The Library Connection
The Monthly Newsletter of the Eastern
Shores Library System
www.esls.lib.wi.us
Volume 30 Number 6 June 2010
Click here for the Summer 2010 Bookmobile Schedule
MOE Not Met For 2010
In case you missed it, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on June 22 that Milwaukee Public Library failed to meet the MOE for 2010. " Under state law, municipal libraries that belong to federated library systems can't reduce their annual operating budgets below the average of the past three years. But Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and the Common Council chopped 2010 property tax support for the library by $1.2 million, and the library missed its state-mandated target by more than $1 million, Library Director Paula Kiely told the Library Board," at the regular Board meeting.
Milwaukee Public Library sent a letter (view it online from the March 25 Board meeting) to Richard Grobschmidt, Assistant State Superintendent on February 17 requesting a waiver of the MOE requirement. A letter from State Superintendent Tony Evers (view it online from the June 22 Board meeting) addresses the MOE requirement for Milwaukee Public Library. In summary, the Department of Public Instruction has determined the best course of action at this time is to block the city library from applying for federal LSTA grants for 2011 and according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee County Federated Library System has cut off some consulting services to the city library."
Milwaukee Public Library will need about $100,000 added to this year's budget to meet the MOE for 2011.
LSTA Information You Should Know and Use
Budgets tight but you really need to better serve those with low literacy levels, the unemployed or persons with other types of special needs in your area? Then check out the LSTA grants that will be available in 2011. First go to the LSTA Information and Guidelines and read about the categories that fit your needs. Then view the webinar training sessions that will be available via a web posting soon to be announced, ESLS will have a link on under the What's New column on the home page. You will also find information at the Tips for First Time LSTA Special Needs Grant Writers.
Some places to look for information and ideas on assisting the unemployed are: Program news & information from the Texas State Library & Archives Commission, the Tri-County Newpapers article on Orlan Library and an article on the J. V. Fletcher Library in Westford, Massachusetts.
If you are thinking about purchasing computers for your library please be advised: LSTA funds used to purchase computers for accessing the Internet or to pay for costs associated with accessing the Internet must comply with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), passed in December 2000. The Act mandates the use of Internet filters in libraries. This includes the purchase of computers for job resource centers (For CIPA compliance information, see the division’s CIPA FAQ at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/cipafaq.html. The purchase of Internet filtering software is not a permissible use of LSTA funds under the Wisconsin guidelines.)
Also, at this time the Division for Libraries Technology and Community Learning (DLTCL) plans to use $103,750 of the LSTA funds to contract for a statewide license for Learning Express Library from January 1, 2011 to June 30, 2011.
When writing your grant use outcome based evaluations "OBE's " as much as possible. In the past we have generally used output evaluations. For a general overview go to the IMLS web page. For more information, the IMLS's publication, Perspectives on Outcome Based Evaluation for Libraries and Museums provides definitions and examples of both. Output evaluations consist of: Direct products of program activities, usually measured in terms of work accomplished (e.g number of story time attendees, number of students attending after-school homework clinics, number of parent education classes taught, number of children participating in summer reading program, number attending information literacy classes).
"Outcome based evaluations measure the benefits or changes for individuals or populations during or after participating in program activities, including new knowledge, increased skills, changed attitudes or values, modified behavior, improved condition, or altered status (e.g ., number of children who learned a finger play during story time, number of parents who indicated that they gained new knowledge or skills as a result of parent education classes, number of students whose grades improved after homework clinics, number of children who maintained reading skills over the summer as a result of a summer reading program, number of people who report being better able to access and use networked information after attending information literacy classes)." According the IMLS, "The United Way of America has lead the movement toward outcome measurement." They have posted information at their Outcome Measurement Resource Network. If you obtain a grant, be sure to keep your eyes and ears open for personal stories and comments from patrons to use in your evaluations.
Lastly, all LSTA funds are available because of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Therefore, all products, regardless of format or method of distribution and including Internet web sites, which are created totally or in part under an LSTA grant, should include the following acknowledgement: "This publication (product) was supported by (or "in part by") Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds, awarded to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services."
In addition, flyers and other announcements of library programs and
services should carry an acknowledgement such as the following:
"Supported by (or "in part by") Federal Library Services
and Technology Act funds, awarded to the DPI by the Federal Institute of
Museum and Library Services." For logos and more
information go to the IMLS
web site.
Don't be afraid to submit a grant. You will learn about your library, your community and your own strengths and weaknesses in the process. Still not sure you can make this happen for 2011? Continue to think, plan and work out the details for grants in the Accessibility, Literacy and Job Search and Support categories which, according to Barb Huntington, Special Needs Consultant of DLTCL, will most certainly be available again next year.
Children's
Librarians Corner
How Children’s Librarians can use Twitter!
Erin Coppersmith, Director of the Kohler Public Library
So you think Twitter
is just for tech geeks and attention hungry celebrities?
Not so fast! Lots of
authors and publishers are on Twitter and it can be a useful tool for
finding new titles and keeping up with your favorite authors.
Twitter is a social
media website that allows users to post short (140 characters) paragraphs.
All content is public so you can search and find topics like
ALA in Washington DC (#ala2010) to read live updates by attendees. You can search for your favorite authors like Mo Willems (@the_pigeon)
or Meg Cabot (@megcabot) and “follow” them to get updates on their
upcoming events and books. You
can also follow other librarians locally or nationally to hear what they
are doing in their libraries.
If you get adventurous, you can post your own
“tweets”. Tell the
universe what’s happening in your library…what next week’s story
time theme will be, the new Jan Brett book that’s coming in, your summer
reading show times. If you chose to use Twitter as an advertising tool, it’s
free, easy and current. The
more you post the more people will follow you.
Here are some cool examples to get you started:
Nancy Pearl @nancy_pearl
Sarah Dessen @sarahdessen
Chuck Palahniuk @chuckpalahniuk
Harlan Coben @harlancoben
Simon and Schuster @simonschuster
Penguin @penguinusa
Scholastic @scholastic
Tasha Saecker @tashrow (a
librarian from Menasha with the BEST kids book recommendations!)
Happy Tweeting!
Meeting to Review Amendment to Plan
A joint meeting of the Sheboygan County Finance and Executive committees will take place on Tuesday, July 13 at 5:15 to discuss the County Library Service Plan for 2011 - 2015 and an amendment drafted at the request of the Sheboygan County Executive Committee to the Joint County Library Planning document. Librarians are invited to attend.
The amendment would reimburse
Ozaukee County libraries which serve Sheboygan County non-libraried
residents at the same rate that Ozaukee County reimburses those libraries.
Director Weinhold has stated, " I believe this would mean that the
five Ozaukee County libraries would be reimbursed at either 70% or 85% for
their service to Sheboygan County non-libraried residents. Sheboygan
County libraries would be reimbursed according to the plan which is 90%
for 2011 and 2012, 91% in 2013, 92% in 2014, and 93% in 2015."
Reaching Out to the Unemployed
The rotating computer lab will be making its way to your library.
Have you been thinking about a workshop or class you would like to
present at your library to help the unemployed or underemployed?
Libraries will receive approximately $180 to assist them in paying
for an instructor. Contact
information for LTC, UW-Sheboygan, Great Lake Training and Development,
MATC and others will be provided. To
make the most of the time you have the lab think about scheduling
more than one class during the week you have it. You could schedule
classes/workshops mornings, afternoons and evenings.
Brief workshops on Learning
Express for teens are a possibility.
Learning Express includes SAT and ACT practice tests.
It also has modules on job searching, resume writing and
interviewing skills. In August, additional modules of Learning
Express will include Writing Improvement and Computer Skills
tutorials. At the Eastern Shores Library System's Unemployment
Resources page you can find links to the Wisconsin's Private Colleges
and Universities, the University of Wisconsin System, and Wisconsin's
Technical Colleges. Social
Networking sites are also included. It’s
a great time to educate about EasiCat Resources, also linked on ESLS’s
Unemployment Resources page.
Seniors in your area may need to re-enter the job market. Many senior citizens could also benefit from the programs that Learning Express provides. Eastern Shores Library System’s Unemployment Resources includes links to Technology and Computer Skills. They can check out the Additional Unemployment Resources for links to help with health and prescription drug coverage.
Be creative, be resourceful and use the lab to it's fullest potential.
Saukville Library to Serve Those Who need Assistance
Saukville Public Library recently announced they will be delivering materials to Village residents through volunteers. According to their web site: Patrons residing outside of the Village of Saukville may still qualify for the Homebound Program; however, the delivery of materials is not applicable. Patrons, who wish to participate may receive the service available for pickup at the Oscar Grady Public Library by a designated friend or family member, provided they have a library card valid for use within the Eastern Shores Library System and meet the requirements as defined. Visit the Saukville web site for more information.
Other libraries in Ozaukee County that deliver to residents who need assistance include the W. J. Niederkorn Library in Port Washington Library and the U.S.S. Liberty Memorial Library in Grafton.
Did you know...
The Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library(WTBBL)
is available to help fill the gaps for those with any type of vision or
physical limitation that prevents them from reading or comfortably holding
a book for free. Patrons
can use their local library and receive items from the WTBBL, they are not
limited to using one or the other. The Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library provides books and
magazines in three formats: braille, recorded cassette and digital book.
Staff from the WTBBL are available for presentations
for library employees and patrons. They
are also willing to set up depository collections. The application for service is available for download
on their website at: http://dpi.wi.gov/rll/wrlbph/
. A librarian is able to sign the application as a certifying authority.
Please let the special needs librarians Connie Meyer and Sue Potter know if you would like brochures on the services of the WTBBL by calling 920/208-4900 ext 315 or email us at clmeyer@esls.lib.wi.us or slpotter@esls.lib.wi.us .
Interesting Items
* Did your library receive a sound amplifier in 2008 from an LSTA grant? Not getting as much use from as you thought you might? What about circulating the item? Patrons could use the device before deciding on purchasing it for themselves. If your library has magnification devices for use in the library and they aren’t getting as much use as you thought circulating these items might also be an option.
* Mead Public Library has just purchased a new series of books, Let's work it out by PowerKids Press. Five books in the series deals with unemployment and a change in income for families: Let's work it out : what to do when your family has to cut costs, What to do when your family can't afford health care, What to do when your parent is out of work, What to do when your family loses its home and What to do when your family is in debt. Could your library use a copy?
*
