Technology

On July 14, Governor Evers announced the creation of the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Access, responding to the need for everyone in Wisconsin to have access to fast, reliable, affordable internet service. Evers said, “The COVID-19 pandemic underscored that access to high-speed broadband is a necessity, not a luxury, and folks across our state have had to adapt – from kids and educators shifting to virtual classrooms, workers having to work from home, and even folks using telemedicine to visit with their doctor.”

There are 24 task force members, including Kurt Kiefer, Assistant State Superintendent at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction; representatives of telecommunications providers; state senators and representatives; economic and community development officials; health care leaders; IT directors; and education advocates.

The Task Force is directed to:

• Research and recommend forward-looking broadband policies and initiatives
• Promote expansion of broadband facilities and adoption across the state
• Report to the Governor and Legislature, annually by June 30, on:
  • Recommendations for deployment of broadband in Wisconsin
  • Digital inclusion and strategies for addressing gaps and inequities
  • Opportunities for coordination among state, local, and federal agencies
  • Needs, barriers, and goals regarding broadband access, affordability, and adoption
  • Innovative approaches and partnerships to expand broadband adoption
  • The role of broadband in:
    • education
    • healthcare
    • agriculture
    • manufacturing
    • industry
    • Tribal Nations
    • energy
    • libraries
    • public safety
    • tourism
  • The extent to which stakeholders have accessed federal Universal Service Funds
  • Advances in broadband technology
  • The adequacy and appropriateness of existing statutory broadband goals
  • Top priority broadband issues, presented in technical or white papers

Guest post by Vicki Tobias, WiLS/Recollection Wisconsin

Public libraries across Wisconsin collect and preserve some truly magnificent materials that document their community’s history. Unlike books and other library resources, these collections typically cannot be checked out, limiting access only to on-site, in-person patrons. Digitizing and sharing resources online significantly improve public use of these one-of-a-kind collections. For libraries that lack time or resources to set up their own digitization work environment, circulating scanning kits from the South Central Library System (SCLS) are a proverbial game-changer, making it easier and faster to do this valuable work.

Funded as part of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s WISELearn program, 20 scanning kits were distributed to Wisconsin library systems for use among their member libraries. The kits include a flatbed scanner, a laptop and other key equipment necessary to digitize photographic prints, slides and historic documents.

With training and assistance from SCLS and Recollection Wisconsin, several libraries have already completed local history digitization projects using the kits. Two recent projects that showcase educational institutions in Wisconsin were completed by Milton Public Library and Pauline Haass Public Library (Sussex). Milton Public Library collaborated with the Milton College Preservation Society to digitize historic photographs of the library and Milton College, which closed in 1982. The Pauline Haass Public Library Historic Digital Collection currently features yearbooks with plans this year to add newsletters and memorabilia from local schools.

A survey of recent scanning kit users revealed overwhelming support for the kits, as they offer library staff learning opportunities while building digital collections. Survey respondents unanimously indicated an increase in confidence and skills to complete future digitization projects using the kits and, likewise, acknowledged the time and resource savings benefit for their organizations.

“The kits provided all the resources necessary to successfully achieve our digitization project.” Ashlee Kunkel, Milton Public Library Director

Collections digitized using these scanning kits are publicly available online through Recollection Wisconsin and the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA).

Visit Recollection Wisconsin for detailed information about the kits including digitization workflows, templates and other resources. Libraries interested in reserving a scanning kit may contact their library system for more information.

Webinar: Unemployment Insurance Basics: Assisting Library Patrons

Monday, May 18, 10:00-11:00 AM

Login here, no registration necessary. Sorry there is no option to call in via phone.

The way Wisconsinites sign up for and apply for unemployment is changing rapidly, sometimes multiple times a day. As such, the DPI Public Library Team is repeating the Unemployment Insurance webinar originally given on April 27, 2020. Ann Astin will include up-to-the-moment tips. This webinar does not have a seat capacity so everyone will be able to access it. It will be recoded and captioned, as well.

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Wisconsinites are registering for Unemployment Benefits at a record rate in response to COVID-19. The Libraries Activating Workforce Development Skills (LAWDS) project can help you prepare to offer well-informed guidance.

This webinar from the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) trains public library staff on how to register on Wisconsin’s Unemployment Insurance Benefit Services Site, and how to complete an application.

Webinar participants will gain confidence in:

1) Navigating my.unemployment.wisconsin.gov

2) Answering General Unemployment Insurance Questions

3) Demonstrating Best Practices for Library Staff

Participants are encouraged to watch these two short explainer videos before attending the webinar:

· https://media.wisconsin.gov/ui/ext/benefits/username_creation.htm

· https://media.wisconsin.gov/ui/ext/benefits/how_to_apply.htm

The webinar will be led by Ann Astin. Ann has been with the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) for more than 10 years and currently works in the Division of Employment and Training (DET)/Job Service Bureau. For the last 5 years she has led the DET side of the Re-employment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) Program as the RESEA/Unemployment Insurance (UI) Specialist. Before that, she worked with the Trade Adjustment Assistance program for both Job Service and UI.

The LAWDS project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

We hope you can join one of the webinars or access the recording at your convenience.

If you have questions please contact Martha.Berninger@dpi.wi.gov.

At 10:30 a.m. on March 24, 2020, the State of Wisconsin issued a press release regarding Emergency Order #12, the “Safer at Home Order,” that prohibits all nonessential travel, with some exceptions as clarified and defined in the order. The order goes into effect at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, and will remain in effect until 8:00 a.m. on Friday, April 24, 2020, or until a superseding order is issued. The following sections of the Order pertain to public libraries:

Order 4: Closures. The Safer at Home Order expressly orders the closure of all public libraries “for all in-person services, but may continue to provide on-line services and programming.” Compliance with this order would include the cessation of curbside and drive-thru services and any other distanced in-person services currently offered by libraries.

Order 12: Essential Government Functions. This order instructs government bodies such as a library board to continue to follow the guidance provided by the Office of Open Government (OOG) regarding holding meetings, as necessary. At a minimum, library boards should continue to convene monthly to audit and approve the payment of all expenditures of the public library, pursuant to Wis. Stat. sec. 43.58(2)(a). The OOG advisory on open meetings is available at https://www.doj.state.wi.us/news-releases/office-open-government-advisory-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-and-open-meetings. For help with additional questions about open meetings requirements, please contact the Open Meetings Help Line at (608) 267-2220.

Other functions exempted under this order could include food distribution and other activities deemed essential by the municipality, such as when the library acts as the municipal polling place. In-person library service to the public is not defined as an essential government function under this order.

Order 14: Minimum Basic Operations. This order allows the minimum necessary activities to preserve the library facility and equipment, address information technology (IT) issues, ensure physical and cybersecurity, process payroll and fulfill business services obligations, as well as activities that facilitate the ability of staff to work remotely from home.

DLT acknowledges that public libraries are a matter of local control. We encourage you to contact your municipal attorney, county corporate counsel, or independently contracted attorney for advice when interpreting legal issues.