The Myth of Free Library Service • NWLS Libraries Leaders in Wireless Internet Access • ALA Efforts to Protect Democracy • Americans Say Public Libraries Are Essential • Library Grant Opportunities • NWLS Board Meeting Minutes • Merlin Popular Holds • Useful URLs • Reflection

July 26 Merlin Consortium Meeting, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., NWLS

August 17 Too Many Teen Books, Too Little Time!, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., NWLS

September 7 Directors Meeting, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., NWLS

September 17 Supervisory Skills for Library Leaders, Managers, Trustrees and Staff, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute, Ashland

UW-Madison SLIS Continuing Education Courses in Madison Visit the School of Library and Information Studies for more information.

Online Courses (Online courses on a variety of technical topics are also offered.)

• Library 2.0, Sept 10-Oct 6
• Basic Public Library Management, Sept 17-Dec 7
• Collection Development, Sept 17-Dec 7
• Readers’ Advisory in the Library, Sept 19-Dec 12
• What's New in Children's Books?, Oct 15-Nov 11
• Consumer Health Reference, Oct 15-Nov 11
• Cataloging Web Sites, Oct 29-Nov 25

Madison Courses

• Conference: Insights and Solutions for Customer Service, Sept 10-11
• Course: Basic Spanish for Librarians, Oct 1-Oct 29
• Workshop: Preserving and Exhibiting Local History Collections, Oct 4-5

Travel Opportunity

Books and Beauty in Western Ireland: A Librarians’ Tour will feature the Ennis Book Club Festival in County Clare, February 28 - March 9, 2008

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The Myth of Free Library Service
From Jim Trojanowski, NWLS Director

In their early days, public libraries often used the word “free” in their name to distinguish themselves from subscription libraries, whose members paid a fee to use the library. It was common for a benefactor to open a new “free” library and provide an endowment to furnish and staff it in the future. The Enoch Pratt Free Library, for example, began as a gift of a central library, four branches, and an endowment of $1,058,333 from Enoch Pratt to the City of Baltimore, Maryland. The library opened in 1886 and received public funding for the first time in 1908.

While few public libraries use the term “free” in their names today, many advertise free services. For example, a Google search of “free wireless internet” locates links to many library websites listing free wireless Internet as a service. (Ironically, the search also finds an article about a man who was told by police that his use of the library’s wireless Internet service from his car after the library had closed constituted theft.)

Today, 26 of 29 members of Northern Waters Library Service provide wireless Internet. Growing use of wireless, rapidly expanding availability of downloadable audio and video, and ever increasing demand for new Internet-accessible workstations in the library is creating a constant need for additional bandwidth. Library directors recognize the importance of meeting this need, but they aren’t sure how to fund this “free” service.

At an NWLS meeting in June, several library directors commented that municipal officials and citizens have begun to ask that their libraries extend coverage of wireless Internet to town halls, private businesses, even entire towns and cities. One business, located adjacent to a public library, was able to use the library’s wireless, saving itself the cost of a subscription. Sure, this creates demand for bandwidth, but since wireless is free, why be concerned?

I recall a discussion with a library patron nearly 15 years ago in which I was asked to mail books to a friend of hers who worked at another library. This was before the statewide delivery service began, so libraries paid directly to send books through the US mail. When I refused to send the book because I could not justify use of public funds to ship personal materials, she insisted that libraries received free postage. Why? Because they advertise free interlibrary loan, which meant to her that there was no cost to move books between libraries.

Act 420, a new law passed in 2006 requiring counties to provide new funding for public libraries, will take effect next year. As I explain the new law to county officials, I often hear the remark that library service isn’t free anymore. Whether we agree with Act 420 or not, we should be concerned that any elected official believes library service is, or ever was, free. On the other hand, it isn’t difficult to understand why the misperception exists.

Why do librarians advertise “free” services? They want their services to be used and nothing attracts customers like something “free.” Libraries want all to feel welcome to use the library and advertising services as “free” helps those who cannot afford to pay a usage fee recognize that they will not be required to do so. Further, state law requires that public libraries not charge for their services.

Still, it is difficult to understand why library trustees and directors advertise “free” services even as they express growing frustration with the difficulty in funding them. We must tell people that our services cost money, whether that money comes from government or the funding or service is donated.

Instead, we need to find a way that lets patrons know they will not pay a fee to use the library without telling them these services are free. One library director I know tells patrons that their use of the library is pre-paid through taxes. Another simply says that there is no charge to get a borrowers card, attend a library program, surf the Internet, or use other library services. Both are careful to avoid use of the word “free” because they recognize that if people believe library services are free, there is no reason to advocate for their funding. They refuse to perpetuate the myth of free library service. May they be an example to us all.

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NWLS Libraries Leaders in Wireless Internet Access
From Jim Trojanowski, NWLS Director

According to information printed by the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning, 50% of public libraries in the United States and just 43% of public libraries in Wisconsin offer wireless Internet access. In contrast, 93% of NWLS member libraries provide the service to their patrons.

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ALA Efforts to Protect Democracy

The American Library Association sponsored a successful lobby day during its annual conference this summer in Washington D.C., where more than 2000 librarians descended on the Congress to lobby for issues. ALA has adopted numerous resolutions including the "Resolution on the Use and Abuse of National Security Letters" (PDF) adopted at the conference, and a list of resolutions on the War on Terror (PDF). The Social Responsibilities Round Table of ALA states, "Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States government has implemented policies, practices and legislation that have compromised the democratic ideals of our country. These include activities that violate the constitutional rights of American citizens, promote a war based on a campaign of disinformation, and continue to bring about widespread destruction and loss of life abroad."

At the annual conference ALA presented a library guide to strategies and actions for developing a diverse collection of resources and services. The project was the result of efforts to uphold the principles of intellectual freedom, access to information, and diversity of opinion in local communities threatened by the effects of media consolidation in the US since the 2003 Federal Communications Commission decision to relax media ownership regulations. “Fostering Media Diversity in Libraries: Strategies and Actions” (PDF) focuses special attention on the acquisition of and access to small, independent, and alternative sources–including those locally produced–in all formats: print, AV media, and electronic.

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Americans Say Public Libraries Are Essential
From Public Agenda

In the public survey "Long Overdue: A Fresh Look at Public Attitudes About Libraries in the 21st Century" (pdf summary) we find Americans prize public library service and believe libraries perform an essential service in maintaining a productive community. But few Americans are aware of the increasingly tenuous financial picture faced by many libraries. Americans give an "A" to their local community for maintaining well-run libraries, far ahead of any other community institutions, including schools, parks and police. Those who think public libraries are primarily used by folks who can't afford bookstores are clearly mistaken -- higher-income families are even more likely to use public libraries than low-income families. Prepared with support from the Americans for Libraries Council and funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Visit Public Agenda for more information related to the study.

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Library Grant Opportunities

ALA and Scholastic Library Publishing - $5,000 for the best public awareness campaign during National Library Week 2008 using the theme, "Join the circle of knowledge @ your library®."

Free Books Grant for Small or Rural Libraries - donations of books to structured literacy programs (at least a six-month history) with a tutoring component or a strong focus on remedial reading.

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Northern Waters Library Service Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
July 21, 2007, NWLS Headquarters, Ashland

1. Call to Order/Roll Call
Mary Poretti called the March 17, 2007 meeting of the NWLS Board of Trustees to order at 10:00 a.m.

Present: Michael Bobin (Washburn County), Buzz Byrne (Burnett County), Carol Eder (Bayfield County), Tuula Harris (Douglas County), Karen Livingston (Douglas County), Al Lundquist (Ashland County), Mary Poretti (Burnett County), Tom Thompson (Iron County), Marcia Wellnitz (Bayfield County), Jim Trojanowski (NWLS Director), Mike Sheehan (NWLS Database Manager), Linda Stobbe (NWLS Office Manager).

Excused: Kathy Byrns (Iron County), Joseph Crawford (Ashland County), Richard Ehlert (Sawyer County), Bill Farris (Washburn County), Shirley Harrison (Vilas County), Charles LaBelle (Vilas County), Kathy McCoy (Sawyer County), Carolyn Sweeney (Superior Public Library).

2. Guest Comments
None.

3. Approval of the May 17, 2007 NWLS Board Meeting Minutes
Al Lundquist moved to approve the minutes of the May 2007, Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes. Emmett Byrne seconded. Carried unanimously.

4. Approval of May and June 2007 Expenditures
Carol Eder moved to approve the May and June 2007 NWLS Expenditures. Tuula Harris seconded. Carried unanimously.

5. Approval of June 30, 2007, Financial Statement and Budget Report
Karen Livingston moved to approve the June 30, 2007 Financial Statement and Budget Report. Carol Eder seconded. Carried unanimously.

6. Resolution to Insure NWLS property with the Local Government Property Insurance Fund
Karen Livingston moved approval of the resolution to insure NWLS property with the Local Government Insurance Fund. Marcia Wellnitz seconded. Carried unanimously.

7. 2008 County Appropriation Requests
Emmett Byrne moved to request a 0% increase from member counties. Al Lundquist seconded. Carried unanimously.

8. 2008 LSTA Grant Applications
Tuula Harris moved to approve applications in the Innovative Use of Technology, Delivery, Public Library System Technology Projects, Literacy, and Library Development Training Projects categories. Marcia Wellnitz seconded. Carried unanimously.

9. NWLS Position Descriptions
Tuula Harris moved to approve position descriptions for the Maintenance Specialist, Office Manager, Network Administrator, Network Assistant, and Circulation Coordinator. Karen Livingston seconded. Carried unanimously.

10. Personnel Handbook Revisions
Michael Bobin moved to approve the Military Leave Policy as recommended with an amendment to pay medical insurance for leaves up to 30 days long. Karen Livingston seconded. Carried unanimously. Marcia Wellnitz moved to approve the Holiday Policy. Tuula Harris seconded. Carried unanimously. Michael Bobin moved to approve the Overtime/Compensation Time Policy. Emmett Byrne seconded. Carried unanimously.

11. Discussion of NWLS Building Mortgage
NWLS must refinance its mortgage by May 2008 and interest rates are rising. Motion by Michael Bobin to refinance the mortgage immediately at the best rate available and pay $5,000 additional toward the mortgage. Emmett Byrne seconded. Carried unanimously.

12. 2008 Budget Discussion
Trojanowski outlined the process being used to create the 2008 budget.

13. Directors Report
Jim Trojanowski provided updates on the following:
· Library service in Vilas County.
· Library re-openings in Hayward and Presque Isle.
· August grand opening of the Lac Courte Oreilles library.
· Building plans in Eagle River.
· Merlin roll-outs.

14. Other Business
The director’s evaluation is due. Based upon a recommendation from another trustee, Mary Poretti recommended appointment of an ad-hoc personnel committee of Tuula Harris, Charles LaBelle, and Mary Poretti to conduct the evaluation. Motion by Michael Bobin to approve the committee. Second by Emmett Byrne. Carried unanimously.

15. Adjourn
Motion by Michael Bobin to adjourn. Second by Marcia Wellnitz. Carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 11:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Jim Trojanowski

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Merlin Popular Holds
From Deanna Regan, NWLS

The following titles have ten or more Merlin holds:
(Holds/Merlin copies)

76/31 . . 6th target / James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
10/14 . . Animal, vegetable, miracle : a year of food life / Barbara Kingsolver
20/2 . . . The astronaut farmer [videorecording(DVD)] / director, Michael Polish
17/4 . . . Because I said so [videorecording(DVD)]
14/6 . . . Bobby [videorecording(DVD)]
16/5 . . . Book of the dead: a Scarpette novel / Cornwell, Patricia Daniels
22/5 . . . Breach [videorecording(DVD)]
10/5 . . . Bridge to Terabithia [videorecording(DVD)]
10/21 . . Bungalow 2 / Danielle Steel
17/4 . . . Children of men [videorecording(DVD)]
10/6 . . . Crossroads / Belva Plain
13/2 . . . Deadwood [videorecording(DVD)] : the complete third season
11/19 . . Double take / Catherine Coulter
12/6 . . . Dreamgirls [videorecording(DVD)]
23/3 . . . Ghost Rider [videorecording(DVD)]
11/2 . . . The good German [videorecording]
10/4 . . . The good shepherd [videorecording(DVD)]
101/28 . Harry Potter and the deathly hallows / J. K. Rowling
28/14 . . High noon / Nora Roberts
82/29 . . Invisible prey / John Sandford
124/32 . Lean mean thirteen / Janet Evanovich
21/2 . . . Miss potter [videorecording(DVD)]
17/7 . . . Music and lyrics [videorecording(DVD)]
22/13 . . Night at the museum [videorecording(DVD)]
14/8 . . . Pan's labyrinth [videorecording(DVD)]
29/1 . . . Premonition [videorecording(DVD)]
10/1 . . . Pride [videorecording(DVD)]
71/19 . . The quickie : a novel / by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
21/5 . . . The secret [videorecording(DVD)]
19/2 . . . Shooter [videorecording(DVD)]
25/25 . . Simple genius / David Baldacci
10/19 . . The sleeping doll / by Jeffery Deaver
15/4 . . . Sweet land [videorecording(DVD)]
85/26 . . A thousand splendid suns / Khaled Hosseini
14/1 . . . We are Marshall [videorecording(DVD)]
11/21 . . The woods / Harlan Coben
10/4 . . . You've been warned / James Patterson and Howard Roughan

[print version]

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Summer Reading for Kids

Recommended summer reading choices for kids of all ages, from National Public Radio's interview with three booksellers.

Eric Carle Celebrates 40 years

Most readers today have read at least one of Eric Carle's books, such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar or his very first illustrated book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Eric Carle discusses his work and inspiration in a recent interview with National Public Radio.

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Our thoughts are free.

- Cicero (106 BC - 43 BC)

Contact NWLS for subscription services or to submit an article for publication: email Marsha at newsletter@nwls.lib.wi.us or call 715-682-2365.

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