Gates Grant Round 2

At Tuesday's State Technology Meeting, Consultant Bob Bocher spoke about the upcoming round of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant to libraries for computer hardware.

Here is what is known so far:

• Wisconsin is eligible starting in 2009
• Eligible libraries will once again need to be serving communities where 10 percent of the population live in poverty. The same criteria used in 2002 will be applied this time too.
• Eligible libraries will need to show that their computers and internet services are in danger of becoming obsolete.
• There is a matching component to this grant--25% in the first year and 50% in the second year. Matching funds must come from local or state funding sources--not federal LSTA funds; however, private funds are acceptable.
• Participating libraries must run scans on their PCs and attend a workshop

At this time, the grant amount is believed to be $2500-$3500 per PC, depending upon community size. Funds will be dispersed by DPI, probably sometime in the second quarter of 2010.

DPI will know more specific details in September of 2008, so we'll keep you posted on any changes that occur in the grant structure or requirements.

A unique source for book reviews

Check out WritersareReaders.com http://www.writersarereaders.com/!

Run by husband and wife authors, Katherine Stone and Jack Chase, this web site offers reviews of books by other commercially published authors.

Continuing Education courses from UW-Madison SLIS

Improve your skills this summer!
Below are the Summer Continuing Education courses from UW-Madison SLIS-CES.

Collection Development in Green Lake July 21-25 Learn to better manage your collection while enjoying a week of state rates at the Heidel House Resort.

Basic Reference in Madison August 4-8 Spend a fun week on campus and improve your reference skills.

Bilingual Storytime Workshop in MadisonAugust 11-13 You will gain an understanding of cultural differences and learn how to effectively incorporate elements of Hispanic, Native American, and Hmong cultures into your children's programming.

Questions? Contact Anna Palmer, ahpalmer@wisc.edu or 608-263-4452. Full information is available here: http://www.slis.wisc.edu/continueed/

Horizon Database Replacement scheduled

The Horizon Database server will be replaced on Tuesday, July 15, 2008.

Please plan on being down all day.

The replacement will also affect access to the OverDrive database as well.

For Platteville PL, the Envisionware software will be affected.

We apologize for any inconvenience this downtime causes.

Date Change for Round the table

The Round the Table discussion has been rescheduled for Friday, June 13.

Community Programming with Cele Wolf

This morning our own Cele Wolf presented a program on her very successful community program series at the Soldiers Grove Public Library, in a community of 653.

So, why do we do this?

• Follows the library's mission
• Enrichment of the community
• Puts library into the public eye--helps to bring the library to the city government's attention in a good way

There are a wealth of resources available:

• Wisconsin Humanitites Council Speakers Bureau
• Univ. of WI Speakers Bureau
• Local folks with unusual talents or projects (sometimes they don't even charge!!)

It all started with programming for children. Cele noticed over time, however, that the parents enjoyed the programming as much as the children. She approached her board for more money to bring in speakers from the WI Humanities Council Speakers Bureau.

So just where do these ideas come from? Successful ideas grow out of an existing community interest. The librarians needs to know what's "in the air". Is there something going on in the schools or with a community group that the library can tap into? Over time, your patrons can be a great source of ideas for programs.

What about failure? Well, that happens too. There will be times when you think you've hit upon the perfect topic at the perfect time, but no one shows.

Putting the program together:

1. Pick your topic (intergenerational is good!)
2. Find your expert ( make all of the arrangements)
3. The Promotion (80% of what makes a program successful)
4. The Event (setup to cleanup, refreshments--get help)
5. Evaluation/Recap (count your attendance, what were your expenses, get your audience response)

Use posters, flyers, handouts and your library newsletters. Send press releases to area newspapers and radio stations. Don't forget to talk-it-up!!! Word of mouth is sometimes the most effective advertising you can get.

Be sure that the library is open during the program. People will check out materials during and after a program. Follow-up (thank yous, post event articles)

So why do this??? BECAUSE IT'S FUN!!

Also it can transform the library into a place to meet friends--old and new. Builds community in a age of computers. Almost every single program brings someone into the library that has never been there before.

Think you'd like to start a community program series? Contact Cele for more information.

Commentary on pubic library materials

You may have seen this article already.

If not, follow the link http://www.wpri.org/Commentary/2008/5.08/Sc5.05.08/Sc5.05.08.html t0 Christian Schneider's commentary, "Public libraries--no longer just for the literate".