Library Innovation Subcommittee Agenda

June 10, 2025, 9:00am

Zoom

Meeting Documents: https://www.scls.info/committees/library-innovation-subcommittee/2025-06-10

To phone in to a meeting: call 866-226-4650, use access code 461-0318-2019.

1. Call to Order

a. Introduction of guests/visitors

i. New member: Andrea Schmitz, Belleville Public Library.

b. Changes/Additions to the Agenda

c. Requests to address the Committee

2. Approval of previous meeting minutes: April 8, 2025

3. Action Items: None

4. Reports

a. IDEA Team

5. Discussion

a. Accessibility kits – Emily Whitmore (SPR)

i. From speaking with someone at the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired, I think we should talk about magnifiers at the meeting.  [Video magnifiers link on meeting page.] Something to note is whether or not the item should/needs to be handheld and portable.

b. Local music collection – similar to Yahara Music catalog project from MPL

i. Describe your idea: Bring back the Yahara Music Catalog! The flagship product from local developers at Rabble and the template for all MUSICat digital catalogs, the Yahara Music Catalog was ahead of its time. New features of MUSICat, including streaming and playlist options, make NOW the perfect time to bring it back, but bigger and better than ever. Rather than just a Madison project, Yahara (or by another name, I suggest the Watershed Music Catalog), could become an SCLS-wide digital music space, with artists from every county curated by library staff and community members. As digital music becomes less friendly for artists, but more in demand by users, this is a great way to expand our local and digital collections. Physical music collections will continue to shrink throughout SCLS, but capturing the inspired and talented local scenes from rural Sauk County to Madison to Stevens Point, will help all libraries expand their digital music collections in ways that are meaningful, local, diverse, and community-building.

ii. Do you have resources to share that may be helpful? [MUSICat link on meeting page.]  - I have spoken with Rabble about this idea, really hoping for a state-wide music catalog. I know they prefer to work with individual cities, but with so many small communities and rural spaces in Wisconsin, I think we should push for a wider investment in a digital local music collection. If we can't have a state-wide collection, perhaps a system-wide collection would be possible? There are many possible partners in SCLS counties that could be brought into this project--local radio stations, historical societies, venues, independent magazines and blogs, arts groups, schools, etc.-- and maybe some Federal or State arts funding (if the badguys don't flush it all). IT'S WORTH LOOKING INTO.

c. Library visits/updates from libraries.

6. Items from clusters for initial discussion

7. Plan for Next meeting:  August 12, 2025

8. Adjournment

For more information about the Library Innovation Subcommittee Committee, contact Rose Ziech.

SCLS staff are available to attend cluster meetings to share information and answer questions pertaining to this committee meeting and other departmental projects.

Library Innovation Subcommittee/Agenda/06-2025