Congratulations, grant winners!
Seven IFLS libraries received grants for either $10,000 or $20,000 from the American Library Association’s Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Libraries project! Staff from these libraries are undergoing training to help them learn more about understanding disability and accessibility, as well as learning from their communities about what needs and desires they have, and then will implement a project over the next year. Congratulations to this year’s recipients! They are:
- Clear Lake
- Colfax (also received a 2024 grant)
- Fall Creek
- Frederic
- Milltown (also received a 2024 grant)
- Phillips
- Plum City
Bonnie Carl (Milltown) sent this additional information, “The competitive award comes with a $10,000 grant that will help the library increase community engagement and outreach through structured programs. These events will include physical, artistic and community engagement activities. By coordinating with ADRC we will provide weekly transportation from their homes to the library/events at no cost.”
Adult Services email list
Do you have a new Adult Services Librarian? Don’t forget to add them to the Adult Services email list! If you or others in your library want to send and receive emails from that list, just submit a HelpDesk ticket and include the email addresses of all those you want added.
The next Adult Services Check-in is on April 15 at 1:30
April’s topic of conversation will be summer reading, so come prepared to share and ask questions as we all get ready for the often-busiest season in libraries.
Here is the link to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctduGgrDIjHNLVSjBe_CAa5OLsdXw_BfKp
Here is the agenda, which is still being worked on: Adult Services Check-In_Running Agenda.docx
WiLS Ideas to Action Fund
The WiLS Ideas to Action Fund application period is open! Through this fund, WiLS provides grants of up to $5,000 so libraries and cultural organizations can bring their project ideas to life.
The program encourages partnerships and collaborations among WiLS members and with community partners, supports innovative and exploratory new work, and seeds the development of processes, methods, or resources that can be used by other WiLS members.
We seek innovative or collaborative proposals from libraries and cultural organizations of all types in order to support the good work of the diversity of WiLS members.
The 2025 Ideas to Action Fund application period is open through June 2nd. The proposal form and reporting are built to be simple and quick so awardees can focus on the success of the work and the benefits to their communities. Submit your proposal.
Advocacy Update
Reb was very optimistic in her estimate for how quickly we could get the statewide advocacy efforts launched. It’s looking like the toolkit will be ready this Monday. Feel free to reach out if you have questions or concerns before then (kilde@iflls.lib.wi.us).
The DPI is also collecting stories. They’d like videos that they can share. Here’s the link:
In the meantime, here are a few informative resources to get you up to speed:
- The WPR article did a good job of laying everything out before Tuesday’s shutdown. The article has more information than the recording.
- On April 1, all IMLS employees were put on administrative leave.
- DPI made an infographic about LSTA funding.
- There’s also an information page on the DPI website about the impact of federal funding on our state.