System and Resource Library Administrators Association of
2006
May 3 – 5, 2006
Attended By Jeff
Gilderson-Duwe, Mark Arend (SRLAAW only), Joy Schwarz,
Renee Miller
Background:
The annual WAPL Spring Conference is always a great
opportunity to find out what is happening at other libraries around the state
and to network with other
Programs / Events:
Wednesday, May 3
SRLAAW Highlights
·
Report from
· State Legislative Update (M. Cross): SB 273 (“language” bill) passed, signed & is now Act 226; SB 272 (“reform” bill) passed but not yet signed; not passed this session – SB 258 re: public library circulation of R-rated videos; AB 483 re: repeal of maintenance of effort (MOE) provision in Wis. Stat. 43.15; AB 1022 re: exemptions from county library tax levies; and TPA Taxpayers Protection Act re: limits on state income.
· Statewide Advocacy: Discussion of Campaign for Wisconsin Libraries effort and its relation to WLA’s effort to build a “willing advocate” network.
· WILS Announcements (K. Schneider): Wisconsin History Online (WHO) going “live” July 1st with a portal to some WI history digital content & will work with smaller organizations to host some digital content;
·
Friends of Wisconsin Libraries (FOWL) (T.
Dawson): FOWL has voted to dissolve and become part of the
· Division Reports: Badgernet Converged Network upgrade 40% done; Attorney General opinions from Brown Co. and City of Washburn affirm library board powers and duties in Chapter 43; LSTA 2007 budget priorities being set by advisory committee – Division est. $102,000 fewer LSTA funds in 2007 than 2006; SCLS statewide delivery network price increases for 20007 – Winnefox price will increase by $820 to $16,672; RFP process underway for new resource sharing tools to succeed the current WISCAT tools.
Thursday, May 4
OPL & Winnefox’s own Joy Schwarz blogged the WAPL conference, and you can check out many of its highlights for yourself at http://wlaweb.blogspot.com/.
· Keynote Speech: J.D. Waggoner, Secretary of the West Virginia Library Commission stood up for the value of libraries and librarians, and proclaimed his love of books. He used nautical metaphors to exhort WAPL Conference attendees to get out in their communities and re-make their images (be seen as a racing boat rather than a boring but serviceable “john boat.”)
· Shared System Cost Study Report and Technology Update: Division staff members Bob Bocher and Sally Drew presented reports on a survey of costs and participation in shared library automation systems. Summaries of the study, including the slides from this presentation are at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/sharedils.html. Sally Drew also reported on the RFP process for a new resource sharing tool to replace the WISCAT ILL system.
· Protect and Serve: Using Wisconsin Public Library Service Data To Protect Your Library From the Budget Knife: Division staff Al Zimmerman and John Debacher previewed data from 2005 public library annual reports. They also showed tools and techniques for comparing a library’s data with those of other libraries and with the state quantitative standards.
· Communication…That’s the key! Blogs, Wikis, Email…When to Use What!? South Central Library System technology gurus Stef Morrill and Nichole Fromm offered examples of potential library communication applications using a range of “new tech” tools. Their presentation slides may be viewed at http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/mats/WAPL06Communication.pdf.
· Have You Heard About… South Central Library System’s Stef Morrill provoked many “ooohs” and “aaaahs” with her whirlwind tour through some of the coolest new web resources around. A .pdf of her resource list handout is available at http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/mats/WAPL06haveyouheard.pdf. My favorite – www.pandora.com, where you are able to customize a web radio station that plays music similar to music / musicians that you like.
·
A Fresh Look at