Serving Legal Needs Workshop • Library Sustainability Workshop • Digital Library Online Training • Merlin Improvements • Useful URLs • Reflection • NWLS Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes

March 23 Promoting Rural Libraries / Children's Services Roundtable and Idea Sharing, 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., NWLS

March 23 Literacy Leaders Meeting, 10:00 a.m., WITC-Shell
Lake. For more information, contact Carleen, literacy@lakeland.ws

March 29 LSTA Early Literacy Project: Infant Brain Development, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Iron River

March 30 LSTA Early Literacy Project: Infant Brain Development, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Mellen Community Center

April 3 Digital Library 101 Online Training, 10:00 a.m. 

April 10 Serving the Legal Information Needs of the Public: A Program for Wisconsin Public Librarians 10:00 - 3:00 p.m., Manitowish Waters

April 11 Serving the Legal Information Needs of the Public: A Program for Wisconsin Public Librarians 10:00 - 3:00 p.m., Eau Claire Indianhead Federated Library System

April 18 Greener Pastures Rural Library Sustainability Workshop, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Mercer.

April 25 MilCirc Tips and Tricks, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., NWLS

Summer 2007 UW-Madison SLIS Continuing Education Courses in Madison (If you have questions please contact Anna Palmer, ahpalmer@wisc.edu or 608-263-4452. Visit the School of Library and Information Studies for course descriptions and registration information.

Continuing Education Courses in Madison:

• June 4-7 Grant Writing, Instructor: Jane Pearlmutter
• June 25-29 Summer Camp by the Lake: Public Library Administration, Instructor: Kelly Krieg-Sigman
• July 14-25 Travel Opportunity-Librarians' Tour to Scotland, Tour Director: Jane Pearlmutter
• August 13-17 Summer Camp by the Lake: Cataloging, Instructor: Debra Shapiro
• August 20-24 Puppets in the Library, Instructor: Susan Santner

Online Graduate Credit Courses June 18 - August 12: Cataloging and Classification, Collection Management, Digital Libraries

Online Skills Courses: In cooperation with a national network of educational institutions, we offer online courses on a variety of technical topics and a few non-technical topics. While the courses do not have a library focus, they may be useful to anyone who needs to develop these skills.

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NWLS Workshop: Serving the Legal Information Needs of the Public: A Program for Wisconsin Public Libraries

10:00-3:00 April 10 at Koller Memorial Library, Manitowish Waters
Repeated April 11 at Indianhead Federated Library System, Eau Claire

How can public libraries and the courts help each other in responding to the legal information needs of the public? The Wisconsin Court System's Tenth Judicial District believes that opening the lines of communication is the first step and developed a pilot project to foster communication between courts and libraries around the state.

The morning session will feature a district court administrator, clerk of court, register in probate, pro se program coordinator for Wisconsin Judicare, and State Law Library Staff. They will provide an introduction to resources available to help the public with legal questions.

In the afternoon, Jane Colwin and Connie Von Der Heide, from the Wisconsin State Law Library, will provide an overview of Wisconsin's legal framework and the websites for Wisconsin legal materials such as statutes, administrative codes, case law, journal articles, forms, etc. They will discuss the challenges of assisting users with legal questions, and will share websites and other materials designed to help the users help themselves.

This workshop is a joint project of Northern Waters Library Service, Indianhead Federated Library System, and the Wisconsin State Law Library.

RSVP by April 4 to Linda Stobbe, (800-228-5684), FAX (715-685-2704) or email (lstobbe@nwls.lib.wi.us)

NOTE: This workshop will be repeated April 11 at Indianhead Federated Library System headquarters in Eau Claire. RSVP by April 4 to Jo, (800-321-5427) and indicate if you plan to stay for lunch. (Lunch is $7.00 and NWLS will reimburse the cost.) If you have questions or need special accommodations, please contact Leah at 1-800-321-5427 or email langby@ifls.lib.wi.us.

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NWLS Workshop: Greener Pastures - The Wisconsin Rural Library Sustainability Project

9:30 to 4:30 April 18 at Mercer Public Library

John DeBacher and Bob Bocher of the Wisconsin Division for Libraries, Technology and Community Learning will conduct a program for library directors on the Greener Pastures Rural Sustainability Project, funded to reinforce the efforts of rural and small libraries to sustain public access computing and library presence in the community. The project is funded through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to WebJunction and the Wisconsin Division for Libraries, Technology and Community Learning.

The "Greener Pastures" workshops are offered to directors of libraries, with priority to directors of libraries serving rural areas or with service populations under 25,000. The workshop is geared to library directors who will develop and take home action plans to address at least three of the seven conditions of sustainability - Library Connections, Technology Connections, Upgrade and Maintenance, Staff and Patron Training, Funding, Outreach, Advocacy. If the library director is unable to participate, another staff member or a library trustee may be designated by the library director to participate and develop action plans to be carried out. Participants are eligible for six continuing education credits. Grant funds are available for travel, meals, lodging and substitute wages. And three qualifying participants will be eligible to win an expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. for the annual ALA conference in June 2007.

RSVP by April 11 to Linda Stobbe, phone (800-228-5684), FAX (715-685-2704) or email (lstobbe@nwls.lib.wi.us)

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Digital Library 101: OverDrive Audiobooks Training Session
From Michael Sheehan, NWLS

Training has been scheduled Tuesday, April 3, at 10:00 a.m. for library staff on the use of the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC) OverDrive Digital Audiobooks web site and service.  This is an introductory training that was previously offered early in the project and as new WPLC partners came live.  This session is offered again for any staff member in a WPLC library (NWLS libraries are WPLC members).  Please see the information below provided by OverDrive on the session.

Training is conducted using the ReadyTalk service, which uses online web sharing and telephone conferencing.

1.  For the online web sharing please go to the following URL: http://www.readytalk.com.  It is best to open this URL in Internet Explorer.  Java is required to use this service; please confirm you have the latest version of Java installed ( http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp).

2.  On the left hand side, you will see an option that says Participant Login Access Code.  Please enter the access code of 5736005.

3.  Please be sure to enter your full name (first and last) and your email address when ReadyTalk requests it as our staff will use that to send follow up information after the call.

4.  For the audio teleconference, call 1-866-740-1260 from any touch-tone phone.

*Please note: Our ReadyTalk presentations are best viewed using a hard line connection using a screen resolution of 1024x768.  We have found that it is difficult to view the presentation on a wireless network.

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Merlin Improvements
From Michael Sheehan, NWLS

For the last few months coding changes have caused erroneous results when limiting searches in the Merlin online catalog to type of material, such as widescreen DVDs, full and widescreen videos, CD-ROMs, e-books, and e-audiobooks. The problems have been repaired and all of the Merlin search features are now working properly.

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The Nobel Prize in Literature 1982: Gabriel García Márquez
From Librarians' Internet Index

Background about this Colombian author who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982, and who is known for works such as "Love in the Time of Cholera" and "One Hundred Years of Solitude." Features a biography, bibliography, and text of his Nobel lecture. Some material available in Spanish. (Nobel banquet speech only available in Spanish.) From the Nobel Foundation.

Ethical Traveler
From Librarians' Internet Index

The focus of the Ethical Traveler project "is on the positive impact travelers can have by being open, informed, and willing to immerse themselves in other cultures," and "is dedicated to educating travelers about the social and environmental impact of their decisions." The site features "Thirteen Tips for the Accidental Ambassador," country information, details about advocacy actions, and links to related sites. A project of Earth Island Institute, an organization founded by environmentalist David Brower.

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"What matters in life is not what happens to you but what you
remember and how you remember it."

- Gabriel Garcia Marquez

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NWLS Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
March 17, 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 12:00 p.m.

Present: Michael Bobin (Washburn County), Buzz Byrne (Burnett County), Kathy Byrns (Iron County), Carol Eder (Bayfield County), Richard Ehlert (Sawyer County), Bill Farris (Washburn County), Tuula Harris (Douglas County), Shirley Harrison (Vilas County), Charles LaBelle (Vilas County), Al Lundquist (Ashland County), Kathy McCoy (Sawyer County), Mary Poretti (Burnett County), Carolyn Sweeney (Superior Public Library), Tom Thompson (Iron County), Marcia Wellnitz (Bayfield County), Jim Trojanowski (NWLS Director), Mike Sauvola (NWLS IT Manager), Mike Sheehan (NWLS Database Manager), Linda Stobbe (NWLS Office Manager).

Excused: Kate Boyle (Douglas County), Joseph Crawford (Ashland County), Karen Livingston (Douglas County).

2. Introduction of new trustees

3. Guest Comments
None.

4. Approval of the January 20, 2007 NWLS Board Meeting Minutes
Marcia Wellnitz moved to approve the minutes of the January 20, 2007, Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes. Shirley Harrison seconded. Carried unanimously.

5. Approval of January and February 2007 Expenditures
Kathy Byrns moved to approve the January and February 2007 NWLS Expenditures. Al Lundquist seconded. Carried unanimously.

6. Approval of February 28, 2007 Financial Statement and Budget Report
Carol Eder moved to approve the February 28, 2007, Financial Statement and Budget Report. Bill Farris seconded. Carried unanimously.

7. Approval of 2006 Annual Audit
During a check of payroll records auditors discovered that two employees have accidentally been overpaid. Both employees were immediately returned to the proper pay level.

Charles LaBelle moved not to require the employees to repay their overpayment. Richard Ehlert seconded. On a roll-call vote Kathy Byrns, Richard Ehlert, Tuula Harris, Charles LaBelle, Mary Poretti, and Marcia Wellnitz voted in favor. Michael Bobin, Emmett Byrne, Carol Eder, Bill Farris, Shirley Harrison, Al Lundquist, Kathy McCoy, Carolyn Sweeney, and Tom Thompson voted against. The motion failed 6-9.

Tuula Harris made a motion to require the employees return pay in the amount of $1,130.56 and $1,031.42, respectively, over the next 26 pay periods. Bill Farris seconded. On a voice vote Michael Bobin, Kathy Byrns, Emmett Byrne, Carol Eder, Bill Farris, Tuula Harris, Shirley Harrison, Charles LaBelle, Al Lundquist, Kathy McCoy, Mary Poretti, Carolyn Sweeney, Tom Thompson, and Marcia Wellnitz voted in favor. Richard Ehlert voted against. The motion passed 15-1.

Jim Trojanowski said that auditor Mark Van Vlack made two recommendations to help avoid this problem in the future. One is to ask the board to approve pay levels annually and the other is to amend the Financial Procedures Manual to require the director to verify pay amounts any time changes are made in pay. Both items are on the agenda later.

Motion by Michael Bobin to approve the 2006 annual audit. Second by Marcia Wellnitz. Carried unanimously.

8. 2007 Budget Amendment
The budget amendment adds LSTA grants to the budget and provides for use of 2006 carryover to pay down debt, purchase delivery bags, and pay for travel and training costs. Remaining carryover will be left in the Equipment Fund, which serves as fund balance for NWLS. Motion by Michael Bobin to approve the budget amendment. Second by Shirley Harrison. Carried unanimously.

9. Approval of 2006 NWLS Annual Report
Tuula Harris moved to approve the 2006 NWLS Annual Report. Carol Eder seconded. Carried unanimously.

10. Approval of NWLS Pay Scale
Emmett Byrne moved to approve the NWLS pay scale. Michael Bobin seconded. Carried unanimously.

11. Approval of Financial Procedures Handbook
Michael Bobin moved to approve the Financial Procedures Handbook. Bill Farris seconded. Carried unanimously.

12. Approval of Employee Handbook Revisions
Tuula Harris moved to approve the Family and Medical Leave Act Guidelines. Kathy McCoy seconded. Carried unanimously.

Michael Bobin moved to approve the Timesheet Policy. Tuula Harris seconded. Carried unanimously.

Kathy Byrns moved to approve the Rest Break Policy. Carol Eder seconded. Carried unanimously.

Michael Bobin moved to approve the Payroll Deductions Policy. Bill Farris seconded. Carried unanimously.

Michael Bobin moved to approve the Longevity Pay Policy. Marcia Wellnitz seconded. Carried unanimously.

13. Closed session as authorized by Wisconsin Statute s.19.85(1)(c) to conduct an evaluation of the director and as authorized by s.19.85(1)(f) to consider the medical history of a specific person, after which the board will reconvene in open session.

Emmett Byrne moved to go into closed session as authorized by Wisconsin Statute s.19.85(1)(c) to evaluate the director and s.19.85(1)(f) to consider the medical history of a specific person, after which the board will reconvene in open session. Marcia Wellnitz seconded. On a voice vote the motion carried unanimously.

The board reconvened in open session with nothing to report.

14. Director's Report
Jim Trojanowski provided updates on the following:
Act 420 payments.
Bad River Tribal Public Library.
Hayward Library.
Technology planning.
Merlin roll-outs for 2007.

15. Other Business
None.

The meeting adjourned at 4:13 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by Jim Trojanowski

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