BadgerLink Adds Two New Resources

Resources for Libraries & Lifelong Learning (RL&LL) is happy to announce the addition of two new resources for BadgerLink -- LearningExpress Library and the Wisconsin Newspapers Digital Research Site. The addition of LearningExpress Library improves the ability of libraries throughout the state to help users identify new job possibilities and help them train to take tests to obtain jobs in this time of high unemployment. The other new resource comes from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association and provides critical access to the daily and weekly newspapers in Wisconsin. Both new resources should be available by the beginning of August 2010.

LearningExpress Library
Online practice tests, courses, and ebooks for people of all ages to improve test preparation and test-taking skills. Elementary, middle and high school students can practice math, reading, and writing skills improvement. High school students can also prepare for the ACT, SAT, Advanced Placement, PSAT and TOEFL, CLEP and other college placement exams. College students can work on math and reasoning skills, and reading, science, and writing skills improvement. Adults can practice for taking a wide variety of exams in health care, teaching, real estate, law enforcement and other fields as well as building skills in math, reading, writing, and U.S. citizenship. Each user can set up an individual account and receive instant feedback and diagnostic score reports so that they can identify strengths and weaknesses.

LearningExpress Library is funded for the first year through use of Library Services and Technology (LSTA) grant funds from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning hopes to obtain ongoing funding as a part of the BadgerLink program.


Wisconsin Newspapers Digital Research Site
The Resources for Libraries & Lifelong Learning team has worked with the Wisconsin Newspaper Association (WNA) to help fill the Wisconsin newspaper gap in BadgerLink. Through this new partnership, WNA’s Wisconsin Newspapers Digital Research Site will provide access to its 235 daily and weekly member-newspapers. Newspaper content is available from April 2005 with a two month embargo period. Each addition is covered cover to cover in a PDF, searchable format.

This service is available onsite in libraries of all types (except for corporate libraries) and through entry of a library card number. It is not available statewide through IP address authentication as are other BadgerLink resources. Users will be able to access the WNA website through the BadgerLink website (http://www.badgerlink.net) by clicking on Newspapers under Resources by Type (http://www.badgerlink.net/papers.html).

The first year of access to the WNA newspaper database is being provided as a pilot project. The Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning hopes to gain information on needs for Wisconsin newspaper access and to obtain ongoing funding as a part of the BadgerLink program.

Training for both of these new resources will be made available through the fall BadgerLunch series and through scheduled vendor training sessions. Watch for a complete webinar schedule soon!

For questions regarding either of these resources contact DPIbadgerli@dpi.wi.gov.

BadgerLink is a project of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning. Its goal is to provide access to quality online information resources for Wisconsin residents in cooperation with the state's public, school, academic, and special libraries. The project is funded through the Universal Service Fund with additional support provided by the Institute for Museum and Library Services.