Friday, February 17, 2012

Library Circulation: Are You Shocked?

Book Buying Survey 2012: Book Circ Takes A Hit. (Library Journal, 2/14/2012)

Excerpt:    But it is a shock to discover that book circulation, having soared over the last decade, has suddenly gone flat.  
 
The bar went flat in Wisconsin last year for all formats.  (The Wisconsin Public Library Service Data does not provide subtotals for book and audiovisual circulation.)
 


And then there's this long-simmering discussion.


And, in a slightly different vein.

Back Talk:  The Stat Factor.  (Library Journal, 8/15/2008)

Nielsen: American Families See Tablets as Playmate, Teacher and Babysitter



Entertain at restaurant/events?

Once upon a time, a sandwich bag containing a handful of Cheerios did the trick, at least for the toddler crowd.

Public Libraries, Too

Universities increasingly rely on fundraising. (Eau Claire Leader Telegram, 2/16/2012)

Excerpt:   Facing a prolonged economic slump, colleges and universities in Wisconsin and elsewhere in the U.S. are placing increased importance on fundraising efforts to help sustain the work of higher education.


Library board to discuss hours, fundraising.  (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 9/27/2011)

Excerpt: Faced with reductions in county and state funding, the library board is considering closing libraries up to two days a week. It’s also considering a plan to raise money from private companies and people to make up for lost tax dollars.



Thursday, February 16, 2012

TV Ownership Takes Off in the Early 1950s While Library Circulation Remains Flat

Just a casual observation I made while paging through this book.









Apr 7, 1952 Television is becoming a large part of the lives of Americans. On CBS, the "I Love Lucy" show (which began in October) wipes out its competition on NBC. "I Love Lucy" is viewed in 10.6 million households, the greatest number to date for a television show.  

Number of TV households in 1952:  15.3 million.

Statistical source.  Wisconsin Development Series:  Public Library Facilities (1965)

So....were there concerns, if not shock, over library circulation in the early 1950s?

There was certainly a debate taking place about the impact of television on reading, particularly as it related to children.  (1955 Rudolf Flesch published his influential work, Why Johnny Can't Read and What You Can Do About It. He discussed the reading problems of the nation's children and how television had a negative effect on reading ability.)


Late 1955 in the Nelson household, Great Falls, Montana.  No TV yet, but plenty of books.
As if thumbing their noses at Mr. Flesch, my parents bought a TV the following year.

Hello, Lone Ranger.  Goodbye, Curious George.  Not really, though Curious George was the first book I checked out of the Great Falls Public Library.

Getting to Know Chapter 43 of the Wisconsin State Statutes: Part 10, Standards for Public Library Systems

The current configuration
 
43.15 Standards for public library systems.  (Created in 1971.)

A public library system shall not be established unless it meets the requirements under this section.

(1) POPULATION. The territory within the system shall:

(a) Have a population of 100,000 or more. If, because of the withdrawal or realignment of participating counties, a public library system has fewer than 3 participating counties and a population under 200,000, the remaining parts of the system shall realign with an existing system within 2 years after the date on which the population falls below 200,000.

(b) After July 1, 1998, no new system may be established unless it serves a population of at least 200,000.

(2) FINANCIAL SUPPORT. Each county proposed to be included within a system shall demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the division, its ability to provide adequate funding to implement the plan submitted under s. 43.11 (3) and the report submitted under s. 43.13 (1).

1973:  The first 4 public library systems

(3) TERRITORY INCLUDED.
(a) A consolidated system shall consist of one county only. A federated system shall consist of one or more counties.

(b) No more than one system may be established within a single county. If the territory of a municipality lies in 2 or more counties which are not in the same public library system, the municipal library board or, if no such board exists, the municipal governing body shall determine the system in which the municipality will participate.

(c) If the territory of a joint library lies in 2 or more counties that are not in the same public library system, the joint library board or, if no such board exists, the governing bodies of the municipalities and counties that created the joint library shall determine the system in which the joint library will participate.



(4) METHOD OF ORGANIZATION. 
(a) A public library system may be organized as a 
  • single−county federated public library system, a
  • multicounty federated public library system, or a 
  • single− county consolidated public library system. 
Two public library systems may merge with the approval of 
  • each public library system board and 
  • the county boards of the participating counties

    1983:  Every county except Florence, Ozaukee, and Washington

(b) A county may participate in a federated public library system if it does all of the following:

1. Adopts and maintains the plan of library service submitted and approved under ss. 43.11 (3) and 43.13 (1).

2. Provides the financial support for library services required under sub. (2).

3. Enters into a written agreement with the public library system board to participate in the system and its activities and to furnish library services to residents of those municipalities in the county not maintaining a public library.

2000:  All 72 counties in 17 public library systems;
Wood, Portage, and Adams counties have moved
to South Central since 1993.
Fond du Lac will later move to Winnefox.


(c) A municipal, county or joint public library may participate in a public library system if it meets all of the following requirements:

1. Is established under this chapter. 

2. Is located in a county that participates in a public library system. 

3. Is authorized by its municipal governing body or county board to participate in the public library system. 

4. Enters into a written agreement with the public library system board 
  • to participate in the system and its activities, 
  • to participate in interlibrary loan of materials with other system libraries and 
  • 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. 
This subdivision does not prohibit a municipal, county or joint public library from 
  • giving preference to its residents in library group programs held for children or adults if the library limits the number of persons who may participate in the group program, or from 
  • providing remote access to a library’s electronic database only to its residents. 
6. Employs a head librarian who is certified as a public librarian by the department and whose employment requires that he or she be present in the library for at least 10 hours of each week that the library is open to the public, less leave time.

7. Beginning in 2008, annually is open to the public an average of at least 20 hours each week except that for a library in existence on June 3, 2006, annually is open to the public an average of at least 20 hours or the number of hours each week that the library was open to the public in 2005, whichever is fewer.

8. Beginning in 2008, annually spends at least $2,500 on library materials.

(d) A county may establish a consolidated public library system in which the included county and its underlying communities form a single system. The county may, for such purposes, take over and acquire any library property by consent of the authority controlling that property. 

(5) CAPITAL COSTS EXCLUDED. For the purpose of determining the amount of financial support required under sub. (4) (b) 2., amounts spent for capital projects shall be excluded.

(5m) LIMIT. A public library system may not be established if its establishment would cause the number of public library systems to exceed the number in existence on June 3, 2006. 

History:
1971 Senate Bill 47.   Created in 1971.
1981 Assembly Bill 829.  References to "cities, villages, and towns" changed to "municipalities".
1985 Wisconsin Act 29.   43.15 (22) is amended; 43.15 is repealed and recreated..
1987 Wisconsin Act 399.  43.15 (1) (a) is amended.
1989 Wisconsin Act 286.   43.15 (4) (a) and 45.14 (4) (c) 4. are amended.
1991 Wisconsin Act 269.  43.15 (2) (c) and (d) are created;  43.15 (3) (c) 5. is amended.
1997 Wisconsin Act 27.  43.15 (4) (c) 6. is amended.
1997 Wisconsin Act 150.  43.15 (4) (c) 5. is renumbered 43.15 (4) (c) 5. (intro.) and amended.
2005 Wisconsin Act 226.  43.15 (4) (c) 4 and 43.15 (4) (c) 5. (intro.) are amended; 43.15 (5) is created.
2007 Wisconsin Act 97.  43.15 (5) of the statutes is renumbered 43.15 (5m).
2011 Wisconsin Act 32.
  • 43.15 (2) (a)  is renumbered 43.15 (2). 
  • 43.15 (2) (b) to (e) are repealed.  
  • 43.15 (4) (c) 5 is repealed.  (Related to maintenance of effort.)
  •  
  • 43.15 (4) (e) is repealed.
  • 43.15 (5) is amended.


Related posts:
Part 1:  Legislative findings and declaration of policy.
Part 2:  Definitions.
Part 3:  General duties of the State Superintendent.
Part 4:  General duties of the Division.
Part 5:  Council on Library and Network Development.
Part 6:  Certificates and standards..
Part 7: County library planning committees.
Part 8:  County payment for library service.
Part 9:  Division review.

"Welcome to the New Government Economy" (Insert Your City's Name Here)


Our view: City can’t ignore budget challenges. (La Crosse Tribune, 2/15/2012)

Excerpt:   Finance Director Wayne Delagrave said preliminary estimates show a projected shortfall of $1.5 million in 2013, $2 million in 2014 and $1.6 million in 2015. 

That’s why the city is considering a number of different options to cut costs or raise revenue as it prepares for the budgeting process. 

Last year the city included a host of fee increases to help bolster its revenue without resorting to a property tax increase. Now it has been suggested the city look at eliminating or cutting back on curbside collection of yard waste, Christmas trees and leaves, which alone cost La Crosse $151,000 in 2011. Another option on the table is the possibility of selling naming rights and sponsorships to raise money. 

Welcome to the new government economy. With cutbacks from the federal and state government, local government will continue to get less revenue and local aid. And because local government is the body that delivers most of the services, tough decisions need to be made.

Just happened, moments ago, to be revising a PowerPoint presentation for my SLIS class that includes this slide.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Seattle Times Columnist Danny Westneat: "Library right not to ban porn"


2/4/2012.

Excerpt: When the right-wing Second Amendment Foundation teamed up with the left-wing First Amendment foundation -- the American Civil Liberties Union -- to sue the Eastern Washington library system for filtering out gun websites, it serves as a case study as to why the Seattle Public Library was right last week when it said it wasn't going to do anything about Internet porn.

eMarketer: Tablet Magazine Experience Falls Short


Link to 2/14/2012 post.

Survey says.....

67% of tablet users say they would rather read an electronic version of a magazine than a paper version.

65% of tablet magazine readers told GfK MRI they find the print magazine experience more satisfying.

Schools Doing Just Fine?

Guess it's a matter of perspective.









And today's headline news in the Wheeler Report isn't very comforting.

Michelle Litjens, Republican from 56th Assembly District, Won't Seek Re-Election


Rep. Michelle Litjens, a Vinland Republican, won't seek re-election. (Appleton Post-Crescent, 2/14/2012)

Excerpt: Since her election to the Assembly in 2010, Litjens was touted as an up-and-coming Republican. While she hasn't ruled out a future run for political office, Litjens said at this time her focus needs to be on her family.

Already announced.




Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Marshfield Public Library Addition Proposed


Library addition proposal revealed. (Marshfield News Herald, 2/14/2012)

Excerpt:   Earlier proposed options for the facility included building a new library and moving the current Senior Center into the existing library. To minimize the library/senior center project cost, the Marshfield City Council at its Jan. 24 meeting directed the steering committee to provide a plan to expand the library by building an addition while retaining the current Senior Center for a community center. 

It's questionable whether the new proposal to retain the current center while expanding the library by building an addition will cost less than a new building, said Dave Drews, an architect from Zimmerman Architectural Studios, Milwaukee.

Related articles:
Marshfield City Council supports new library but questions concept of community center. (1/25/2012)
Marshfield library/community center project continues to move forward. (11/12/2011)
Design development for new library/community center.  (9/15/2011)
Better to plan for a new library now than when the roof starts to leak.  (11/12/2010)
Design development in progress.  (11/9/2010)
Community input sought for library improvement plans.  (6/9/2010)

"Quirky" Geenan Favors New Appleton Library over Downtown Exhibition Center


Appleton mayoral candidates define paths before primary. (Appleton Post-Crescent, 2/14/2012)

Excerpt: Similarly, Konetzke and Hanna agreed on the need for an exhibition center ahead of a new public library. Geenen ranked bicycle lanes, a passenger rail service and a new library all before a downtown exhibition center in terms of priority. 

 A few of Geenen’s ideas came off as too quirky to some in the crowd, such as considering an indoor bike facility downtown for commuters, complete with showers.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Getting to Know Chapter 43 of the Wisconsin State Statutes: Part 9, Division Review




From the Wisconsin Historical Society Library Archives:
Division for Library Services


43.13 Division review.  (Created in 1971.)

 (1) (a) [Creation of a public library system.]  No public library system may be established without the approval of the division.

 In reviewing final reports submitted by county library planning committees, the division shall consider,
  • in addition to the standards set forth in s. 43.15
  • the proposed system territory, 
  • organization and financing, 
  • initial and long−range plans for library services, 
  • the role of existing multi−jurisdictional service programs in the territory and 
  • plans for cooperation with adjoining systems and with other kinds of libraries in the territory. 

(b) [Approval of final report]  If the division approves a final report, it shall report such approval to the appropriate county boards and county library planning committees. Upon acceptance by the county boards, the division shall certify to the appropriate county boards the establishment of the public library system proposed by the report, specifying the effective date of the establishment of the system.

(2) A public library system board may submit to the division a plan for the
  • alteration in the territory included within the system or for a 
  • change in system organization from a federated to a consolidated system or vice versa.
If the change proposed by the plan is approved, the division shall certify such fact to the system board, specifying the effective date of the change.

(3) The effective date of the establishment of a system under sub. (1) or of a change under sub. (2) shall be January 1 of the year specified by the division.

(4) [Appeal process]  Any decision by the division under this section may be appealed to the state superintendent.


History
1971 Senate Bill 47.   43.13 is created.
1995 Wisconsin Act 27.  43.13 (4) of the statutes is amended to read: Any decision by the division under this section may be appealed to the state superintendent department.
2005 Wisconsin Act 226.  43.13 (3) of the statutes is amended to read: The effective date of the establishment of a system under sub. (1) or of a change under sub. (2) shall be January 1 of the year specified by the division, except that the effective date of the establishment of a system approved prior to March 1, 1972, may be either January 1 or March 1, 1972.

Going to extremes in preparing for a workshop?

Related posts:
Part 1:  Legislative findings and declaration of policy.
Part 2:  Definitions.
Part 3:  General duties of the State Superintendent.
Part 4:  General duties of the Division.
Part 5:  Council on Library and Network Development.
Part 6:  Certificates and standards..
Part 7: County library planning committees.
Part 8:  County payment for library service.

Name sound familiar? It should!


In Wisconsin, assessing a new labor law’s impact. (Stateline, 2/13/2012)

ExcerptJames Ladwig recently took over the job of Racine County executive. He was sworn in last April, not long after Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed a controversial bill curtailing the bargaining rights of state and local workers. So with the new job, Ladwig got a new set of rules for governing his county.

For the most part, the new rules suit Ladwig just fine.

I guess Daniel C. Vock isn't into full disclosure, such as how Ladwig was selected for this story and why his instructive family history is not mentioned.

ELECTION 2011: Politics was part of family life in the Ladwig household. (Racine Journal-Times, 2/13/2011)

From the 1991-92 Wisconsin Blue Book.



From the 2003-04 Wisconsin Blue Book.