September 19 NWLS Board Meeting, NWLS, 10:00
September 24-25 Northwest Children's Book Conference, Telemark Resort, Cable
October 15 Merlin Consortium Meeting, OPAL online, 10:00
October 20-23 Wisconsin Library Association Conference, Paper Valley Hotel, Appleton

UW-Madison, School of Library and Information Studies - Fall Session Online Courses :
• September 14 - October 4 Library 2.0: 101
• September 14 - November 6 Adult Readers' Advisory
• September 21 - December 11 Basic Public Library Management
• September 21 - December 11 Collection Development
• October 5 - November 13 Understanding Library Technology
• October 5 - November 13 What's New in Children's Books?
• November 2 - 27 Creating Dynamic Pathfinders

C U R R E N T   E V E N T S

From Jim Trojanowski, NWLS Director - Three or four times a year the System and Resource Library Administrators’ Association of Wisconsin (SRLAAW) meets to discuss issues and concerns facing the state’s public libraries. As the name implies, the group consists of the directors and coordinators of Wisconsin’s 17 public library systems and its 17 resource libraries.

At its most recent meeting, held in August, 2009, SRLAAW discussed the changing nature of public library service and how to measure these changes effectively. As technology continues to transform how patrons use the library, we must find new ways to demonstrate that usage. Traditional measures such as circulation and reference transaction counts, while important, no longer tell us enough.

SRLAAW has appointed a small committee to frame a statewide discussion of this issue. Once that group has finished its work a call will be issued seeking volunteers to participate on a more broadly based committee to recommend new counts to be added to those already collected on annual reports.

Three examples of counts that might be included on annual reports at some point in the future are:

Use of wireless access by patrons in the library
With the advent of wireless access in public libraries, usage counts of public library workstations no longer provide an accurate count of how many people use the Internet through the public library.

Use of databases
Public libraries now make web-based databases available to patrons who may never visit the library in person. These databases may be provided through state programs such as BadgerLink, by the public library system, or, in the case of some large libraries, paid for by the public library.

Use of downloadable audio and video
A growing number of downloadable audio books and videos are available, primarily through the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium, but also through subscriptions some large libraries are making available to their patrons. Patrons receive the same materials they might receive by borrowing an item at the library, but the library receives no credit for making the service available.

As library services continue to grow and evolve through technology, the ways in which public libraries measure the services they provide will continue to change. Librarians who are interested in helping determine the new measures are encouraged to volunteer for a place on the committee. A call is likely to be issued in 2010.

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From Michael Sheehan, NWLS - It has been in the news much lately how the economy has impacted public libraries both positively and negatively.

On the positive side, libraries are being used more than ever. Even National Public Radio’s All Things Considered reported that librarians across the country are finding library usage is up and believe the increase is due to the economy. When times get difficult, people turn to libraries as a source of free entertainment through available programs, switch from buying books, magazines and films to borrowing them, use the free high-speed computers and library databases to apply for jobs and search for work opportunities, and take advantage of Wi-Fi connectivity. Locally, libraries in the Northern Waters Library Service (NWLS) area have seen circulation increases of 6% in 2008 from 2007 and 7% (over 60,000 added circulations) year-to-date from 2008.

On the negative side, tighter economies force city and town officials to look at ways to save money, and the first target tends to be the library. For example, governors in Ohio (a state often touted for having model public libraries) and Michigan have cut state support to libraries in order to make up huge state deficits. In both cases, library advocates believe that the governmental response to feeling the economic squeeze ignores the integral role libraries play in education and economic development.

Wisconsin is in a similar situation as many other areas of the country. Wisconsin libraries are expected to feel the effects of cuts in 2010 in spite of being considered a valuable asset, not just by state residents, but those visiting from out-of-state. Wisconsin ranks 8th in the country (in terms of input and output measures of public library service) according to Hennen’s American Public Library Ratings (HAPLR) index, and advocating for library services to government agencies is necessary in order to preserve them.

Local advocacy methods, meant to help prevent future cuts that impede the preservation of library service integrity, can include taking your city administrator out for coffee to talk business, or invite him/her into your library to see the activity taking place, or let them know how much they get in return for every dollar invested in the library. Officials can be made aware of how the library can partner with other community agencies to become a stronger, more dynamic element. They can also be made aware of how services of the library have changed with the economy. For instance, the library is a key resource to economic recovery since it has the only broadband for public use in the community, offers online job application and resume-building assistance, and offers printers that tend to cost less per copy than home printers.

The 2009 Wisconsin Library Association Conference in October will offer a number of sessions dealing with libraries partnering, marketing, and advocating during difficult financial times. Librarians would be smart to take advantage of the insights presented at the conference.

Andrew Carnegie once said “A library out ranks any other thing a community can do to benefit its people.” Librarians can do a lot to prove this statement will continue to hold true for Wisconsin's future generations.

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From Channel Weekly, August 27 - The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) includes $7.2 billion in competitive grants to help build the nation’s broadband infrastructure and improve broadband access to consumers and community anchor institutions, like K-12 schools and public libraries. On August 19 the State of Wisconsin, Department of Administration (DOA) submitted a $28.7 million grant application to bring fiber connectivity to the schools and public libraries that are on the BadgerNet network but still do not have fiber. The application includes: 74 school districts, 385 public libraries, and 8 higher education institutions. A decision on whether the application is funded will likely be made in November. If the grant is awarded, all public libraries in the state will receive 20Mbps broadband capacity at $100/month. Currently, over 90% of our libraries have less than 3Mbps. To access the Executive Summary of the grant application visit http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/pdf/btopgrantsum.pdf. Department of Public Instruction staff assisted DOA in writing the grant. If you have any questions, contact Bob Bocher at 608-266-2127 or robert.bocher@dpi.wi.gov.

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Direct loans and grants for developing essential community facilities in rural areas and towns of up to 20,000 in population are now available through the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) Community Facilities (CF). Funds may be used for facility acquisition, construction, renovation, or the purchase of equipment and furnishings. Eligible applicants are units of local government, non-profit organizations, and federally-recognized Indian tribes. Grants are available on a prorated basis for projects in communities with smaller populations and lower median household incomes. Facilities financed through the CF program must primarily serve rural residents.

The goal of the CF program is to improve the quality of life for rural residents through the provision of essential community facilities such as health care, public safety, and education. The program provides facilities, equipment, and furnishings to house and provide these services; operating funds are not available through this program.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides $1.1 billion for CF direct loans through fiscal year (FY) 2010. The average CF direct loan in FY 2008 was $665,229. For CF grants, just over $61 million is available. CF loan and grant applications are processed at the local level. Please contact the Rural Development Area Office serving your community for additional information and application materials. Rural Development offices are listed at: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app.

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"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires."

- William Arthur Ward

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Contact NWLS for subscription services or to submit an article for publication.

NWLS: 3200 E. Lake Shore Dr. • Ashland, WI 54806 • Phone: (715) 682-2365 • Web: http://nwls.wislib.org • Serving libraries in Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Sawyer, Vilas and Washburn Counties.