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Monthly Memo Newsletter | May 2022

ARROWHEAD LIBRARY SYSTEM NEWS

Monthly Circulation Statistics

Total Circulations in April 2022

  • Traditional: 77,097 82% 82%
  • OverDrive/Libby: 11,075 12.5% 12.5%
  • Hoopla Digital: 4,848 5.5% 5.5%

Arrowhead/Lakeshores System Merger Exploration Update

Merge Road Sign

Committee Vote Approaching

Shared from lakeshores.lib.wi.us/library-system-merger-exploration-1 – May 23, 2022

The merger exploration committee is nearing the end of Phase II, which has been focused on considering data and developing issues papers focused on priorities identified in the first phase of work. These issue papers have been prepared by the project managers and staff and directors from each system and will form the basis of a final report document that the Committee will use to determine how they will vote at the final meeting in this phase. All meeting materials, including working papers, are found in the Google Drive folders dedicated to this process.

The Committee will be meeting twice in June. June 6th will be a virtual meeting, 1:30-3:30, at which final issue papers will be reviewed and a draft recommendation report will be shared and discussed. There will be plenty of time for public comment and the Committee welcomes guests. Agenda with connection information will be shared a week in advance of the meeting.

The last meeting of the phase will be June 27th, 1:30-3:30 and held virtually. At this meeting, the Committee will vote to decide if they recommend that ALS and LLS merge to form a new system. As a subcommittee of each system board, the vote of the Committee will be brought to each System Board for discussion and vote. Guests and public comment are welcome at those meetings as well.

Please email the committee at als-llsjointcommittee@wils.org your questions, comments, and input. It is always welcome. You can also keep an eye on this blog and emails from each system for updates on the exploration committee and its work.

Join the Zoom Meetings
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Meeting ID: 852 3334 9509
Passcode: 231380
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It’s a summer of Monarchs in Edgerton & Milton

Edgerton Public Library is looking forward to the arrival of the first caterpillars to our Monarch Mansion. We’re partnering with a local group “Edgerton Gifts For Kids” to raise butterflies all summer long. Edgerton Mayor Chris Lund signed the “Mayors for Monarchs” pledge – nwf.org/mayorsmonarchpledge. We’ve added some additional books and other materials to our collection and will offer some pollinator oriented programming.

Milton Public Library (MPL) started a Monarch Club, welcoming 25 curious minds. Monarch Club meets on a monthly basis through September. Participants learn about the butterfly lifecycle, milkweed, and creating monarch habits. Meetings include crafts, presentations, and special visitors. Staff will also livestream MPL’s in-house habitat and share information and pictures on MPL’s Monarch Club Facebook group.

Monarch butterfly displays in the kids' area of Edgerton Public Library.

Visit Edgerton Public Library and don’t miss their indoor Monarch habitat, informational table, and Monarch backpack kit.

Members of MPL's Monarch Club work on a butterfly lifecycle craft in The Spark.

Milton Public Library’s Monarch Club works on a butterfly lifecycle project in The Spark.

Community & History Explored Through Quilting

Eager Free Public Library is offering every member of the Evansville area a chance to participate in a community quilt project and a series of programs surrounding the craft and history of quilting.

“When thinking about a community project that would unite Evansville, we loved the symbolism of individual squares becoming part of the greater whole and stitching together the community after the trauma and mental health crises of the last few years,” said Assistant Director Rebecca Van Dan.

Fabric and quilts have been used for centuries to tell stories, hide secrets, and express individuality–one could say this project’s historical roots run deep. EFPL is excited to help their community tell and preserve their stories. 

Stronger Together: Community Quilt Project
Fabric Squares Available Now
Submissions due October 1, 2022
Everyone in the community is invited to create a piece of fabric art to be added to our community quilt. Fabric squares are available at the library and all ages are invited to participate! Make a square. Enjoy a program and our monthly quilt showcase. Lead a program or talk. Learn more!

Open Art Studio (Quilt Squares)
Thursday, August 18, 2 pm
Would you like an artistic challenge? Decorate a quilt square for our Community Quilt Project! Fabric paints and markers available, no quilting knowledge needed. All ages welcome.

Other programs have included talks on Barn Quilts, History of American Quilting, Art Afternoons, and more.

Evansville locals work on their individual squares for a community quilt.

Evansville locals work on an individual square for EFPL’s community quilt. project.

Bookmobile Gearing Up for Busy Janesville Summer

Hedberg Public Library’s (HPL) bookmobile is a mobile branch of the library providing vital access to reading materials–especially to children during the summer.

June through July, the bookmobile has weekly visits at 12 locations and another five monthly visits at various locations/events. The bookmobile also makes appearances at local special events such as Family Movie Night, National Night Out, Nights on Festival Town Square, as well as music festivals and story walks.

Staff working the bookmobile issue new and replacement cards, answer questions, promote digital services, and help cardholders checkout up to three books at a time.

See the complete Bookmobile schedule here.

STATE & NATIONAL NEWS

COLAND Seeks Applicants

Monday, May 2, 2022

Are you looking for an opportunity to advocate for Wisconsin libraries at a statewide level?

Would you like to be part of the conversation to work toward building equity through Wisconsin libraries and their partner organizations?

Do you want to learn about innovations and projects being done at libraries across the state and hear about the creative solutions library staff are developing to address challenges they’ve faced over the past couple years?

If you answered yes to any or all of these questions then you should apply to be on COLAND, the Council of Library and Network Development.

Three openings are available beginning in July on COLAND and YOU could be appointed to fill one of them.Two are professional member openings (for people currently working in libraries) and the third is for a public member.The Council meets every other month at host libraries and school districts throughout the state. Through the pandemic, meetings have been held virtually, but are beginning to return to in-person meetings. Appointments to COLAND are for three years.

For more information about COLAND go to this site – https://dpi.wi.gov/coland

You can go here to APPLY: https://evers.wi.gov/Pages/Application_Process.aspx
(Choose “Application” under Boards & Commissions)

WI Libraries for Everyone guest post by Jennie Stoltz, COLAND member.

The WiLS 2022 Ideas to Action Fund Application Period is Open

WI Libraries for Everyone – Guest post by Andrea Coffin, WiLS – May 16, 2022

The application period is open for WiLS 2022 Ideas to Action Fund. The WiLS Ideas to Action Fund provides grants of up to $5,000, so all types of libraries can bring their project ideas to life. The Fund encourages partnerships and collaborations among WiLS members and with community partners, supports innovative and exploratory new work within the Wisconsin library community, and seeds the development of processes, methods, or resources that can be used by other libraries and cultural organizations.

Not a member? No problem. A WiLS membership is free and comes with all perks and no strings.

Proposals for the 2022 Ideas to Action Fund can be submitted through June 6, 2022. Awards will be announced in September 2022 and funds will be distributed soon after.

More information, including review criteria and sample proposals, can be found at wils.org/do/giving-back/ideas-to-action.

Have questions about WiLS Ideas to Action Funds? Watch the recording of the recent webinar on preparing a proposal or contact WiLS at information@wils.org.

ALS MEETING CALENDAR

SHARE Directors’ Council:
Tuesday, May 4, 9:30 a.m.
Virtual

Board of Trustees Meeting:
Wednesday, May 12, 6:00 p.m.
Virtual

Librarians Meeting:
Wednesday, may 19,
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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