715-261-7250 | Mon.- Fri. 8-5pm help@librarieswin.org

Library Administration

County Reimbursement Information

Please find the information you need for 2022 Cost per Circulation and Act 420/Act 150 reimbursements below. 

If you have any questions or concerns about this information, feel free to contact Marla Sepnafski, at 715-261-7250 or via email at msepnafski@wvls.org.

For 2023 requests for reimbursements from counties, use Annual Report data from 2022.

2022 Pcode 4 Spreadsheets
2021 Pcode 4 Spreadsheets
2020 Pcode 4 Spreadsheets

Resources for Library Administrators

Find an alphabetical list of resources for tasks associated with Library Directors including policy development, strategic planning, library standards and more!

WVLS Information

Please see the About WVLS page to find information on the topics listed below:

  1. WVLS Mission and Purpose
  2. Hours & Staff Contact Information
  3. Map of Public Library Systems in Wisconsin
  4. WVLS Board of Trustees
  5. WVLS Organizational Chart
  6. WVLS System Fact Sheets
  7. System Plan
  8. WVLS Statistics Booklets
  9. Membership in the Library System

Find information on the topics below:

  1. LeanWI Service Chart
  2. WVLS Calendar of Events
  3. Library Advisory Committee (LAC)
  4. “New Director with No Experience” – ARSL
  5. WVLS Grants and Scholarships
    1. ARSL Conference Grant/About ARSL
    2. Innovation and Collaboration Grant
    3. ARSL Conference Grant
    4. ALA/PLA Conference Grant
    5. Wessler Scholarship
  6. WVLS Courier Delivery/Courier Best Practices
  7. Glossary of Acronyms

WVLS Communications

  • WVLS Digital Lites Blog
  • WVLS E-Newsletter
    • Includes blog posts, website updates,  news releases, and member library spotlights as appropriate.
  • Email Lists
    • WVLS maintains email lists for library staff working in youth services, technology, V-Cat representatives and more. Send an email to help@librarieswin.org to have your email added to appropriate lists.
      • Adult Services
      • Youth Services
      • V-Cat Representatives
      • Technology
  • Facebook
  • YouTube Channel

WVLS Journal Subscriptions

WVLS subscribes to print journals at WVLS member libraries can request to have routed to their library for library staff.

Send an email to help@librarieswin.org to have your name added to the routing slip of the journals below:

American Libraries
AudioFile
Children & Libraries
Library Journal
Library Technology Reports
Public Libraries
Publisher’s Weekly
School Library Journal
Smart Libraries

 

WVLS Mentoring Program

See the WVLS Mentoring Program page for more information.

The WVLS Mentoring Program supports success of new library administrators by matching them with experienced library specialists. Mentorship will reduce unnecessary struggle and stress through guided learning, regular communication, and peer bonding.

Administrative Essentials

Wisconsin Public Library, March 2018, 6th Edition

Administrative Essentials: A Handbook for Wisconsin Public Library Directors is a resource developed and maintained by the Division for Libraries and Technology, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

This handbook will provide you with some of the essential information that you need to succeed in your position as a public library director in Wisconsin.

See Chapter 6: Orientation of a New Library Director.

Table of Contents

  • Foreword
  • Acknowledgments
  • Introduction
  • AE 1: The Mission of the Public Library
  • AE 2: The Director’s Job Description
  • AE 3: Who Runs the Library?
    Responsibilities of the library director • Responsibilities of the library board • The division of labor between the library director and the board • Responsibilities of the municipal government • Sources of additional information
  • AE 4: Working with the Library Board
  • AE 5: Effective Library Board Meetings
  • AE 6: Orientation of a New Library Director
  • AE 7: Library Director Certification
  • AE 8: Public Services
  • AE 9: Accessible Library Services
  • AE 10: Technical Services
  • AE 11: The Library as Employer
  • AE 12: Managing the Staff
  • AE 13: Developing the Library Budget
  • AE 14: Managing the Library’s Money
  • AE 15: Policies and Procedures
  • AE 16: Planning for the Library’s Future
  • AE 17: Membership in the Library System

Annual Report

WVLS Annual Report Resources

  • Email your WVLS Annual Report Team at annual.reports@wvls.org with any questions or comments.
  • Watch for the annual January email with important dates and guidelines.
  • WVLS V-Cat Circulation and Interlibrary Loan Spreadsheet
  • Spreadsheets PCode 4 Information 
  • Library Expenditures 
  • Library Revenues

DPI Annual Report Resources

Annual Report Examples

Include images, interesting facts and statistics, project highlights, patron stories and more!

    Boot Camp Resources

    To share essential information that every Wisconsin public library director needs to know, and to facilitate networking among new directors and their seasoned peers.

    The New Public Library Director Boot Camp project is supported by funds awarded to the WI Dept. of Public Instruction by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the agency that administers the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

    Budget Resources

    Please see the WVLS Budget Resources page to find information on the topics listed below:

    • Budget Resources
      • Technology Budget Resources
      • WPLC Buying Pool Shares
      • V-Cat Budget member Shares
      • WVLS Grants to Libraries

    Challenged Library Materials

    Library Materials Challenge Support Resources

    The Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) is a leader in supporting libraries facing material challenges and intellectual freedom.

    American Library Association: Challenges to Library Materials

    Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)

    Association for LIbrary Service to Children (ALSC)

    Banned & Challenged Books

    Intellectual Freedom Resources

    • American Library Association offers resources on advocacy, ethics, freedom to read, freedom to view, censorship, challenged resources, internet filtering, collection development, children and youth access, copyright and more.
    • Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) offers resources on children and youth access, advocacy, professional guidelines, ethics, youth access and freedom to read, equity of access, censorship, challenged resources, internet filtering, collection development, children and youth access, copyright and more.
    • Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) offers resources on children and youth access, advocacy, youth access and freedom to read, equity of access, censorship, challenged resources, internet filtering, collection development, children and youth access,and more.
    • LeRoy C Merritt Humanitarian Fund offers a lifeline to librarians who face employment crises because they are defending intellectual freedom, or facing discrimination.
    • Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) offers resources on advocacy, professional guidelines, ethics, youth access and freedom to read, equity of access, censorship, challenged resources, internet filtering, collection development, children and youth access, copyright and more.

    Continuing Education

    Please see the WVLS Continuing Education Opportunities page to find information on the topics listed below:

    • Current Continuing Education Calendar
    • WVLS Director Bootcamp
    • Continuing Education Annoucements
    • Webinar and Workshop Recordings, Conferences, Online Learning

    County Funding

    County Funding of Public Libraries 2017 Informational handout

    County Reimbursement Information 2019

    If you have any questions or concerns about this information, feel free to contact Marla Sepnafski, at 715-261-7250 or via email at msepnafski@wvls.org.

    Please find 2019 Pcode 4 reports containing data on circulation to patrons residing in adjacent counties below for each WVLS member library.

      County Reimbursement Information 2018

      If you have any questions or concerns about this information, feel free to contact Marla Sepnafski, at 715-261-7251 for via email at msepnafski@wvls.org.

      Please find 2018 Pcode 4 reports containing data on circulation to patrons residing in adjacent counties below for each WVLS member library.

        County Reimbursement Information 2017

        If you have any questions or concerns about this information, feel free to contact Marla Sepnafski, at 715-261-7251 for via email at msepnafski@wvls.org.

        Please find 2017 Pcode 4 reports containing data on circulation to patrons residing in adjacent counties below for each WVLS member library.

          County Reimbursement Information 2016

          Please find 2016 Pcode 4 reports containing data on circulation to patrons residing in adjacent counties below for each WVLS member library.

          Digitization

          • Recollection Wisconsin
          • Wisconsin Digital Projects Toolkit
            • This free series of five short courses is designed to provide basic digitization education and support for Wisconsin libraries and cultural heritage institutions.
            • Topics covered include copyright, scanning, metadata, file storage, digital preservation, and processes for contributing digital collections to Recollection Wisconsin and the Digital Public Library of America.
            • The course is pre-recorded and will take 3-4 hours to complete.
          • Find grants and all digitization resources on the LeanWI website here.

           

          Intellectual Freedom

          Selection & Reconsideration Policy Toolkit for Public, School, & Academic Libraries, ALA

          ALA – Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights

          Legal/Compliance Issues & Agreements

           

          Library Associations, Blogs and Newsletters per Service Group

           

          All Ages

          Children Services

          Teen Services

          Adult Services

          Library Trustee Essentials

          Trustee Essentials: A Handbook for Wisconsin Public Library Trustees is prepared by the Division for Libraries and Technology with the assistance of the Wisconsin Public Library Trustee Handbook Revision Task Force.

          Trustee Essentials describes the duties of Library Board Trustees. Knowing the division of duties between a library board and a director is important for new directors.

          Table of Contents

          Introduction

          • So you’re a trustee! How did that happen, and what is expected of you now?

          TE 1: The Trustee Job Description

          TE 2: Who Runs the Library

          • Responsibilities of the library board
          • Responsibilities of the library director
          • The division of labor between the library director and the board
          • Responsibilities of the municipal government

          TE 3: Bylaws—Organizing the Board for Effective Action

          • Why up-to-date bylaws are needed for effective library board operation
          • How your board can develop or update their bylaws

          TE 4: Effective Board Meetings and Trustee Participation

          • The keys to effective board meetings
          • How individual trustees can contribute to the board and the library

          TE 5: Hiring a Library Director

          • The basic legal parameters for the hiring of a library director
          • Recommended steps to follow when hiring

          TE 6: Evaluating the Director

          • Reasons for evaluating the director
          • Who should carry out the review
          • The basis and criteria for the review
          • Methods and questions to consider

          TE 7: The Library Board and Library Personnel

          • The roles of the board and the library director on personnel issues
          • How board decisions can affect the quality of library staff

          TE 8: Developing the Library Budget

          • Goals of budgeting
          • Steps in the budget development process
          • Sources of library funding
          • Budget terminology

          TE 9: Managing the Library’s Money

          • Responsibilities for library expenditures
          • Responsibilities for library financial health and financial reporting
          • Options for proper handling of gifts and donations

          TE 10: Developing Essential Library Policies

          • Who is responsible for developing and approving library policies?
          • How do you develop good (and legal) policies?
          • Who carries out policies?

          TE 11: Planning for the Library’s Future

          • The importance of planning
          • Planning essentials—getting started
          • A plan outline
          • Where to go for help

          TE 12: Library Standards

          • How your library might benefit from use of library standards
          • Different ways to use library standards
          • How standards relate to library planning

          TE 13: Library Advocacy

          • What are library advocates and why they are needed
          • How to establish priorities for advocacy
          • Ways to act as an advocate

          TE 14: The Library Board and the Open Meetings Law

          • The basics of compliance with Wisconsin’s open meetings law
          • When and how the board can legally conduct a closed session

          TE 15: The Library Board and the Public Records Law

          • Actions all boards must take to comply with the law—before and after receiving records requests
          • Records that must be available to the public—and records that are confidential

          TE 16: Ethics and Conflict of Interest Laws Applying to Trustees

          • Actions you must not take as a library trustee
          • Business and employment relationships with the library that are prohibited to the trustee

          TE 17: Membership in the Public Library System

          • The benefits of system membership
          • The requirements for system membership
          • How you and your library can help make your library system stronger

          TE 18: Library Board Appointments and Composition

          • Why citizen boards control public libraries in Wisconsin
          • The legally required procedures for appointment of library board members
          • The legally required composition

          TE 19: Library Director Certification

          • Requirements for certifying your library director
          • Continuing education to maintain certification

          TE 20: The Library Board and Building Accessibility

          • The role of the board and the library director in ensuring that the library building is accessible
          • How the library building can equitably accommodate all members of the community, including those with disabilities

          TE 21: The Library Board and Accessible Services

          • How to make your library services accessible to all members of the community
          • Your responsibility in regard to implementing ADA requirements for accessible services

          TE 22: Freedom of Expression and Inquiry

          • How the public library promotes freedom of expression and inquiry
          • Library board-approved policies that help protect intellectual freedom

          TE 23: Dealing with Challenges to Library Materials or Policies

          • The need to have a written policy to deal with challenges
          • Your responsibility as a trustee in a challenge

          TE 24: Library Friends and Library Foundations

          • The role of Friends of the Library groups and library foundations
          • How to develop a good relationship between the library board and support groups like the Friends of the Library or the library foundation
          • Financial support from the Friends of the Library or the library

          TE 25: Liability Issues

          • Basic issues concerning trustee and municipal liability
          • Actions you can take to limit liability

          TE 26: The Public Library System Board—the Broad Viewpoint

          • Background on the creation of public library systems
          • System services and accountability
          • Responsibilities of the library system board

          TE 27: Trustee Orientation and Continuing Education

          • The importance of new trustee orientation
          • Why continuing education is essential for all trustees
          • Opportunities for continuing education even for busy trustees

          TTA: Important State and Federal Laws Pertaining to Public Library Operation

          TTB: Library System Map and Contact Information

          TTC: Division for Libraries and Technology (DLT) Contact Information

          TTD: Glossary of Terms and Acronyms

          Additional Trustee Resources

          Municipal Exemption from County Tax

          County Library Tax Exemption, League of Wisconsin Municipalities

          State law allows a city or village to apply in writing to the county board of a county levying a tax for public library services to be exempt from the county library tax as long as the municipality’s library levy exceeds a certain amount.  

          See Wis. Stat. sec. 43.64(2)(b).

          Every year DPI publishes instructions for calculating whether your municipality is eligible for being exempt from the county library tax.  Here are the instructions for calculating the 2017 exemption:

           

          http://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/pld/pdf/2017CountyExempCalc.pdf

          New Library Director Orientation

          New Library Director Orientation

          Patron Privacy

          Policy Development Resources

          Policy Development

           “The library board of each public library must establish library policies that are legal and that meet the needs of their community.”

          The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

          1. Policies must comply with current statutes and case law.
          2. Policies must be reasonable (and all penalties must be reasonable).
          3. Policies must be clear (not ambiguous or vague).
          4. Policies must be applied without discrimination.

          Professional Email Lists & Google Communities

          Email Lists

          1. WVLS Email Lists
            • WVLS maintains email lists for library staff working in youth services, technology, V-Cat representatives and more. Send an email to help@librarieswin.org to have your email added to appropriate lists.
              • Youth Services
              • V-Cat Representatives
              • Technology
          2. WPLC Announcements List
            1. Announcements about WPLC projects including the Wisconsin Digital Library and OverDrive/Libby apps. WPLC Buying Pool 2017
          3. Overdrive’s Digital Library Blog

          Google Communities

          1. WPLC OverDrive Support
          2. WISCAT: WI DPI Resource Sharing Community 
          3. WI Public Library Administration and Data
          4. WI Public Library Services and Programs
            1. Find BadgerLink announcements here!
          5. WI Public Library Technology
          6. Digital Projects in Wisconsin: All things Digitization
          7. Wisconsin DPI Erate jobs, for sale items, wanted adds.
            1. Library E-Rate Checklist
            2. Wisconsin E-RATE News & Notes

          Professional Reading

          Public Library Director Certification & Certification Courses

          See the Director Certification page of the WVSL website.

           

          OR see the WI DPI Public Library Director Certification page for detailed information on director certification and certification courses.

          Strategic Planning Resources

          Strategic Planning Resources

          Tally Week: A week in October

          Have you scheduled your library’s annual survey week this October to collect data for the annual report?

           

          The annual report requires an annual count of reference transactions and all public computer uses. If your library does not keep an annual count of reference transactions and a count of all public internet computer uses, your library needs to schedule a survey week to “count transactions during a typical week.”

          October is the month for tally week as established by Channel Weekly, the former online newsletter of the Wisconsin Division for Libraries and Technology.

          Tally Week

          V-Cat Consortium

          Please see the V-Cat Consortium page for full details. 

          WI Division for Libraries and Technology

          WI Division for Libraries and Technology includes division teams and service areas:

          • Application Development Team
          • Customer Services Team
          • Data Warehouse and Decision Support Team
          • Instructional Media and Technology Services Team
          • Public Library Development Team
          • Resources for Libraries & Lifelong Learning Team
          • Technical Services Team

          Resources

          WI Department of Instruction

          The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction determines library standards, interprets law (Chapter 43), monitors director certification, provides resources for technology and library system consultants.

           

          Resources

          Wisconsin Library Standards

          Wisconsin Library Standards

          Youth Services

          Please see the WVLS Children’s Services and Teen Services pages for information on the topics listed below and more.

          • Summer Library Program Ideas and Templates
          • Teen Programming Ideas
          • Early Literacy & Storytime
          • K-12 School Library Resources
          • Homeschool Resources
          • Community Relationship Building
          • Professional Guidelines
          • Professional Associations & blogs, websites, newsletters, resources…
            • WVLS Youth Services Information Exchange (Private Facebook Page)
            • Youth Services Shout-Out Blog (YSS)
            • Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC)
            • School Library Journal
            • ALSC-Association for Library Service to Children

          Wisconsin Valley Library Service
          300 N 1st Street
          Wausau, WI 54403
          715-261-7250