100 Years of Service @ the Tuscarawas County Public Library

LINK

Weddings @ the Boston Public Library

LINK

Related post:
Boston Public Library as destination venue. (8/14/2011)

From the Anonymous File Drawer

Noticed an old rusty van in the parking lot of a grocery story this afternoon with its back end covered by every conceivable libertarian bumper sticker you could name – from various Ron Paul incarnations to “Ted Kennedy’s car has killed more people than my gun.”

And pasted in a side window (faded but proud): “I love libraries and I vote!” Didn’t know the vehicle but am sure I would have known the driver…

Downloadables @ the Toledo Lucas County Public Library

LINK

Bookmobile Service @ the Marin County Free Library

Bookmobile driver shares joy of books on route. (San Francisco Chronicle, 11/1/2011)

Excerpt: On a recent morning, Terry Jones visited the three one-room schoolhouses in rural Marin County where she makes weekly stops. Exuberant and optimistic, Jones arrives in a 29-foot bookmobile equipped with 3,500 books, DVDs and CDs.

The Oakland Public Library and Occupy Oakland

 LINK

Generation 99%: The youth brigade to the library. (KALW News, 11/5/2011)

Excerpt: Inside the main branch of the Oakland Public Library on the day of the general strike, it was quieter than usual, even for a library. But outside the library was a different story. While thousands gathered in Frank Ogawa Plaza, hundreds gathered here, on the front lawn, for a smaller, more humble, and more family-oriented sort of protest. This march was led by toddlers in strollers and their parents. It was called called “The Toddler Brigade.”

Acting Supervising Librarian Kathleen DiGiovanni said the event wasn’t organized by the library, but it made sense that the lawn was being used in such a way; it’s a neutral, public meeting place for protesters to gather. After the police raided Frank Ogawa Plaza early on Tuesday, October 25th, 1500 people headed to that same library lawn to regroup. That’s when they decided on the general strike.

West Hollywood's StandUpLibrarian Sent Packing

West Hollywood's Standup Librarian isn't laughing. (Los Angeles Times, 11/2/2011)

Excerpt:   Myers, 37, got a master's in library science, but library jobs are scarce these days. So she volunteered to promote literary events and book festivals in Los Angeles while also developing her comedy routine. At StandUpLibrarian.com, she uses her story and sharp sense of humor to advocate for books, writers, literacy and libraries. Earlier this year, Myers devoted much of her volunteer time to fundraising for the West Hollywood branch of the L.A. County Public Library.

StandUpLibrarian on YouTube.

This Obituary Time Line Needs Fact Checking

From the Warren Times-Observer.

1934. Birth.

1952. High school graduation.

Served in the U.S. Army during World War II at Ft. Knox.

Pittsburgh Voters Asked to Approve 0.25 Mill Special Tax

LINK

Predictably, Richard Mellon Scaife's conservative Pittsburgh Tribune-Review sez no.

Scaife ranks #331 on The Forbes 400, The Richest People in America

with a net worth of $1,300,000,000.

Privatizing Trash Pickup Would More Than Plug Sheboygan's $800,000 Budget Gap

LINK

Privatizing City of Sheboygan trash pickup still an option. Move would save city $1.3M. (Sheboygan Press, 11/4/2011)

Excerpt: The Common Council is expected to discuss how to bridge an $800,000 budget gap when it meets Monday.

Other options being considered include reducing funding for the Mead Public Library, laying off city workers, closing a fire station, reinstating a storm water fee or wheel tax or, Amodeo said this week, going to a four-day work week for some city employees.

Other Wisconsin county and municipal budget news.

Portage County approves budget.  (11/4/2011)
Manitowoc's bond rating woes.  (11/4/2011)
Menasha mayor asks library board to cut $45,000 from 2012 budget.  (11/2/2011)
Fond du Lac councilman Ruedinger calls $91,000 cut to library "huge"  (11/1/2011)
Dimming the streetlights in Clintonvlile.  (10/27/2011)
Two Rivers' Lester Public Library looking at a 7% cut in 2012.  (10/26/2011)
Boost in taxes for Neenah residents.  (10/25/2011)
Apparently, Sheboygan alderman David Van Akkeren doesn't love and value libraries. (10/25/2011)
Crabby Appleton trumps League of Women Voters president in coverage of Outagamie County budget hearing.  (10/25/2011)
Black River Falls looks to cut $62,000 from 2012 budget.  (10/24/2011)
Shawano does the garbage fee math.  (10/19/2011)
Wisconsin Rapids:  Proposed McMillan Library 2012 budget cut $63,221.  (10/19/2011)
Racine mayor uses Packers analogy in budget address.  (10/19/2011)
Manitowoc mayor cuts budget 10%.  (10/18/2011)
Mayor proposes 5.1% cut to Fond du Lac Public Library funding.  (10/17/2011)
Racine County executive explains the various tax levies.  (10/16/2011)
Lake Geneva's 2012 budget dilemma.  (10/15/2011)
Rhinelander has a bigger hold to fill due to budget error.  (10/15/2011)
City of Ripon 2012 budget update.  (10/15/2011)
Shawano city administrator:  "Bleeding has stopped for the most part".  (10/14/2011)
Retirements?  Not worry, sez Sheboygan officials.  (10/14/2011)
FEE-fi-fo-fum in Ashland.  (10/14/2011)
Waupaca proposes no retiree access to city's health plan.  (10/13/2011)
Mayville retains wheel tax.  (10/13/2011)
Wheel tax proposed in Janesville.  (10/12/2011)
City of Marshfield 2012 budget update.  (10/12/2011)
City of Oshkosh 2012 budget update.  (10/12/2011)
City of Fond du Lac to eliminate assessor's office.  (10/12/2011)
Sheboygan officials no longer have the "headache" of maintenance of effort.  (10/11/2011)
City of Waukesha considers annual garbage fee.  (10/9/2011)
Brown County proposes cuts to employee benefits.  (10/9/2011)
Library salaries focus of debate at Sussex-Lisbon budget discussion.  (10/8/2011)
City of  Delavan administrator requests all department reduce operating budgets by 8%.  (10/8/2011)
Village of Waterford looks at across-the-board cuts.  (10/8/2011)
Ripon city administrator on 2012 municipal budget.  (10/8/2011)
4% cut to library funding in Appleton mayor's 2012 proposed budget.  (10/8/2011)
McMillan library staff reorganization saves Wisconsin Rapids $45,075. (10/5/2011)
Budget reduction forces cuts in hours, positions @ the La Crosse Public Library. (10/3/2011)
Marathon County cuts employee benefits to balance 2012 budget.  (10/3/2011)
City of Sheboygan 2012 proposed budget.  (10/3/2011)
2012 Brown County Public Library proposed budget.  (10/1/2011)
1.2% of Janesville residents get to wag the dog.  (9/30/2011)
Beloit Public Library proposed 2012 budget.  (9/30/2011)
Shawano City-County Library receives $13,000 cut (3%) in county funding.  (9/28/2011)
City of Rhinelander looking at a $200,000 decrease in revenue for 2012.  (9/27/2011)
Mayor Barrett's proposed 2012 budget increases hours, expands 3 educational initiatives @ the Milwaukee Public Library.  (9/26/2011)
Janesville:  Slight decrease in 2012 Hedberg Public Library budget.  (9/25/2011)
Fond du Lac faces $1.7 million deficit.  (9/23/2011)
McFarland wrestles with 2012 budget..  (9/22/2011)
Beloit to make deep cuts to police, fire departments.  (9/22/2011)
Wisconsin Rapids 2012 budget process underway.  (9/22/2011)
Oshkosh 2012 budget deficit projected to balloon to as much as $2.3 million.  (9/20/2011)
Facing $2.5 million shortfall, La Crosse considers a variety of fees.  (9/14/2011)
100 show up at Dodgeville budget hearing.  (9/12/2011)
Zero percent increase for Prairie du Sac department budgets.  (9/7/2011)
City of Ashland looks at projected shortfall of $329,000 in 2012 budget.  (8/26/2011)
Dodgeville city council to hold listening session on 2012 budget.  (8/26/2011)
Shawano budget deficit at $504,800.  (8/25/2011)
City of Ripon facing $110,000 budget deficit for 2012.  (8/25/2011)
Long list of cuts on table for Racine city services.  (8/25/2011)
Dodge County Administrator:  "Governor Walker does not speak for Dodge County".  (8/25/2011)
Longevity bonuses in Portage might become a thing of the past.  (8/24/2011)
Declining property values pose a challenge to Columbus budget development.  (8/24/2011)
Whitewater council looks at 0% tax levy increase.  (8/24/2011)
Janesville residents asked to make tough choices in online budget scorecard.  (8/24/2011)
Village of Darien officials ask for input on 2012 budget.  (8/24/2011)
City of Marshfield has some wiggle room in its 2012 budget development.  (8/24/2011)
Soglin on 2012 Madison budget:  "Every service we rely on is vulnerable".  (8/23/2011)
With a ballooning budget deficit, Marathon County considers a tax increase.  (8/23/2011)
Sheboygan's Strategic Fiscal Planning Committee to determine what city will look like.  (8/19/2011)
Brown County Exec looks at same tax levy, impact on services to be determined.  (8/18/2011)
City of Shawano wrestles with $128,000 deficit.  (8/16/2011)
Possible double whammy for Shawano City-County Library.  (8/15/2011)
Portage County Executive looks to "create a bridge to a new design, a way of functioning on less".. (8/15/2011)
Antigo cuts fire, police positions.  (8/15/2011)
Adding up the budget numbers in the Fox Valley.  (8/14/2011)
Sauk County officials ask for input.  (8/12/2011)
Marathon County ranks services to address $500,000 budget shortfall.  (8/12/2011)
City of Beloit faces a challenging budget process.  (8/8/2011)
Fond du Lac city manager sez Governor's tools not enough to offset cuts.  (8/2/2011)
Manitowoc mayor asks department heads for 10% budget cuts.  (8/2/2011)

Economic Recovery as a "Groundhog Day" Movie Trailer

What Would A Good Jobs Report Have Looked Like? by Mike Konczal. (The National Memo, 11/3/2011)

Excerpt: The same old miserable numbers came out today, nowhere near what we need.

I feel like I’m in the movie Groundhog Day when it comes to the job numbers. I wake up on the first Friday each month to the same story — subpar job growth, no budging in key indicators, the insanity of the “anti-stimulus” of bleeding government jobs – and then wake up to it again next month. This month looks like the past dozen: 80,000 jobs were created, while the government sector shed 24,000 jobs.

LINK

Report: Corporate Taxpayers & Corporate Tax Dodgers, 2008-10

LINK

LINK

LINK

WLA Awards & Honors 2011: A Follow-Up Thank You with Additional Remarks

I want to take this opportunity to briefly reflect on Waukesha Public Library Director Jane Ameel’s eloquent remarks on accepting the Wisconsin Library Association’s 2011 Library of the Year Award.  Particularly as they pertain to the importance and benefits of library advocacy.

“If it takes a village to raise a child, then it takes a community to support a library,” Jane began. (Apologies for the approximate quote.)

In a few minutes, she summarized the value of building relationships – with the mayor, council members, volunteers, Friends (“with a capital F”), staff, the library system, educational institutions, and community organizations.

And the large Waukesha contingent at last night’s WLA Awards & Honors banquet confirmed to me the success of this community-wide approach.

Congratulations to Waukesha Public Library staff

 and to all of the 2011 honorees.

Kudos to the Wisconsin Library Association Foundation (ably led by Jane Pearlmutter; yeah, I know, shameless plug), the Awards & Honors Committee, the Wisconsin Library Heritage Center Steering Committee (Larry Nix, Chair), the Literary Awards Committee of the Readers Section (Jean Anderson, Chair), the Children's Book Award Committee of the Youth Services Section (Linda Jerome, Chair), and the Outreach Services Roundtable (Holly Selwitschka, Chair), sponsor of the Frances de Usabel Award.  (Not to mention the tireless efforts on our behalf of WLA staff Lisa, Brigitte, and Tom.)

The Awards & Honors banquet is always one of the highlights of the fall conference, if not the entire year of the WLA's calendar of activities.  I always walk away feeling inspired and proud to be a part of this state's library community.  Special kudos to the able leadership of committee chair Rebecca Dougherty in her team's planning and coordination last night's successful event.

And finally, thank yous to WLA President Rhonda Puntney, the WLA Board of Directors, and all of my colleagues in the Wisconsin library community.  It has been a most rewarding 33 years.  (And counting.)

The award sits on wood library shelving (72"h x 108"w, 11 1/2"d) formerly owned by the Jefferson (WI) School District, which JoAnna and I purchased at the now-defunct  Middleton Antiques Mall more than 10 years ago.  If I recall, it really wasn't that much of a chore getting into the house -- not like the time we had to replace a kitchen window, a suddenly fast-tracked remodeling project on our to-do list, when an upholstered chair for the living room refused to fit through any of our doors.

Fond du Lac's Library Express to Open November 17

New FdL library branch will open Nov. 17. (Fond du Lac Reporter, 11/3/2011)

Excerpt: A grand opening for the 1,700-square-foot Fond du Lac Public Library Express, at The Shops at Johnson Crossing, is planned for Saturday, Dec. 10.

The branch will feature a "to go" collection of materials, emphasizing best sellers and new releases, a children's corner and materials to help with busy lives, featuring cooking, crafting, home repair and more. Patrons will be able to access the computer catalog, place holds and pick up materials.

Related post:
Fond du Lac reaches fundraising goal for branch library.  (8/12/2011)
East side branch to open in fall.  (6/8/2011)

Portage County Approves Budget

Stevens Point Journal, 11/3/2011.

LINK to Portage County Public Library budget.

The bottom lines.

Other Wisconsin county and municipal budget news.

Manitowoc's bond rating woes.  (11/4/2011)
Menasha mayor asks library board to cut $45,000 from 2012 budget.  (11/2/2011)
Fond du Lac councilman Ruedinger calls $91,000 cut to library "huge"  (11/1/2011)
Dimming the streetlights in Clintonvlile.  (10/27/2011)
Two Rivers' Lester Public Library looking at a 7% cut in 2012.  (10/26/2011)
Boost in taxes for Neenah residents.  (10/25/2011)
Apparently, Sheboygan alderman David Van Akkeren doesn't love and value libraries. (10/25/2011)
Crabby Appleton trumps League of Women Voters president in coverage of Outagamie County budget hearing.  (10/25/2011)
Black River Falls looks to cut $62,000 from 2012 budget.  (10/24/2011)
Shawano does the garbage fee math.  (10/19/2011)
Wisconsin Rapids:  Proposed McMillan Library 2012 budget cut $63,221.  (10/19/2011)
Racine mayor uses Packers analogy in budget address.  (10/19/2011)
Manitowoc mayor cuts budget 10%.  (10/18/2011)
Mayor proposes 5.1% cut to Fond du Lac Public Library funding.  (10/17/2011)
Racine County executive explains the various tax levies.  (10/16/2011)
Lake Geneva's 2012 budget dilemma.  (10/15/2011)
Rhinelander has a bigger hold to fill due to budget error.  (10/15/2011)
City of Ripon 2012 budget update.  (10/15/2011)
Shawano city administrator:  "Bleeding has stopped for the most part".  (10/14/2011)
Retirements?  Not worry, sez Sheboygan officials.  (10/14/2011)
FEE-fi-fo-fum in Ashland.  (10/14/2011)
Waupaca proposes no retiree access to city's health plan.  (10/13/2011)
Mayville retains wheel tax.  (10/13/2011)
Wheel tax proposed in Janesville.  (10/12/2011)
City of Marshfield 2012 budget update.  (10/12/2011)
City of Oshkosh 2012 budget update.  (10/12/2011)
City of Fond du Lac to eliminate assessor's office.  (10/12/2011)
Sheboygan officials no longer have the "headache" of maintenance of effort.  (10/11/2011)
City of Waukesha considers annual garbage fee.  (10/9/2011)
Brown County proposes cuts to employee benefits.  (10/9/2011)
Library salaries focus of debate at Sussex-Lisbon budget discussion.  (10/8/2011)
City of  Delavan administrator requests all department reduce operating budgets by 8%.  (10/8/2011)
Village of Waterford looks at across-the-board cuts.  (10/8/2011)
Ripon city administrator on 2012 municipal budget.  (10/8/2011)
4% cut to library funding in Appleton mayor's 2012 proposed budget.  (10/8/2011)
McMillan library staff reorganization saves Wisconsin Rapids $45,075. (10/5/2011)
Budget reduction forces cuts in hours, positions @ the La Crosse Public Library. (10/3/2011)
Marathon County cuts employee benefits to balance 2012 budget.  (10/3/2011)
City of Sheboygan 2012 proposed budget.  (10/3/2011)
2012 Brown County Public Library proposed budget.  (10/1/2011)
1.2% of Janesville residents get to wag the dog.  (9/30/2011)
Beloit Public Library proposed 2012 budget.  (9/30/2011)
Shawano City-County Library receives $13,000 cut (3%) in county funding.  (9/28/2011)
City of Rhinelander looking at a $200,000 decrease in revenue for 2012.  (9/27/2011)
Mayor Barrett's proposed 2012 budget increases hours, expands 3 educational initiatives @ the Milwaukee Public Library.  (9/26/2011)
Janesville:  Slight decrease in 2012 Hedberg Public Library budget.  (9/25/2011)
Fond du Lac faces $1.7 million deficit.  (9/23/2011)
McFarland wrestles with 2012 budget..  (9/22/2011)
Beloit to make deep cuts to police, fire departments.  (9/22/2011)
Wisconsin Rapids 2012 budget process underway.  (9/22/2011)
Oshkosh 2012 budget deficit projected to balloon to as much as $2.3 million.  (9/20/2011)
Facing $2.5 million shortfall, La Crosse considers a variety of fees.  (9/14/2011)
100 show up at Dodgeville budget hearing.  (9/12/2011)
Zero percent increase for Prairie du Sac department budgets.  (9/7/2011)
City of Ashland looks at projected shortfall of $329,000 in 2012 budget.  (8/26/2011)
Dodgeville city council to hold listening session on 2012 budget.  (8/26/2011)
Shawano budget deficit at $504,800.  (8/25/2011)
City of Ripon facing $110,000 budget deficit for 2012.  (8/25/2011)
Long list of cuts on table for Racine city services.  (8/25/2011)
Dodge County Administrator:  "Governor Walker does not speak for Dodge County".  (8/25/2011)
Longevity bonuses in Portage might become a thing of the past.  (8/24/2011)
Declining property values pose a challenge to Columbus budget development.  (8/24/2011)
Whitewater council looks at 0% tax levy increase.  (8/24/2011)
Janesville residents asked to make tough choices in online budget scorecard.  (8/24/2011)
Village of Darien officials ask for input on 2012 budget.  (8/24/2011)
City of Marshfield has some wiggle room in its 2012 budget development.  (8/24/2011)
Soglin on 2012 Madison budget:  "Every service we rely on is vulnerable".  (8/23/2011)
With a ballooning budget deficit, Marathon County considers a tax increase.  (8/23/2011)
Sheboygan's Strategic Fiscal Planning Committee to determine what city will look like.  (8/19/2011)
Brown County Exec looks at same tax levy, impact on services to be determined.  (8/18/2011)
City of Shawano wrestles with $128,000 deficit.  (8/16/2011)
Possible double whammy for Shawano City-County Library.  (8/15/2011)
Portage County Executive looks to "create a bridge to a new design, a way of functioning on less".. (8/15/2011)
Antigo cuts fire, police positions.  (8/15/2011)
Adding up the budget numbers in the Fox Valley.  (8/14/2011)
Sauk County officials ask for input.  (8/12/2011)
Marathon County ranks services to address $500,000 budget shortfall.  (8/12/2011)
City of Beloit faces a challenging budget process.  (8/8/2011)
Fond du Lac city manager sez Governor's tools not enough to offset cuts.  (8/2/2011)
Manitowoc mayor asks department heads for 10% budget cuts.  (8/2/2011)

Manitowoc's Bond Rating Woes: "There's light at the end of the tunnel … but the end of the tunnel is a long ways away,"

Photo credit:  Retiring Guy

Manitowoc bond rating fall adds to budget woes. Council, mayor struggle with options to help fund 2012 operations. (Manitowoc Herald-Times-Reporter, 11/3/2011)

Other Wisconsin county and municipal budget news.
Menasha mayor asks library board to cut $45,000 from 2012 budget.  (11/2/2011)
Fond du Lac councilman Ruedinger calls $91,000 cut to library "huge"  (11/1/2011)
Dimming the streetlights in Clintonvlile.  (10/27/2011)
Two Rivers' Lester Public Library looking at a 7% cut in 2012.  (10/26/2011)
Boost in taxes for Neenah residents.  (10/25/2011)
Apparently, Sheboygan alderman David Van Akkeren doesn't love and value libraries. (10/25/2011)
Crabby Appleton trumps League of Women Voters president in coverage of Outagamie County budget hearing.  (10/25/2011)
Black River Falls looks to cut $62,000 from 2012 budget.  (10/24/2011)
Shawano does the garbage fee math.  (10/19/2011)
Wisconsin Rapids:  Proposed McMillan Library 2012 budget cut $63,221.  (10/19/2011)
Racine mayor uses Packers analogy in budget address.  (10/19/2011)
Manitowoc mayor cuts budget 10%.  (10/18/2011)
Mayor proposes 5.1% cut to Fond du Lac Public Library funding.  (10/17/2011)
Racine County executive explains the various tax levies.  (10/16/2011)
Lake Geneva's 2012 budget dilemma.  (10/15/2011)
Rhinelander has a bigger hold to fill due to budget error.  (10/15/2011)
City of Ripon 2012 budget update.  (10/15/2011)
Shawano city administrator:  "Bleeding has stopped for the most part".  (10/14/2011)
Retirements?  Not worry, sez Sheboygan officials.  (10/14/2011)
FEE-fi-fo-fum in Ashland.  (10/14/2011)
Waupaca proposes no retiree access to city's health plan.  (10/13/2011)
Mayville retains wheel tax.  (10/13/2011)
Wheel tax proposed in Janesville.  (10/12/2011)
City of Marshfield 2012 budget update.  (10/12/2011)
City of Oshkosh 2012 budget update.  (10/12/2011)
City of Fond du Lac to eliminate assessor's office.  (10/12/2011)
Sheboygan officials no longer have the "headache" of maintenance of effort.  (10/11/2011)
City of Waukesha considers annual garbage fee.  (10/9/2011)
Brown County proposes cuts to employee benefits.  (10/9/2011)
Library salaries focus of debate at Sussex-Lisbon budget discussion.  (10/8/2011)
City of  Delavan administrator requests all department reduce operating budgets by 8%.  (10/8/2011)
Village of Waterford looks at across-the-board cuts.  (10/8/2011)
Ripon city administrator on 2012 municipal budget.  (10/8/2011)
4% cut to library funding in Appleton mayor's 2012 proposed budget.  (10/8/2011)
McMillan library staff reorganization saves Wisconsin Rapids $45,075. (10/5/2011)
Budget reduction forces cuts in hours, positions @ the La Crosse Public Library. (10/3/2011)
Marathon County cuts employee benefits to balance 2012 budget.  (10/3/2011)
City of Sheboygan 2012 proposed budget.  (10/3/2011)
2012 Brown County Public Library proposed budget.  (10/1/2011)
1.2% of Janesville residents get to wag the dog.  (9/30/2011)
Beloit Public Library proposed 2012 budget.  (9/30/2011)
Shawano City-County Library receives $13,000 cut (3%) in county funding.  (9/28/2011)
City of Rhinelander looking at a $200,000 decrease in revenue for 2012.  (9/27/2011)
Mayor Barrett's proposed 2012 budget increases hours, expands 3 educational initiatives @ the Milwaukee Public Library.  (9/26/2011)
Janesville:  Slight decrease in 2012 Hedberg Public Library budget.  (9/25/2011)
Fond du Lac faces $1.7 million deficit.  (9/23/2011)
McFarland wrestles with 2012 budget..  (9/22/2011)
Beloit to make deep cuts to police, fire departments.  (9/22/2011)
Wisconsin Rapids 2012 budget process underway.  (9/22/2011)
Oshkosh 2012 budget deficit projected to balloon to as much as $2.3 million.  (9/20/2011)
Facing $2.5 million shortfall, La Crosse considers a variety of fees.  (9/14/2011)
100 show up at Dodgeville budget hearing.  (9/12/2011)
Zero percent increase for Prairie du Sac department budgets.  (9/7/2011)
City of Ashland looks at projected shortfall of $329,000 in 2012 budget.  (8/26/2011)
Dodgeville city council to hold listening session on 2012 budget.  (8/26/2011)
Shawano budget deficit at $504,800.  (8/25/2011)
City of Ripon facing $110,000 budget deficit for 2012.  (8/25/2011)
Long list of cuts on table for Racine city services.  (8/25/2011)
Dodge County Administrator:  "Governor Walker does not speak for Dodge County".  (8/25/2011)
Longevity bonuses in Portage might become a thing of the past.  (8/24/2011)
Declining property values pose a challenge to Columbus budget development.  (8/24/2011)
Whitewater council looks at 0% tax levy increase.  (8/24/2011)
Janesville residents asked to make tough choices in online budget scorecard.  (8/24/2011)
Village of Darien officials ask for input on 2012 budget.  (8/24/2011)
City of Marshfield has some wiggle room in its 2012 budget development.  (8/24/2011)
Soglin on 2012 Madison budget:  "Every service we rely on is vulnerable".  (8/23/2011)
With a ballooning budget deficit, Marathon County considers a tax increase.  (8/23/2011)
Sheboygan's Strategic Fiscal Planning Committee to determine what city will look like.  (8/19/2011)
Brown County Exec looks at same tax levy, impact on services to be determined.  (8/18/2011)
City of Shawano wrestles with $128,000 deficit.  (8/16/2011)
Possible double whammy for Shawano City-County Library.  (8/15/2011)
Portage County Executive looks to "create a bridge to a new design, a way of functioning on less".. (8/15/2011)
Antigo cuts fire, police positions.  (8/15/2011)
Adding up the budget numbers in the Fox Valley.  (8/14/2011)
Sauk County officials ask for input.  (8/12/2011)
Marathon County ranks services to address $500,000 budget shortfall.  (8/12/2011)
City of Beloit faces a challenging budget process.  (8/8/2011)
Fond du Lac city manager sez Governor's tools not enough to offset cuts.  (8/2/2011)
Manitowoc mayor asks department heads for 10% budget cuts.  (8/2/2011)

U.S. Census Bureau: Consolidated Federal Funds Report for Fiscal Year 2010

...a presentation of data on federal government expenditures or obligations in state, county, and subcounty areas of the United States....

Data is also presented by county, from which I prepared the following table.

Procurement?  Think Oshkosh Truck.

The 2000 map and report.  In ten years, Wisconsin has moved from 48th to 32nd place.

Near the End, Mom Broke Her Silent Generation Mold

A lifelong Republican, she enthusiastically voted for Obama in 2008.  She had especially harsh words -- not generally her way of speaking -- for Sarah Palin. 

The Generation Gap and the 2012 Election. Angry Silents, Disengaged Millennials. (Pew Research Center , 11/3/2011)

Excerpt:   Millennial voters are inclined to back President Barack Obama by a wide margin in a potential matchup against former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, while Silent generation voters are solidly behind Romney.

Awaiting the Job Announcement for a New Director @ the Salt Lake City Public Library

Elder checks out.  (Salt Lake Tribune, 10/31/2011)

Excerpt:  You can tell a lot about what’s wrong with any organization by reading the want ad for a new boss. Whatever qualifications are stressed in that posting are likely the characteristics that were found to be the most wanting in the previous incumbent. \

The search for a new director for the Salt Lake City Library system should include a plea for someone who can lead, rather than command, and earn, rather than demand, the respect and the necessary buy-in from the library’s staff, volunteers and supporters. 

A lack of such abilities was, from all accounts, the downfall of the library’s last director, Beth Elder. She resigned Friday, effective immediately, after months of friction with staff members, some members of the Library Board and, most troubling, the Friends of the Library.  

Related posts:
Employment opportunity @ the Salt Lake City Public Library.  (10/28/2011)
Now in progress:  Meeting of the Salt Lake City library board.   (10/28/2011)
SLCPL continuing mess.  (10/23/2011)
Friends of the Salt Lake City Public Library to Administration: "Our faith and trust are shattered". (10/2/2011) Hush money (alleged).  (10/19/2011)
"Employee Engagement" poll @ the Salt Lake City Public Library.  (10/19/2011)
Email, social media ukase @ the Salt Lake City Public Library. (10/19/2011)
Continued turmoil at library.  (4/30/2011)
Unhappy employees air grievances.  (3/15/2011)
'Boomeranging twist' at Salt Lake City Public Library.  (1/18/2011)
Management shake-up at library.  (1/3/2011)

Go Directly to Amazon, Do Not Pass Library

Amazon bypasses library, lends Kindle books directly to Prime users. (Ars Technica, 11/3/2011)

Excerpt: Kindle owners now have another reason to shell out $79 per year for an Amazon Prime subscription: Amazon's new Kindle Owner's Lending Library. Those who own any of Amazon's eInk Kindles or the Kindle Fire are now able to borrow books directly from Amazon as long as they're Amazon Prime members, giving them access to some 5,000 e-books at launch, including more than a hundred current and former New York Times bestsellers. The best part: there's no due date.

Lawmaker sez he didn't want it to be about him

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 11/2/2011.

November 2nd Statement from Board of Governors of Federal Reserve System

Link to full 11/2/2011 news release.

Excerpt:   (1st paragraph in bite-sized pieces with bold highlights.)

Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in September indicates that economic growth strengthened somewhat in the third quarter, reflecting in part a reversal of the temporary factors that had weighed on growth earlier in the year.

Nonetheless, recent indicators point to continuing weakness in overall labor market conditions, and the unemployment rate remains elevated. 

[Less income, less spending, fewer taxes paid.]

Household spending has increased at a somewhat faster pace in recent months. 

Business investment in equipment and software has continued to expand, but investment in nonresidential structures is still weak, and the housing sector remains depressed. 

Inflation appears to have moderated since earlier in the year as prices of energy and some commodities have declined from their peaks. Longer-term inflation expectations have remained stable.

Of Interest to Outreach Librarians: The Green House Project

A Nursing Home Shrinks Until It Feels Like a Home. (The New York Times, 11/1/2011)

Excerpt: There are 117 Green Houses across the United States now, part of a quiet but intriguing effort to de-institutionalize elder care. The movement has its roots in the 1987 Nursing Home Reform Act, which declared that residents of long-term care have the right to be free from abuse or neglect. Nursing homes across the country have tried a variety of strategies to become more “resident-centered.”

“It’s happening all over the country, in a lot of different models,” said Sarah Wells, executive director of the National Consumer Voices for Quality Long-Term Care, an advocacy group based in Washington.