Last Chance to Fill in LSTA Planning Survey

We posted a few weeks ago about the WiLS/DPI survey on the next LSTA five year plan. Your feedback and opinion are valued and needed. 

The deadline for filling in the survey is upon us - Friday August 27.  Please take a moment to read over the information below and respond to the survey. Your voice matters!

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The linked survey is designed to collect feedback from individuals throughout the Wisconsin library landscape who have been involved in and/or impacted by the Library Services and Technology Act as a funding entity. LSTA funds are distributed by the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to US states and territories. In Wisconsin, LSTA funds are managed by the DPI and distributions are guided through the development of an IMLS-required Five Year Plan. As part of the Five Year Plan process, each Plan must be independently evaluated. The current Five Year Plan covers 2018-2022 and is currently under evaluation in anticipation of the development of the next Five Year Plan.

Your feedback on this survey helps inform the strengths and challenges of the current Five Year Plan to assist in the evaluation process which is being conducted by WiLS. For any questions about this survey or the evaluation, feel free to reach out to Kim Kiesewetter, Data Analyst with WiLS, via e-mail at kim@wils.org.

Your time and insights are so greatly appreciated!

You can access the LSTA Five Year Plan Evaluation Survey by clicking here.

The survey closes August 27.

DPI/WiLS Needs Your Expertise

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The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), in partnership with WiLS, is conducting a survey evaluating the current Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Five Year Plan… and we need your feedback!

The linked survey is designed to collect feedback from individuals throughout the Wisconsin library landscape who have been involved in and/or impacted by the Library Services and Technology Act as a funding entity. LSTA funds are distributed by the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to US states and territories. In Wisconsin, LSTA funds are managed by the DPI and distributions are guided through the development of an IMLS-required Five Year Plan. As part of the Five Year Plan process, each Plan must be independently evaluated. The current Five Year Plan covers 2018-2022 and is currently under evaluation in anticipation of the development of the next Five Year Plan.

Your feedback on this survey helps inform the strengths and challenges of the current Five Year Plan to assist in the evaluation process which is being conducted by WiLS. For any questions about this survey or the evaluation, feel free to reach out to Kim Kiesewetter, Data Analyst with WiLS, via e-mail at kim@wils.org.

Your time and insights are so greatly appreciated!

You can access the LSTA Five Year Plan Evaluation Survey by clicking here.

The survey closes August 27.

LSTA Advisory Council Members Sought

[Two public library youth librarians will be rotating off the committee at the end of 2020. It would be great to see a good response from interested youth staffers applying! ML-W]

The Division for Libraries and Technology (DLT) currently seeks applicants to fill current and upcoming vacancies on the Library Services and Technology Act Advisory Council (LSTAAC).

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is committed to representing the diversity of Wisconsin on the LSTAAC to deepen our understanding of Wisconsin’s diverse population and explore ways we can transform our daily work to promote genuine equity in public libraries.  This group advises DPI on effective ways to carry out the LSTA Five-Year Plan. We seek applicants with wide-ranging dimensions of identity in race, gender, ethnicity, language, ability, sexuality, geography, and levels of library experience. Applicants are encouraged to highlight personal identifiers and/or professional experiences to demonstrate the ways their participation would diversify and enhance the perspectives and voices on the committee. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis for both full-term positions and vacancies.

If you believe your insight and experience would enhance the diversity of this committee, please consider applying for appointment. In addition, please share this message with your networks and consider nominating colleagues you feel would be a good addition to the LSTA Advisory Council.

The Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) is the federal grant program for libraries in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's Division for Libraries and Technology implements the "Grants to States" program on behalf of public libraries in Wisconsin. The LSTA program is administered at the federal level by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Members of the committee are appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to serve staggered 4-year terms. The committee usually meets twice each year, in spring and fall, and committee members are expected do their best to serve their complete terms, attend each meeting, and participate fully with respect for the role for which they are serving for the Division and the State of Wisconsin.

To request an application or for more information, please visit https://dpi.wi.gov/pld/lsta/advisory-committee/members.

Please complete sections II-IV  and send any digital application forms or nominations to Samantha.link@dpi.wi.gov, or mail to WI DPI, Attn: Shannon Schultz, Division for Libraries and Technology, PO Box 7841, Madison WI 53707-7841

LSTA Grant Cycle Opens for School-Public Library Collaborative Grants

Have an idea in mind to work with a colleague at your public library or school library on a collaborative project involving Collection management with a focus on diversity, inclusion and equity or hands-on learning (including maker or computational thinking?

DPI, using $50,000 in LSTA funds, is ready to have you submit grants between Monday Sept 16 through January 14, 2020 on a rolling basis.

Want to know the full scoop? Just click here for all the details!

Save the Date for This Year's Youth Services Development Institute in August

Wisconsin Youth Services Development Institute

Sunday, August 27 - Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Heartwood Conference Center • Trego, Wisconsin

 

Overview
The Wisconsin Youth Services Development Institute provides professional development and networking for Wisconsin public library staff who serve babies, children, and teens in smaller public libraries. The Institute targets library staff who have no graduate degree in librarianship and/or work in rural/isolated library communities. For these individuals, there is a need to improve skill and knowledge base, foster a supportive network, and develop stronger peer-to-peer and professional community connections within the Wisconsin public libraries infrastructure.

Over the course of three days, Institute participants experience foundational training related to youth services, including programming, advocacy, and collection development. In addition, emphasis will be placed on developing technology and leadership skills. Training is conducted by the state library agency's Youth and Inclusive Services consultant and experienced professionals from around the state. The Institute is limited to 25 participants in order to facilitate an effective, intimate, and focused Institute experience. Face-to-face interaction in a small group setting is considered an important element of the Institute and the basis for future networking and professional participation, online and in-person.

In addition to the in-person experience, participants can expect to communicate regularly with the cohort and trainers via email and a Google+ community. Engagement in the Institute begins upon acceptance of a spot in the 25 person cohort and continues through the 12 months following the in-person training in Trego. The Institute experience requires a commitment of time and energy. In return, participants can expect professional transformation. Graduates of the 2013 and 2015 Institutes described their experiences as "life changing." For more testimonials, see Comments from 2013 Institute Participants.

Logistics
There is no fee for Institute participants; the costs are covered through an LSTA grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the Public Library Development Team at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). At this time, we anticipate full funding of this event; if funding changes, applicants would be notified immediately.

 

The Institute will begin at 4pm Sunday evening and conclude at 1pm Wednesday afternoon. All meals, from Sunday dinner through Wednesday lunch are included. Individual, single room lodging will be provided for participants. Participants are expected to stay on site throughout the Institute versus lodging elsewhere or commuting. Furthermore, the Institute is designed as an immersion experience for participants—family and guests are not welcome in this intense and intimate training. Participants must provide their own transportation to and from the conference center. Carpooling from different regions of the state is encouraged.

 

Application Process
Applications are due by Friday, April 28, 2017, through the online application process. Twenty-five applicants will be selected, preferably representing all 16 public library systems. If necessary, a waiting list will be maintained. Participants will be notified by mid-May.

 

Online Application

https://forms.dpi.wi.gov/se.ashx?s=56301B2D48E57725

 

Application Due Date

Friday, April 28, 2017, 4:30 p.m.

 

For more details, including the required application fields, visit: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11Eki0lXAbaYWCQJJZiX3E3fBjug3t72T6mbkxFXonO0/edit?usp=sharing

Early Literacy Resource

Are you considering writing an LSTA grant to help your library (or system) promote early literacy in your community?  If so, don't forget to check out the recent report from the Institute for Museum and Library Services:  Growing Young Minds.  There are some great models, some good resources, and a terrific call to action about the role libraries (and museums) can play in improving access to early literacy experiences.  Take a peek at the IMLS Early Learning page.  You can request copies of the report to give to stakeholders in your community, too!

A toddler enjoys storytime at the public library in Bloomer, WI

Announcing the 2013 Youth Services Development Institute

Wisconsin Youth Services Development Institute

Sunday, Sept 8 - Wednesday, Sept 11, 2013

Heartwood Conference Center • Trego, WI

The Wisconsin Youth Services Development Institute will provide professional development and networking for librarians who serve babies, children, and teens in smaller public libraries. The Institute will target librarians who have no graduate degree in librarianship and/or work in rural library communities.  There is no fee for Institute participants; the costs are covered through an LSTA grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the Public Library Development Team at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI).

A complete description of the Institute including a letter of support from Kurt Kiefer, Assistant State Superintendent, can be found at http://pld.dpi.wi.gov/files/pld/pdf/YS_Institute.pdf

Applications are due by Wednesday, May 8, 2013. Twenty-five applicants will be selected, preferably representing all 17 public library systems. Applications must be completed online at https://forms.dpi.wi.gov/se.ashx?s=56301B2D2B5640E4

Questions should be directed to:

Tessa Michaelson Schmidt
Public Library Youth and Special Services Consultant Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
125 South Webster Street / PO Box 7841
Madison, WI 53707-7841
P: (608) 267-5077 F: (608) 267-9207
tessa.schmidt@dpi.wi.gov
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Apps for Autism Program in Eau Claire

Thanks to Dayna Lovell from the L.E.Phillips Memorial Public Library for this guest post!

This fall, Jessi Peterson and Dayna Lovell of Youth Services at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire offered an “Apps for Autism” program for adults.  The program was a great way to use one of our library's unique resources (iPads) to fulfill requirements of participating in an LSTA grant about serving families affected by autism.  We reserved 10 of the library's iPads, and started researching and promoting the program.

We promoted this program through the school district’s special education teachers, autism contacts provided by our library system, the Family Resource Center and other Youth Services contacts.  We used several resources in the selection of apps presented (see list below). Categories from the book, Apps for Autism:  a Must-Have Resource for the Special Needs Community by Jean Lois Brady were used to provide a structure for organizing and presenting the apps. Some of these categories include; Text-to-Speech, Articulation, Vocabulary, Concept Development and Social Skills.

It took several weeks to prepare, researching and testing the apps to come up with our recommended list. This list included the name, cost and a description of each app, and also whether or not the app was universal (able to be utilized on an iPhone as well as iPad).  We downloaded and copied all the apps onto the ten iPads, and were ready to go.

In addition to the iPads, we used a laptop and projector. Some of the apps had YouTube videos to explain and demonstrate them, which we used (judiciously) as part of the presentation.  As apps were presented, their uses were described.  Participants were able to peruse each app as they were presented and welcome to stay after to further explore the apps or ask questions. We also demonstrated how to search for autism/ASD resources on our online catalog. 

This program was well attended and well received, with positive feedback and a request to run similar programs in future. Youth Services will have 6 iPads available in the room for use by parents and children. We anticipate that the list created for this program will be available in whole or in part as part of the menu of apps provided on these iPads.

Resources Used:

Brady, Lois Jean, M.A., CCC-SLP.  Apps for Autism:  a must-have resource for the special needs community. 2011.

Autism Speaks: Autism Apps

http://www.autismspeaks.org/autism-apps

Apps for Children with Special Needs

http://a4cwsn.com/

Autism and the iPad Blog

http://autismandtheipad.blogspot.com/2011/03/about-us.html

Deals for Autism

http://autismdeals.blogspot.com/2011/07/free-emotions-app.html