Weekly Digest: Flexible Facilities press release, BIPOC unconference call for committee members, in case you missed TWAM, poster, events coming up

Flexible Facilities press release

(from John) The DOA release a press release on Friday.

Madison, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) today announced the receipt of 100 applications for digital connectivity projects through the Flexible Facility Program (FFP), totaling $297 million in funding requests, more than double the amount that Wisconsin was awarded for the program. Applications were submitted by 97 local and tribal governments, representing 57 counties throughout the state. Wisconsin was awarded $107 million from the U.S. Department of Treasury under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Capital Projects Fund (CPF) to construct or improve public buildings and purchase digital connectivity equipment.

Consider this committee: BIPOC Unconference Advisory Committee Call for Applicants– Wisconsin Libraries Talk About Race

(from Leah) Apply to serve on the BIPOC Library Staff Unconference advisory committee! In preparation for a Spring 2025 unconference, we’re looking for planning help in the fall of 2024. No experience necessary. We are looking for unique perspectives and diverse voices!

The deadline to apply is Tuesday, August 6th at 5 PM. Applicants will be informed of their participation on Friday, August 16th. More info and application: https://www.wislibidea.com/unconference-advisory-committee-application/

Have Questions? Please contact Project Leader, Sherry Anderson. Thank you for all your time, energy, and your insights!

ICYMI: MORE Budget changes and those two-letter codes

(from TWAM, if you don’t receive this email and you think you should, please submit a HelpDesk ticket) At their July 19 meeting, MORE Directors Council approved a 2025 MORE budget, now posted on the MORE Budgets page. The changes patrons may notice in 2025 include:

A new option to receive circulation notices via text message
Discontinuing the Library Elf email and text notification service
Discontinuing the Flipster digital magazine service

2-Letter Library Codes

Every MORE-member library is assigned a 2-letter code to help identify the site and its collections in Sierra. When you see a staff username or list of Locations (or item location codes) in Sierra, the first two letters always represent the owning library:

These codes are largely based on the library’s community name, but they’re not always what you’d guess! For example, by the time the public library in Bloomer joined MORE, BL was already in use by Balsam Lake, BO was already “Boyceville,” BM was a little distasteful, and BR was already “Bruce.” We went with BB for Bloomer: G.E. Bleskacek Family Memorial Library in Bloomer.

Find all libraries’ 2-letter codes in the chart linked here: https://iflsweb.org/knowledge-base/circulation-information-policies-and-contacts/

Got poster?

You should have gotten your green IFLS poster, either in person or through courier. The audience for that poster is your staff. The previous orange MORE poster is for the public. If you didn’t receive it, let Reb know (submit a HelpDesk ticket).

There are no additional copies, but there’s a pdf to print version in the Article Index if you’d like to print your own. Search “poster” in the orange Article Index search box, or scroll down and look under the Printibles and forms category header.