Library System

Winnefox Library System

Describe demographic, economic, and other facts about your system that influenced the development of this and other system plans.

Winnefox provides support to libraries of widely varying size. While the majority of our libraries are located in communities with populations less than 3,000, we also serve two large metropolitan libraries and four medium size libraries. We are challenged to assist our small libraries in providing services normally found only in large communities while providing our larger libraries with services sufficient to keep them interested in system membership. In order to provide the greatest good to all, Winnefox provides services that are a benefit to any size library such as printing and graphics, marketing and public relations assistance, electronic infrastructure support, and electronic resources.

A major factor in the development of the plan is the change in leadership Winnefox has undergone. A new system director began work early in 2006. In late 2006 we began to evaluate services and relationships between the system and its member libraries; a process that will continue in 2007.

The primary economic impact affecting this plan is the need to deal with continued tight funding. Although we will be receiving an increase in state funding, it is modest compared with increased costs. 2007 will see a continued dialogue between member libraries, member counties, and the system to explore alternatives for funding basic services. In a climate where counties and municipalities continue to find themselves under increasing budget pressure, this will be difficult.

Though the population of our member counties continues to be predominately white, all report increasing numbers of immigrants. More than 10% of the students in the Menasha public schools in Winnebago County, for example, consider English to be their second language. The 2000 census confirmed large increases in Spanish speaking individuals in rural Marquette and Waushara counties. The growth of new ethnic populations is causing our membership to examine what they are doing to serve those for whom English is a second language, or for whom reading is not a traditional family activity.

The Wisconsin Department of Administration projects continued growth for Winnebago & Waushara counties above the state average. Commuters and retirees are moving into the rural counties bringing differing expectation of service. They are used to the resources available at urban libraries. Several of our member counties have large numbers of summer residents who also expect service levels similar to those they receive in their home communities. The fact that much of this the population growth is outside of municipalities that support libraries will have a significant impact on the direction of county funding for libraries.

Describe significant needs and problems that influenced the development of this and other system plans.

The most significant needs within Winnefox include assisting libraries as they cope with reduced funding, increasing electronic resource development, achieving 100% member library participation within Winnefox Automated Library Services (WALS), assisting member libraries in serving emerging new readers, and assisting libraries in the development of effective boards.

A new need is helping libraries comply with the new cross-county reimbursement provisions of Act 420 and to deal with resulting changes in county funding patterns.

Online services development has been a priority for Winnefox. Online resources increase the opportunity for rural libraries to offer services on a par with urban libraries. This not only helps them meet the expectations of newcomers from urban areas, but also opens new opportunities for long time residents. At the same time, all libraries, large and small, must keep up with the demands of an increasingly sophisticated information seeking public. The opportunities of online services call to attention the need for increased staff training and funding for equipment and resources.

Staff continue to work to bring the remaining unautomated libraries on the WALS shared system. We anticipate that one additional library will be automated by the end of 2006 and the final 2 will complete the process in 2007. We continue to bring these remaining libraries online while serving the needs of existing WALS members. Member libraries have requested greater technical support and increased access to ‘cutting-edge’ technology. All libraries continue to add computers, expand public Internet access, and search for new ways to serve the public. Winnefox is supporting these advances by member libraries without adding staff.

Our delivery service continues to see steady increases in volume. This is caused not only by the addition of more libraries to the WALS automated system but a general increase in items loaned between member libraries.

The influx of new ethnic populations coupled with the traditional role of Winnefox members of encouraging reading has focused increased attention on emerging new readers. Continued attention will be given to establishing and strengthening services to those for whom English is a second language.

The Winnefox system, as well as our member libraries, has always been blessed with caring, committed trustees. The ever-increasing competition for support among public institutions is causing Winnefox to search for new ways to increase our support to trustees. Trustee workshops have been well attended. Trustee Tale, a quarterly newsletter produced jointly by Winnefox and OWLS has been very well received and is being distributed to some other systems. The Director and Assistant Director are asked to provide consulting to individual boards on a frequent basis. Meeting the needs of trustees will continue to be a major concern of Winnefox in 2007.

Describe the planning environment and process under which this and other system plans were developed. (List additional system planning documents with the period covered and attach any planning documents which have not previously been provided to the division.)

Coordination of long range planning for Winnefox is primarily the responsibility of the Director and Assistant Director. Professional staff from the resource library as well as the directors of member libraries play a major role. In late 2006 we will begin to evaluate system services, a process which will continue into 2007. We expect to start implementing any recommended changes in the second half of 2007.

In the past, most planning has been carried out at Library Advisory Committee (LAC) meetings and these meetings will continue to be an important part of our planning process. LACs are organized by county and are comprised of the library directors in each county. Each LAC meets several times each year with county board representatives in each county. Meetings between member library directors and county board committees continue to be useful in building support for library services.

Multi-type planning is done in association with the Fox Valley Library Council (FVLC) and the Outagamie Waupaca Library System (OWLS) with the participation of many system and member library staff members. . Winnefox staff continues to take a leadership role in FVLC. One staff member continues to chair the Education Committee and Winnefox provides office support for FVLC activities. The integral role played by Winnefox and OWLS staff insures the continuing integration of FVLC planning objectives with those of Winnefox and OWLS.

WLS and OWLS recognize common goals and concerns exist for the two systems. The WLS Director and Assistant Director and the OWLS Director continue to meet to discuss mutual concerns and plan joint activities.

Evaluations of continuing education activities, system staff visits to member libraries, library generated statistics, member library responses to special surveys, and general observations are elements contributing to our planning. System staff meets with other service providers regularly to discuss opportunities to serve users with special needs.

		ASSURANCES
The following plan and compliance document provides assurance that your public library system intends to comply with all statutory requirements for public library systems for calendar year 2007. Indicate, with a check, your system’s intent to comply with each system requirement and provide the requested information under each system requirement.
S.43.24(2) For a public library system to qualify for and maintain its eligibility for state aid under this section it shall ensure that all of the following are provided: Membership Agreements
	(a) Written agreements to provide, to any resident of the system area, the same library services, on the same terms, that are provided to the residents of the municipality or county that established the member library, except for the group programming preference authorized under s. 43.15 (4) (c) 4., and to provide for the interlibrary loan of materials among all participating public libraries, as evidenced by agreements with those libraries.
	A copy of the agreement with a list of all members signing it will be provided to the division by January 15.
Resource Library Agreement
	(b) Backup reference, information and interlibrary loan services from the system resource library, including the development of and access to specialized collections, as evidenced by a written agreement with that library.
	A signed copy of the resource library agreement will be provided to the division by January 15.
Reference Referral and Interlibrary Loan
	S.43.24(2)(d) Referral or routing of reference and interlibrary loan requests from libraries within the system to libraries within and outside the system.

Other Types of Libraries
	S.43.24(2)(L) Cooperation and continuous planning with other types of libraries in the system area which results in agreements with those libraries for the appropriate sharing of library resources to benefit the clientele of all libraries in the system area.
	The system will have agreements with other types of libraries, or if the system participates in a cooperation agreement with a multitype organization to meet the purposes of this goal, there is established a clear link between the system and the individual members of the multitype organization. A copy of the agreement with a list of all signing libraries will be provided to the division by January 15.
	Other types of libraries in the system area have had an opportunity to review and comment on the plan.
Library Technology and Resource Sharing Plan
	S.43.24(2)(m) Planning with the division and with participating public libraries and other types of libraries in the area in regard to library technology and the sharing of resources. By January 1, 2000, and every fifth January 1 thereafter, the public library system shall submit to the division a written plan for library technology and the sharing of resources.
	Member public libraries and other types of libraries in the system area have had an opportunity to review and comment on the plan.
	A copy of the written plan, including any revisions and amendments, for library technology and resource sharing is attached to this document or is on file with the division.
Other Service Programs
	S.43.24(2)(i) Any other service programs designed to meet the needs of participating public libraries and the residents of the system area, as determined by the public library system board after consultation with participating public libraries.
	List each “other” service programs individually with ongoing activities and new or priority activities for the plan year under each program. For instance, if the system provides a bookmobile service program, list ongoing activities and new or priority activities for the bookmobile program. (Do not lump miscellaneous activities under a single “other” program.)

Winnefox Cooperative Technical Services (WCTS)

Ongoing Activities:

Because WCTS funding is provided on behalf of the libraries directly from Green Lake, Waushara, and Marquette Counties, WCTS primarily serves libraries in those counties. Winnefox member libraries outside of these counties may contract for services from WCTS at cost.

WCTS provides cooperative book selection and processing for member libraries and sponsors several workshops on materials selection each year. WCTS staff provides “work days” consisting of on-site help and consultation for special projects such as weeding. WCTS contributes towards a computer support position in WALS in order to obtain more frequent on-site technology assistance. WCTS contributions to WALS also helps subsidize annual WALS fees for WCTS libraries.

In the spring of 2006 we commissioned a study of the efficiency of the WCTS operations and compared it’s efficiency with that of libraries similar in size to those it serves. While confirming our belief that a centralized agency is a cost-effective way of providing technical services to small libraries it pointed out several areas where we could improve. In 2007 we will continue to improve this service.

Priorities for Printing and Graphics and Public Relations and Marketing are contained in “Summary, Section VII, Public Information”

Administration
	The system will not expend more than 20 percent of the state aid projected to be received in the plan year for administration.
	The 2005 system audit will be submitted to the division no later than October 15, 2007.
Budget
	A copy of your public library system budget by service program category and fund source for the plan year (see attached guidelines) is attached.

		CERTIFICATION
WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, HEREBY CERTIFY that to the best of our knowledge, the information provided in this document and any attachments is true and correct, and that the system will be in full compliance with s. 43.24(2)(a) through s. 43.24(2)(m) of the Wisconsin Statutes for the year 2007.
System Director Signature Ø			Date Signed
System Board President Signature Ø			Date Signed
		FOR DPI USE LIBRARY SYSTEM PLAN APPROVAL
Pursuant to Wis. Statutes, the plan contained herein is: Approved Provisionally Approved See Comments. Not Approved See Comments.	DLTCL Assistant Superintendent Signature

Service Agreements
	S.43.24(2)(g) Service agreements with all adjacent library systems
	A copy of the agreement with adjacent systems with a list of all systems signing the agreement will be provided to the division by January 15.
Professional Consultation
	S. 43.24(2)(h) Professional consultant services to participating public libraries.

§ Continue to provide full ILL service despite greatly reduced state support for ILL.

§ Provide clearinghouse function for member ILL requests

§ Maintain a shared database of member library bibliographic records and holdings

§ Provide support, training and assistance at development of library web pages for web access to library information, online resources, and community information.

See “Summary, Section III, Continuing Education and Consulting”

See “Summary, Section II, Delivery Service”

See “Summary, Section III, Continuing Education and Consulting”

See “Summary, Section IV, Library Services to Special Users”

Winnefox Cooperative Technical Services (WCTS)

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM PLAN AND CERTIFICATION OF INTENT TO COMPLY CALENDAR YEAR 2007 PI-2446 (Rev. 08-06)		INSTRUCTIONS: Complete and submit by October 16, 2006, to: WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION ATTN: AL ZIMMERMAN DIVISION FOR LIBRARIES, TECHNOLOGY, AND COMMUNITY LEARNING P.O. BOX 7841 MADISON, WI 53707-7841

	GENERAL INFORMATION

Inservice Training
	S.43.24(2)(e) Inservice training for participating public library personnel and trustees.

Delivery and Communication
	S. 43.24 (2)(fm) Electronic delivery of information and physical delivery of library materials to participating libraries.

Services to Users With Special Needs
	S.43.24(2)(k) Promotion and facilitation of library service to users with special needs.