Retiring Guy's Digest

Carl Zimmer Responds to Jonathan Franzen

2012-01-31T11:45:00.001-06:00

Ebooks: More Boon to Literacy Than Threat to Democracy. (Discover, 1/31/2012)

Excerpt: Books were not frozen solid before the invention of the Kindle. Charles Darwin, for instance, rushed out The Origin of Species in 1859 in a fit of desperation, his hand forced by Alfred Russel Wallace’s near-simultaneous discovery of evolution. Darwin was not terribly happy with how the book turned out, and so he continued to revise it for decades, churning out six editions all told. He was perpetually adding clarifications, correcting typographical errors, removing arguments that he no longer liked. A century before computers, Darwin could not resist the urge to “delete that, change that, move it around.” And despite Darwin’s ebook-like compulsion to alter his own text, he still managed to establish the foundation of modern biology.

It’s certainly true that ebooks are an awkward young format that’s still sloppy and hard to manage. There are plenty of fly-by-night ebook editions of Fitzgerald’s writing, panned in customer reviews for their sloppy formatting. But you can also buy a Kindle edition of The Great Gatsby from, yes, Scribner—the same house that originally published the book in hardback.

Rather than set the world on fire with radical contigency, I expect that ebooks will follow much the same trajectory as paperbacks. They will start out being frowned upon as shabby, and then they will deliver literature conveniently to millions of people who might not otherwise have read it. In fact, I just discovered to my surprise that I no longer have my paperback copy of The Great Gatsby. It must have disappeared on one of my moves. To fill the gap, I’ve downloaded an ebook version, which I’m looking forward to rereading this evening. And for that, whether he likes it or not, I have Franzen to thank.

Companion piece:
Jonathan Franzen: ebooks are damaging society. (Telegraph, 1/29/2012)

From the You-Probably-Don't-Want-to-Know Department

2012-01-31T08:48:00.000-06:00

Found at Flowing Data.

I suspect there's a Facebook page for everything under the sun.

Survey says......Bathroom Reading: Study Finds Droid Users Most Likely To Be On-The-Go While Going

City of Manitowoc Elected Officials Write New Employment Policy Manual

2012-01-31T07:08:00.000-06:00

Manitowoc looks at sick leave, pay issues. (Manitowoc Herald-Times-Reporter, 1/30/2012)

Such as....

Clothing allowances
New sick leave bank accrual system. (sick leave cannot be accrued beyond 10 weeks and will be canceled upon termination of employment with no payment made.)
Automatic pay raises
Whether Streets workers could continue changing the oil on their cars and trucks at the Department of Public Works shop.
Seniority no longer would be the exclusive factor when it comes to layoffs ("Management (will) retain those employees who are most qualified to perform the available work, regardless of length of employment."
No automatic "progression step" raises based on longevity; some council support for a merit-based pay raise system.

New Legislative Strategy: Libraries and Homebrew

2012-01-31T06:29:00.000-06:00

Editorial: A tall, cold one can bring politicians together. (Oshkosh Northwestern, 1/30/2012)

Excerpt: Rep. Dean Kaufert, R-Neenah, and Sen. Mike Ellis, R-Neenah, are pursuing the issue here; it has bipartisan support from five state senators and 14 Assembly members and has been referred to the Committee on Energy, Biotechnology and Consumer Protection.

Like the current homebrewing law, the new bill doesn't allow for the sale of homebrewed wines or beer. It simply allows the concoctions to be transported — so homebrew groups can share their creations with friends and family and the public at festivals and competitions.

As for SB375, we have the support of 11 senators (4 Republicans, 7 Democrats) and 15 Assembly representatives (10 Republicans, 5 Democrats.) Ellis, no. Kaufert, yes. More on this bill later in the week.

It's only Monday, but this is still the best ebook headline of the week

2012-01-30T20:43:00.000-06:00

E-Readers Stimulating the Sales of Erotica eBooks. (Good Reader, 1/30/2012)

Excerpt: Sales are rising of erotic ebooks due to the constant proliferation of e-readers. At any given time there are numerous erotica books in the best seller list on Kobo, Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

British Columbia owned eXtasy Books [homepage not explicit] recently told the CBC that “Customers are starting to discover them and finding that they can read certain books that they do not want other people to see and in privacy.” The e-publisher notes that sales took off in early 2010 and doubled last year. She expects them to triple in 2012 with a majority of downloaders being female. Xtasy has more than 1,000 titles in its “store” including ones such as the paranormal Dragon’s Pearl, the hybrid fantasy/Victorian Lady Mechatronic and the Steampunk Pirates and the Western-tinged Dead Man’s Diamond.

John Evangelist Walsh Explains How Monroe Wisconsin Got Its Library

2012-01-30T20:00:00.000-06:00

LINK (page 1 of 12)

LINK

Hat tip to Janel Keizer, one of my LIS 712 students this semester.

Jonathan Franzen Has Something to Say about Ebooks

2012-01-30T12:11:00.000-06:00

Jonathan Franzen: e-books are damaging society. (The Telegraph, 1/29/2012)

Excerpt: The author of Freedom and The Corrections, regarded as one of America’s greatest living novelists, said consumers had been conned into thinking that they need the latest technology.

“The technology I like is the American paperback edition of Freedom. I can spill water on it and it would still work! So it's pretty good technology. And what’s more, it will work great 10 years from now. So no wonder the capitalists hate it. It’s a bad business model,” said Franzen, who famously cuts off all connection to the internet when he is writing.

“I think, for serious readers, a sense of permanence has always been part of the experience. Everything else in your life is fluid, but here is this text that doesn’t change.

“Will there still be readers 50 years from now who feel that way? Who have that hunger for something permanent and unalterable? I don’t have a crystal ball.

“But I do fear that it’s going to be very hard to make the world work if there’s no permanence like that. That kind of radical contingency is not compatible with a system of justice or responsible self-government.”

School Library/Public Library Merger Under Discussion in Stanley, Wisconsin

2012-01-30T09:10:00.001-06:00

This news didn't register on Retiring Guy's radar screen last year.

Ongoing opposition building for Stanley library merger. (Chippewa Herald, 1/29/2012)

Excerpt: A decision on combining the Stanley-Boyd School library with the D.R. Moon Public Library is still far off, but opponents have been gathering their support.“

Presently, we have over 500 signatures in support of preserving the public library and continuing it in its current location,” Stanley resident Brian Stolie said.

Stolie and others in Stanley have been working on a petition to stop the city and school from a proposed merger of the public and school library. The plan would call for the public library to move from its current building on Fourth Avenue into the school library, about half a mile away.

The city and school have been discussing the merger for a few months, using a fact-finding committee to examine costs, space and other needs to combine the two libraries. [Has this committee distributed any public reports? Apparently, the school board minutes aren't available online.]

The biggest concern:

Stanley-Boyd School District board meetings.

Public/School District Library (action) appears on 7/25/2011 agenda under Effective Curriculum and Instruction.
Public/School District Library (report) appears on 8/22/2011 agenda, and 9/26/2011 agenda.
10/24/2011 agenda under Effective Curriculum and Instruction.
Public/School Library in accordance with Wisconsin State Statute 19.85 (1)(c)appears on 10/24/2011 agenda under Closed Session; Public/School District Library (report) appears on same agenda under Effective Curriculum and Instruction.
No agenda items on this issue since October 2011.

Previous article:
Concerns about library merger aired. (Chippewa Herald, 11/3/2011)

LINK

Not Enough People Liked the Idea, I Guess

2012-01-30T07:20:00.000-06:00

LINK

But someone did help him put up a campaign website

.Not in this case.

A Report on the Oshkosh Area Housing Market

2012-01-30T07:02:00.000-06:00

Screenshot of interactive map that accompanies article.

No surprise to me the world of difference

between City of Oshkosh and Town of Algoma.

Oshkosh weathers the ups and downs of the housing market. (Oshkosh Northwestern, 1/28/2012)

Excerpt: This is the fourth straight year in which total sales have declined in Winnebago County - from 1,456 in 2010 to 1,432 in 2011 - much to the surprise of REMAX on the Water Realtor Kris Villars.

"Our sales were up, our prices were up. Everything looked good," Villars said. "I’m hoping things will get a little bit better, though. Things have stabilized, but it’s tough to say whether it will improve."

Villars attributed the decline in sales this year to a hangover from the first-time homebuyer tax credit, a program that ended in mid-2010. She pointed to year over year declines in sales for the first six months of 2011, followed by year-over-year increases in the last six months of the year. She said Realtors have been busy prepping homes and home sellers for spring showings in expectation that the growth of the last half of 2011 will continue this year.

"The first half of the year we were set up to fail because of the tax credit dollars," she said. "That’s why our market looks like it was down."

But she added that low interest rates are proving to be a double-edged sword. While they may entice some buyers into the market, low interest rates also can encourage homeowners to stay put and refinance existing mortgages.

"Refinance rates mean it’s easy for people to stay where they are," she said.

Getting to Know Chapter 43 of the Wisconsin State Statutes: Libraries (Part 3)

2012-01-30T06:24:00.000-06:00

43.03. General Duties of the State Superintendent
.

This section enumerates the general duties of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction as they pertain to school and public library services.

The general duties of the state superintendent as they pertain to education programs are found in Chapter 115.28.

The state superintendent shall:

(1) Promote, assist and plan the organization, developmentand improvement of school library media services to provide theresources needed for teaching and learning in the schools.

(2) Promote, assist, plan and coordinate the organization,development and improvement of public library services and public library systems to serve the needs of all citizens in the state.

(3) (a) Promote cooperation and resource sharing among public libraries, school libraries, other types of libraries and relatedagencies. (b) Plan, coordinate, evaluate and set statewide priorities forthe development of networks to enable library cooperation andresource sharing within this state and between this state andresource providers in other states. (d) Submit to the council on library and network developmenta biennial report which describes the programs and policies carried out under pars. (a) and (b) in the preceding biennium and theprograms and policies to be carried out under pars. (a) and (b) inthe succeeding biennium.

(4) Plan and coordinate the provision of library services to groups with special needs, including institutional residents, thephysically and mentally handicapped, the socially and economically disadvantaged and racial and ethnic minorities.

(5) Accept, on behalf of the state, grants from the federal government or any federal agency or gifts or grants from any othersource to be used for the purposes designated under this chapter.

(6) Enter into an annual contract with the public library in a 1stclass city for the provision of library services to physically handicapped persons, including the blind and visually handicapped,certified by competent authority as unable to read or use conventional printed materials as a result of physical limitations. For thepurpose of this subsection, “competent authority” means anymember of the medical or allied professions, and professional persons in the fields of public health, education, library service, rehabilitation, social work and public welfare.

(7) Contract for service with libraries and other resource providers in and outside of this state to serve as resources of specialized library materials and information not available in the reference and loan library under s. 43.05 (11).

(8) Establish procedures necessary for the internal administrative operation of the division.

(9) Develop and maintain a computer database containingbibliographic and library holding information for all types oflibrary materials owned by libraries throughout the state to serveas a resource sharing tool and assist libraries in developing computerized bibliographic databases.

(10) Disseminate information regarding appropriate continuing education activities available to librarians, library board members, library support staff and other related professionals.

History:

1979 Assembly Bill 20.An act...

to repeal 15 .377 (2) and (3), 43.01 and 43.09 (3) ;
to amend 43.001 (4) and 43.24 (3) ;
to repeal and recreate 43.03, 43.05, 43.07 and 43.24 (1) ; and
to create 15.377 (6), 43.001 (5) and 43.27 of the statutes, relating to

abolishing the council on library development and the council on public. library certificates and standards,
creating a council on library and network development,
assigning duties relating to library services in this state, state aids to public library systems and making an appropriation

1985 Assembly Bill 537. 8 pages of miscellaneous changes to Chapter 43. The section describing the services of the Reference and Loan Library [43.05(11)] more than doubled in length.

1997 Wisconsin Act 27. Language changes pertaining to the Office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

1999 Wisconsin Act 185, Change in spelling: data base to database.

Wisconsin State Constitution

As They Have Been Doing All Along, Libraries Adapt to Technology

2012-01-29T18:33:00.000-06:00

Area libraries adapt in a high-tech world. (Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, 1/29/2012)

Excerpt:

Will the local library as we know it soon be a thing of the past?

Cool it, say local librarians.

Librarians say people have to remember the publishing industry itself doesn't know exactly what to make of e-books. For instance, some publishers have declined to share their books with libraries in a digital format, said Eric Jennings, a research and instruction librarian at UW-Eau Claire.

Meanwhile, the market hasn't determined what will be the dominant platform for e-books. Will it be the Kindle? The iPad? Something else?

John Stoneberg, director of L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire, likened the situation to the VCR tug-of-war between VHS and Betamax in the 1980s. The future of e-books, the publishing industry and libraries are in flux right now, Stoneberg and others say.

And librarians say it will be some time before digital checkouts outstrip their hard-copy counterparts.

"I don't see that happening anytime in the near future," Jennings said.

Notice a theme here?
Public libraries in Portland, nationwide adapt to technological evolution. (The Oregonian, 1/13/2012)
Ebooks: Libraries adapting to popular format. (phillyBurbs.com, 1/9/2012)
Not Your Grandfather’s Library: In a digital world, Delaware libraries are evolving. (DFM News, 12/20/2011)

2012-01-29T17:45:00.000-06:00

Longtime library head resigns. Emanuel selects San Francisco administrator as replacement. (Chicago Tribune, 1/25/2012)

Excerpt: The change at the top comes amid labor unrest and budget cuts at the city's libraries under Emanuel.

Dempsey's resignation after 18 years at the helm follows a tumultuous few months that saw Chicago's 76 branch libraries briefly shut their doors on Mondays because the Emanuel administration and the union representing most library employees could not reach agreement on a plan to keep them open by having librarians work six days each week.

Last weekend, Emanuel and Dempsey announced that 65 part-time union workers would be rehired to staff the branches most Monday afternoons. That move will return the libraries to a six-day schedule without requiring the approval of union leadership.

That came after Emanuel laid off 172 union employees to save more than $3 million in his 2012 budget.

Related post:
The Chicago Public Library: A National Treasure. (1/27/2012)

New on This Week's New York Times Hardcover Fiction Best Sellers List

2012-01-29T17:27:00.000-06:00

And the winner, with 215 holds in LINKcat, is THE ROPE. (Followed by 55 for Raylan, 32 for Death of Kings, and 13 for Shadows in Flight. Maybe it's just me, the authors, or the impact of ebooks, but these numbers seem on the low side compared to holds placed on bestselling hardcover fiction when I was still at Middleton.)

BOOKLESS @ the Madison Public Library: Art, Music, Activities, Food & Beverages

2012-01-29T09:13:00.000-06:00

A most extraordinary evening!

And, from the impressive number of people who attended, a most successful one.

JoAnna and I arrived shortly before 8:00, after some difficulty finding a parking place. (The Blue Man Group was a big draw at the Overture Center.) We were three cars from the entrance of the Overture ramp when the FULL sign lit up. Then we drove to the Dane County ramp where the space we chose was governed by a defective meter, which we didn't detect until we fed a few quarters into it.

We're not movin', I said to myself.

I scribbled a note on a page ripped out of a pocket notebook -- yeah, I still carry one around wherever I go -- and stuffed it halfway into the coin slot.

At the time we arrived, the ticket line stretched to just inside the outside lobby doors.

Not that much later.......

What follows is a click-by-click pictorial review.

And if anyone has a list of "Bookless" artists AND their works yesterday, I'd love to share it.

On the first floor...

Time for a beverage.

To the batcave, Robin, where pulsating music provided by a DJ and a light show projected onto a wall set the tone.

By this time, images from a December 30th visit to the Conciergerie in Paris competed for my attention.

2nd floor. More art, and live music on the Project Lodge stage.

See "BOOKLESS: A Library Transformed" at The Library as Incubator Project.

Save Our Rockford Library Members Pack Board Meeting

2012-01-28T14:07:00.000-06:00

Rockford Public Library patrons press for more say on proposals. (Rockford Register-Star, 1/24/2012)

Excerpt: One thing is clear after a Rockford Public Library Board meeting Monday: Changes in how the library spends its money, the closing of library branches and the weeding of its print collection will not happen without a fight.

It’s not just a fight between library leaders and its staff.

More than 100 people attended the meeting to listen and show their support for Save Our Library, a group of Rockford residents who learned about dramatic changes in library business that Executive Director Frank Novak suggested in a set of documents he shared with board members last year.

In recent weeks, Save Our Library members have spread word of their concerns and urged other library users to join them. They confronted library leaders during a news conference Jan. 13. They’ve flooded board members with emails. A 12-year-old boy collected more than 300 signatures on paper and online petitions.

Related article:
Save Our Rockford Library (SOL) calls for more public input in library's strategic planning. (1/14/2012)
Rockford Public Library will boost spending on digital and audio books in 2012. (10/13/2011)
Supportive editorial for Rockford Public Library needs a fact checker. (9/1/2011)
Rockford Public Library circulates 0.05 ebooks per capita in 1st half of 2011. (7/13/2011)

Rockford Public Library Hours Survey a Toss-Up So Far. (11/21/2010)
Branch closures off the table. (10/21/2010)
Library considers a Branch Anywhere future. (9/14/2010)
Library patrons deal with a new reality. (3/23/2010)
Reductions in staff, cuts in hours leads to adjustments all around. (2/2/2010)

Rockford Public Library staggers into 2010. (1/8/2010)]

Rockford library board OKs union contract. (11/17/2009)

Advocating for the Rockford Public Library. (11/12/2009)

Rockford Public Library's projected $1.7 million deficit. (11/3/2009)

Rockford Public Library: "Library cuts coming". (9/15/2009)

Rockford library board delays action on shortfall. (7/21/2009)

Bill Maher asks, "Who the f**k is Saul Alinsky?"

2012-01-28T14:03:00.000-06:00

Link to The Raw Story.

Summarized

Commonly seen on campus, in this edition, when it was first published.

5 people in the South Central Library System service area are curious to know more.

Related reading:
New Rules for New Radicals: The Tea Party Discovers a Taste for…. Saul Alinsky! (Brennan Center for Justice, 5/10/2010)

Dr. Al Condeluci: "Working towards a community where each belong"

2012-01-27T21:08:00.000-06:00

Building's design supports bringing people with disabilities into the community. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1/23/2012)

Excerpt: Mr. Rosenblatt said the idea of showcasing the agency's guiding principles in this way emerged from meetings with Mr. Condeluci and his staff, who had noticed that Springboard associate Shannon Ashmore had "wonderfully friendly handwriting."

"We suggested it might be fun to use that handwriting in the space itself and began to focus on three columns that march through the space. We imagined them like big blackboards."

Another inspiration was the concept of "architecture parlante" (literally, "speaking architecture"), in which buildings explain their own purpose or identity. The concept, originally associated with 19th-century French architect Claude Nicolas Ledoux, underlies the practice of embedding words or names in building designs. The facades of Carnegie Institute in Oakland and the Boston Public Library are examples.

"The words embody the idea that buildings are living breathing organisms," explained Mr. Rosenblatt. "If the building speaks, you may also be inspired to think about building community on other levels."

"The fundamental idea that Al has developed is creating a bridge between people with disabilities and society," Mr. Rosenblatt added. "Enlarging the idea of community, connecting people. This concept permeates the design."

Dear Senator Ellis, Welcome to the 21st Century

2012-01-27T07:15:00.000-06:00

Wisconsin Senate President Mike Ellis, a Neenah Republican, apologizes for referring to Green Bay Preble High School as 'sewer'. (Appleton Post-Crescent, 1/27/2012)

Excerpt: Ellis [first elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1970] apologized for his remarks.

"It was very unfortunate, and I do apologize," he said. "I, for no reason, threw out the name Preble. I meant 'if Preble is going down the sewer,' not that it — or any Green Bay school — is a sewer. Boy, did I miss the mark. I apologize, and I have sent a letter apologizing. It is not a failing school."

Green Bay School Dist. Supt. Michelle Langenfeld invited Ellis to visit Green Bay schools.

Read story at PolitiScoop.

LINK

Perhaps it's time for Sen. Ellis to do a little brushing up.

Notice what's missing here?

The Chicago Public Library: A National Showcase

2012-01-27T06:22:00.000-06:00

With This Library System, Government Isn’t All Bad. (The New York Times, 1/27/2012)

Excerpt: It is now a national showcase. Mr. Daley built 57 new libraries, and the system’s 79 locations served 11 million patrons last year. Book circulation is no longer the main goal, with electronic and other transactions the priority as libraries morph into creative community centers amid the much-chronicled decline in American civic engagement. [Emphasis added.]

[snip]

"The tragedy from a public-policy standpoint is that an important and credible idea — that we should be skeptical of what government can accomplish — has been completely distorted into this belief that government is inherently a bad thing, and therefore that less of it must be better,” said Charles Wheelan, a journalist turned senior lecturer at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy.

“Government is just how we act collectively to do things that would be hard to do alone — like building roads, keeping airplanes from crashing into each other, doing basic research on cancer, fighting terrorists,” said Mr. Wheelan. “These are not inherently bad things.”

Polling data show that the venom is directed largely at the federal government.

Getting to Know Chapter 43 of the Wisconsin State Statutes: Libraries (Part 2)

2012-01-27T06:03:00.000-06:00

43.01 Definitions. In this chapter:

(1) "Department" means the department of public instruction.
(2) "Division" means the division for libraries, technology, and community learning in the department.
(3) "Municipality" means a city, village, town, tribal government or tribal association, or a school district that maintained and operated a public library facility prior to December 17, 1971.
(4) "Network" means a formal arrangement between libraries or other informational service organizations whereby materials, information and services are exchanged and made available to potential users.
(5) "Public library system" means a system established as either a federated public library system under s. 43.19 or a consolidated public library system under s. 43.21.
(6) "State superintendent" means the state superintendent of public instruction.

History.

1971 Senate Bill 47. Published December 17, 1971.

Summary: The provisions of this bill setting forth the method ofestablishing and supporting public library systems are found in section 15 . Present law relating to municipal libraries is modernized and is retained in ch. 43. Those portions of ch. 43 which do not relate to municipal libraries or public library systems are renumbered to appropriate sections of the statutes.
28 pages of underscored and stricken text.
Interesting sidelight: Prior to this law, Chapter 43 covered "Libraries, Museums, Civic and Community Centers, and Special Uses of Municipal Buildings".

1977 Assembly Bill 1220. (290 pages of underscored and stricken text. Miscellaneous changes for "library", as search term, found on pages 61, 62, 141, 157, 268, 275, 276, 278.)

1979 Assembly Bill 20. Summary An act to repeal 15.377 (2) and (3), 43.01 and 43.09 (3) ; to amend 43.001 (4) and43.24 (3) ; to repeal and recreate 43.03, 43.05, 43.07 and 43.24 (1) ; and to create15.377 (6), 43.001 (5) and 43.27 of the statutes, relating to...

abolishing the council onlibrary development and the council on public library certificates and standards,
creatinga council on library and network development,
assigning duties relating to libraryservices in this state, state aids to public library systems and making an appropriation.

1983 Wisconsin Act 189. Among the 27 pages of underscored and stricken text: SECTION 23 [of the bill]. 43.001 (2), (3), (4) and (5) of the statutes are renumbered 43.001 (5), (4),(2) and (3) .Anyone remember thre reason(s) why?

1985 Wisconsin Act 177. 8 pages of miscellaneous changes to Chapter 43. The section describing the services of the Reference and Loan Library [43.05(11)] more than doubled in length. (See page 2.)

1993 Wisconsin Act 335. Name change. From Division of Library Services to Division for Libraries and Community Learning.

1995 Wisconsin Act 27. Language changes pertaining to the Office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

1997 Wisconsin Act 27. Language changes pertaining to the Office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

2001 Wisconsin Act 48. Name change. From Division for Library and Community Learning to Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning.

Related post:
Getting to know chapter 43 (Part 1)

Florida Library Association: 2012 Library Day 2012 Documents

2012-01-26T19:12:00.001-06:00

LINK

Schedule

Letter to legislators

Snapshot Day

How Florida libraries change lives

State aid to libraries grant (page 1 of 3)

State aid to libraries rationale (page 1 of 2)

MLCs

LINK

Public libraries & employment

LINK

LINK (page 1 of 2)

Wonder how this flyer will resonate with State Senators

Oelrich, Perry, and Van Zant?

“ALEC is excited to have Majority Leader Chip Rogers as a member of ALEC leadership": I'll just bet they are!

2012-01-26T14:55:00.000-06:00

LINK

Georgia Community Broadband in Legislative Crosshairs. (Government Technology, 1/25/2012)

Excerpt: SB 313, the Broadband Investment Equity Act, [sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock],was introduced in the Georgia Senate on Jan. 19. If it becomes law, the bill would enact numerous barriers to providing government-owned broadband services, including the requirements that private providers be solicited first before establishing a community broadband network and that a special election must be held for citizens to approve the project.

According to a statement released by the Georgia Senate Press Office, the goal of SB 313 is to encourage private investment and level the playing field by making government entities adhere to the same rules that private companies follow when establishing communication networks.

Related reading.
Pssst ... Wanna Buy a Law?. When a company needs a state bill passed, the American Legislative Exchange Council can get it done. (Bloomberg Businessweek, 12/1/2011)

Getting to Know Chapter 43 of the Wisconsin State Statutes: Libraries (Part 1)

2012-01-26T08:00:00.000-06:00

As announced in the November 17, 2011, issue of Channel Weekly, the DLTCL will facilitate a discussion around libraries and the future by convening a task force in early 2012. The focus of the group is to review statutory requirements for library systems [see sections 43.17 through 43.27] with an eye toward making them contemporary with the issues facing libraries and their patrons. The task force will develop recommendations by early fall. The group will be representative of the entire community and will appoint persons based on roles, location, and library type and size.

Perhaps now is a good time to familiarize ourselves with the current scope of Chapter 43. What all is contained in these 11 densely printed pages?

My 12th-grade English teacher, affectionately known as "Granny Coe", (though we never called her that to her face, of course) walked us through line-by-line exegeses of Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales and Shakespeare's Macbeth. I'm not anticipating to dive as deeply into this exercise, though, as I have started to do in this first post, I plan to reproduce the entire chapter section by section, adding bold highlights and links to background information. You are welcome to editorialize via comments but none will appear from me in this series of posts.

So let's get started.

43.001 Legislative findings and declaration of policy.

(1) The legislature recognizes:
(a) The importance of free access to knowledge, information and diversity of ideas by all residents of this state;
(b) The critical role played by public, school, special and academic libraries in providing that access;
(c) The major educational, cultural and economic asset that is represented in the collective knowledge and informationresources of the state’s libraries;
(d) The importance of public libraries to the democratic process; and
(e) That the most effective use of library resources in this state can occur only through interlibrary cooperation among all typesof libraries and the effective use of technology.

(2) The legislature declares that it is the policy of this state to provide laws for the development and improvement of publiclibraries, school libraries and interlibrary cooperation among all types of libraries.

History and Background:
1985 Wisconsin Act 177. (Changes in the law as shown by undescored and stricken text.)
76 Op. Att'y Gen. 203, 203 (1987) - Footnote (The original Assembly bill contained the language, "The legislature declares that making high quality, publicly funded library resources, services and information readily available to all residents is a matter of statewide concern.")

1997 Wisconsin Act 150. (With notes, underscored, and stricken text.)
Public Library Development: Summary of S.B. 269 - Act 150 (As provided by the DPI DLTCL Public Library Development Team.)

Note: "Legislative findings" is a standard element of legislation. (See "Preamble/Findings/Whereas Clauses" at this link. Still looking for an example closer to home, but this one will do for now.)

BOOKLESS Fundraiser @ the Madison Public Library

2012-01-25T20:44:00.000-06:00

See you there!

Madison Public Library Foundation

See photos @ Flickr.

"Off the Shelf". Madison Magazine.

Hat tip to Sarah Goebel.

Marshfield City Council Supports New Library But Questions Concept of Community Center

2012-01-25T17:55:00.000-06:00

Marshfield City Council questions library's expansion needs. (Marshfield News Herald, 1/25/2012)

Excerpt: The majority of Marshfield City Council members support renovating or building a new public library on its current site, 211 E. Second St.
But the library steering committee's plan to incorporate a new community center into the proposal drew strong resistance from council members during Tuesday night's council meeting.

Nearly every member questioned why a community center was planned to be integrated into the city's public library, and why the library needs to almost double its current size.

The move to integrate the library with a community center was developed during meetings with residents to learn what they wanted a new library to offer, said Lori Belongia, library director.
The proposed plans show a new library linked by an enclosed courtyard to the current library, which would become the senior center.

"The community input was to have the two buildings together so that in weather like this people don't need to be outside," said Belongia, who added there could be many uses of the community center, such as providing a location for nonprofit groups to share office space.

Combining the library with a community center "will provide a convenient location to serve multiple needs of residents," Belongia said.

Related articles:
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)

State Rep. Dick Spanbauer Will Not Seek Re-Election

2012-01-25T11:06:00.001-06:00

State Rep. Dick Spanbauer cites broken system, 'extremism' on both sides in decision not to seek reelection. (Oshkosh Northwestern, 1/24/2012)

Excerpt: State Rep. Dick Spanbauer, R-Town of Algoma, decided not to seek a third term in the Assembly citing his lack of desire to continue serving in a system he said values political points more than the people of the state.

“They’re more obsessed with politics than the real reason we’re elected: To serve the people,” Spanbauer said. “Madison is different. Politics is different. Today, compromise has gone out the window and I’m coming to that point where I don’t have the patience for it anymore.”

District 53 Map based on 2011 Wisconsin Act 43

As Gene Pitney sings, "Only love can mend it again"

2012-01-25T10:46:00.000-06:00

Grief Could Join List of Disorders. (The New York Times, 1/24/2012)

Excerpt: When does a broken heart become a diagnosis?

In a bitter skirmish over the definition of depression, a new report contends that a proposed change to the diagnosis would characterize grieving as a disorder and greatly increase the number of people treated for it.

The criteria for depression are being reviewed by the American Psychiatric Association, which is finishing work on the fifth edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or D.S.M., the first since 1994. The manual is the standard reference for the field, shaping treatment and insurance decisions, and its revisions will affect the lives of millions of people for years to come.

The Questions

The Answer

Madison Public Library Director Barb Dimick's Greatest Hits (The Facilities Version)

2012-01-25T07:22:00.000-06:00

Congratulations and high praise are in order!

Barb Dimick recently announced her retirement, effective February 24, 2012, after working for 35 years at the Madison Public Library, 15 of them as Director.

I am particularly impressed with Madison Public Library's accomplishments in the area library facilities planning and implementation during Barb's tenure as Director. During my 22 years as the Director of the Middleton Public Library, I worked on two major building projects: construction in 1989-1990 and a remodeling/expansion in 2003-2004. It was perhaps the only two times in my professional career where my plate was piled so precariously high that a few portions threatened to fall ignominiously to the floor. Barb, on the other hand, managed this balancing act without interruption for 15 years! A most admirable achievement.

Barb was hired as Director at a time when the Madison Public Library was in critical need of strong and visionary leadership. And that's what she has provided. I learned much from her while working on many South Central Library System and Dane County Library Service committees and projects. We also served together on the WLA Library Development & Legislation back when I was still a little wet behind the ears in this area.. And she was always very gracious and accommodating whenever I made unannounced visits to her office,

Congratulations, .Barb, on your most impressive career, of which I've touched on just a small portion. And best wishes in your retirement.

A pictorial Madison Public Library facilities time line. (All photos are from the Madison Public Library's website. Perhaps Pinney and Meadowridge should also be included?)

2000 (new facility)

Alicia Ashman Branch Library

c. 2000 (relocation, expansion)

Hawthorne Branch Library

Not sure of exact dates

but I think it fits in here.

(Relocation, expansion)

Lakeview Branch Library

2008 (new facility)

Sequoya Branch Library

2010 (new facility)

Goodman South Madison Branch

And soon...........

Madison Central Library

Although it took some doin'!

City of Madison to Rebid Central Library Project. (12/22/2011)
Madison Community Foundation awards $500,000 grant for new Madison Central Library. (12/16/2011)
Retiring Guy takes a last look at the 1960s-era Madison Central Library. (11/13/2011)
Madison Central Library prepares for move to temporary facility. (11/9/2011)
Madison Public Library misses cut on $4.5 million tax credit. (9/14/2011)
Board to consider Plan B financing. (9/1/2011)
Central library to relocate in November. (7/27/2011)
Central library reconstruction project to proceed. (4/29/2011)
Negotiations continue. (4/27/2011)
Central library not a major issue with candidate or mayor Soglin. (4/19/2011)
Soglin wants to make sure ducks are in a row for Central Library Project. (4/16/2011)
Latest design review. (4/8/2011)
Midway Design presentation for Madison Central Library. (2/25/2011)
Final design for renovated central library unveiled. (12/8/2010)

Designing a new central library: "Everyone has to feel comfortable and safe here". (11/17/2010)

Interview with principal architect of Central Library project. (11/5/2010)

Design development juggling acts for a renovated Madison Central Library. (10/15/2010)

Conceptual designs for new Central Library. (10/25/2010)

One possible message: Don't settle for less. (8/5/2010)

Downsizing the Madison Central Library renovation project. (7/17/2010)

Possible temporary location has asbestos problem. (6/18/2010)

Architectural firm selected for Madison Central project. (5/26/2010)

State Journal editorial board sez Madison City Council made right decision on Central Library. (5/10/2010)

Council vote on library goes under the radar. (5/8/2010)

And the beat goes on. (4/14/2010)

Mayor Responds to Critics on Library Issue. (4/13/2010)

Board Endorses Renovation Plan. (4/6/2010)

Keeping the dream of a new Madison Central Library alive. (3/31/2010)

Some Council Members Not Ready to Move Forward on Mayor's Renovation Plan. (3/30/2010)

Council President Pro Tem to Introduce Resolution Approving Madison Central Library Renovation Project. (3/28/2010)

'Dissatisfaction' with Collapsed Madison Central Library Project. (3/25/2010)

Fiore Departure Seen as Beneficial to Madison Central Project. (3/23/2010)

Matter of Principle" Dooms New Central Madison Library. (3/20/2010)

Madison Central: The Dream Dies, It's Now Time to Renovate. (3/19/2010)

Dispute over Construction Costs Threatens to Derail New Central Madison Library. (3/17/2010)

Madison Public Library Project Faces Delay in 2011. (3/9/2010)

Construction, Cost Concerns May Delay Madison Central Library Project. (1/25/2010)

New Madison Central Library Wins Council Approval. (11/11/2009)Capital Times Endorses New Madison Central Library. (11/10/2009)

Madison Council Begins Review of Mayor's Budget on Tuesday. (11/6/2009)

More Questions About Madison Central Library Project. (11/1/2009)

New Madison Public Library's First Change Order: Rooftop Garden.
(10/28/2009)

Call for Referendum on New Madison Central Library Not Attracting Support. (10/21/2009)

Madison Board of Estimates Rejects Library Referendum. (10/13/2009)

Some Madison City Council Members Want Referendum on New Central Library. (10/9/2009)

Three former mayors support new Madison Central Library. (10/5/2010)

Wisconsin State Journal Editorial on New Madison Central Library. (9/13/2009)

New Madison Central Library: Let the Positioning Begin. (9/1/2009)

New Madison Central Library on Mayor Dave's Front Burner. (8/30/2009)

New Madison Central Library: Build or Renovate? (7/7/2009)

Motley Brown Not Reason Enough. (6/11/2009)

Fiore Plan Receives Unanimous Support. (6/5/2009)

Fiore Plan Gets Nod from Committee. (5/15/2009)

Public Forum Focuses on Central Library Options. (4/24/2009)

Developer Sweetens the Deal. (4/21/2009)

Visualizing a Remodeled Madison Central Library. (4/4/2009)

Renovation Plan Put on Table for Madison Central Library. (3/26/2009)

Residents Critique Proposals to Rebuild Downtown Library. (1/9/2009)

Competing Developers Defend Their Central Library Plans. (1/8/2009)

Comparison of Downtown Madison Library Proposals. (12/17/2008)

Two Proposals for New Madison Central Library. (12/3/2008)

Best Headline of the Week. (9/6/2008)

The New McAllen Texas Public Library

2012-01-24T19:27:00.000-06:00

Turkey Breaks Into Deadwood Public Library

2012-01-24T18:23:00.000-06:00

No, a real turkey!

Some turkey breaks into Deadwood Library. (Black Hills Pioneer, 1/24/2012)

Excerpt: Get a read on this turkey. On Sunday morning, instead of arriving at church just down the street, a turkey crash landed in the Deadwood Public Library instead.

“One thing we noticed is that he did not go down the aisle with the cookbooks in it,” said Deadwood Public Library director Jeanette Chaney-Moodie, who watched from her post behind a door, as her husband John and Sgt. Ken Mertens of the Deadwood Police Department corralled the 20-plus pound culprit in 20 minutes flat by placing a blanket over its head.

Oregon State University research confirmed!

Alumn.Us: A Social Network for Public Schools and Community Colleges

2012-01-24T10:06:00.000-06:00

Watch Out, Facebook: A New Social Network Targets Alumni. (MindShift, 1/23/2012)

Excerpt: While public schools might not have a strong alumni network, private schools certainly do. Indeed the endowments from alumni at private K-12 schools are substantial, if not mind-boggling. These donations fund “wonderful touches: computers in the classroom, trips, enriched curriculum,” noted a New York Times story on private schools’ alumni funding.

Alumn.us wants to be able to develop just this sort of network for the public school system, as well as for the community college level — both of which have failed to ever develop a strong network that keeps alumni interested in what happens at their schools. It’s less about connecting alumni with their fellow graduates (indeed, Facebook does seem to have won that game) than it is connecting alumni back with their schools — in terms of fundraising and in terms of mentorship.

Malfunctioning Sprinkler Results in Minimal Damage @ T. B. Scott Free Library

2012-01-24T07:01:00.000-06:00

I have to admit that while Director at Middleton, the thought of something like this happening crossed my mind more than once. As it turned out, it was snow swirling its way into rooftop vents that proved to be the problem.

Broken sprinkler did minimal damage to Merrill library. Wausau Daily Herald, 1/23/2012)

Excerpt: It’s likely the cold weather caused one sprinkler head to malfunction in the entry atrium of the T.B. Scott Free Library at about 2:45 p.m., said Stacy Stevens, director. That meant that the entryway’s ceiling tiles, carpeting and some furniture made of wood and metal were doused. All told, the entry was flooded with an inch to two inches of water, Stevens said.

UW-Milwaukee Center for Economic Development Report: Race and Male Employment in the Wake of the Great Recession

2012-01-24T06:34:00.000-06:00

Employment of black men drops drastically. (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 1/23/2012)

Excerpt: The data highlight a renewed setback to an urban region that for years has helped set national extremes for poverty and unemployment, following a decades-long collapse of the city's manufacturing economy that left a depression in the urban core.

LINK

Dear Blue Ribbon Rental, Here's an Idea

2012-01-23T21:31:00.001-06:00

From the January 19, 2012, Warren Times-Observer

LINK

Pew Research Reports on Big One-Month Jump in Ereader/Tablet Ownership

2012-01-23T08:45:00.000-06:00

You are more likely to own an ereader or tablet is you are in the 30-49 age range, a college graduate, and have a household income greater than $75,000.

Curious about the ereader drop from May to August 2011

Tablet and E-Book Reader Ownership Nearly Double Over the Holiday Gift-Giving Period. (Pew Research, 1/23/2012)

Excerpt: The findings are striking because they come after a period from mid-2011 into the autumn in which there was not much change in the ownership of tablets and e-book readers. However, as the holiday gift-giving season approached the marketplace for both devices dramatically shifted. In the tablet world, Amazon’s Kindle Fire and Barnes and Noble’s Nook Tablet were introduced at considerably cheaper prices than other tablets. In the e-book reader world, some versions of the Kindle and Nook and other readers fell well below $100.

Menomonee Falls Village Manager Shares His Views of 21st Century Local and County Governments

2012-01-23T07:40:00.001-06:00

LINK

Falls revenue could be tight in future year. Fitzgerald sees consolidation talks picking up. (Sussex Sun, 1/17/2012)

Excerpt: [Bold highlights added]."The reality is I don't see significant changes in the revenue, so we're always on guard to deal with the expenditure side. That means, for us, forever finding ways to commit to our basic services with as low a cost as possible."

That means the discussions about partnering with the county and other local communities to provide services will amplify. According to village officials, the current financial climate necessitates such an exploration.

"They almost have to, and in all cases. I think it's not just the county. I think there are things we can do with neighboring communities," Fitzgerald said. "In many ways, that means fundamentally changing some of the things we do, and I don't mean what a citizen sees out on the street, but how we do it.

"In the 21st century, the local governments, it's really a matter of continually finding ways to do more with less and that generally means finding brand new ways to deliver services. In most cases, the biggest bang for your buck is in consolidation and cooperation."

Portage Public Library Boosts Fundraising Goal

2012-01-23T07:17:00.000-06:00

Library expansion fundraisers to aim for $1.05M. (Portage Daily Register, 1/20/2012)

Excerpt: When library proponents kick off their fundraising campaign for a library expansion project next week, they will include the revised total project cost of $1.75 million as their goal to reach.

Originally, the project was projected to cost about $1.5 million. It has been increased to include infrastructure updates to the current building - including improvements to the library roof, heating and air conditioning and other needs.

That means the fundraising campaign will be asking the community for about $1.05 million, instead of $800,000. It will not increase the amount the city has agreed to contribute to the project.

Late last year the city pledged $400,000 toward the project, and the Bidwell Foundation has agreed to add another $300,000 in grants.

Related posts:
Two Portage businessmen to lead Portage fundraising effort. (113/2012)
Funding for library expansion included in City of Portage 2012 budget. (12/9/2012)
Library moves forward with building expansion fundraising campaign. (11/26/2011)
Decision delayed on request for library expansion funding. (11/2/2011)
Council member on Portage Public Library expansion project funding: "We may just not want to it". (10/28/2011)
Board president makes pitch to council for library expansion funding. (10/15/2011)
Board to make case for building expansion to council. (10/13/2011)
Library board to make case to council for building expansion. (9/15/2011)
Library moves forward with building expansion. (8/12/2011)
Board approves feasibility study for library expansion. (7/1/2011)
Board reviews estimates for expansion project. (6/22/2011)
Library expansion plans continue to develop. (2/9/2011)
Library expansion to focus on youth services. (10/15/2010)
Putting together the financial pieces for building expansion. (5/12/2010)
Library seeks community input for expansion. (1/13/2010)
Board discussion rental property options. (11/11/2009)

As you might expect, some folks aren't happy with this news

2012-01-23T07:04:00.002-06:00

Taxpayers start subsidizing golf courses. (Janesville Gazette, 1/23/2012)

Excerpt: For the first time since the mid-1980s, Janesville taxpayers are subsidizing the city's two golf courses.In 2011, the subsidy was about $115,000.

That doesn't include $200,000 that the city borrowed for capital expenses.

In 2012, taxpayers will contribute about $1.60 for every golfer who tees off at Riverside or Blackhawk, the city's two public courses.

Danah Boyd: "The first anthropologist...from the tribe she's studying"

2012-01-22T10:17:00.000-06:00

Cracking Teenagers' Online Codes. (The New York Times, 1/20/2012)

Excerpt: But as Dr. Boyd sees it, adults are worrying about the wrong things.

Children today, she said, are reacting online largely to social changes that have taken place off line.

“Children’s ability to roam has basically been destroyed,” Dr. Boyd said in her office at Microsoft, where a view of the Boston skyline is echoed in the towers of books on her shelves, desk and floor. “Letting your child out to bike around the neighborhood is seen as terrifying now, even though by all measures, life is safer for kids today.”

Children naturally congregate on social media sites for the relatively unsupervised conversations, flirtations, immature humor and social exchanges that are the normal stuff of teenage hanging-out, she said.

“We need to give kids the freedom to explore and experience things online that might actually help them,” she added. “What scares me is that we don’t want to look at the things that make us uncomfortable. So rather than see what teenagers are showing us online about bullying and suicide and the problems they’re dealing with and using that information to help them, we’re making ourselves blind to it."

Knee Deep? I think we need to go higher up the anatomy

2012-01-22T08:02:00.000-06:00

Michael Best & Friedrich's involvement covers

Collective bargaining
Redistricting
Mining
Recalls
Recounts
John Doe
Ethics charges

"The shadow DOJ": Law firm knee deep in state's many hot-button issues. (Wisconsin State Journal, 1/22/2012)

LINK

Excerpt: Lester Pines, a prominent liberal-leaning attorney with Cullen Weston Pines & Bach, which has handled dozens of political cases, said Michael Best & Friedrich owes at least part of its GOP workload to its specialized skill set.

Founded in 1848, the firm employs more than 220 attorneys and can count among its numbers a former counsel to the governor, two former deputy attorneys general and two former assistant attorneys general.

"There are just not a lot of firms that can do what they do," Pines said.

Are you a reductive or insidious pragmatic?

2012-01-21T22:24:00.001-06:00

Most frequently looked-up words @ Merriam-Webster.

Newt Gingrich Grabs 60% of the Vote in South Carolina's Edgefield County

2012-01-21T22:03:00.000-06:00

Home of the oldest person ever to serve in the U.S. Senate.

CNN election results.

Newt's Southern Strategy. (The New York Times, 1/20/2012)

Newt Visits Edgefield County, But Never Stops. (Edgefield Daily, 1/19/2012)
Excerpt: Edgefield County Sheriff Adell Dobey radioed the deputies and ordered the reduction of the "code" of the escort. However, deputies and police did block traffic at intersections to allow Gingrich and his entourage to continue unimpeded on his way to Easley, South Carolina without having to stop at stop signs or red lights.

Does this fall under the heading of grandiose?

How To Be a Retronaut: Works Progress Administration Posters, 1935-1943

2012-01-21T12:51:00.000-06:00

Link to post.

A Brief Overview of the WPA. (Broward County Library)
Wisconsin Historical Images: Works Progress Administration. (Wisconsin Historical Society)
WPA Milwaukee Handicraft Project. (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)

5 Montana Libraries Form Courier Service

2012-01-21T11:35:00.000-06:00

Montana libraries forming courier service. (Great Falls Tribune, 1/19/2012)

Excerpt: Five Montana libraries plan to switch from the U.S. Postal Service to a courier service in an effort to save money and speed up inter-library loan services.

Butte Public Library Director Lee Phillips said the Butte library, along with those in Great Falls, Missoula, Helena and Anaconda, will ship books and other items among themselves through an agreement with Critelli Courier Service in Butte.

"It offers faster service, costs less money, supports a local business and partners government with private industry, which is a win-win for taxpayers and the patron," Phillips said.

Kathy Mora, director of Great Falls Public Library, said she expects to see an eventual cost savings.

Ross Township Commissioners Discuss Library Funding Referendum

2012-01-21T11:08:00.000-06:00

Ross mulls funds for Northland Library. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1/19/2012)

Excerpt: Ross commissioners Monday discussed a referendum on funding the township's annual share of the Northland Public Library's budget.

Commissioner Chris Eyster, who is leading the referendum effort, said he met Friday with library officials to go over his referendum ordinance, but wants to have further discussions with them before submitting the ordinance for commissioners' vote.

Mr. Eyster wants to ask residents to approve a 2.2-mill tax to fund the library. That would amount to $22 per year on a $100,000 house. That way, he said, the township would not have to fund the library out of its general fund budget, and would have more money for public safety and road paving.

"I don't think you would get too many takers on that," commissioner David Mikec said.

"I think people would go for it. They want us to support the library," Mr. Eyster said. "This would provide a long-term solution to library funding. It eliminates the need for the board to argue about library funding every year.

"If the referendum failed, "we face that yearly dilemma about priorities," he added.Ross will pay $404,346 to support Northland this year, a decrease of $21,975 because of declining population and assessment in the township.

Related post:
This is how they like to do things in Ross Township Pennsylvania. (12/16/2011)

Where Do Wisconsin's Senators Stand on PIPA?

2012-01-21T10:54:00.001-06:00

An irreverent mash-up found at boing boing.

LINK

Reince Preibus Explains It All for Us

2012-01-21T08:25:00.000-06:00

Photo source: everystockphoto

Election 2012: Gingrich, Romney fight on; Colbert, Cain grab crowds. (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 1/20/2012)

Excerpt: Wisconsin's Reince Priebus, the GOP national chairman, said in an interview here Friday that a more drawn-out, volatile fight for the nomination would not hurt Republicans.

"I think it's great for the party," said Priebus. "I'd much rather have an interesting battle for the nomination, a little bit of drama, and lot of interest from the me dia and the public than the snoozer we had four years ago where no one's talking about the Republicans. It was all about Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama [when there was no lack of enthusiasm for both candidates], and all of the energy and all of the juice was on the other side.

"This time, he said, "We are the story." [Emphasis added.]

LINK

Excluding "At Last", My Top 10 Favorite Etta James Billboard Hot 100 Singles

2012-01-20T21:08:00.000-06:00

In descending order.

Congratulations to Ken Hall on his 34+ Years of Service to Libraries

2012-01-20T07:50:00.000-06:00

Ken Hall

FdL library director Ken Hall will retire in July. (Fond du Lac Reporter, 1/20/2012)

Excerpt: He was brought to Fond du Lac in 2002 to oversee the library's expansion and renovation project.

"I have been exceedingly fortunate to finish my career in this community," Hall said Thursday in a news release. "The library has received tremendous support from all quarters — government, businesses and the public. Thanks to the best library staff in the United States, we've been able to achieve a great deal in 10 years. I'm very proud to say I played a part in the further development of a very special institution."

Library Board President Lori Pain said Hall has been a true innovator in creating ways to bring people into the library.

His pictorial resume:

Appleton Public Library

McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids

Director

Joseph Mann Library/

Lester Public Library,

Two Rivers

Assistant Director, Winnefox Library System

Director, Fond du Lac Public Library

Wisconsin Library Association 2006 Library of the Year

Ken was also recognized as a Friend of Education by State Superintendent Tony Evers in 2010.

Knowing on Which Side Your Bread is Buttered

2012-01-20T07:05:00.000-06:00

Graphic source: WBEZ

Committee makes it easier to build on wetlands. (Appleton Post-Crescent, (Appleton Post-Crescent, 1/19/2012)

The Natural Resources and Environment Committee of the Wisconsin Senate, chaired by Neil Kedzie (R-Elkhorn), voted along party lines, 4-3.

Neil's reading list.
Bass Pro Shop says no to wetlands, but GOP still backs bill. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1/28/2011)
Caution: Building in a Wetland Can Be Hazardous to Your House. (National Wildlife, 6/1/1998)
Planner's Guide to Wetland Buffers for Local Government. (Environmental Law Institute, 2008.

Did anyone look here?

2012-01-19T16:22:00.000-06:00

Iowa GOP Puts Santorum Ahead By 34 Votes, But Result 'Unresolved'. (NPR, 1/19/2012)

Excerpt: While its recanvassing of the nearly 1,774 precincts where ballots were cast on Jan. 3 has put former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum 34 votes ahead of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney — a reversal of what we thought were their finishes — the party says it can't definitively say who won because it can't find the results from eight of the precincts. [Emphasis added.]

Whoya gonna call?

Transparency: It's All the Rage

2012-01-19T12:12:00.000-06:00

Extra Credit: Walker to Announce Education Reforms. (Wisconsin State Journal, 1/19/2012)

Excerpt: "Our reforms will focus on setting high standards, ensuring transparency and measuring what matters to ensure that all students are ready for college or a career," Walker said in his weekly radio address earlier Thursday.

Porn Industry Faces Condom Requirement In Los Angeles. (NPR, 1/19/2012)

Excerpt: She [Tristan Taormino, a director and producer of porn films for Vivid Entertainment; both links are to Wikipedia, i.e., safe for work] would like to see testing performed every 15 days instead of 30. And condom-optional policies on the set should be "truly optional and transparent," she says. She says actors are concerned that condoms can interfere with their work.

How do we know it worked? "Many Congressional offices reported being swamped with calls"

2012-01-19T08:14:00.000-06:00

Hardly alone in this reverberating protest.

Jeff Gelles: Worries about online-piracy bill are not so far-fetched. (Philadelphia Inquirer, 1/19/2012)

Excerpt: No such blacklist operates in the United States - yet. But opponents of antipiracy legislation nearing a vote in Congress say the prospect isn't as far-fetched as it might sound - not because of the aims of those backing the bills, but because of their ham-handedness.

"Once you open up the door, who knows where it leads?" says Julie Samuels, a lawyer at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a San Francisco nonprofit that helped organize a nationwide protest Wednesday against the House's Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) [summary found here; let's hope her support is crumbling] and the Senate's sister bill, the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA) [summary found here; Herb Kohl listed as co-sponsor.]

No members of the Wisconsin House delegation are listed as co-sponsors. 9 of 31 28 co-sponsors are from California.

To dramatize worries about the legislation, which is backed by the film and music industries, thousands of U.S. websites went dark for the day or steered visitors to information about the bills. As intended, many congressional offices reported being swamped with calls.

Sign Up This Guy for Anger Management Classes

2012-01-19T07:21:00.000-06:00

Embattled Elgin library trustee faces felony charges. (Daily Herald, 12/23/2011)

Excerpt: Hopp was arrested and charged with two counts of misdemeanor domestic battery after an altercation on March 16 in Elgin.

Elgin police were called to the 1500 block of Pamela Drive and Hopp’s father told police that his son entered his parents’ kitchen and began yelling and swearing at his mother, police said.

When his 82-year-old father tried to pull him back, Hopp punched him in the back five or six times, police said. Later, when his 80-year-old mother tried to use the phone, Hopp punched her in the upper arm, police said his father told them.

Related articles:Library board member from hell is here to stay. ( 6/19/2011)
Add Elgin Community College to the list of places where Randy Hopp is banned. (5/2/2011)
Gail Borden's 'board member from hell' is back in the news again. (3/26/2011)
Crossing t's and dotting i's aren't enough for this library board member. (1/15/2011)
The strange saga of Randy Hopp, library trustee. (5/23/2010)

Viroqua Center Board Established

2012-01-19T07:05:00.000-06:00

Viroqua Center forms board. (Vernon County Broadcaster, 1/18/2012)

Excerpt: The Viroqua Center is an ongoing collaboration between the McIntosh Memorial Library, Western Technical College and other possible community partners. Through the partnership a new library would be created along with space for a business and training facility that would have space for arts and theatre. The Viroqua Center would be located in downtown Viroqua adjacent to Western Technical College. It's estimated to cost $5 million-$8 million.

Once the Viroqua Center Board was voted in, the group went about taking care of a number of procedural tasks. It made changes to its bylaws saying that the board could have up to 17 members and that a quorum was dictated by the number of directors in office.But the board stopped short of electing officers. The consensus was that officers should be elected after the board's nominating committee gets more board members seated.

"We want to add board members and change perceptions that this is a closed group," Daniels said.Carol Gohlke said that choosing officers after having more members on the board had been the task force's plan, and the board voted unanimously to table election of officers.The board talked about its existing grants, potential grants and seeking $500,000 in director's and officer's insurance.

The insurance, which would cost $1,000, would protect directors regarding their activities with the board. Jeff Gohlke said there are people who wouldn't consider serving on such a board without the "D and O" insurance.

Related posts:

Viroqua Center collaboration. (1/13/2012)

Plan B for Viroqua Center/Public Library project unveiled. (12/16/2011)

A move to plan B for Viroqua Center/Library Project. (10/25/2011)

Site plan for new Viroqua Library as part of complex of 4 buildings. (9/2/2011)

Library applies for $750,000 Community Development block grant. (8/25/2011)

Fingers crossed for grant for new library. (6/26/2011)

Library project gets aid from city. (6/7/2010)

New library moves into conceptual design phase. (5/28/2001)

New library cost estimate: $5.7 million. (5/20/2010)

Library building project update. (3/15/2010)

Viroqua's McIntosh Memorial Library Space Needs Study Update. (1/16/2010)