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Why have clusters?
Why make the clusters this way?
Why not clusters by county?
What is the population represented by each cluster?
Where do the population numbers come from?
Will the clusters ever change?
Do clusters apply to workgroups?
How do the clusters communicate?
What if a library wants to leave a cluster and join another one?

Why have clusters?

With representative governance, we need to have some way to group libraries.  Each group of libraries has a representative on the appropriate committees.

Why make the clusters this way?

Some of our goals for the clustering are:

• To have the clustering system be easy to understand.
• To have one system of clustering for the Administrative Council and the 3 committees (Delivery Committee, ILS Committee, Technology Committee).
• To have each cluster represent roughly the same population.
• To have the clusters be semi-geographical.  Cluster members are more likely to know one another if they are closer together geographically, and being close together facilitates getting together face-to-face if a cluster chooses to do so.
  

Why not clusters by county?

Having clusters by county would not necessarily mean that each cluster would represent roughly the same population, one of the goals for the clusters.

What is the population represented by each cluster?

Approximately 60,000-70,000/cluster, though Madison, Dane County, and Portage County have higher populations represented in their clusters.  Specific populations represented by each cluster (based on the 2009 Wisconsin Public Library Service Data) are shown on the Clusters and Population document.

Where do the population numbers come from?

From the most current published Wisconsin Public Library Service Data at the DPI website (http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/pld/dm-lib-stat.html).  For all libraries in all counties except Dane County, the total service population is used as their population figure.  For libraries in Dane County, the municipal population is used, and the additional service population is assigned to the Dane County Library Service.

Will the clusters ever change?

Yes.  Clusters will be re-evaluated every two years to adjust for shifts in population.  The first review will be in 2011, with revised clusters being created prior to the 2012 elections.  The Administrative Council is charged with re-evaluating and re-distributing clusters.  However, anyone is welcome to come speak to the Administrative Council if they have concerns about a proposed change in clustering.

Do clusters apply to workgroups?

No.  Workgroups are comprised of whatever library representation is appropriate to the workgroup.  Workgroup members do not need to be committee members. 

How do the clusters communicate?

Each cluster has an email list to use for communication.  If a representative chooses, he or she can develop additional means of communication, but the email list should be the primary mechanism.

What if a library wants to leave a cluster and join another one?

Libraries would not be permitted to leave a cluster and join another one.

For more information about Clusters & Representation, contact Martha Van Pelt.

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