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Link to June 19 Smart Politics blog post, "Minnesota, Wisconsin Lead Nation in Largest Proportion of House Committee Leadership Posts".Long-serving Wisconsin Representative David Obey (WI-07) chairs the powerful Appropriations Committee, emerging Republican leader Paul Ryan (WI-01) is the Ranking Member of the Budget Committee, and GOPer James Sensenbrenner (WI-05) is the Ranking Member of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. Wisconsin also has an 8-member delegation to the House.
Link to June 18 Eau Claire Leader Telegram article, "Local Democrats: Budget 'earmarks' needed".During state Assembly and Senate budget talks, local legislators managed to get or keep a few items into the budget, including highway repair in Chippewa County, money for Eau Claire's library and funding for a shooting range.
"We invest in the state as much as anybody else; it should come back to Eau Claire," said Rep. Jeff Smith, D-Eau Claire.
Link to June 19 Wisconsin Rapids Tribune article, "Walk for fun to support library".
And there's no cramming it back in.
Link to June 17 Cedar Rapids Gazette article, "Iowa City Public Library to reach circulation milestone".
Link to June 18 Appleton Post-Crescent article, "Consultants recommend building new Appleton library".The library is coping with record use, including a record 2,969 patrons on June 10, at its existing 88,000-square-foot facility on Oneida Street.
"Circulation is going through the roof," said Library Board president Terry Bergen. "The need is there for a new facility."
A concept plan endorsed Tuesday by the library board includes a 120-vehicle underground parking garage, 150-seat auditorium, drive-up service, lounge and reading room, numerous public meeting rooms with some open to the public after hours, expanded library material and staff space and room for expansion.
"A library is not inherently just a collection of books. It's a place for people to gather and learn," Robison said.
63% of adult Americans have broadband at home.The latest findings of the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project mark a departure from the stagnation in home high-speed adoption rates that had prevailed from December 2007 through December 2008. During that period, Pew Internet Project surveys found that home broadband penetration remained in a narrow range between 54% and 57%.
Link to June 16 boingboing post "China backs off on mandatory spyware".
These were divided among 16 small collections of about 30 books each: "Each library was put up in a strong book case which had a shelf, double doors with a lock and key, [and] a record book for loans…," Stearns wrote. Over the next 20 years, more than 1,400 of these were sent to crossroads post offices, log schoolhouses and general stores all over the state.
"Odd Wisconsin" is the current ongoing exhibit at the Wisconsin Historical Museum. Worth a visit!
And for much more on Wisconsin's traveling libraries and many other aspects of Wisconsin library history, you'll want to make regular visits the Wisconsin Library Heritage Center, a project of the Wisconsin Library Association Foundation (Larry Nix, Steering Committee Chair.)
Link to June 16 Marshfield News Herald article, "Marshfield News-Herald's Dan Young among local newspaper photographers showcased at University of Wisconsin-Marshfield/Wood County".
Link to June 16 Marshfield News Herald article, "Library director eager for interaction".
Link to June 15 Pew Internet & American Life Project report, "The State of Music Online: Ten Years after Napster".All of this makes for a tall order, but if history is any guide, music consumers usually get what they want. And as researchers look back on the first decade of the 21st century, many will no doubt point to the formative impact of file-sharing and peer-to-peer exchange of music on the internet. Napster and other peer-to-peer services "schooled" users in the social practice of downloading, uploading, and sharing digital content, which, in turn, has contributed to increased demand for broadband, greater processing power and mobile media devices. Further, the Napsterization effect extends to non-media areas such as sharing health information, oversight of politicians, access to government data and online dating via free social networking sites.
Link to June 15 stateline.org post, "Recession pounds states' budgets".To date, lawmakers in about half the states have closed shop for the legislative year. But as tax revenues continue to come in lower than expected, it’s a good bet that many will have to reconvene to balance their budgets as required by law.
Stateline.org’s annual review of state-by-state legislative actions, thus far, finds four resorted to higher personal income and sales taxes, seven levied heftier tobacco taxes and at least 10 raised motor vehicle registration or court fees. But it may not be enough. Experts predict a mammoth $121 billion deficit awaits states in fiscal 2010, which starts July 1 for all but four states.
Link to June 14 Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel article, "Allow children 'light' reading to maintain learning over summer, experts say".Dorn could predict which students won't pick up a book again until fall, putting them at risk for falling behind academically.
The challenge of getting kids to read in the summer is nothing new. But for older students especially, more educators - and librarians are bypassing "recommended lists" of classic novels and instead suggesting graphic novels, magazines, Web sites, comic books - anything to get them reading.
Traditionalists may hope kids tackle something more substantial than the latest book-turned-popular movie. But others say what kids read is less important than instilling a want to read.
"If they're completely interested in dirt bikes, get them a subscription to a dirt bike magazine," said Kelly Hughbanks, coordinator of youth services for Milwaukee Public Library.
Link to June 15 Sheboygan Press article, "'Lunch at the Library' gets underway on Wednesday".Each Wednesday, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the area on the Eighth Street side of the library, individuals can bring their lunch and the BID will have a musical performer, displays, and beginning June 24, interactive events for young people presented by Above & Beyond Children's Museum.
The BID is an association of businesses that are located on Eighth Street between Ontario Avenue and Indiana Avenue and on the riverfront and south pier. In all, there are 126 businesses involved, with the goal to bring and retain businesses in the downtown area and increase profile and interest in the unique lifestyle setting of the lakefront and businesses located there.
The first "Lunch at the Library" begins at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 17, with a performance by the barbershop quartet, Vaguely Familiar
Link to June 13 Eau Claire Leader Telegram article, "Public library earmark for $125,000 still intact.The additional funding for the renovations survived the latest version of the state budget, which the Assembly passed by a 50-48 margin Saturday. It still must be approved by the state Senate and signed by Gov. Jim Doyle.
