• WLA Conference
• Trustee Resources
• NWLS Professional Collection
• Summer Library Program Update
• Going Green Seminar
• Digital Collection Use Increases
• A Little More on Playaways
• Searching Book Series
• Merlin Popular Holds

December 5
Library Directors Meeting, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Drummond

December 6
Library Directors Meeting, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Lac du Flambeau

Those who attended the Wisconsin Library Association Conference in October had the opportunity to sport a t-shirt proclaiming, Wisconsin Libraries: Keep Us All in a Better State, the theme of the Campaign for Wisconsin Libraries. Conference program handouts are now available on the WLA website, and comments on the programs can be found on the WLA Blog or at the New Cybrary (October 23 entries).

From Jim Trojanowski, NWLS Director
Most library trustees begin serving on the library board excited about the opportunity to help build an institution that is often a cornerstone of both their lives and of the local community. Often, however, new trustees are surprised to learn how much authority the library board has. Wisconsin Statute s.43.58 vests a number of important responsibilities upon the public library board, including:

• Exclusive control of all library expenditures.
• Supervision of the administration of the library, including appointment of the librarian.
• Authority to prescribe the duties and compensation of all library employees.
• Control of all lands, buildings, money, and property acquired or leased by the municipality for library purposes.

Understanding how to exercise these responsibilities and how to assist in the continued development of the public library can be a daunting task. Fortunately, there are several excellent resources available to public library trustees. Here are seven of the most important ones:

Trustee Essentials: A Handbook for Wisconsin Public Library Trustees
Developed by the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning in consultation with the Wisconsin Public Library Trustee Handbook Revision Task Force, Trustee Essentials is a great place for new trustees to learn about the role of library boards and for experienced trustees to find answers to questions they have about opportunities and challenges facing the board.

The handbook is arranged in 27 chapters offering sound advice on a variety of topics of interest to library trustees. Many chapters suggest additional sources of information, most of them available online at no additional cost.

Trustee Essentials is available online at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/handbook.html. Library trustees and directors may also request a print copy from Northern Waters Library Service at 715-682-2365 (800-228-5684 for those outside the Ashland calling area).

Wisconsin Public Library Standards
Now in its 4th edition, the Wisconsin Public Library Standards is a useful planning document for libraries. The first two chapters discuss the importance of planning and how to use the document effectively. The following five chapters provide checklists that help library boards and administrators determine whether they meet recommended minimums in the areas of governance and administration, staffing, collection and resources, services, and access and facilities.

Included in the appendices are several more useful tools, notably qualitative standards for collection size, staffing, hours open, and other areas of interest. Because the standards are based on measures of Wisconsin libraries in similar sized communities, they offer a convenient way for trustees to compare their libraries to others. The Outagamie Waupaca Library System (OWLS) has a convenient calculator available to facilitate use of the quantitative standards. The calculator and more information about the standards are available on the OWLS website at http://www.owlsweb.info/L4L/wistds.asp.

The Wisconsin Public Library Standards are available online at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/standard.html. A copy was sent to every public library in Wisconsin when the most recent edition was published in 2005, so your director may already have one.

Wisconsin Public Library Statistics, 1996-2006
Compiled from annual reports filed by every public library in Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Public Library Statistics provide a convenient way for library boards to compare their libraries to other libraries. The data includes budget and expenditures, staffing levels, circulation, and more. The statistics can be found at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/dm-lib-stat.html.

Channel and Channel Weekly
Channel is a print newsletter published every other month, while Channel Weekly is sent electronically every Friday. Both are publications of the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning (DLTCL). They contain a variety of important and interesting news for library trustees and staff.

Copies of Channel are sent to libraries for distribution to trustees immediately after they are published. To receive Channel Weekly via email, trustees and other interested individuals must subscribe at http://dpi.wi.gov/channel/chweekly.html.

Wisconsin Library Trustee Resource Page
Developed and maintained by DLTCL’s Public Library Development Team, this webpage provides a rich list of resources for library trustees. In addition to the links listed above, the page also provides links to a variety of legal resources, library trustee organizations, and other sites designed to assist public library trustees. It can be found at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/trustee.html.

Wisconsin Library Association’s Legislation and Advocacy Page
The Wisconsin Library Association’s Library Development and Legislation Committee (LD&L) develops the state library legislative agenda with assistance from other library groups statewide. LD&L also tracks legislation affecting libraries of all types. The Legislation and Advocacy page lists WLA’s legislative agenda for the year and tracks library-related legislation as it moves through the legislature. The page is found at http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/legis/.

Northern Waters Library Service
Wisconsin’s public library systems work with library staff and trustees to develop public library services throughout the state. Northern Waters provides a wealth of services for public libraries. Trustees and staff are welcome to call or email for assistance whenever they need it. To learn more about Northern Waters Library Service or for contact information, visit our website at http://nwls.wislib.org//index.htm.

Page up

2005 WisKids County Data Book, Wisconsin Council on Children and Families. Wiskids Count tracks, analyzes and communicates information about the health and well-being of children and families in Wisconsin.

Children & Libraries by Virginia A. Walter. This visionary book by respected children’s library specialist and advocate Virginia Walter is a call to action for libraries...to consider children as vital participants in the community, as well as serious readers and technology users.

Children’s Jukebox Second Edition by Rob Reid. When it comes to keeping children engaged, take a clue from the Pied Piper: Music does the trick. The 548 recordings listed in Children’s Jukebox offer a rich source of largely untapped material to energize children’s experiences with storytimes or classroom presentations.

Early Literacy Storytimes @ your Library by Saroj Nadkarni Shoting and Pamela Martin-Diaz. This book combines cutting-edge early literacy research with practical implementation tips for children’s librarians.

Family Storytime by Rob Reid. His highly participative, “family-tested” material is organized by theme, with each of the twenty-four programs running about thirty minutes. Included are songs, picture book suggestions, poems, fingerplays, as well as a “Mix and Match” section to help you customize new programs around the same theme.

Fundamentals of Children’s Services by Michael Sullivan. With more than one-third of library users under the age of 12, it may be said that children's services drive public libraries. Still, many administrators don't fully appreciate how integral these services are to their institutions.

New Handbook for Storytellers by Caroline Feller Bauers. Details countless innovative ideas using film, music, crafts, puppetry, magic, and more.

Preschool Favorites, 35 Storytimes Kids Love by Diane Briggs. From pizza and penguins to mud and moose to hopping bunnies and kangaroos, this is a refreshing primer for making storytime special in every library that serves young children.

Storytimes for Two-Year-Olds by Judy Nichols. This book is packed with fun ideas to help create winning events and keep audiences engaged with rhymes, songs, fingerplays and easy to do crafts.

Storytelling with Puppets, Second Edition by Connie Champlin. Storytelling with Puppets is directed at the individual storyteller working in informal settings. Open-box theaters, sound and action stories, and story aprons are among the techniques explored in this book.

Page up

The 2008 Summer Reading Program theme for children is "Catch the Reading Bug", and "Metamorphosis @ Your Library" is the teen theme. The Wisconsin State Parks Department will offer daily park passes. Visit the Summer Library Program web page for workshop handouts and program guides.

The children's theme for 2009 is "Be Creative @ Your Library" and "Express Yourself @ Your Library" is the teen theme. The children's art work will be provided by David Catrow, a nationally syndicated editorial cartoonist and the award-winning children's book illustrator. Catrow was awarded the "New York Times" Best Illustrated Book for the Year for his illustrations for "She's Wearing a Dead Bird on Her Head" (1995). For more information about Catrow visit the Simon and Schuster web site.

The 2009 teen art work will be provided by Brad Sneed. In 2007 Sneed illustrated "Big Bad Wolves at School," and "The Boy Raised by Librarians." For more information about Sneed, visit http://www.bradsneed.com

Page up

From Channel Weekly, October 25 - The Chicago Public Library's Harold Washington Center will host Library Journal's (LJ) December 11, 2007 Design Institute with a theme of "Going Green." The free all-day seminar is open to librarians considering a new building project or renovation, in the fundraising or pre-bond stage, or in the early building process. Registration is limited to 100 participants who will break out into smaller groups led by architects to focus on specific design challenges based on real-life projects submitted in advance by attendees. Join architects, designers, vendors, and LJ editors for new building solutions. Additional information and registration can be found at http://www.libraryjournal.com/info/CA6482954.html.

From Michael Sheehan, NWLS - Circulation of the digital collection provided by the Wisconsin public libraries through the WPLC continues to increase. The circulation of digital audiobooks to date in 2007 is more than 2.5 times the circulation in the same period in 2006 (57,813 in 2007 compared to 22,387 in 2006). Locally, we can see these trends in digital audiobook growth. Circulation of the OverDrive downloadable audiobook collection by NWLS users to date in 2007 is 2.9 times the circulation in the same period in 2006 (1,169 in 2007 compared to 398 in 2006).

Of all the digital collections available through the WPLC (which includes e-books, downloadable audiobooks, and downloadable video), the greatest increase has come from audiobooks. E-book circulation remains relatively static (from 2005-2007) and downloadable video, while showing modest increases, has only been available since March 2007.

Page up

From Michael Sheehan, NWLS - A Playaway is a compact, self-contained, digital device that is half the size of a deck of cards. One AAA battery and a set of headphones are required for listening. The "reader" controls the speed of the narrator's voice and can digitally bookmark up to 50 spots, control the volume, and repeat desired passages. Each Playaway contains one book that may range from six to twenty hours of playtime. These books run the gamut from fiction to nonfiction, adult and juvenile titles.

For those who are not aware, WiLS (Wisconsin Library Services) is offering a 20% discount on Playaways for WiLS members. More information on the discount can be found at the WiLS website: http://www.wils.wisc.edu/coop/alerts/playaway.html

Anyone deciding to purchase Playaways and add them to Merlin for circulation should contact Mike Sheehan at NWLS for correct cataloging standardization rules. The Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library in Iron River is the first known NWLS area library to add some 40 Playaways to Merlin.

Page up

From Michael Sheehan, NWLS - Anyone who has had a difficult time keeping track of book series or needs to identify the next title in a series should check out the following link: http://ww2.kdl.org/libcat/WhatsNextNEW.asp

The Kent District Library has created a searchable online database version of their print document What’s Next and has made this book series search tool available to libraries worldwide. Anyone wishing to look for a series only needs to type in the search query and expand the results list for more information.

A big “thank you” goes out to Julie Zelten, of Land O’ Lakes Public Library, for bringing this helpful resource to our attention.

Page up

14/6......7th heaven / James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
14/6......300 [videorecording(DVD)]
12/1......1408 [videorecording(DVD)]
16/8......Amazing grace / Danielle Steel
22/5......Blades of glory [videorecording(DVD)]
11/4......Blood dreams / Kay Hooper
51/13.....Book of the dead: a Scarpette novel / Cornwell, Patricia Daniels
19/1......The Bourne ultimatum [videorecording(DVD)]
10/10.....Bridge of sighs / Richard Russo
31/21.....The choice / Nicholas Sparks
16/3......Creation in death / J. D. Robb
61/22.....Dark of the moon / John Sandford
12/4......Disturbia [videorecording(DVD)]
26/3......Double cross / James Patterson
17/2......Eat, pray, love : one woman's search for everything across Italy, India and Indonesia / Elizabeth Gilbert
21/3......Evan almighty [videorecording(DVD)]
11/2......Fracture [videorecording]
14/3......Georgia rule [videorecording]
10/8......The heir / Barbara Taylor Bradford
12/3......The hoax [videorecording(DVD)]
24/11.....Home to Holly Springs : the first of the Father Tim novels / Jan Karon
11/2......House, M.D. [videorecording(DVD)] : The complete third season.
26/3......Knocked up [videorecording]
11/1......Live free or die hard [videorecording(DVD)]
11/2......Lost. The complete third season [videorecording(DVD)]
24/5......Meet the Robinsons [videorecording(DVD)]
10/4......The New Year's quilt : an Elm Creek quilts novel / Jennifer Chiaverini
16/1......Ocean's thirteen [videorecording(DVD)]
20/12.....Pandora's daughter / Iris Johansen
20/1......Pirates of the Caribbean [videorecording(DVD)] : At world's end
69/26.....Playing for pizza / John Grisham
19/25.....The quickie : a novel / by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
13/19.....The race / Richard North Patterson
16/2......Reign over me [videorecording(DVD)]
14/1......The Santa clause 3. The escape clause [videorecording(DVD)]
13/19.....Shoot him if he runs / Stuart Woods
18/1......The Sopranos. Season six. Part 2 [videorecording(DVD)]
24/2......Spider-man 3 [videorecording(DVD)]
23/6......Stone cold / David Baldacci
11/2......Surf's up [videorecording(DVD)]
19/15.....Sweet revenge / Diane Mott Davidson
32/6......T is for trespass / Sue Grafton
32/29.....A thousand splendid suns / Khaled Hosseini
18/4......Transformers [videorecording(DVD)]
14/6......We are Marshall [videorecording(DVD)]
12/5......The weight loss cure "they" don't want you to know about / Kevin Trudeau
17/16.....World without end / Ken Follett
68/24.....You've been warned / James Patterson and Howard Roughan

print version

The Library of Congress offers preservation resources and guidance on how to protect and salvage collections. The preservation page includes information on a broad range of topics from de-acidification of historic materials, to protecting family treasures, digital preservation, and emergency preparedness.

"Fire Recovery for Collections," offer ways to address problems resulting from collections vulnerable to being scorched, singed, embrittled, discolored, or soiled by soot and smoke. Staining, discoloration, and ink or color "bleeding" can result from water used to put out fires. Water from hoses and sprinkler systems can also cause some materials to stick together, as well as lead to mold growth.

Page up

I was something that lay under the sun and felt it, like the pumpkins, and I did not want to be anything more. I was entirely happy. Perhaps we feel like that when we die and become a part of something entire, whether it is sun and air, or goodness and knowledge.

— Willer Cather, My Antonia

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.

NWLS · 3200 E. Lake Shore Dr. · Ashland, Wisconsin 54806 · Telephone: 715.682.2365