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

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

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

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)