Saturday, April 6, 2013

Noah Webster is Spinning in His Grave

Rutgers Tries to Calm Furor as More Officials Quit. (The New York Times, 4/5/2013)

[Emphasis added]

How about "mindless", "heedless", "unguarded?

Complications:  Maryland and Rutgers Give Big Ten 14 Teams.  (The New York Times, November 19, 2012)

As yesterday's New York Times article points out, Mr. Pernetti said he first saw the videos in November, which was the same month he secured a coveted invitation for Rutgers to join the Big Ten Conference, a move that guaranteed national exposure and significant television revenue. 

Related post: 
Let's All Welcome Rutgers Athletic Director Tim Pernetti to the Big 10. (4/3/2013)

Some People Will Believe Anything

Weak economic numbers haven't affected Scott Walker's popularity.  (Capital Times, 4/6/2013)



Jobs Jobs Jobs Jobs Jobs. Also: Jobs.  (Wisconsin Budget Project, 5/9/2011)

Excerpt:  If Wisconsin has jobs on the brain, you can’t really blame us. Between January 2008 and October 2009, Wisconsin lost 171,400 jobs (seasonally adjusted), which amounts to 5.9 percent of all employment. 

The recession decreased the number of jobs across the spectrum of industries, but the number of jobs in manufacturing in particular saw a precipitous decline

Nationally, the number of jobs in manufacturing declined more than twice as fast as the total number of jobs, according to figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Wisconsin’s labor force is heavily concentrated in manufacturing -- in fact, Wisconsin has a higher percentage of its workforce in manufacturing than any other state. (You can read more about this in one of our issue briefs.) This concentration means that Wisconsin was particularly vulnerable to job loss.




Janesville GM assembly plant
  • Largely idled in December 2008 
  • Ceased all remaining production in April 2009
GM:  The End of an Era.  A series of articles from the Janesville Gazette

Friday, April 5, 2013

Thumbs Up for 1970 Donald Westlake Novel


Excellent 1970 jewel heist novel: The Hot Rock. (boing boing, 4/5/2013)

Excerpt:   The smart dialogue, clever heist planning, and offbeat characters (the gang's lock picking expert is a mild-mannered, married model train enthusiast without a shred of conscience about the multiple felonies he commits) made this a snappy and enjoyable read.

Another rave review at The Violent World of ParkerThe Parker Novels by Richard Stark (AKA Donald E. Westlake), other works by DEW, and crime fiction in general.

Excerpt:   Since I’m probably never going to think a novel hits the funny meter higher than “mildly amusing,” for me to enjoy a comic novel it needs to be great as a novel, apart from its comic elements. The Hot Rock certainly is. It’s a stupendously enjoyable book fully deserving of its exalted status in the pantheon of crime fiction..

An Unfinished Person (in an Unfinished Universe is less enthusiastic, giving The Hot Rock 3 out of 5 possible points, i.e., "worth picking up at library".

I didn't read the book, but I saw the movie.



Film and book discussion (5/30/2012) at MysteryPeople, Austin, Texas.  (See also BookPeople)

Two copies of the book available in LINKcat


Middleton owns a DVD copy of the movie.

It's also available in audiobook (cassette) at Reedsburg.

Park Monroe 2.0: All Out of Scale

At least from this vantage point.

A condominium evolution?

Looks more like a devolution to me.

From a brochure slipped into today's print edition of the New York Times.  And slipped onto the kitchen floor as I removed the plastic wrap.


Circulation of Print Travel Books: Still the Same, Going Down Slowly, or Tumbling

Well, in some reported cases, it's going up.

Fond du Lac Public Library.  (Statistics shared by Jon Mark Bolthouse, Director)
Still going by the book in Fond du Lac!


Middleton Public Library  (Statistics provided by Jason Boak, Acquisitions & Serials)

Jason notes that the circulation of books in the 910-919 range comprised 11% of total nonfiction book circulation at Middleton in March 2013.

No surprise here, as travel books have always been a popular item.


Edgerton Public Library (shared by Sherry Machones, Director)
Our statistics have gone down since 2008, but for [year to date] we have 12% higher circulation of them compared to [last year to date].. We also mostly carry Fodor's guides which is what the patrons prefer here.

Durand Public Library  (shared by Patti Blount, Director)
We are still the same when people want to plan a trip and see where they want to go. We have people that check them out all of the time. We just did an overhaul of the collection a couple of years ago because a memorial donation was given with specific instructions to focus on this area. We bought new updated books for all the areas that we have and ones we always wanted to get. 

Prescott Public Library  (shared by Becky Arenivar, Programming Specialist)
Our travel books seem to be holding their own. As a small library, we don't have up-to-date copies for most travel destinations, but the MORE system does and people often request multiple books, including Frommer's when they are going to be traveling. No stats, but anecdotal evidence of travel book popularity: 

Patrons like to sit and look at travel books when they are in the early stages of planning, to get ideas and get excited about a trip. Websites are great for up-to-the-minute info, but it's not like curling up on a comfy couch with a book about the Bahamas during a snowstorm.

New Glarus Public Library  (shared by Maggie Waggoner, Director)
Going down slowly but still surprisingly robust.

Beaver Dam Public Library (shared by Sue Mevis, Director)
In Beaver Dam they have been going down slowly each year until last year when it really tumbled.

And then there's this comment, which I will share anonymously.

Travelers that come into our library looking for information on a travel destination generally ask to see DVDs first, then other material. They would be interested in the travel guides as well, but across the library system most of the guides are several years old so they aren't as usable. It seems that libraries aren't keeping their guides current. 


Frommer seems to think the interest is there.

Arthur Frommer Gets Frommer Brand Back From Google. (The New York Times, 4/3/2013)

Paul Adair Attends the Joint Finance Committee Budget Hearing in Greenfield

Which took place on Thursday, April,4, 2013.


Here are the speakers' priorities (please limit your comment to 2 minutes) as Paul Adair, Germantown community blogger, heard them.   (I'm a regular reader of Mr. Adair's blogposts.)

1. Public school funding.   School board members, administrators, and teachers repeatedly said that the fact that the budget does not increase per pupil spending is unacceptable. Speaker after speaker called for acceptance of a proposal by Republican State Senators Ellis and Olsen for a $150/student increase.

2.  Elimination of residency requirement.     Most pointed out that the change does not involve spending, so it does not belong in a budget bill at all. They pointed out that such a drastic change, which would drain Milwaukee of many middle class residents, should be debated on its own merits.

3.  Funding for mass transit. Advocates pointed out the large number of low-income people who rely on public transit to get to work. Others pointed out that handicapped individuals and many senior citizens need mass transit for shopping and travel.

4.  Federal expansion of Medicaid
.  Typical was a group of seven from AARP who spoke on the issue. To many, the idea of Wisconsin accepting the expansion and getting better insurance coverage for our poor, covering more people, and at a lower cost, is a no-brainer.

5. Treatment Alternatives and Diversion (TAD) grants. These programs provide alternatives to jail sentences for people with non-violent drug and alcohol problems. Such programs save money (vs incarceration), make our society safer, and reduce prison crowding.

Open for Business, Closed to the Public


Governor Walker plans to tour northern Wisconsin today.

On the itinerary
Unnamed forestry officials asked Walker to tour the sites.

Doesn't appear that anyone has gone beyond the AP news release.

WMTV
 

Major State Level Library Resources and Services in Wisconsin (1974)


Reference and Loan Library (four areas of responsibility
  1. Interloan and reference backup service for public libraries and public library systems
  2. Library services to state executive agencies and state institutions
  3. Interloan backup service for schools
  4. Direct mail service as a public library to Wisconsin residents without legal access to a local public library

State Historical Society of Wisconsin
  • Research and service agency for Wisconsin historical materials
  • Books, periodicals, newspapers, manuscripts, and archives
  • Major research collection of federal and state documents
  • Publishes checklist of current state documents

State Law Library.  Largest legal research library for the State Supreme Court and the State Department of Justice

Legislative Reference Bureau
  • Maintains bill-drafting service
  • Collects and makes available reference information on public issues of concern to the Legislature
  • Emphasis on current materials
    • clippings
    • relevant documents from other states and federal sources

Milwaukee Public Library
  • Contractual backup resource to the Reference and Loan Library
  • Serves as state's Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Constitutes the outstanding academic research collections in the state
  • Memorial Library formally established as central interlibrary loan access office for Wisconsin academic libraries
  • Serves as backup public library resource to the Reference and Loan Library for Wisconsin adults

Other statewide services
  • WILS (Wisconsin Interlibrary Loan Services)
  • CLIP (Cooperative Library Information Program)
  • CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center)

Related post:
Dipping into Wisconsin's Long-Range Program for Library Services, 1974.   (3/27/2013)

Walker Threatens to Take His Ball and Go Home

Walker says he may not appoint Dane County judges.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 4/3/2013)

Photo credit:  Wikipedia

Coming Soon to Your Grocer's Meat Counter: Pork's New Nomenclature

Say goodbye to pork chops. Say hello to New York chops, porterhouse chops, ribeye chops, and sirloin chops.

New meat names mean bye bye, pork chop; hello, ribeye. (Chicago Tribune, 4/3/2013)


This inspiration is the result of 2 years of consumer research.

This Just In From Glenn Grothman

But first, to offer a contrast..

Walker's OK with it.  (Capital Times, 3/19/2013)

As is Mark Bugher, who served as Secretary of Revenue from 1988 to 1996 and Secretary of Administration from 1996 to 1999 under Tommy Thompson.

Photo credits:  Wikipedia, Wisconsin State Legislature

From The Wheeler Report (With highlights added)
Oh, the horrors!  An interest in poverty!


Blank discusses the fundamental changes occurring in federal policy. Her analysis suggests two challenges: first, that poverty has become harder to address through broad-based economic growth policies. Blank identifies the change in the nature of employment and poverty in the past 20 years. While evidence shows that between 1960 and 1980 a growing economy led to more employment, which was the largest factor in reducing poverty, the positive economic growth of the past two decades has actually seen a slight increase in poverty, especially in the 1990s. Drawing from a growing body of research, Blank suggests a number of reasons why employment has been less effective in leading people out of poverty. Wages for low-skilled workers have fallen more than 20 percent in the past 15 years, coupled with the growing part-time nature of low-wage occupations. Sixty-three percent of all poor families have one worker, yet only 20 percent of these families contain a full-time, year-round worker.

It doesn't take much to figure out Grothman's priorities.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Let's All Welcome Rutgers Athletic Director Tim Pernetti to the Big 10

Video Puts Rutgers Coach Under Scrutiny. (The New York Times, 4/2/2013)



What you'll see fired Rutgers men’s basketball coach Mike Rice doing to his players in this video:
  • Yelling homophobic slurs 
  • Kicking them
  • Grabbing and shoving them
  • Throwing basketballs at them

Quote from the New York Times article

Not smiling here.

When Naming Rights Go Awry

Stadium Won't Be Named for Private Prison Company. (The New York Times, 4/2/2013)

Excerpt:   Florida Atlantic University announced late Monday that the GEO Group Foundation, the charitable arm of the private prison corporation, planned to withdraw its $6 million gift for what was to be called GEO Group Stadium, citing discomfort at being drawn into a debate about civil rights and privatization.


Explore FAU: Points of Pride. With 49 percent of its student body classified as minority or international students, Florida Atlantic University ranks as the most racially, ethnically and culturally diverse institution in Florida’s State University System.

Minorities make up 33% of the population in the U.S.
  • 18% Hispanic
  • 13.5% Black
  • 5% Asian

Distilling the Essence of Woman on Wall Street

After Boom-Boom Room, Fresh Tactics to Fight Bias. (The New York Times, 4/1/2013)


A new sexism rampant on Wall Street? (Fierce Finance, 9/6/1020)

Anonymous comment:   I know "sex" in a headline draws readers, but I think the real story here is that only 119 harrasment claims were made for an industry group that includes real estate and much more than just Wall Street. 

Oh my!  Only 119.

Wisconsin Public Library/Community Partnerships

Many thanks to Tom, Nick, Mary, Ellen,and Jane for sharing these great examples.


Shared by Tom Carson
Head of Reference Services
Kenosha Public Library


The Kenosha Public Library has developed many community partnerships with local organizations. For example, the Kenosha Literacy Council is located in the Uptown Branch and a few KPL staff members serve on their Board.

However, I am really proud of the relationship with Lemon Street Gallery. The relationship started with our first Big Read grant. We asked them if they wanted to participate and they enthusiastically said, yes! The artists at Lemon Street Gallery created works of art based on the themes of the The Grapes of Wrath. We displayed the works in our libraries and at other Big Read programs. The partnership was advertised in all Big Read publicity and Lemon Street promoted the program on their website, Facebook page and newsletter. We received nothing but positive responses. Some works of art were sold and others were donated to the library.

The enthusiasm and creativity of gallery director Melanie Hovey was a real inspiration during the Big Read process. The relationship expanded when Melanie talked our library director into letting her display works of art from Lemon Street artists in our buildings. The library receives new art on a quarterly basis.

Our first Big Read was such a success that we decided to do it again. Lemon Street artists came through and created beautiful works of art. The Big Read and the NEA were so impressed about our collaboration that we made it on to the Big Read blog.  In addition, we got a brief mention in 2013 Guide for the National Endowment for the Arts, page 12. We are waiting to hear from The Big Read on whether or not we will receive another grant this year. We have chosen the works of Edgar Allen Poe and Lemon Street artists are ready to show off their amazing skills. The Big Read program is an excellent way to build successful partnerships



Shared by Nick Demske
Circulation and Programming Assistant

The one that stands out most for me is the BONK! performance series I run.

BONK! was started 4 and a half years ago independently by myself and 2 other poets in Racine. Because I work at the public library here, we worked out a sponsorship from them through various things, mostly just the ability for me to work for it on work time.  We have a team of 4 volunteers who do things like record, process and upload video of the events, set up sound equipment (which they own and generously allow us to use every month), do our Facebook page responsibilities, send out news releases, operate our blog and listserv. They're incredibly helpful.

We also promote through fliers and I've written a grant for us to have them designed by a local artist. The community partnerships we've made, aside from the individual volunteers I mentioned above, include two restaurants who comp food for me and our performers--one for dinner the night of the performance and one for breakfast the next day, if anyone sleeps over. We come as a big group when we bring the performers out to eat (audience members, etc), so the restaurants make their money back and then some immediately, not to mention all the promotion we include them on (logos or names on our fliers, blogs, Facebook posts, etc). We're also supported by a local family foundation put together by an artist and her husband--they basically financially support me to continue in ways that allow me to pay for random things like going to literary conferences (conference fee, food, travel, lodging...the whole bit) or going to a show to vet some musicians for the series, covering costs of any business lunch I might have...things like that.

The Urban League of Racine and Kenosha is our fiscal receiver, though that's pretty much all they do for that--they're rather hands off. I've made a relationship with the Friends of the Library where they are now in their third year of supporting us with grants for honoraria for the performers and money to purchase the books and records that the performers are producing, etc. And, also, a local organization call the Racine Arts Council provides us with their venue for the event and also has given us grants (that I obviously had to apply for)--most recently for the poster design and listserv fee.

The library itself supports the program in several ways, the biggest of which is just having it included as part of my work hours. But we print our fliers off on the library's printer, which is about a $50-$75 cost each month.

If I had to come up with reasons for BONK!'s success, I guess it will be sort of tooting my own horn but, basically, I feel that with programs like these the most essential thing you need is a central figurehead who is incredibly passionate--even in the face of adversity--about what the program is providing, who is willing to become a leader in the microcommunity (in this case, the arts community or, even more specifically, the literary community here...practically building one where there was none, nearly, but not quite) as well as the larger community in general. This is true for the success of much of my programming.


Shared by Mary Dunn, Director, Tomahawk Public Library

We just had a wonderful, well received program that we offered here at the library covering Genealogy databases. The partnership was with our local Tomahawk Area Historical Society. They took care of all the promotion and publicity - local radio station, posters up around town and submitted info to the local newspaper - which featured our program info on the front page! Our techy placed the info on our webpage.  

This was basically a fun, informational program.   It all started when a member of the local Historical Society approached me and asked if I would be willing to give a "short" program covering electronic databases - they were especially interested in Ancestry.com.     Our library system has a subscription to Ancestry - the library edition - which is available only through the system libraries - at our public access Internet Stations.

I kept the program to 1 hour and stopped frequently to answer any questions after each discussion point. Also in the audience were genealogy users who also offered hints and tips. I started the program with a disclaimer - I am not a Genealogy expert, but I was very excited to show them how to navigate Ancestry.

My program also covered databases found in BadgerLink: Heritage Quest and Newspaper Archives (But I also briefly showed them other features in BadgerLink) - only 2 in the audience were familiar with BadgerLink! So just showing them that database was a big hit! I also discussed the Mormon site ( unfortunately I was informed by an audience participant that there now can be charges affiliated with research from the familysearch.org site). I discussed the Genealogy info available through the Wisconsin Historical Society site - and mentioned the Genealogy classes, workshops and webinars also available.

I also discussed the webinars available through ProQuest and briefly mentioned the National Archives website (because I was running out of time!). I also mentioned the Lincoln County protocols that have been newly implemented at the County Clerk's office. And of course I had handouts! Most of those in attendance were beginners and they really appreciated having the handouts. We have a big screen TV that we use now for programming of this nature. I hook my laptop into the TV so the audience gets to see/view the info on a big screen TV. My laptop was also connected to our LAN line so I could show them the Ancestry site.

The members from the Tomahawk Historical Society brought cookies and the library supplied the coffee, etc. We had 30 in attendance which is a great turnout for us this time of year. We offered the program at 1:30 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon.

Shared by Ellen Connor, Director
Sturm Memorial Library, Manawa

One thing Sturm Memorial Library started for National Library Week was to get businesses to sponsor stadium cushions that we pass out at a football game in September. We don't do it every year because we would reach a saturation point to soon but the plan is to do it every other year.

We ask two businesses and if they agree they provide us with a logo and those logo's and the library's logo get placed on one side of the cushions. On the other side is the Manawa Wolves logo. Then we get the word out that if you show your card on entry to the game you get a seat cushion. It is a lot of fun and people love it.

We also pass out registration cards with a miniature candy bar stapled to it and tell people that don't have a card to get one so they can get a seat cushion when we do it again. We do get people coming in ahead of time to get signed up for a card so they can get a cushion.

We will be doing it again this fall. Each business contributed $250.00 I believe. I do all of the coordinating, ordering the seat cushions, getting the logo, etc. We put articles in the newspaper, get posters made and put around town, and pass flyers out at the grocery store and city hall. We have oversize infosoup cards that we have with us at the stadium entrance.

It's just fun fun fun.

Sidebar:  A lot of colorful goings-on at Sturm's Facebook page!

Shared by Jane Henze, Adult Services
DeForest Area Public Library

Our library has a great relationship with several organizations and businesses in our area for programming and financial support. The one that first comes to mind is with our Community & Senior Center and our local Historical Society.

Once a month I hold a book club discussion at the Center. I also have a monthly outreach program at the Center. Both events are open to the public, but seniors are especially encouraged to attend. This year, three of the programs have a historical theme to them -- a historical impersonator, a program on the history of aprons and a Buster Keaton silent film with live music and the history of silent films. The Center, the Library and the Historical Society are sharing the costs of these three events.

I do the bulk of the publicity, but the other two post the flyers I make and include the info in their newsletters. Supporters from all three organizations attend the events. We've all contributed ideas for programs over the years.

Each of us benefits. We are able to provide more quality programs and reduce our costs by sharing the payments. Each of us is committed to providing these type of events and by working together we decrease the workload.

We've also partnered with others in our community on programming topics for library events - a bank, eye doctor, karate school, chiropractor, police department, beautician, pharmacist, vet clinic, schools, bakery, musician, dance instructor, care facility manager and others.

Denver Public Library "Free to Learn"





Innovation Summary   Free to Learn is a weekly, staffed, two-hour computer lab specifically for women who have been incarcerated. Participants use computers for whatever they need, but can also receive individualized instruction from the staff on topics ranging from basic computer use to online job seeking and resume writing.

Free to Learn: Best Practices for Serving Former Prisoners in Public Libraries. Colorado Libraries (2011)

Excerpt:   In 2010 and 2011, the Denver Public Library sought to address this gap in service by creating a groundbreaking outreach program for women who have served time in prison. The goal of Free to Learn, as defined in the Library Services and Technology Act grant 1 proposal that won funding for the program, is to encourage the use of library resources to improve outcomes for this population. In service of that goal, Free to Learn is designed to teach and support participants in three areas: 
  • Computer and internet skills
  • Job search skills and readiness 
  • Library awareness and understanding

Hat tip to Kelsey Johnson, LIS 712 student

Claymation Harlem Shake as Presented by YOUmedia Chicago



YOUmedia Chicago is an innovative, 21st century teen learning space housed at the Chicago Public Library's downtown Harold Washington Library Center. YOUmedia was created to connect young adults, books, media, mentors, and institutions throughout the city of Chicago in one dynamic space designed to inspire collaboration and creativity.

Hat tip to Mallory Inman, LIS 712 student

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Madison Public Central Library: Henry and Fairchild Approaches


HENRY STREET APPROACH

June 5, 2012
August 17, 2012
November 1, 2012
January 7, 2013
February 28, 2013

April 1, 2013



FAIRCHILD STREET APPROACH

June 5, 2012


August 17, 2012

November 1, 2012

January 7, 2013


February 28, 2013

April 1, 2013

New Central Library project history.

Related posts: 
Progress report:  4th revised edition, abridged.  (2/28/2013)
Progress report:  3rd revised edition, abridged.  (1/15/2013)
Progress report:  3rd revised edition. (1/15/2013
Progress report, 2nd revised edition.  (11/3/2012)
Progress report.  (8/18/2012)
Work in progress. (6/5/2012)
Construction kickoff ceremony.  (3/28/2012)
Findorff awarded Madison Public Library construction contract.  (3/1/2012)
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)
Interview with principal architect of Central Library project.  (11/5/2010)
And the beat goes on.  (4/14/2010)