Page up

CURRENT EVENTS

Making the Case for More Space: Using the Wisconsin Public Library Standards

From Jim Trojanowski, NWLS Director - In the last issue of Streams I wrote about the Vaughn Public Library’s expansion plans. This fall the library’s board of trustees determined that it needed to make a better case for expanding the library before seeking public support for the project. I shared ideas for using annual report data collected by the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning (DLTCL) to help make the case. That newsletter article can be found at http://nwls.wislib.org/about/news.htm.

In addition to publishing annual report data online, DLTCL provides another helpful resource that the Vaughn Public Library Board of Trustees may wish to use to make its case. The Wisconsin Public Library Standards, available at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/standard.html, include both quantitative and qualitative standards. Each can be used by library boards and directors to help decide whether an expanded space for the library is needed.

The qualitative standards are checklists that library boards can use to assure that library services are consistent with sound library practices. They are broken into several areas, one of which is “Access and Facilities.” Many of the standards are voluntary. For example, Access and Facilities standard 37 says, “The library has accessible public meeting space available for its programming and for use by other community groups, if appropriate.” Others, such Access and Facilities standard 27, which reads, “The library building and its furnishings meet state and federal requirements for physical accessibility, including the ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities,” are required by state or federal law.

By reviewing the checklists and determining whether the library facility meets each standard, the board can determine whether the current facility meets standards established by law and whether or not the facility allows it to provide the services called for in the library’s long-range plan.

The quantitative standards are also an effective tool for library boards that wish to determine whether or not their current space is adequate. This section of the standards was created by breaking various areas such as staffing levels and collection sizes in Wisconsin public libraries into approximate quartiles and labeling them, “basic,” “moderate,” “enhanced,” and “excellent” in each of several community size categories. It can generally be understood that a library that fails to meet the basic level in a category ranks below 75% or more of the libraries in comparably sized communities. Similarly, a library that meets the excellent level is among the top 25% of libraries in similarly sized communities or perhaps even higher. Boards can determine an appropriate level in each category for their libraries and use the number as a target.

The Outagamie-Waupaca Library System (OWLS) has developed a convenient calculator libraries can use to determine target levels within their size category by entering in the community population. The calculator is found at http://www.owlsweb.info/L4L/wistds.asp.

The OWLS calculator shows that the Vaughn Public Library, serving a municipal population of 8,502, needs a collection size (including all print, audio, and video volumes) of 53,563 items to meet the basic level of service. Vaughn Public Library’s total collection size in 2007 was 38,306 items, meaning that the library needed to increase its collection by 15,000 items, or about 40%, to reach the basic level. In other words, the Vaughn Public Library has a much smaller collection than most libraries in similarly sized communities.

The complete table showing how Vaughn Public Library’s collection compares to the four service levels is shown here (Vaugnn Public Library data is from 2007):

Collection Type/ Vaughn Collection	Service Level
	Basic	Moderate	Enhanced	Excellent
Volumes Held (Print)/ Vaughn Volumes	47,611/ 32984	51,862	58,664	77,368
Periodical Titles/ Vaughn Periodical Titles	139/ 114	152	173	210
Audio Recordings Held/ Vaughn Audios	2,040	2,721	3,401/ 2,851	4,336
Video Recordings Held/ Vaughn Videos	2,636/ 2,471	3,486	4,081	6,802
Collection Size (Print, Audio, Video)/ Vaughn Collection	53,563/ 38,306	57,814	66,316	87,571

The table shows that except for audio records, the Vaughn Public Library’s collection fails to meet even the basic level in any category. The Vaughn Public Library receives fewer periodical titles and holds fewer total volumes, print volumes, and video volumes than most Wisconsin public libraries in a community with a similar number of residents.

There are, of course, measures beyond collection size that should be considered in determining whether a library has adequate space. In the next issue of Streams I’ll discuss the role of planning in helping a library board determine its space needs.

Page up

Page up

Money Management Program for Kids

From Nora Fie, Superior Public Library - University of Wisconsin Extension educator, Joan Wimme and Superior Public Library Children’s and Young Adult Manager, Nora Fie have created a money management program for kids in grades 5 through 8.

This program was offered as three one-hour sessions this past summer. The kids had the option of ending it then or form a club and continue meeting on a monthly basis. They elected to go on.

This program is based around the concept of spending, saving, and sharing. Needs vs. wants, financial terms, and budgets are all included. Checking and savings accounts were opened. Fund raising, advertising, costs of goods and services, and donating to worthy causes are all issues faced by our members.

Our local Citizen’s Bank donated start up funds and bank manager, Joe Harrison, gave a tour of the bank and explained about interest, savings, and credit.

If any library in our system would like more information, or want to start a program in their area, we are more than happy to answer your questions and share our experiences. Please contact Joan (715.395.1363) or Nora (715.394.8867) for details.

Page up

Libri Foundation Awards

The Libri Foundation is currently accepting applications for its 2009 Book for Children grants. The Libri Foundation is a nationwide non-profit organization which donates new, quality, hardcover children's books to small, rural public libraries throughout the United States. Since October 1990, the Foundation has donated over $3,500,000 worth of new children's books to more than 2,600 libraries in 48 states, including Alaska and Hawaii.

In order to encourage and reward local support of libraries, the Libri Foundation will match money raised by your local sponsors. After a library receives a grant, local sponsors have a few months to raise their matching funds.

Visit the Foundation's website http://www.librifoundation.org for application guidelines and forms.

Page up

IMLS Native American Library Grants

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is accepting applications for the 2009 Native American Library Services Basic Grants and Enhancement Grants. These grants are designed to help Native American libraries support their communities by improving their collections, establishing or enhancing their technological capabilities, making their libraries and holdings accessible to all users, and strengthening their traditional library services to ensure that patrons are able to find the information they need.

The Native American Library Services Basic Grants are specifically awarded to support existing library operations and maintain core library services. In conjunction with the Basic Grant, a supplemental "Eduction/Assessment Option" is available for applicants interested in funds for staff participation in conferences, library-related continuing education courses and training workshops, or working with a consultant on a library assessment. Enhancement Grants support projects that improve existing library services or implement new services, particularly as they relate to the goals of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

In 2008, IMLS awarded Basic Grants to a total of 209 American Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages. In addition, the Institute made 15 awards for the competitive Enhancement Grants. To apply for these grants, please visit http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/nativeAmerican.shtm and http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/nativeEnhance.shtm. IMLS has also scheduled two audio-conference calls to give prospective applicants an opportunity to ask the IMLS staff questions pertaining to Native American Library Basic Grant and Enhancement Grant applications. More information on these sessions is at http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/121808a.shtm.

Page up

Page up

One Email for Multiple Purposes

There is a great email tip for those of you interested in consolidating multiple gmail accounts. Let’s say that your email address is ‘YourName@gmail.com’, basically everything sent to any of the following email addresses will be forwarded to your primary email.

YourName@gmail.com
Your.Name@gmail.com
Y.ourName@gmail.com
YourName@googlemail.com
Your.Name@googlemail.com
Y.ourName@googlemail.com

Additionally, you can embed random text to your email ID using ‘+’ sign. That is to say ‘YourName+anythingyouwant@gmail.com’ can be used as your email address, as well.

Instead of using different email addresses for various purposes you can use different variations of your Gmail and filter incoming mails by ’sent to’ address. For instance, all incoming mail sent to ‘Your.Name@gmail.com’ can be put into your 'work' folder, messages sent to ‘YourName@gmail.com’ can be put into your ‘community’ folder, and emails to ‘Y.ourName@gmail.com’ can be used for the 'newsletter' folder, and so on.

Page up

WEBSITES

Healthfinder: Your Guide to Reliable Health Information

Healthfinder is a free portal to reliable health information, developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The site provides an easy-to-use, searchable index of carefully reviewed health information from over 1,500 government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and universities.

Page up

REFLECTION

"When I look back, I am so impressed again with the life-giving power of literature. If I were a young person today, trying to gain a sense of myself in the world, I would do that again by reading, just as I did when I was young."

- Maya Angelou