Online Update

Index

Monroe’s Kris Ault receives ‘Quality of Life Award’
Libraries encouraged to apply for Authors & Illustrators Speak program
Waunakee’s Eleanor Carberry honored for 60 years of service
Hollywood Librarian drawing winners announced
DNR can help publicize programs
WDC keeps eyes on Wisconsin politics
Preliminary 2005 LSTA program approved
New Glarus Public Library seeks new director
Member/Staff News
Libraries encouraged to join Project Vote Smart
Upcoming CEs

 

Monroe’s Kris Ault receives ‘Quality of Life Award’

Monroe Public Library’s Kris Ault (children’s librarian) was honored recently as one of three Green County recipients of the Quality of Life Awards. Residents nominate individuals or organizations that have made a significant contribution toward improving, or an unwavering commitment to maintaining, the quality of life for area residents.

Ault’s nomination reads as follows: “Mrs. Ault is the children’s librarian at the Monroe Public Library and in that capacity has created a wonderful place for children and families to gather for fun and learning. She has developed special days and events that have filled (standing room only at times) the spaces with laughter and enthusiasm. These programs have happened because of Kris’ ability to work well with her directors and library staff, and to collaborate with other community groups. Examples of collaboration would be the Monroe Theatre Guild for wonderful puppetry shows, the middle school faculty for information and quirky “Bug Days,” and the fire department, EMS and people from many occupations for Read Across America. Mrs. Ault consistently goes above and beyond to reach out to children of all races and economic status, whether school groups or preschoolers, to help them all love learning, reading, and reaching higher. She is more than encouraging; she brings families of Green County together for evenings of family fun at the library, as well as weekly programs that reach area day cares and preschools. She also facilitates summer reading programs and numerous other activities. She has really helped make this county and Monroe a great place to call home. Kris’ dedication and passion for children’s concerns have blossomed and created consistent growth in the numbers of kids using the library and attending programs. She documents these increases in her monthly report to the library board. She represents the library well with her visits to schools and community events and by programs targeted to Latinos, home schoolers, the Park and Recreation Department, Rainbow Child Care, YMCA, and more. Our community is well served by its library, and much credit goes to Kris Ault.

The Monroe Clinic, in cooperation with the Green County Target Health Board, selects Quality of Life recipients from among nominees. The awards are given to raise awareness of the efforts neighbors make on behalf of Green County residents and to the area’s way of life.

 

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Libraries encouraged to apply for Authors & Illustrators Speak program

Wisconsin libraries are among the non-profit organizations encouraged to apply for grants to bring Wisconsin authors and illustrators to their communities. Wisconsin Authors and Illustrators Speak 2004, a program of the Wisconsin Center for the Book, will enable qualifying communities to sponsor these public presentations.

Grants of $250 will be available for events scheduled between Oct. 1, 2004, and April 30, 2005. Admission fees are not permitted and honoraria will be paid directly to the speakers involved. Since 1994, this program has enabled more than 60 communities to sponsor appearances by Wisconsin writers and artists. Community groups are strongly encouraged to collaborate in planning these events. Such groups may include, but are not limited to, public libraries, public and private elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools, service clubs, and places of worship. Applications will be judged on the basis of community outreach and collaboration, rationale for the choice of speaker, and thoroughness of planning.

Applications must be submitted by Aug. 2, and successful applicants will be notified by Aug. 30. Successful applicants must submit a report within 10 days of the event or the honorarium will be forfeited.

Applications are available online at www.wisconsinacademy.org/book, or by contacting Jane Roeber, WAIS 2004 chair, 314 Karen Court, Madison, WI 53705; (608) 238-9790 (jroeber@wisc.edu).

 

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Waunakee’s Eleanor Carberry honored for 60 years of service

Waunakee Public Library Trustee Eleanor Carberry was honored during the Wisconsin Association for Public Libraries (WAPL) annual meeting held in Wisconsin Dells. Rick Grobschmidt, assistant superintendent of the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning (DLTCL), presented a plaque recognizing her 60 years of service.

Grobschmidt spoke of Eleanor being responsible for opening a library in 1943 at 105 E Main St. When she was leader of a 4-H Club, members cleaned the library and repaired books to get it running again after it was inactive for a time during WWII. In the early 1950s the library received $50 a month funding from the Village, and in 1964 the library moved to the village hall on O’Malley Street. In 1985 the library moved into its own building at 710 South Street (its current location).

She has served as a library trustee continuously since the origin of the Library Board. When she was asked about the biggest change for the library over the years, she said that the number of library users has increased dramatically.

 

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Hollywood Librarian drawing winners announced

Following the Hollywood Librarian event on April 1, during which Ann M. Seidl (MLIS) explored the film depictions of librarians, participants were given the opportunity to register for a drawing to award some of the movie-theme props used as decorations for the event.

Winners of the 18" gold award statues were:

• Legislative Reference Bureau -- Pat Helgerson;
• Memorial Library -- Nancy McClements;
• Rock Springs Public Library -- Norma Jean LeMoine; and
• Sun Prairie Public Library -- Jean Anderson.

Winners of the director's clapboards were:

• Library of the U.S. Courts -- Marc Weinberger;
• Middleton Health Sciences Library -- Ulrike Dieterle;
• North Freedom Public Library -- Katie Conway;
• Pinney Branch (MPL) -- Norma Hanson; and
• Stoughton Public Library -- Pat Chevis.

 

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DNR can help publicize programs

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) would like to publicize on its Web site any public library programs that relate to trees, forests, or nature. The agency also is willing to help in other ways to publicize public library programming efforts this summer.

If your library would like to have its programs listed, complete the DNR form (40k pdf) and send it to the address provided.

 

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WDC keeps eyes on Wisconsin politics

Politics are taking center stage this summer in Wisconsin, and library patrons who need information about state legislative candidates can turn to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.

The 8-year-old not-for-profit independent coalition of individuals and groups responds to the increasing dominance of special interest money in the campaigns of state legislators. The organization advocates -- through research, education and public outreach programs -- for changing the way Wisconsin's political campaigns are financed.

On the organization’s Web site patrons can find press releases and special reports on campaign finances, as well as the state's only searchable database of campaign contributors. The site also features information about campaign finance reform legislation under consideration in Wisconsin. In addition, patrons can find full campaign finance profiles for current office holders as well as information on independent expenditures, issue ads and PACs , and the basics of campaign finance in Wisconsin.

For more information, visit the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign Web site at www.wisdc.org.

 

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Preliminary 2005 LSTA program approved

Approval was given last week to the preliminary LSTA grant program and budget for 2005. Final decisions on the LSTA program for 2005 will be made in November and are dependent upon the amount of LSTA funds available in the federal budget for FY 2005. Congress will be considering the federal budget for FY 2005 over the next several months. October 1 is the start of the next federal budget year.

The LSTA funds will, once again, facilitate experimentation, demonstration, and enhanced library services in Wisconsin. Additional information on the LSTA program for 2005 is available on the DPI Web site at www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/dltcl/pld/pdf/guide05.pdf. The Information and Guidelines contains detailed information on the LSTA program in general, as well as on the schedule, grant categories, and preliminary budget for 2005. Grant applications for 2005 projects are due Sept. 10, 2004.

The LSTA grant application form for 2005 projects will be available in the near future at www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/dltcl/pld/lstaapp.html. The general LSTA Web site is at www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/dltcl/pld/lsta.html.

An information session for those interested in applying for LSTA grants for 2005 is planned for June 7 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. DLTCL will host a WisLine conference call for this purpose. The session will cover general information on the LSTA program, with a special focus on the following competitive grant categories for 2005: Early Learning, Birth to Three; Adult, Family and Early Literacy; Seniors with Special Needs and others with Sensory or Mobility Disabilities; and Library Card Sign-Up Promotions.

To register for the session (required for attendance), contact Peg Branson by May 25 at (608) 266-2413 (peg.branson@dpi.state.wi.us). In addition to the above general information session on LSTA for 2005, there will be a special WisLine Web session for those interested in applying for LSTA funds for digitization of local resources. The date for this session will be announced in the near future.

 

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New Glarus Public Library seeks new director

The New Glarus Public Library has posted the job announcement for its vacant director position. The description of duties reads: Administration of a busy, customer-focused public library, part of a 38-member automation consortium, in a community of 2,113 (annual circulation approx.76,000). Responsible for organizing and managing library operations and for planning, directing, and coordinating the library’s program of service. Duties include supervision and training of a staff of 4, budget preparation and management, long-range planning (including facilities, technology, and programming), policy development, collection management, reference and readers advisory, and community relations. Reports to a 7-member library board.

Interested candidates must hold an MLS or equivalent from an ALA-accredited institution.

To apply, submit letter of application, resume, and the names of three references to: Marilee Steffen, Library Board President, P.O. Box 672, New Glarus, WI 53574-0035; (608) 527-2407. Applications will be reviewed starting June 1, but the position will remain open until filled.

 

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Member/Staff News

Marshfield Author Alden Carter Reads from ‘Bright Starry Banner’ -- As a prequel to National Library Week, Marshfield Public Library hosted an April 15 book reading/signing featuring local author Alden Carter. The event recognized Carter's contributions to literature and the community, and celebrated his latest work. His first adult novel, “Bright Starry Banner,” is about the Civil War Battle of Stones River, set in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Carter has written 39 books, most of which have been for young adults and children. His young adult novels have won numerous awards, including six American Library Association "Best Book" awards. In 2002, he was named to the Wisconsin Library Association's "Notable Wisconsin Authors" list. A catered reception was held after the readings in the Beebee Forum Room, featuring a menu of Civil War era recipes.

Rock Springs schedules D-Day program -- The Rock Springs Public Library will commemorate a moment in history that changed the world -- D-Day. On May 26, VFW Post 1916 in Reedsburg will present five World War II veterans who will share their experiences on D-Day, and numerous keepsake items will be on display at the Rock Springs Public Library. The discussion is interactive and the display is hands-on. Due to anticipated attendance, the program will be offered at 9:00 and 10:30 a.m.

Author Jerry Apps at Waunakee Adult Book Club -- Wisconsin author Jerry Apps will be the guest speaker at the Monday, May 24, meeting of the Waunakee Adult Book Club at 7:30 p.m. He will discuss his latest book, “The Travels of Increase Joseph: a Historical Novel about a Pioneer Preacher.” Apps is professor emeritus at UW-Madison and has written over 35 books, many of them dealing with rural history and country life, including “Rural Wisconsin,” “When Chores Were Done,” “One-Room Country Schools,” “and Barns of Wisconsin.” He will be available to sign books after the program.

 

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Libraries encouraged to join Project Vote Smart

In the midst of the 2004 presidential election, library patrons are being bombarded with conflicting messages and claims from candidates. Project Vote Smart, a citizen's organization, has developed a Voter's Self-Defense system to provide the tools people need to self-govern effectively, and the materials are available free to public libraries.

Initiated in 1996 with 50 libraries, Project Vote Smart (PVS) now works with more than 5,000 libraries of all type and sizes nationwide to provide the public with factual and unfettered information about candidates and elected officials. Armed with the Project's unique Voter's Self-Defense System, participating libraries provide their patrons with access to the biographical and contact information, campaign contributions, key votes, issue positions, and interest group ratings for elected officials and candidates. The Voter's Self-Defense System also includes information about voter registration and requesting absentee ballots.

During the 2002 election cycle, libraries made Project Vote Smart's publications and services available to a population of approximately 124 million individuals. This success prompted Project Vote Smart to develop and provide additional library materials and enhanced electronic services to its Smart Voting Libraries© in 2004 to further increase voter awareness of the important role libraries play in the political process and their commitment to voter education and participation in their respective communities.

For more information about Project Vote Smart, visit www.vote-smart.org. Libraries and branches may join as Smart Voting Libraries and receive all PVS publications, materials, and services at no cost. For more information about PVS Library Programming, or for more information about Smart Voting Libraries©, contact the Library Programming Division at (406) 859-8683 (libraries@vote-smart.org).

 

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Continuing Education --