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Monthly Memo Newsletter | December 2020

ARROWHEAD LIBRARY SYSTEM NEWS

Monthly Circulation Statistics

Total Circulations in November 2020

  • Traditional: 66,546 82% 82%
  • OverDrive/Libby: 10,248 13% 13%
  • 3,992 5% 5%

Edgerton Public Library  “Fine Free” Beginning January 2021

Front exterior of the Edgerton Public Library

Image: Google Street View

Press release shared by Edgerton Public Library

Effective January 1, 2021, the Edgerton Public Library will no longer charge overdue fees on local library materials. EPL is proud to join the ranks of libraries around the country that are increasing accessibility to library materials through the abolition of late fees – a potential economic barrier to access.

In April 2019, Edgerton Public Library eliminated fines on all juvenile materials checked out at EPL. This change was well-received by the community, and no increase in late materials occurred. This change now extends to adult materials in addition to the previously fine-free juvenile items. Fine-free materials include books, audiobooks, and DVDs.

“The Edgerton Public Library is committed to equity and to supporting literacy efforts in our community,” said Library Board President Michelle Counter. “A fine of $5 can feel very different to families with different economic situations. We want everyone in our community to feel encouraged to check out reading material for their families. We also want to avoid penalizing busy families who might accidentally miss a due date, but to help encourage them to read and make the library an important part of their active lives.”

“Our library staff understand that the vast majority of patrons are respectful of each other and return materials promptly when finished so that everyone may enjoy them. We don’t anticipate this practice changing,” shared Kirsten Almo, Library Director. “Our staff will also be able to save time from processing small fines and the corresponding paperwork that goes along with those transactions.”

At this time, existing fines for Edgerton patrons on Edgerton-owned items will also be waived. 

Some specialty items such as Launchpads and Magiscopes will continue to trigger an overdue fine, as will items requested from outside of the SHARE Consortium through the statewide Interlibrary Loan service. Lost or damaged items, overdue materials from other libraries, and overdue, lost, or damaged adult materials will still incur fines and replacement costs.

After being overdue for 30 days, items are assumed lost and your account will be billed for the replacement cost of the item(s). If bills for lost items are not resolved within 15 days, your account may be sent to collections. Accounts sent to collections will incur a $10 referral fee that is not waived.

SHARE NEWS

Time for SHARE PC Group Purchase

SHARE is putting together another group purchase for computers. These PCs will be for library-use only, SHARE cannot allow individuals to take part in order to get the discount. Please send your numbers to Jim Novy no later than Friday, February 26th.

After he has the preliminary numbers from all of you, he will finalize the exact pricing and specifications. He will then confirm with you that the price and quantity is correct before confirming the supplier’s quote and scheduling shipment.

Jim will be sending out an email to directors with estimated costs for the following options: Desktop w/Monitor, Desktop without Monitor, and Laptop.

Illustration: Laptop showing a shopping cart and words group purchase. Bullhorn with lightning bolts.

Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference

Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference Logo - 2020

January 27-28, 2021

Registration is now open for the ninth annual Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference, geared toward public librarians in Wisconsin.

This year’s conference has 14 programs with tracks in Management, Small Libraries, Public Services, and Marketing.

Participate in the comfort and safety of your own home or library workspace.

ALS is a partial sponsor of this event, registration is free to our staff and member library staffs.

 

STATE & NATIONAL NEWS

WPLC: Libby & OverDrive Support Survey

Logos: Wisconsin's Digital Library brought to you by WPLC (Wisconsin Public Library Consortium), OverDrive App, Libby App

Shared directly from the WPLC announcements. Subscribe here.

Do you assist your patrons with Libby, the OverDrive app and Wisconsin’s Digital Library?

If so, the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC) seeks your valued feedback on the collection of materials in Wisconsin’s Digital Library. Your input, drawing from your knowledge of patrons, will help guide us as we continue to grow and develop the collection of ebooks, audiobooks, and other digital materials so it is most relevant to Wisconsin library patrons.

Please take the short survey here to help guide us: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020wplclibrary

The survey will be open through January 8, 2021.

Thank you for taking the time to provide valuable feedback and guidance!

WiLS, Project Manager
Wisconsin Public Library Consortium

WLA Winter 2020 Newsletter Available

Don’t miss Keeping Safe, Giving Grace, an article written by Hedberg Public Library‘s Michelle Dennis and published in the Wisconsin Library Association‘s Winter 2020 newsletter. (Page 4)

Read the WLA Winter Newsletter (PDF)

Winter landscape image. Snow covered hills and evergreens at set against a peach, dawn sky.

ALA Core Division Seeks Paid Instructors

logo: CORE Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures. A division of the American Library Association

Shared directly from  Core Digest for Thursday December 17, 2020.

Core needs knowledgeable librarians from all types of libraries to teach additional sections of its popular online courses. Core offers eight virtual continuing education courses and is in the process of developing more.

We are currently recruiting knowledgeable librarians to teach additional sections of:

  • Fundamentals of Metadata
  • Fundamentals of Digital Libraries
  • Fundamentals of Collection Assessment
  • Fundamentals of Acquisitions
  • Fundamentals of Cataloging
  • Fundamentals of Collection Development and Management
  • Fundamentals of Preservation
  • Fundamentals of Electronic Resource Acquisitions

Please visit the Core website for additional information about the courses.

Courses are provided over a four or six-week period. They are composed of self-paced modules and include interaction with the instructors and classmates. The courses are already developed and ready to use; no additional editing is needed. Instructors would participate in evaluations and have the opportunity to recommend updates to the course content as needed.

To ensure consistency of instruction and a high-value experience for participants, course instructor training has ordinarily had several components:

  1. Take the course as a participant.
  2. Repeat the course while shadowing the instructor, with access to the instructor interface.
  3. Co-teach the course with an experienced instructor. 

A modest honorarium will also be paid.

The key characteristics of successful instructors are subject expertise, comfort with e-learning technology, and the ability to make student communication a priority for the period of the course. Prior teaching experience is not required, but instructors must be Core members.

If you are interested in becoming an instructor for a Core Web Course, please complete the online instructor application by January 4, 2021.  

You will be asked to:

  • Include a statement of interest (300 words maximum)
  • Attach a copy of your resume.

——————————
Amanda Stone
Core Continuing Education Coordination Committee, Co-Chair
Branch Librarian
Lexington County Public Library
Chapin, SC
amanda.stone.sc@gmail.com

PLSR Update

Reprinted from the WI Libraries For Everyone blog

Professional Learning – An Update on PLSR Recommendation 7

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

On the heels of the recent Public Library System Redesign (PLSR) Implementation Update, this post offers an update on PLSR Recommendation 7 – Professional Learning. View a short video version of this update here (6:36).

The DPI team managing this recommendation area includes Cindy Fesemyer, Ben Miller, Gail Murray, Elizabeth Neuman, Shannon Schultz, Monica Treptow, Tessa Michaelson Schmidt (team lead), and Bruce Smith (PLSR coordinator). We are also partnering with the IT team at DPI to create a roadmap for the technical solutions.

A User Advisory Group for PLSR 7 launched in November 2020. This group is comprised of a dozen library and system staff from around the state with a range of perspectives and experiences. The group will provide formal feedback through beta testing and other tasks.

Recommendation 7 includes technical solutions, such a learning management system, as well as the collaborative solutions, such as how we create and connect around continuing education, or more accurately, professional learning. We use the term professional learning to acknowledge that we are all learning, whether at the start of a career or specific to a certain position.

Rather than emphasize one tool, a learning management system, and a particular outcome, library director certification, this recommendation emphasizes a suite of resources for a range of library and system staff. In the coming year, efforts will be made to develop:

A shared professional learning calendar
An online library directory, and
An online platform for public library director certification.
Priorities for the PLSR 7 implementation process have been, and will continue to be, influenced by voices from the library community. Formal feedback sessions, as well as big picture observations from library life during the pandemic, emphasize equitable access to professional learning as a top priority.

Please direct all questions and comments to dpi.plsr@dpi.wi.gov

Wisconsin PLSR Logo - Horizontal

ALS MEETING CALENDAR

SHARE Directors’ Council:
Tuesday, January 5, 9:30 a.m.
Virtual

Board of Trustees Meeting:
Wednesday, January 13, 6:00 p.m.
Virtual

Librarians Meeting:
Wednesday, January 20, 9:30 a.m.
Virtual

CONTACT US

Steve Platteter

System Director
608-868-2872
Email: platteter.steve@als.lib.wi.us

Tovah Anderson

Public Information Coordinator
608-868-2872
Email: Anderson.tovah@als.lib.wi.us

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