BASIC OVERVIEW / STRATEGIC PLAN / TECHNOLOGY PLAN

What is a Library System?

Northern Waters Library Service is one of Wisconsin's seventeen regional public library systems. Library systems:

• Assure that every Wisconsin resident has access to public library service

• Promote resource sharing among libraries

• Improve the quality of public library service

Systems are organized under Chapter 43 of the Wisconsin Statutes, which also outlines the services they provide and lists the requirements for membership in a library system.

Northern Waters, founded in 1964, is one of Wisconsin’s oldest public library systems. It serves Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Sawyer, Vilas and Washburn counties.

As outlined below, most library system services are provided to member libraries rather than directly to patrons. Member libraries are independently governed and funded, but they contract for services with a library system.

Library Use & Return on Investment Value Calculator: This economic indicator of NWLS member library services is based on per capita expenditures collected from Wisconsin's 2007 Public Library Statistics, compiled by the State Division for Libraries, Technology and Community Learning (DLTCL).

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Services of Northern Waters include:

• Interlibrary loan and reference/referral service

• Delivery service, which provides a quick, efficient and cost-effective method to move shared resources among libraries

• Developing strategies to manage an information technology infrastructure that meets the demands on libraries in their role as providers of a range of public access computing services.

• Technology training, support and consultation.

• Workshops on topics relevant to the practice of sound librarianship

• System-wide grants, written by NWLS staff, for program and service enhancements - totaling more than a million dollars in the past 20 years

• Cash grants for developing local collections

• Consulting services on a variety of topics including planning, policies, budgeting, grant writing, bookkeeping, collection development, services to special populations, children's services, legal issues affecting libraries, hiring library staff, certification issues, web page design, cataloging and technology

• A bi-monthly electronic newsletter of library news and events

• Completion of E-rate and TEACH forms for telecommunications discounts

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• Assistance with annual reports

• Merlin database maintenance

• Cooperative cataloging

• Mail-A-Book Service