Retiring Guy's Digest: 2011-01-30

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Racine County: A Half Century of Growth in Public Library Use

Part 51 of a county-by-county overview.

Racine County:

Population and Circulation, 1960-2009

Source: Wisconsin Public Library Service Data (1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2009)

The 1960 circulation figure probably includes some public school libraries.

Racine County, 1960-2009

Racine County public libraries.
Burlington Public Library

Racine Public Library

Page 4 from "A Commemorative History" (1997)

Rochester Public Library

Graham Public Library, Union Grove

Waterford Public Library

Racine County is a member of the Lakeshores Library System.

Wisconsin Library Association's 2011 Library Legislative Day Prep Guide: Step by Step (Part 1)

Step 1: Register for the February 22nd event. (If you haven't already done so.)

Just a reminder that we're meeting at the Madison Concourse Hotel this year.

Step 2: Use the “Common Agenda” template grid to gather background information about your legislators. With 8 new senators (6 Republicans and 2 Democrats) and 30 new assembly representatives (25 Republicans and 5 Democrats), many of you will be meeting with new legislators this year.

(Not sure who represents you?)

Here's what mine looks like.

Background on "Building a Common Agenda"

Particularly with freshman legislators, you may not be able to fill in all of the blanks. This activity will be helpful in providing you with some general conversation starters.

My sources:

LINK to Wisconsin State Senators' home pages

Link to Wisconsin Assembly Legislators' homepages

There's no link for Rep. Hulsey under the "Newspages" column, so I searched his campaign website.

Link to Brett Hulsey's campaign website.

For more detail, check the biographical section of the Wisconsin Blue Book. (Not helpful, of course, for the current crop of freshman legislators.)

Step 3: Find out about your legislators' office: room number and names of staff. The Legislature will be in session on February 22, so some of you will meet with legislators' staff members. Relationship building with staff members is just as important as relationship building with the legislators themselves.

LINK

LINK
Find names of Assembly Reps' staff members here.

To be continued.

A Model of Cooperation: Wisconsin is #1 in the Sharing of Library Resources

States that exceeded 1,000,000 interlibrary loan transactions in 2008.

Source: Public Libraries in the United States, 2008 Fiscal Year

Institute of Museum and Library Services

The Top Ten States

Source: Public Libraries in the United States, 2008 Fiscal Year

Institute of Museum and Library Services

Working to Preserve Illinois' Interlibrary Loan System

Merger attempts to protect interlibrary loans. (Chicago Tribune, 2/4/2011)

Excerpt: Officials at the five parts of the Illinois Library System that serve northern Illinois have approved a merger of staff, services and facilities in an effort to save money and protect the ability of patrons to use an online database and borrow books from any library in the state.

The state’s dire financial condition has threatened the interlibrary loan program and online database, which local library officials said is one of the most critical services they provide. It typically delivers hard-to-find books and DVDs to patrons’ home libraries within a few days.

“(Interlibrary loan delivery) has been a hallmark of the state of Illinois — something that has set us apart from other states more reliant on the U.S. Postal Service,” said Peggy Hamil, the executive director of the Glencoe Public Library.

From some other states, yes, but certainly not Wisconsin, a model of cooperation in the sharing of library resources.

LINK

Detroit Public Library Budget Woes

Detroit Public Library

Detroit libraries face cash crisis. (Detroit News, 2/1/2011)

Among "all options" being considered:

Close some branches
Lay off 20% of staff
Cut pay of remaining staff by 10% (Union employees received a 6% increase in 2010.)

Excerpt: And the cuts could come as the main library and its 23 branches newfound popularity — caused in part by the sour economy, Funchess said. Visits have increased about 20 percent since 2007 to 4.9 million.

The potential cuts are bad news to Chris Powers, a self-described "library person" who visited the Parkman Branch on Oakman on Monday.

"This is the only access some people have to computers," said Powers. "It's a good resource."

Friday, February 4, 2011

The Pluses and Minuses of Newsstand Magazine Sales

Magazines' Newsstand Struggles Continue, but Not Without Bright Spots. (Advertising Age, 2/4/2011)

Excerpt: But Rolling Stone's performance stood out among magazines, whose second half of 2010 seems to have primarily continued the industry's long, gradual decline in single-copy sales. Many publishers gave Ad Age a sneak peak at the figures they have filed with the Audit Bureau of Circulations in advance of its semiannual circulation report on Monday.

Magazine subscriptions and overall audiences usually grow or at least hold up from year to year, but their continued newsstand weakness is worrisome because advertisers consider single-copy sales a gauge of consumer demand while publishers use newsstands to attract potential subscribers.

Legislative Effort to Provide More Funding for IMCPL Continues

Vote moves library closer to more funding. (Indianapolis Star, 2/4/2011)

Excerpt: A committee vote Thursday cleared the way for the City-County Council to consider a resolution aimed at finding more money for the Indianapolis library system.

The measure urges the General Assembly to amend state law to give the council more authority to provide a portion of county income taxes to the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library. The new stream would relieve budget pressure from property tax caps.

Related articles:
Show of support by IMCPL advocates. (1/25/2011)
Library angel. (1/17/2011)
Indianapolis Star editorial: "Give library a fair share of tax" (1/13/2011)
Sustainability in the form of a share of county income taxes. (1/12/2011)
Township deals comes undone. (1/8/2011)
Vote to restore library hours and rehire staff: Thanking God again in Wayne Township, Indiana. (12/16/2010)
Wayne Township's $200,000 for IMCPL: "Thank God it's a nice purpose". (12/8/2010)
Temporary fix (not yet approved ) to keep 4 IMCPL branches open. (11/19/2010)
ICMPL to lay off 37 employees. (11/12/2010)
Cuts in library hours, materials budget. (9/15/2010)
Library announces 26% cut in hours. (9/14/2010)
Indianapolis resident recommends book to local officials. (9/6/2010)
Library board votes to include 'shortfall appeal' option. (9/1/2010)
Library board to consider 'shortfall appeal'. (8/30/2010)
In close vote, library board cuts hours, staff. (8/20/2010)
Library grapples with its sustainable future. (8/16/2010)
Library projects a $7.3 million deficit by 2014. (7/29/2010)
Library board sez no branch closings in 2011. (7/15/2010)
Library supporters question Pacers deal. (7/15/2010)
High performance government team report. (7/11/2010)
Library board delays decision on libraries. (6/5/2010)
Another big turnout for libraries. (5/13/2010)
Mayor vows to keep library branches open. (5/12/2010)
Residents speak up for their libraries. (5/11/2010)
The neighborhood library as refuge. (5/2/2010)
Indianapolis Star editorial board keeps library funding issue front and center. (4/25/2010)
Efficiency experts look for ways to keep branch libraries open. (4/23/2010)
More than 1400 sign petition to keep Glendale branch open. (4/20/2010)
Editorial: Find resources for library. (4/19/2010)
What's in store for Indianapolis-area libraries? (4/17/2010)
Indiana Pacers bailout talks continue. (4/16/2010)
Postscript. (4/15/2010)
Look what's at the top of Indianapolis's to-do list. (4/14/2010)
A Challenge to Indianapolis-Marion County: Stand Up for Libraries. (4/13/2010)
Library rally caps? Get real, sez IndyStar editorial. (4/12/2010)
Will Indianapolis rally for its libraries? (4/12/2010)
Library considers branch closings. (4/9/2010)

I Guess New Jersey Can Print Money After All

Inquirer Editorial: Christie's casino. (Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/3/2011)

Excerpt: At one town-hall meeting last year, Christie told a woman who opposed cuts to the local library: "Unlike the United States of America, the State of New Jersey can't print money." At another gathering, Christie said the state would "go broke" if his plan to cap property taxes wasn't implemented.

So, if New Jersey is so cash-strapped, why is Christie giving a $261 million tax break to a half-built casino in Atlantic City?

Just imagine the claims of socialism if a Democratic governor wanted to give public money to a private company in a sweetheart deal. But Christie, a darling of the GOP, called the $261 million tax reimbursement plan for the Revel Casino an "investment."

The University of Wisconsin Press Ebooks

UW press embracing e-books. (Capital Times, 2/4/2011)

Excerpt: UW Press has been working with the e-book market since the late 1990s, when there was an initial, failed push by publishers to interest readers in electronic books. About five years later, Amazon became interested in e-books and that “really fired up the market again,” says Coulson. “Having the audience interest has pushed the second wave of e-books, and it seems to be lasting. All indications are that we’re going to continue to see more sales and more adoption of e-book technology.”

Coulson was hired by UW Press in 2006 to evaluate the e-book market and decide if it was something the press should invest in again. Over the last four years, UW Press has worked to prepare its products for a constantly changing e-book market. Today, all new books are simultaneously released in e-book and print formats.

Manitowoc Public Library Reorganization: Letter Writer Puts in a Plug for 'Trustee Essentials'

Letter: Reorganization best for library. (Herald-Times-Reporter, 2/3/2011)

Excerpt: Finally, since Mr. Kadow is so new to the MPL Board, he may not have yet read "Trustee Essentials: A Handbook for Wisconsin Public Library Trustees" (published by the DPI) and fully understand his role as a board member. Chapter 2 deals with the responsibilities of a library board in detail and includes the specific admonishment that "it is the director who hires and supervises other staff" and "library trustees should not be discussing library business with employees other than the director." (p. TE 2-2) It appears Mr. Kadow went public because he didn't get his way when the votes were counted. Kudos to the director and board who devised and supported a reorganization plan that advances state recommendations, doesn't impact the budget and provides patrons with the best possible service.

Related article:
System public library directors back Manitowoc Public Library reorganization plan. (2/2/2011)
Trustee addresses staff reorganization plan. (1/25/2011)
Library Director on the changing nature of libraries. (1/21/2011)
Library reorganization plan affects staff morale. (1/21/2011)
Staffing Changes in the Works at the Manitowoc Public Library. (12/24/2010)

On the Need for a New Appleton Public Library

Building project or not....some great talking points on the importance of public libraries.

LINK to documents

Letters: New library remains important for Appleton. (Appleton Post-Crescent, 2/4/2011)

Excerpt: The library has served us well for 20 years. Future needs, however, require new information be accessible in new ways and in appropriate space. A new library has economic benefits as well cultural and educational benefits:

Companies invest in communities that value education, learning and the opportunity to develop and advance, and find it easier to recruit valuable employees.

Potential employees prefer to work and pay taxes in a place where both education and culture is valued.

Parents move to communities where their children will have resources that prepare them for successful careers.

Children who grow up in a community that has nurtured and supported its educational development are likely to remain, become taxpayers and open businesses.

Chamber leadership can more easily promote development in a community with a state-of-the-art library.

A library increases the technological literacy of its citizens, especially those with little access to technology through their own resources.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Bummer! Texas Library Closed Due to Faulty Sprinkler Pipe

Sachse Public Library closed after fire sprinkler floods building. (Dallas News, 2/2/2011).

Excerpt: The library was closed because of the weather, but a fire flow alarm sounded early Wednesday afternoon. When crews arrived, they were ankle deep in about 2 1/2 inches of water that had fallen from the ceiling near the door. Flooring was soaked and several computers that were on the floor were damaged.

New Dwight Foster Public Library to Have Pervious Driveway

Thanks to this group.

Library driveway pervious. (Daily Union, 2/3/2011)

Excerpt: When it rains, it pours ... directly into the Rock River, where runoff from city streets and parking lots can cause downstream flooding and pollute waterways. However, that is not the case with the new Dwight Foster Public Library driveway.

Fort Atkinson's Heart of the City donated $6,900 - the price difference between a standard driveway and one with a permeable surface - to help the city in its commitment toward protecting local waterways. Runoff is reduced or prevented with the porous pavement, which allows water to soak in instead of running off.

"Stormwater runoff is something I never would have thought about, and most of us don't," Heart of the City member Kitty Welch said. "Then, all of a sudden, you realize there is this thing that actually does have a big effect in many ways ... There are just better ways to address these issues, and it's nice to make people aware of that."

Heart of the City is a grassroots citizens group based in Fort Atkinson whose mission is to work toward sustainability in the community through education, projects and thoughtful engagement with neighbors and civic leaders.

Related articles:
Have you checked the construction progress lately? (9/3/2010)
Why a building project needs a contingency fund. (8/20/2010)
Groundbreaking pics. (4/5/2010)
For Atkinson Library Moves to Temporary Home. (3/13/2010)
Fort Atkinson Library Building Project Update. (2/17/2010)
Fort Atkinson library to move to temporary quarters. (12/3/2009)

Dwight Foster Public Library: Micro-Donations Amount to Large Gift. (10/25/2009)

Dwight Foster Public Library Kicks Off Its Capital Campaign. (7/26/2009)

Recession Not Holding Back Fort Atkinson's Library Expansion Effort. (7/18/2009)

Fort Library Receives Substantial Donation. (4/29/2009)

Fort Atkinson Moves Ahead on Library Project. (3/19/2009)

No Guns Allowed at Iowa City Public Library

Iowa City Public Library will be gun-free zone. (Cedar Rapids Gazette, 1/28/2011)

Excerpt: The Iowa City Public Library’s governing board unanimously approved on Thursday a measure to ban guns in the library.

That move comes about a month after state law changed to loosened restrictions on citizens who carry weapons.

“There are some people who would feel uncomfortable if they saw people carrying guns inside the library,” Director Susan Craig said. “Library staff feels a safe and secure environment is very important.”

Craig said the policy, which exempts public safety officials, will go into effect as soon as signs can be made, which she estimates will take a week to 10 days.

The policy is in response to an Iowa gun law that went into effect on January 1.

Iowans flock to sheriffs to apply for gun permits. (Des Moines Register, 1/4/2011)

Price County: A Half Century of Growth in Public Library Use

Part 50 of a county-by-county overview.

Price County:

Population and Circulation, 1960-2009

Price County, 1960-2009

Price County public libraries
Ogema Public Library

Park Falls Public Library

Phillips Public Library

Price County is a member of the Indianhead Federated Library System.

The Shelter People (without Leon Russell)

LINK

Margaret Russell Unveils the New Architectural Digest. (The New York Times, 2/3/2011)

Excerpt: Like so many shelter magazines, Architectural Digest has not been a happy home of late. Once the leader in its glossy domain, it has lost market share — nearly half of its pre-recession ad dollars — as well as its relevance to buzzier titles, or what’s left of them, anyway. And when its longtime editor, Paige Rense Noland, retired in June, it wasn’t much of a surprise when Ms. Russell was announced as her replacement. The only question was to what degree she would renovate the iconic magazine, which had rolled out inexorably month after month, decade after decade, largely unchanged. Would she gut the place? Or just repaint?

The Shelter People (with Leon Russell)

Rupert Murdoch Introduces The Daily, iPad-only Newspaper

News Corporation Introduces The Daily, a Digital-Only Newspaper. (The New York Times,
2/3/2011)

Excerpt: The Daily will be a first of its kind for tablet computers: a general interest publication that will refresh every morning and will bill customers’ credit cards each week for 99 cents or each year for $40.

In journalistic and marketing ambition and scope, The Daily recalls USA Today when it began in 1982: a publication of no city or region that aspires to be a first-read in the homes of millions of Americans despite having no brand recognition.

The Daily takes that same sensibility to the digital age by trying to enliven the printed word with photographs, video and interactive features that work seamlessly together.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Photo ID Required at Onondaga County Public Library to Check Out Materials

Onondaga County Public Library to require borrowers to keep photos on file or present photo ID. (Syracuse Post-Standard, 2/1/2011)

Excerpt: Come Valentine’s Day, those who love the libraries in the city of Syracuse will have to keep their photographs on computer file with the Onondaga County Public Library or present photo identification as well as their library cards when they take out materials.

The policy, announced this morning and taking effect on Feb. 14, is meant to tighten the rules of how library cards are used and the security of materials borrowed, said Doreen Milcarek, administrator of the Central Library in downtown Syracuse. Milcarek spearheaded the project.

Officials hope the new practice will cut down instances where people claim their cards were stolen or lost and then used by people who failed to return materials and racked up overdue fines, Milcarek said. She said she had not seen statistics documenting how often that happened or how much fine money was involved.

Chris Powell Misses the Point

LINK

Even public librarians answer to democracy, by Chris Powell, Managing Editor. (Manchester Journal Inquirer, 2/1/2011)

Excerpt: Enfield's Town Council responded hysterically and boorishly to complaints from a few local Republicans that a film series being planned by the public library should not include Michael Moore's "Sicko," a polemic more or less supporting nationalization of the medical insurance system.

Yes, "Sicko" is political advocacy. But instead of thanking the Republicans for their comments and asking the town manager to look into the matter and report back or even inviting the librarian to the council's next meeting so he might explain what was happening and what he meant to accomplish, a majority of the council members jumped to the conclusion that the librarian was trying to propagandize for the Communist International. The council members told the town manager to block the showing of "Sicko," and the mayor went so far as to warn that the council could take out its displeasure on the library's budget.

Eventually the council members calmed down a bit, maybe realizing that political balance in library materials might be achieved without threatening anyone. They had no evidence that the librarian was trying to do anything except his job as he saw it. Indeed, having been reprimanded by the council without a hearing and then counseled by the town manager, the librarian quickly added a conservative polemic to the film series and "Sicko" was rescheduled.

But then Powell offers this ill-considered conclusion.

As badly as the Enfield situation was handled, the underlying issue was just an ordinary public policy judgment, not constitutional right, and a more practical question seems not even to have been asked. That is, in the age of video discs, who really needs libraries to become theaters, to do more with movies than check their video discs out to whoever wants to watch them at home?

Yeah, and while we're at it, who needs libraries to host book discussion groups, to do more with books than check them out to whomever wants to read them at home.

The point, Chris, is that library-sponsored programs provide people with an opportunity to connect with one another, share opinions, and learn more about specific topics in which they have an interest.

Related article:
Outcry over showing of 'Sicko'. (1/21/2011)

"The People's Palace" Celebrates Its 100th Anniversary with a Gleamingly Restored Facade

Photo credit: New York Public Library

Historic, Three-Year Preservation Project Restores The Landmark Façade of the Library On 42nd Street. (New York Public Library news release, 2/2/2011)

Excerpt: One of the New York City’s most revered and cherished icons is celebrating its 100th birthday this year – and thanks to a monumental restoration, it looks just as beautiful as it did on the day it opened as “The People’s Palace” in 1911.

The New York Public Library has just completed a three-year, $50 million restoration and preservation of the landmark Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on 42nd Street, which has stood as an impressive symbol of opportunity and access for the people of New York City and the world for a century.

The Brown County Library is Looking Forward to Adding These Titles to Its Collection

Lynn Stainbrook, Director of the Brown County Public Library (headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin), and Barbara Mistick, Director of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, have made a friendly wager on the outcome of Sunday's Super Bowl XLV.

I 'wager' that the Brown County library will receive the following titles sometime late next week.