Services & Programs

The BadgerLink Advisory Group seeks to improve the ability of all Wisconsin residents to access and effectively use high-quality, licensed resources provided by BadgerLink, expand program visibility, and build stronger relationships between the program and stakeholders. By gathering the diverse opinions and expertise of Wisconsin’s learner communities, the BadgerLink team will develop strategies to adapt and grow the program as needs evolve. The Advisory Group is supported through LSTA funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.

To create this inaugural BadgerLink Advisory Group, a call for applicants was done in July. From a pool of 39 applicants, ten individuals were chosen. The selection criteria included a number of items intended to establish a diverse group of professionals. Group membership needed to include individuals from different geographic locations, organization size and type, levels of experience, positions or roles, and backgrounds. Thank you to those who expressed an interest in this group.

The BadgerLink Advisory Group’s initial meeting is planned for the end of November. Stay tuned for updates on this group’s work in the future.

The inaugural BadgerLink Advisory Group

Duong Duong, Hmong American Peace Academy

Shahara Falk-LeFay, Marathon County Public Library, Athens Branch

Karen L Howell, School District of Shell Lake

Kay Koepsel-Benning, Elmbrook Schools

Renee Laird-Adelon, Milwaukee Public Schools

Zander Miller, Kenosha Public Library

Julie Pohlman, University of Wisconsin System Administration

Katie Roberts, Wisconsin Technical College System

Julie Schultz, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin

Julia Waggoner, Northland College

The 2020 Census matters. Accurate counts influence Federal funding, U.S. Congressional representation, and what we know about the communities we serve. It behooves all of us in Wisconsin’s public libraries to do what we can to help make sure our communities are counted.

It’s estimated that 90% of the population will need to complete their Census 2020 form online. As library professionals, we will most likely be called upon to help our people complete those forms. We have computers, WiFi, and the drive to help our communities thrive. Our assistance in this effort might place extra demands on our time and energy, so if behooves us to educate ourselves and get ready. Staff at the Public Library Division of DPI will do all we can to help. Keep an eye out for an upcoming webinar with Census basics.

The U.S. Census Bureau may have already contacted you for meeting space, or help recruiting temporary employees, or finding volunteers. Please do all you can to say YES when the Census Bureau gets in touch. There are many ways to help get an accurate Census count in Wisconsin. Here’s a handy list of ways to participate.

For lots more info about Census 2020, the American Library Association has you covered.

According to a recent article, stakeholders in the $2.3 billion fishing industry in Wisconsin feel that the 40% cut back of fish stocked in Lake Michigan over the last 10 years has contributed to the decrease in business for almost all lake shore businesses. A request made by the stakeholders to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to increase stocking efforts in Lake Michigan by over 40% the next three years is being considered by the DNR.

Learn more about fish stocking in Lake Michigan by accessing plans and reports in the Wisconsin Digital Archives . Here is just some of what you’ll find in the Wisconsin Digital Archives:

• Expenditures of Great Lakes Salmon & Trout Stamp Revenues (2004-2013) 
• Lake Michigan Integrated Fisheries Management Plan, 2017-2026
• Lake Michigan management reports (2007-2018)
• Wisconsin Lake Michigan fin clip summary, marked fish only (1995-2017)
• Wisconsin's Lake Michigan salmonid stocking program (2007-2018)

To learn more about fish stocking throughout Wisconsin, visit the DNR website.

Blog post written by: Abby Swanton, Resources for Libraries and Lifelong Learning

DPI Library Teams will be at the WLA Conference October 8-11. We will be at booth #422 in the Exhibits hall, as well as the sessions described below. Stop by the booth or attend a session, and say hello!

The following programs are scheduled throughout the conference. All programs are located in the Kalahari Convention Center, Lake Delton. Registration for the WLA Annual Conference is required for attendance. We hope to see you there!

Tuesday Pre-Conference

1-4
Look Where your Privilege Intersects with Someone's Oppression Because That's Where You Have the Most Power to Make Change
Room - Marula/Aralia
Ijeoma Oluo will lead a discussion about race, privilege, intersectionality, microaggressions and cultural appropriation. Through small group discussions, report-backs and other facilitated discussion methods, participants will identify ways to dismantle racism in their libraries, communities and personal lives. This pre-conference is free thanks to co-sponsorship with the Wisconsin Humanities Council, the Wisconsin Library Association Foundation, and the iSchool at UW-Madison.

Wednesday sessions

11-11:45
eResource Usage: Nationwide and Local Trends
Room - Portia
Jen Champoux, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Madison
The presenter will highlight research on the national public library use of databases. This “state of the nation” will focus on other statewide e-resource groups and the trends of usage particularly in public libraries, while highlighting Wisconsin libraries that show exceptional use of BadgerLink resources.

1:45-2:30
Working It! Enhancing Your Library’s Workforce Development Connections
Room - Portia
Martha Berninger, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Madison; John DeBacher, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Madison; Mark Jochem, South Central Library System, Madison; Kristen Anderson, Winding Rivers Library System, West Salem; Jon Menz, Wisconsin Workforce Development Association, Stevens Point; Ted Anderson, Department of Workforce Development, Milwaukee
The panel will share their experiences as leaders of the first year of the three-year Libraries Activating Workforce Development Skills (LAWDS) project. LAWDS is making connections between public libraries and Wisconsin's workforce development experts. Audience members will be asked to provide feedback on the LAWDS training sessions and ""meet and greets" that are bringing together staff from public libraries and experts from the Department of Workforce Development, Wisconsin Workforce Development Boards and American Job Centers. LAWDS is funded through the Laura Bush 21st Century program of the Institute for Museums and Library Services.

2:45-3:30
How can (DP) I Help You? Crowdsourcing Your Adult Program and Service Needs
Room - Guava
Cindy Fesemyer, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Madison
Did you know there's a new-ish team member at your State Library? Cindy Fesemyer is the Adult and Community Services Consultant and wants this discussion to be all about YOU. Whether you work in a school, public, academic or special library, you serve adults. Join this facilitated brainstorming session to share your wants and needs when it comes to providing quality services and programs for adults in your community.

4:30-5:15
Connect and Create Panel Discussion: Public and School Librarian Collaboration Projects
Room - Africa 40
Tessa Michaelson Schmidt, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Madison
Monica Treptow, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Madison
In June 2018, Library Services and Technology (LSTA) grant money was awarded to public and school librarian teams in order to develop collaborative projects for their communities. The projects aligned with one of two themes explored in workshops held in May: Students as Community Members - Connecting through Books, Collections and Perspective Sharing or Students as Creators - Connecting through STEM, Maker, Coding and Hands-On Learning. The grant recipients hosted authors, purchased robotics and ultimately provided fabulous opportunities that highlighted their libraries. This discussion will showcase some of these diverse projects as panelists share their strategies, successes and lessons learned. Come by and be inspired!

Thursday sessions

11-11:45
Say Yes to Census 2020
Room - Africa 30
Cindy Fesemyer, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Madison
Get the lowdown on all the ways you can say YES to Census 2020. Census 2020 counts will potentially create changes to political representation and Federal funding and inform your local data. Good numbers are important and libraries can--and should--help! Whether you're in a school, public or academic library, there's information here for you on this timely topic.t the time of reservation, the first nights room and tax fee are due whether you book online or over the phone.

1:45-2:30
Privacy Issues in Today’s Public Library
Room - Wisteria
Shannon Schultz, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Madison; Ben Miller, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Madison
Uncertain about how to handle a potential surveillance video request by law enforcement? Concerned about how staff would or should respond to a "First Amendment audit?" In this timely and relevant session, the presenters will discuss issues surrounding patron privacy in today's physical and virtual environments, the library's legal requirements regarding the protection of library records, the development of privacy policies and the training of library staff