Public Library Staff Compensation Study

On February 1, 2023, all Wisconsin public library directors will be sent an email regarding a Public Library Staff Compensation Survey. This survey is part of a Library Services Technology Act-funded (LSTA) library staff compensation study coordinated by the System and Resource Library Administrators Association of Wisconsin (SRLAAW) and is being performed by Carlson Dettmann Consulting.

The Compensation Survey supports the DPI’s 2023-2027 LSTA goal to support the recruitment and retention of library staff, including administrative, professional, and support roles, reflecting their diverse communities. Results of this study, anticipated to be completed in June 2023, will be shared with all Wisconsin libraries. Here is more information about the survey:

• The survey will be sent to the email address of the Library Director on file with the DPI as of January 1, 2023, by the Qualtrics survey platform, so please do not discard. If you do not get the survey, please first check your spam folder. If you have not received the survey by February 3, you may reach out to alyssa.woltring@carlsondettmann.com.
• The survey will ask for responses regarding position classifications that exist at your library and 2023 compensation information related to those classifications.
• While completion of the survey can be delegated to another staff person other than the library director, please provide only one survey response per library. If a library has more than one location, i.e. a central library with branches, please still only provide one response by including all position classifications that exist at the central library and branch locations.
• The survey will be open from February 1 through March 17 and should take most libraries around 20 minutes to complete. It may take some libraries with a larger number of position classifications up to 45 minutes.
• Detailed instructions, including a video demonstration on how to fill out the survey, will be sent with the survey.

The DPI understands libraries are completing their annual reports at the same time as this survey request. Please know that your time is greatly appreciated and it is why this survey will be open for 6 weeks, with a due date of March 17. Periodic reminders will be provided to those libraries that have not submitted a survey response. Given the staffing challenges libraries throughout the state have been facing through the pandemic, a comprehensive response to this survey will provide a strong foundation of data and information that will help libraries recruit and retain staff to best meet the needs of their communities. Thank you for your time and your participation.