Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library is a Summer Library Program Partner

Librarians strive to serve everyone in their community. However, one audience that may be more difficult to support is youth with vision or physical disabilities.  The Wisconsin Talking Book & Braille Library is here to help!

The 2001 Summer Reading themes "One World, Many Stories" for children and "You Are Here" for teens provide a wonderful opportunity to learn about diversity and other cultures. 

The Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library has created theme related bibliographies and is offering incentives to encourage young readers to listen to the highlighted titles on their digital players.  Applications for digital players are available at the Wisconsin Talking Book & Braille Library website.

This specialized library is one of four statewide resource contracts supported at the state level by Universal Service Fund money through the Department of Public Instruction.  It offers audio books to children and adults who have a hard time reading standard print.  This includes, but is not limited to those who have a vision impairment, physical handicap or reading disability.

Colleagues on the friendly staff at the Wisconsin Talking Book & Braille Library are happy to assist librarians throughout the state.  Visit the website or call 1-800-242-8822 for more information!

Reading Between the Lines

Comic book figures are all the rage at the multiplex this year as the Green Lantern, Thor, X-Men and Captain America leap onto the silver screen.

While women superheroes have chronically been in short supply, one of the more visible female counterparts of 20th century comic book lore was someone we book pushers could relate to.

Batgirl, aka Barbara “Babs” Gordon, was the daughter of Gotham City Police Commissioner Gordon. The cover of the comic book in which she made her 1967 debut carried the tantalizing question, “What is her startling secret identity?”

You guessed it! Concerned about the attention that her meteoric academic progress is generating, Ms. Gordon decides to cultivate a lower profile by earning a library and information science degree. After which she becomes head reference librarian at the Gotham City Public Library and fights evil in her spare time.

Although Gordon’s alter-ego was initially stereotyped as passively dowdy so as to give greater contrast to her exciting adventures as Batgirl, her depiction as a career oriented woman (albeit in a mainstream occupation deemed acceptable for an unmarried young woman) was symbolic of women’s empowerment in the 1960’s. By the 1970’s, the character had given her civilian identity a makeover by running for Congress.

One wonders how many little Batgirl impersonators getting dressed for trick or treat from 1967 to 1988 knew they were also “going as a librarian.” Let’s face it; even librarians don’t attend Halloween parties dressed as other librarians. (“Who are you supposed to be?” “Melvil Dewey!” “Uh-huh. Sure.”)

That does not mean, however, that librarians – particularly children’s librarians – don’t relish secret identities.

In May 1978, I spent a week dressed as a Super Librarian touring every classroom in 12 elementary schools to promote that year’s Summer Reading Program theme “Super People Enjoy the Library.” Wearing an eclectic costume combining blue leotards and red satin gym shorts, knee high black boots, and a Superman logo shirt with a scarlet lined U.S. Navy nurse’s cape, I used a red eye mask to conceal my true identity.

On the afternoon of Day Two, my loyal assistant Kay bet me five bucks that I wouldn’t walk from the Rhinelander District Library up Stevens Street to Zion Lutheran School and back.

In full costume. In broad daylight.

Hey, easy money!

Hands on hips, I strode along the sidewalk as though the only thing on my mind was a pressing appointment with the Green Hornet. We didn’t find out until later that a concerned citizen had actually called the Rhinelander Police Department to report some nut in a supersuit was roaming the city streets, presumably looking for a tall building worthy of leaping over in a single bound!

Luckily, the police chief’s secretary (whose secret identity was president of the Friends of the Library) was at her post when the call came in.

“Oh, don’t worry; about THAT!” Helen told the dispatcher. “It’s just the children’s librarian!”

Librarians may not wear a red cape in real life but we perform amazing interventions as superheroes every single day. Our greatest superpower is the ability to organize great collections of things so that they can easily be retrieved even after many years.

We don't get in the news much for saving the world, but we save most of the information that the world produces. And we know where to find it again, even on the Internet, which resembles a library tossed by vandals.

Librarian superheroes save people every day. We save them time and money. We save some from needless anxiety. We save others from unemployment and a lack of educational opportunities. We save them from boredom and poor consumer choices.

Sometimes, we even save lives. Not in the classic fireman’s carry from a burning building sense, you understand, but in myriad ways large and small that can make a profound difference, especially to a child.

Consider, for example, award winning author Gary Paulsen who ran away from home at age 14 and lived with relatives or on his own. He sold newspapers to make money for food and clothes. One day Gary went into the public library to get warm. The librarian there offered him his own library card and began recommending books to him. The way Paulsen tells it, "I don't think of any of the good things that have happened to me would have been possible without that librarian and libraries in general....It saved me, it really did."

Librarian superheroes save communities, too. Public libraries in Smallvilles across the nation are being faced with an unprecedented level of demand, expectation and responsibility due to a phenomenon I’ll call “rural shrink.”

Amidst economic upheaval and ongoing withdrawal of services and agencies from small towns – losing businesses, local doctors, closing post offices and government agency service centers – the public library has become more and more of a recognized community focal point, meeting place and access facility for a broad range of purposes. Not the least of these is meeting the need for high speed Internet access while assisting the technological disadvantaged to successfully negotiate the maze of a digital world.

The fictional Barbara Gordon fought evil in her spare time. Real librarians fight evil every single day behind the circulation desk – the evil of ignorance, of discrimination based on income or geography, of adversity that can only be mitigated by fair and equal access to information.

Super Librarian certainly deserves a rightful place in the League of Justice!

For a bibliography of Batgirl comics featuring librarian Barbara Gordon go here.

Kris Adams Wendt

WLA Support Staff One Day Conference May 25, 2011

WLA's Support Staff Section will host its annual One-day Conference for support staff from all types of libraries on Wednesday, May 25, at the UW-Milwaukee Student Union.

At just $45 for members ($60 for non-members and $25 for students), with all meals included, this conference is a great value!

Breakout session topics include implementing RFID, support staff certification, degree completion, how to find and use free multimedia software, and more!

Joyce Latham, Ph.D., UW-Milwaukee School of Information Studies, will provide a keynote address on "This is What Democracy Looks Like: Supporting the Right to Know."

Take a look at the complete schedule and register online today!

Wisconsin Library Association Foundation Scholarships Available!

APPLY NOW! - WLAF Scholarships Available Now!

Hoping to attend a workshop, conference, or other library continuing education program within or outside Wisconsin? Going back to school for a master's degree?

The Wisconsin Library Association Foundation supports several annual scholarships for library education (approximately $1000 - $1400) and continuing education (approximately $800 - $1100) for WLA members and prospective or continuing students.

Applications are due by June 1, 2011, and the eligibility requirements, forms and instructions are available at: http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/wlaf/Scholarshipsindex.asp . Awards will be announced in late July.
(Jane Pearlmutter, Associate Director, School of Library & Information Studies University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Reading Between the Lines

Alice Laffin ran her rough hand lovingly over the glossy jacket on a new poetry book before sneaking a quick peek inside when nobody was looking. It was like sampling the green grapes at the grocery store. She couldn’t afford to buy a whole bunch, but every once in awhile when she craved a taste she would eat one that was rolling around loose on the green mesh.

She used to enjoy her visits to the public library so much; the endless choices and feeling of ownership empowered her. Alice sighed as she slid the volume back onto the shelf. It was too thin and would never last until her next visit. She had only enough credits for two more books on the precious library debit card purchased with Christmas money from her daughter. This day she would select the fattest short story anthology she could find, and then pretend each story was a separate title like the stacks of books she used to borrow.

It was those jokers at the state capitol, her brother Herb said; they did it. First they took all the sales tax money away from the cities and towns to fill the big budget hole they dug for themselves. Then they cut the shared revenue dollars that were supposed to come back for roads and municipal services.

That happened the same year that local governments were no longer required by law to maintain library support at a three year average. Alice wanted to stopper her ears when her brother got on his soapbox.

“Then everything really got screwed up,” Herb railed to anyone who would listen. “The gollywhoppers didn’t stop to think that the averaging funding thing was the glue that held the counties and towns together in cooperatives.”

Alice remembered the cooperatives. They were called “systems” and used to run the inter-library loan service and computer catalogs. Once the government councils realized they weren’t obligated to support their local library and tried mooching off neighboring communities, the whole thing went to pot. Nobody wanted to share anymore. Soon the only books Alice could borrow were the ones in her own library. There wasn’t any money for new books because each library now had to buy its own checkout and catalog system or go back to the cards in drawers.

Things got worse. When too many libraries closed and the rest were about to completely fall off the tailgate of the pickup truck of local budget priorities, Herb’s jokers changed public library law to replace “free” with “fee.” Permissive legislation they called it. Creating a new revenue stream. You don’t have to charge, they said. Though library boards resisted at first, most soon had no alternative.

Herb used to stroll to his village library and borrow books from all over the state on interlibrary loan, but it was too small to produce enough transactions to be cost effective and closed. People got a better deal at the big city library, but gas was over $6 a gallon now and the roads were terrible.

“You’re lucky you still have a library,” Herb said, “even if homeowners pay twice.”

Alice knew the remaining librarians were uncomfortable with the fees. Debit cards discounted the $3.00 flat rate per item paid by borrowers with minimum privileges. Permanent library cards carried a variable annual fee depending upon which service plan was selected. Only a lucky few could afford an unlimited family card.

Sometimes they offered coupon specials. Borrow one and get one free. Receive one children’s program pass with the rental of ten picture books. Swap a used paperback in good condition for 30 free minutes of computer time.

Alice wondered about low-income families with young children. Were students whose parents couldn’t afford a home computer or were otherwise unable to buy their information getting poorer grades? What about folks needing new job skills, consumer information or how-to books?

She had noticed the librarians were now stocking what “sold” instead of more expensive art history books and other items that appealed to the tastes of fewer borrowers. Soon the public library would no longer be a repository of all points of view. Was that what the government intended?

Happy Monday after National Library Week!

The genesis of that grim little parable you just read was a piece originally written 9 years ago when the threat to free library access was very real.

In the wee hours of March 15, 2002, the Wisconsin Assembly passed its version of the Budget Reform Bill on a 51 to 48 vote. Included was this provision: "Repeal the current law requirement that municipal libraries, consolidated county libraries and county library services shall be free for the use of inhabitants of the municipality or county by which it is established and maintained, subject to reasonable regulations prescribed by the library's board."

That effort to scuttle Wisconsin’s 1872 free public library law failed to find support on the Senate floor. Striking the onerous provision was among the first things agreed upon by the conference committee hammering out a budget reform package. Legislators were undoubtedly influenced by a deluge of outraged citizen letters from all corners of the state.

The “free” in free public libraries isn’t about cost, but about free and equal access to information regardless of income or location. While the means by which each public library realizes its annual operating budget is complex, shared community investment in what Andrew Carnegie called “the people’s university” allows everyone to take equal advantage of the service.

And 17 cooperative public library systems throughout Wisconsin efficiently share resources across municipal and county borders, as they have since they were created by the legislature in 1971.

Our governor and legislators are once again considering a budget bill which includes major reductions in shared revenue to municipalities, decreases in road aids, 10% cuts to state library aids and – most alarming – actual elimination of the three year average maintenance of effort for participation in a public library system. Librarians think of this funding requirement as Maintenance of Membership Support (or MOMS).

Eliminating MOMS opens the door to unintended consequences. Some libraries could be defunded to the point of closure. Others would become substandard orphans whose borrowers are restricted to only what’s on the shelves within their four walls. Public library system compliance would be thrown into chaos. And drawers filled with 3X5 cards could make a comeback as shared automated catalogs become unsustainable.

The “free” in free public libraries is all about freedom and must not be taken for granted.

Kris Adams Wendt

Ancestry.com Gets a New Look

Ancestry.com is the world's largest online resource for family history, with more than one million paying subscribers around the world as of December 2009.  

The Wisconsin Valley Library Service provides access to this database at all member library locations.   On April 13, 2011, Ancestry.com (Library Edition) will get a new search interface, with a clean and crisp design that improves the overall user experience.

Here are some of the improvements to watch for:
 Improved look and feel for a more intuitive user experience

 Location filters allow searching across adjacent counties

 Map filters

 Name filters with Soundex

 Type ahead features

 Improved country and state pages

 Browser Support
The new Ancestry Library Edition requires Internet Explorer version 7 or higher. In addition, Firefox version 3.x will also be fully supported.

Training and Technical Support
Watch for additional information about the new Ancestry Library Edition search interface, updated training materials, and new training webinars.

Get Caught Listening and Win BIG Cash!

Need an audiobook promotion for your library? Why not piggyback with the Audio Publishers Association’s Get Caught Listening contest. You can grab the entry forms here: http://audiopub.org/getcaughtlisteningcontest.asp

Participants create a fun & engaging three-minute-or-less video promoting audiobooks to try for a batch of great prizes, from Audible.com subscriptions to a $5000 grand prize, with $1,000 & $2,000 prizes as well - that’s some serious cash! Maybe enough to entice your whole A/V department to go a little nuts in front of the camera promoting the library’s audiobooks? That cash could be turned into new titles for the collection!

Or how about suggesting the contest to patrons – perhaps the chance to become a big winner will prompt some brand-new listeners to take the download plunge. I’m a little bummed out that you must be over 18 to enter, so that excludes my middle school student audiobook fans from entering. But the entry form DOES allow minors in the video if there is a parent consent form. So your Teen Advisory group can be part of the show – as long as the adult librarian submits the entry. Get your entries in by May 15th. Good luck!

(Booklist Online, March 30, 2011)


Celebrate National Library Workers Day On April 12, 2011

Celebrate the contributions made by all library workers – including librarians and support staff on the 8th annual National Library Workers Day, April 12, 2011.

Each year, thousands of communities celebrate National Library Workers Day, a time when library staff, patrons, administrators and Friends groups recognize how library services depend on the important work done by every library staff member. Celebration ideas are on the NLWD website; many are also taking the opportunity to submit library staff as Stars, describing the impact they have on their colleagues, patrons and communities.

The American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA), an organization that manages certification programs for library employees and advocates for better salaries and status for the library workforce, is the sponsor of National Library Workers Day. The day’s theme, "Libraries Work Because We Do!"

“In today’s information rich environment, librarians and library workers are more important than ever,” said Jenifer Grady, director of the ALA-APA. “With billions of visits and check-outs each year, libraries have become thriving technology hubs that millions rely on as their first or only choice for Internet access, particularly now during the current economic downturn.”

At a time when many Americans are facing job losses, working to gain new skills and seeking assistance in an increasingly digital world, U.S. public library workers are first responders in a time of economic uncertainty. Libraries bring together free access to computers and the Internet, a range of Internet-based resources and expert assistance to help people succeed and thrive online. In fact, 89 percent of libraries offer formal or informal technology assistance to library users, and 24% offer one-on-one technology training by appointment.

For example, the Chicago Public Library offers technology training workshops on basic computer skills, how to search the Web, how to download media; basic mouse and keyboarding skills and resume building and job searching.

This year, National Library Workers day coincides with Equal Pay Day, an awareness event to illustrate the gap between men’s and women’s wages. On this day, while library workers and libraries are being commended for their value to their communities, women in all professions will be strategizing about closing the wage gap. Data from the U.S. Census and a survey of beginning librarians show that female librarian salaries continue to be lower than male library employees. The wage gap for the nation remains with women earning 77 cents for every dollar a man earns. Library employees continue to receive lower salaries in comparison with traditionally male occupations with comparable education requirements and job responsibilities, according to the 2009-2010 Association of Research Libraries Salary Survey and the U.S. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Supporters are encouraged to wear red on Tuesday, April 12.

For more information about National Library Workers Day, please contact the Macey Morales, Manager ALA Media Relations, (312) 280-4393, mmorales@ala.org, or Jennifer Petersen, ALA PR coordinator, (312) 280-5043, jpetersen@ala.org, or visit the National Library Worker’s Day Web site at http://ala-apa.org/nlwd/
(American Libraries Direct, March 30, 2011)


 

Leap Grants for Libraries

Better World Books' LEAP - Literacy and Education in Action Program is offering a wonderful grant opportunity for public libraries. 

Better World Books is bringing grant opportunities to libraries to significantly impact local literacy efforts. Successful applications will use funds to advance a compelling literacy project that Better World Books can follow, document and share with its readers across the world.

The needs and opportunities of the communities libraries serve vary widely and there are countless worthy projects to support. This grant process is patterned off of the California State Library's 'Pitch an Idea' program and is intended to solicit a wide range of applications that reflect this diversity.

$75,000 in funding is available; maximum grant amount is $25,000.

Simplified Process:
Interested libraries need only submit a short two page project overview and those with the best proposals will be selected for a 30 minute conversation where they will pitch their idea. After reviewing all of the pitches, Better World Books will select the winners whose projects are most viable and ready to go. Selected libraries will then be asked to complete a more detailed project plan in coordination with Better World Books. After project plans are complete, the grants will be awarded.

Selection Criteria:
 As you develop your Game Changing ideas, keep the following in mind:

•Projects should address the literacy needs of under served populations in their community; literacy needs are defined broadly: identifying, understanding, interpreting, creating, communicating, and computing information to live a more fulfilling and productive life

•Projects must be implemented between 5/16/11 – 12/31/11

•Libraries may pitch multiple projects or a single project totaling no more than $25,000 and no less that $5,000

•Libraries can present up to two Game Changing ideas, but only one idea per library will be chosen

•Each Game Changing idea must be fully supported by the Director and/or Library Administration

•Projects that involve partnerships with local government agencies are highly encouraged

•Projects that will have a measurable and long term impact on an under served population, and will continue to operate after grant funds have been utilized, will be looked upon favorably

Better World Books looks forward to reviewing applications that bring a fresh and inspired approach to challenging issues.

For more information about Better World Books' LEAP, click here.

Baker & Taylor Awards for Friends of the Library Groups

The ALTAFF/Baker & Taylor Awards recognize Friends groups for outstanding efforts to support their library. Awards are given for a specific project culminating in the year prior to application, or based on the full scope of the group’s activities during that year. Applications are judged on the following:

• Planning: Friends, library, and community involvement, use of resources, appropriateness of the activity, and measurable goals and objectives.
• Implementation: Use of resources, public relations, task monitoring, and broad membership involvement.
• Evaluation: Assessment of activity or program, measurable results.
• Innovation: New idea or implementation, creative involvement of people, fresh use of public relations.
• Community Involvement: Broad support by the community in planning and implementation.

Winning Friends groups receive a financial award and a plaque during the ALTAFF Gala Author Tea at the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference held each summer.

Applications for the 2010 Baker & Taylor Awards are now available. Submissions are due May 2, 2011.

Download the application form
Download the release form
(American Libraries Direct, March 9, 2011)