% of those surveyed had found an opportunity to collaborate with their public or school library colleagues. And, we were certainly not surprised to find that the greatest challenge to successful collaborations was finding the time to make the work happen.

Please view our infographic, What Kind of Collaborator are You?, to find out more about the data collected. You will also find some helpful hints for getting collaboration started in your community.

We would like to thank all those who participated in the survey. The feedback has led to powerful conversations and great ideas for how to build our community moving forward. Look for more exciting opportunities to connect with your public and school colleagues in the near future.

This message brought to you through the collaboration of Wisconsin Educational Media & Technology Association (WEMTA), Wisconsin Library Association (WLA), and DPI School and Public Libraries. In the spirit of work at the national level through ALA’s State Ecosystem Initiative and the Public Library & School Library Collaboration Toolkit created through collaborative efforts of AASL, YALSA, and ALSC, we are working together to support and foster communications and collaborations among Wisconsin public and school librarians to better support the communities we serve. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Marge Loch-Wouters (WLA) or Raquel Rand (WEMTA) .

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Three Things You Can Do to Promote Anti-Racism Efforts In Your Library

Monday, July 13, 2020
  1. Download and use the new Inclusive Services Assessment and Guide with Automatic Scoring
  2. Replay “Advancing Equity & Inclusion In the Workplace Symposium” sessions
  3. Respond to the Call to Action for Public Library Workers to Address Racism

Inclusive Services Assessment with Automatic Scoring
In a recent blog post, readers were asked to consider how you can play a role in taking action to make your library and community more inclusive. The Inclusive Services Assessment and Guide was designed by Wisconsin public library and public library system staff for Wisconsin public library directors, staff, and boards with the intent to foster inclusive library environments where everyone is safe, welcomed, and respected. This resource was developed to support libraries in implementing the Inclusive Services Statement. In addition, this resource intentionally complements the 2018 Wisconsin Public Library Standards.

This tool is now available with automatic scoring to help you assess and score simultaneously. This update is linked on the Inclusive Services webpage as Inclusive Services Assessment with Automatic Scoring. NOTE: Download and save to your device BEFORE you fill in the PDF. "No" is the default response on the scoresheet. The full rubric is on page 27.

Replay “Advancing Equity & Inclusion in the Workplace Symposium” Sessions
Consider viewing one or more of Denver Public Library’s “Advancing Equity & Inclusion in the Workplace Symposium” sessions. The symposium leveraged professional networks across a multitude of fields to dive deeper into particular issues that contribute to success in promoting racial equity & inclusion in the workplace. Symposium themes addressed: Planning and Preparing for Equity Work, Sustaining Equity Efforts and Supporting Staff of Color, and Assessment and Accountability. Recommended replays include:

Call to Action for Public Library Workers to Address Racism
The Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), calls on public library workers to commit to structural change and to taking action to end systemic racism and injustice in a statement that reads:

We call on public library workers to join us in taking the following action steps:

  • Study, amplify, and align with the policy demands of the Movement for Black Lives. Ask yourself: What can the movement’s call to divest from punishment and policing — while investing in long-term safety strategies such as schools, libraries, employment, health, and housing — mean for your library and your community?
  • Change library policies that punish and criminalize patron behavior. Invest in alternatives to policing and security guards within library spaces. See, It’s not enough to say Black Lives Matter.
  • Evaluate the messages about police and policing libraries promote [sic] to children and families in programs and collections. See, Policing Doesn’t Protect Us, and Evaluating Children’s Books about Police.
  • Create a Plan of Action for addressing racism and working toward collective liberation. Start where you are, engage others, and make a long-term commitment to listening, action, and reflection.
  • Address structural racism. Work with BIPOC communities to identify and implement structural changes that must occur within libraries. Build staff investment at every level, while shifting resources to support racial equity initiatives in libraries and staff-led action teams. Evaluate policies and procedures using racial equity tools and develop racial equity action plans to sustain this work.
  • Develop and fund programs, services, and collections that center the voices and experiences of people of color and shift power to communities for co-curation and co-creation.
  • Materially support organizations that provide resources and build community for BIPOC working in libraries, including We Here, the Spectrum Scholarship Program, BCALA, and JCLC.

Written by:
Tessa Michaelson Schmidt

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Take Action with Collection Reflection

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

There is a steady stream of resources available related to issues of racial justice right now. State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor released an editorial stating that, “We are responsible for creating the change we need.” In that same spirit, the Library Team shared a list of Race and Antiracism Resources for Wisconsin Public Libraries.

If you are looking for ways to take action, evaluating and updating your youth materials collection is one place to start. TeachingBooks.net, a content vendor through BadgerLink, has developed a collection analysis tool to help you quickly evaluate the holdings of specific collections in your public or school library to assess for diversity and inclusion markers. In addition, the Cooperative Childrens’ Book Center (CCBC) recently published two booklists to assist with collection development needs. The first is “Black Experiences: Affirmation and Resilience, Activism and Resistance in 45 Books for PreK-Grade 12" and the second is “Race and Racism: Selected Books for PreK-Grade 12”. The CCBC is part of the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) School of Education (SoE), and receives additional support from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI).

We hope you utilize these valuable resources from our Library Team partners.

Written by:
Tessa Michaelson Schmidt

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We are responsible for creating the change we need

Monday, June 29, 2020

A guest editorial by State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor

Contact
DPI Media Line, (608) 266-3559

We are currently experiencing and witnessing an important movement in our nation’s history. The recent senseless killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and other Black men and women symbolized the tipping point. This movement is important because the outcry for change in our systems and institutions has been loud and persistent. I am heartened by the number of youth of all races and ethnicities coming together with one voice to acknowledge the plight of Black Americans, and the search for understanding and knowledge to appropriately respond in this moment.

The Department of Public Instruction stands with the students, families, educators, districts, schools, and other organizations to denounce racism, violence against Black people, discrimination, and exclusion of all forms. We also join hands with those demanding racial justice in all systems and institutions within our society.

Black lives matter. Our systems and institutions must change to reflect this truth. We are witnessing the urgency of seizing this moment and committing ourselves to creating a new system of education where a child’s race is not a predictor of success or failure in our schools. This predictability inherent in our current system means the system must change — we must change.

Many know I grew up in the segregated and deeply divided south during the Civil Rights era, where wealth and power, born of privilege, ruled. I have experienced racism and have seen its negative effects firsthand. Racism, for me, is a personal reality, and a reality I have confronted throughout my life. I grieve for the families of our Black men and women who continue to experience racism and have to live with the trauma it creates.

In my first State of Education Address, I called the gaps in achievement, access, and opportunity in Wisconsin’s schools a crisis. And now, we are in an even greater crisis as COVID-19 and the persistent racial violence plaguing our nation have compounded the challenges Black and other communities of color were already facing.

The DPI recently released Education Forward, our guidance to districts and schools to ensure a safe and equitable return to school. As districts and schools plan, I urge you to closely examine your systems, programs, policies, and ways of engaging; intentionally seek to eliminate inequities, listen to the voices of Black and other marginalized communities, respond to their needs appropriately, and create inclusive learning experiences for all students. We are all responsible for creating the change we so critically need.

I commit to creating space to intentionally listen to our families and leaders of color from across the state in order to decide the most important and urgent place to start. We must create spaces where our students feel supported in standing up for what they believe in and all students are valued and appreciated for who they are and what they bring. It is important that staff in our schools acquire the confidence and skills necessary to deliver critical content and lead challenging conversations about race and racism in our country.

Similarly, we must diversify Wisconsin’s educator workforce. 98% of our teachers in Wisconsin are White. We know having teachers of color benefits all students, not just students of color. I call upon our youth, especially our youth of color, who are demanding change and racial justice to become a teacher! Teachers are change agents. Teachers give hope. Teachers inspire. Teachers change lives.

I know the challenges we face are numerous but we can take action. It’s time to shed the title of having the largest Black-White achievement gap in the country. Dr. King reminded us that, “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” In the midst of our current reality, I have faith and hope for the new future we will collectively create.

Official Release
dpinr2020-51.pdf

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DPI Guidance for Schools Provided in Education Forward

Monday, June 22, 2020

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction today issued Education Forward, a guidance document for Wisconsin district and school leaders to use as they plan for a safe, efficient, and equitable return to school for the 2020-21 school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Included in this document is a section of guidance to help school libraries identify important actions to 1) REVIEW: Recommended 2019-20 school year closing actions; 2) PREPARE: Do before the 2020-21 school year starts; and 3) IMPLEMENT and review during the 2020-21 school year.

This publication may be helpful to public libraries as a companion to the Wisconsin Public Libraries Reopening Guide. Specifically, public libraries might reinforce partnerships and collaborations with local school districts through awareness of this guidance document.

For more details regarding the development and purpose of Education Forward, please read the DPI news release from June 22, 2020: DPI Issues Guidance on a Safe Return to In-Person Instruction.

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Special Common School Fund Distribution

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

In this special news release, additional Common School Fund allocations for the 2019-20 school year provided to assist school libraries in serving students and staff during COVID-19 are highlighted.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction received a special fund allocation today from the Common School Fund to assist Wisconsin students in accessing digital resources amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The money is additional library aid totaling $5.25 million to help meet the immediate distance learning needs of Wisconsin students and teachers. The funds will be disbursed to Wisconsin’s public schools by May 1, 2020.

Chaired by State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands approved the special distribution to support families with the continuation of learning because of the ongoing public health emergency. The money will enable school librarians to purchase high-quality online resources to support inquiry and research, e-books, and mobile access devices, such as hotspots.

“These special funds offer immediate assistance to Wisconsin students during this unprecedented time,” State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor said. “This aid, along with the annual Common School Fund allocation, directly addresses Wisconsin’s digital divide and will help meet students’ remote learning needs.”

The $5.25 million distribution is in addition to the planned $38.2 million in 2020 Common School Fund library aid, a record amount of funding used to purchase books, instructional materials, and computers supporting library programming.

“Wisconsin kids deserve the ability to learn despite the barriers created by COVID-19,” Godlewski said. “As a product of public schools myself, I’m proud as the chair of the Common School Fund that we are able to step up and make this special distribution to support distance learning needs.”

A message from State Superintendent Stanford Taylor for media play is available on YouTube. A message from State Treasurer Godlewski for media play is also available on YouTube

This news release can also be found at: https://dpi.wi.gov/news/releases/2020/special-fund-allocation-help-improve-wisconsin-student-access

Posted by Monica Treptow

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April is School Library Month, with National Library Week set for April 19-25

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

In a guest editorial, State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor highlights the importance of Wisconsin libraries, and the resources offered during the current public health emergency. April is School Library Month, with National Library Week set for April 19-25.

The recent public health emergency has demonstrated Wisconsin’s strength and ability to work together to provide essential resources during a time of crisis.

From utilizing digital learning in unique ways, to going to great lengths to ensure students have access to meals and proper nutrition, I am so proud of the community efforts I have seen to provide continuity of learning.

Among our state’s valuable resources are our school and public libraries. Wisconsin libraries are the cornerstone of our communities, and represent an essential place for learning, providing access and opportunities. Libraries supply equitable and inclusive services, leveling the playing field for everyone.

April is School Library Month, with National Library Week set for April 19-25. This month represents a time for us to celebrate libraries of all kinds and the incredible staff who devote their days to transforming learning. Library staff do so even during times of crisis, like the one we find ourselves in.

Though the current situation has forced Wisconsin libraries to temporarily close physical locations, libraries remain steadfast providers of continuity of learning with online resources and programming.

I have been impressed to see technology leveraged connecting library staff with students and families via virtual activities. School librarians have worked tirelessly to ensure educators can effectively utilize online strategies to enhance learning. Wi-Fi connections remain on at our schools and public libraries for families to access the internet whenever and wherever possible.

Through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s BadgerLink, Wisconsinites can access materials online at any time with just a library card or school barcode. Resources available through the online library include encyclopedia articles, lesson plans for educators, skill-building programs, health guides, exam prep materials, and much more.

Although we may be unable to celebrate libraries and librarians this month in face-to-face events, I encourage you to take advantage of Wisconsin library resources and opportunities to continue education. Your local libraries are standing at the ready to support you.

Remember, these unprecedented times are temporary. Not before long, our schools, libraries and communities will be healthy and thriving.

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The full editorial is available here:  https://dpi.wi.gov/news/releases/2020/during-trying-times-wisconsin-s-libraries-continue-providing

In addition, the Library Team is collecting stories about how libraries are responding to COVID-19 that makes us all #wisconsinstrong. DPI will plan to share these stories on our various communications channels as appropriate. Please include any relevant links or media if applicable using this online form.

Please direct any comments or questions about this news item to DPI Media Inquiries, (608) 266-3559, media.inquiries@dpi.wi.gov. These channels are monitored every business day.

Posted by:
Tessa Michaelson Schmidt
Public Library Development 

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Materials Quarantine: No More than 24 Hours Needed, per CDC Epidemiologist

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Please note the date of this article. Information regarding COVID-19 is constantly evolving. We encourage you to review current information in the the Wisconsin Public Libraries Reopening Guide and the COVID-19 page for Wisconsin public libraries.

In a webinar hosted by IMLS entitled "Mitigating COVID-19 When Managing Paper-Based, Circulating, and Other Types of Collections," Dr. David Berendes, phD, MSPH, epidemiologist in the Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch of the CDC focusing on global sanitation and hygiene issues, stated that 24 hours is an acceptable duration for materials quarantine. Dr. Berendes added that the CDC is not concerned about books and other paper-based items (including mail and shipped packages) as a mode of transmission of the virus. As such, either disinfection of hard surfaces that tolerate wiping with the appropriate chemical disinfectants, or a 24 hour materials quarantine will suffice. Dr. Berendes advised using these CDC cleaning and disinfecting instructions, which includes a link to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's "List N" disinfectants that meet EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19. Hard, nonporous surfaces are the focus of epidemiological concern.

In addition, Dr. Berendes outlined the steps to be taken if you suspect that your work environment has been exposed to COVID-19:

  1. Close off the area that the individual used most for as long as possible, up to 24 hours. Note that stagnant areas such as vehicles would require a longer time, whereas environments with good airflow require less time. A well ventilated space may only need a few hours of quarantine.

  2. After quarantine, clean the space thoroughly:

    • Hard, nonporous surfaces should be cleaned with soap or detergent and then disinfected with a disinfecting agent found on the EPA’s List N. These include all hard, high-touch surfaces and items like doorknobs, tabletops. Etc.

    • Soft, porous surfaces such as carpeting, rugs, and drapes should be laundered or cleaned if possible. Fortunately, these surfaces are of less concern because the ability of the virus to release itself in an infectious state from soft surfaces once it has settled into them is unlikely. (This guidance applies to office and public facility space; plush toys and other soft items should be laundered.)

    • Electronics and such items should be wiped or sprayed with a solution containing at least 70% alcohol.

    • Personal protective equipment used by custodial staff should be put on, taken off, and disposed of correctly. Please see the CDC’s cleaning and disinfecting instructions for details.

  3. Encourage proper hand hygiene at all times, per CDC guidelines. This includes wearing disposable gloves, washing hands for 20 seconds with soap and water, using hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, and avoiding touching the eyes, nose, and mouth.

This information is not comprehensive. For complete instructions, refer to the CDC’s webpage on Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility: Everyday Steps, Steps When Someone is Sick, and Considerations for Employers.

 

Submitted by Shannon Schultz, Division for Libraries and Technology

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COVID-19 Information for School Libraries

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

There is a new web page, COVID-19 Information for School Libraries, created to provide school library media specialists with easier access to information specific to their field. Within the page, there are also links to many other DPI resources, such as the main DPI Information on COVID-19 page and Offers for Internet Services.

The topics included on this web page were chosen due to the volume of questions and concerns expressed over the past week. Please explore to find information on copyright considerations for online read alouds, status of the Common School Fund, and ideas for supporting other educators, as well as your library programming while working remotely.

The COVID-19 Information for School Libraries will be regularly updated as new information becomes available, so please bookmark it and check back regularly.

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DPI's Division of Libraries & Technology Sessions at WEMTA Conference

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

The Wisconsin Educational Media & Technology Association (WEMTA) Conference on March 22-24, 2020 brings together current, future and past educators to share knowledge of library and technology topics. This conference provides opportunities for collaboration between school and public libraries. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s Division of Libraries and Technology will be presenting multiple sessions on these collaborations, highlighted below.

Unable to attend one of these sessions? Come visit us at a booth in the Expo Hall on Monday, March 23 from 10:30am-4:30pm.

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The Future Belongs to the Connected on Sunday, March 22 from 2:45 – 3:45

As a state agency, the Wisconsin Department of Instruction’s goal is to ensure every child graduates ready for further education and the workplace. Yet national statistics tell us that as 17% to 20% of Wisconsin students do not have Internet services at home. This session will explore some strategies and free tool kits districts can employ to identify and assist the over 140,000 Wisconsin students that quietly struggle with the digital divide. Solving this problem for our state will take many hands, come join in and see what you can do.

Libraries and Technology Update from the DLT Team on Sunday, March 22, from 4:00 – 5:00

Join us for a quick overview of several projects and tools that support the work you are doing in your schools. This will include an introduction to the Broadband Strategy, Future Ready Librarians, Student Data Privacy Consortium, Cyber Security resources and more.

Accessing BadgerLink at School and Beyond on Monday, March 23, from 1:15-2:00pm

BadgerLink is Wisconsin’s online library which provides access to licensed content such as magazines, newspapers, scholarly articles, videos, and images. BadgerLink is licensed for all Wisconsin residents, so your students can use these resources at school and home for all their research needs! Find out how BadgerLink can help your students research whether they are in school or out! At school, you can integrate BadgerLink resources into your school’s Single Sign-On tool, learning management system, or library services platform like Follett’s Destiny, continuing to make it easier for your students to use BadgerLink. At home, the easiest way to access BadgerLink resources is automatic access with registered Wisconsin networks, however many students don’t have this type of access to BadgerLink from home. Do your students have a school login to access BadgerLink resources easily? Get started on setting up a school login for your students!

Library Planning: Answering Questions, Sharing Ideas, and Being Future Ready on Monday, March 23, from 2:00 – 3:00pm

Have you been to a library planning workshop? Have you taken the ISTE U class this year? Are you trying to navigate library planning and looking for answers? Are you working through the plan you built last year and wondering what’s next? Answering “yes” to any of these questions should put this session on your list! Practical library planning and its effective implementation allows your program to demonstrate success. And, that success becomes a wonderful advocacy tool. Please join us as we answer questions, showcase helpful tools, and provide opportunities for you to share stories and ideas with other Future Ready Librarians about this important foundation of your library program.

Engaging Researchers Through Digital Image Inquiry on Tuesday, March 24, from 8:15-9:15am

After traveling to the Library of Congress in Washington DC for a professional learning institute dedicated to school librarians collaborating with classroom teachers to use primary sources to engage students, build critical thinking skills and construct knowledge, I am excited to share knowledge and strategies with other educators. Explore how to help others locate, analyze, and even participate in crowdsourcing with these quality, reliable resources available to all learners. Using digital primary sources in the classroom supports the Knowledge Constructor and Digital Citizenship strands of the Wisconsin Information Technology Literacy Standards and supports collaborations in all content areas. I will be joined by Emily Pfotenhauer from Recollection Wisconsin who will share information about our local primary source collection.

Working Together: Cyber and Data Security are Everyone’s Responsibility on Tuesday, March 24, from 10:45-11:45am

Whether you are an administrator, a teacher, a learner or education support, we all play a crucial role in protecting valuable district resources in an online world. Join Wisconsin DPI in this collaborative discussion as we examine the spectrum of preventive measures we can all practice.

Student Data Privacy: How the Wisconsin Alliance Can Help on Tuesday, March 24, from 1:00 – 2:00

The Wisconsin Alliance is a group of Districts that have joined the Student Data Privacy Consortium through the DPI. This consortium offers two tools at no cost to districts: 1) Sample contract language to use with vendors to provide a legal and consistent expectation for student data privacy and 2) A list of apps that meet the standards established and defined in the sample contract. You will leave this session knowing the criteria for selecting apps as well as who you can work with around the state when purchasing, selecting and negotiating software purchases. If you don’t already have access to the consortium, we will also help you gain access to the resources.

Written by Jen Champoux and Monica Treptow

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