While Wisconsin Valley Library Service (WVLS) staff will help area library personnel and trustees with any concern related to the provision of library services, the following services, materials, and programs are those which are most often used by member library personnel.

ANTI-VIRUS PROTECTION – This protection is provided by WVLS to members of our wide area network (WAN). WVLS purchased licenses for individual computers with Internet access located in member libraries. Members pay for the annual maintenance charges on those licenses.

BUILDING PROJECTS – WVLS staff provide basic information about library building projects. In addition, questions are directed to the building consultants at the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning (DLTCL).

CHILDREN’S AND YOUNG ADULT SERVICES- WVLS has a Children’s and Young Adult Consultant on staff. This consultant responds to requests for information about specific types/titles of children’s and young adult materials; provides sample policies for children’s use of libraries; provides special subject bibliographies; provides sample brochures on library services to children with disabilities; offers literacy program ideas; and sponsors an annual workshop aimed at the needs and interests of those who work with this age group. WVLS also helps to sponsor the annual Children’s Book Fest which is held in Rhinelander each spring.

COLLECTION ENRICHMENT – WVLS libraries are able to stretch their own collection dollars through regular use of WVLS materials. Area libraries, nursing homes, and apartments for the elderly can take advantage of long-term deposit collections of large print books, and CDs. In addition, WVLS staff provides information to area library personnel to help them select materials for their local collections, and are available to help libraries which are undertaking weeding and/or inventory projects. Lastly, WVLS frequently sponsors workshops or training opportunities on the selection and use of library materials.

COMPACT DISCS (CDs) – Individual titles and long-term deposit collections of books on CDs are available to WVLS member libraries, nursing homes, and apartments for the elderly. CD titles are also available, through regular interloan channels to individual patrons. Also note the entries under ‘Collection Enrichment,’ and ‘Deposit Collections’ in this service list.

CONSULTANT SERVICES – WVLS staff members will provide help and guidance to member library personnel and trustees. WVLS staff can help libraries develop policies dealing with collection development, personnel, building use, etc. They can also help library personnel write grants; weed collections; work with municipal boards; provide guidance in the area of public library administration and governance; select appropriate titles in specific subject areas; help with automation and technology-related projects, etc. Staff members are available to meet with individual library staff members, library boards and/or municipal boards to explain system services or to help resolve problems.

Through WVLS membership, the consultant staff from the Department of Public Instruction, Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning (DLTCL) is also available to help libraries. DLTCL help is usually sought for questions relating to major automation projects, building projects, legal difficulties, etc.

CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES - please refer to the entry under ‘Workshops’ in this service list.

CONTINUING EDUCATION VALIDATION – The State of Wisconsin requires that directors of public libraries be certified at specific levels (based on the size of population being served by the library). Maintenance of certification is accomplished by attending continuing education activities and filling out and filing forms which describe the activities engaged in and their effect on the person’s position. Review of those forms is done by a WVLS staff person. This person will also share information to help library personnel maintain their certification.

COUNTY LEVEL WORKSHOPS – Upon invitation, WVLS staff will prepare and present workshops in individual WVLS member counties on subjects of interest to the library personnel and trustees in that county.

COUNTY BENEFIT REPORT – Each year a report is prepared and distributed by WVLS staff which enumerates the benefits each member county has received through its participation in the WVLS during the year previous to the report. This report helps the library personnel and trustees (and the county officials) to track their county’s use of WVLS services. When reading this report it is important to understand that libraries make use of WVLS services as they see fit. It will be noted that some libraries make much more use of some/all services than do others. WVLS does not put limits on its services. The level at which any library uses WVLS services is up to that individual library and its personnel.

COURIER SERVICE – WVLS subsidizes courier services for all member public libraries through contracts with two different delivery providers. One provider operates within the WVLS geographical boundaries. The other connects WVLS libraries with libraries all across the state. These courier services save local libraries many dollars that would otherwise be spent for postage, mailing supplies, staff time, etc. Public libraries are encouraged to offer courier service to other types of libraries in their communities using the public library site as the delivery/pick-up point. There is no extra charge for this service.

DATABASES – On behalf of its member libraries and the residents of the WVLS area, WVLS has purchased access to the Ancestry Library Edition. Except for Ancestry Library Edition, these electronic databases are web-based and are accessible from home, school, or office 24 hours a day, seven days a week to anyone with a library card from a WVLS public library. Ancestry Library Edition can be accessed only at a WVLS public library with a WVLS T-1 line Internet connection.

DEPOSIT COLLECTIONS– Upon request, WVLS staff will send collections of CDs and large print books to requesting libraries, area nursing homes or apartments for the elderly for long term (2-3 month) deposit. Having access to this type of material helps member libraries keep their collections of these popular materials fresh without having to make an added financial investment. These collections are sent/returned to/from libraries via the courier service. No postage is required when non-public libraries return collections via the federal government’s "Materials for the Blind and Physically Handicapped’ ruling.

DIGITAL AUDIOBOOKS - Through WVLS’ participation in the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium, system residents have Internet access via OverDrive (from any location) to digital audio titles.

DIGITAL LITES - This replaces the WVLS print newsletter, The Lamplighter.  Please subscribe to this online newsletter at:  http://wvlsdigitallites.blogspot.com/

DIRECTORY OF LIBRARIES AND LIBRARIANS IN THE WISCONSIN VALLEY AREA – WVLS maintains a directory of area libraries and their personnel. It can be accessed at (and printed out from) the WVLS web site http://wvls.lib.wi.us/Directories/dirintro.htm

eBOOKS – Through WVLS’ participation in the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium, system residents have Internet access via the OverDrive product found at: http://dbooks.wplc.info/53D7CFC6-A585-48AD-BCDD-2254228A9D1D/10/355/en/Default.htm

FIELD VISITS – WVLS staff are available, upon invitation, to make on-site visits to member libraries of all types. Visits are made to help solve specific problems, to get acquainted with staff and facilities, to meet with library and municipal boards, etc. Occasionally WVLS staff will initiate field visits to explain a new program; to get acquainted with a new director, etc.

GRANT WRITING – Upon invitation, WVLS staff will help area library personnel develop grant proposals to extend and improve their local library services. WVLS staff will not actually write the grant, but will work with local library staff to develop the elements which the grant should contain to be competitive, and will proofread and edit proposals which have been written by member library personnel. In other situations, WVLS staff members often submit grant proposals which benefit all member libraries.

INTERLIBRARY LOAN PROCEDURES – WVLS staff have prepared instructions on how to make use of the WVLS interloan services. This information is updated as needed. This document can be accessed via the WVLS web site http://wvls.lib.wi.us/Interloan/InterloanProcedures.html 

INTERNET ACCESS – The Internet is a nonprofit collection of computer networks that link computer users across the world. Library catalogs, discussion groups and specialized databases can be found on the Internet.  WVLS is the central Internet site for member libraries with T-1 lines.

WVLS hosts a wide area network (WAN) on behalf of our members. This provides Internet access, including e-mail, for all members throughout the WVLS central site server to WISCNET and the world.

LARGE PRINT BOOKS – Individual titles and long-term deposit collections of large print books are available to WVLS member libraries, nursing homes, and apartments for the elderly. Large print titles are also available, through regular interloan channels to individual patrons. Also note the entries under ‘Collection Enrichment,’ and ‘Deposit Collections’ in this service list.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES – WVLS staff keep up with legislative activities on the system, state and federal levels and alert member library personnel and trustees when it is important for them to understand new laws and/or when it is important for them to contact their legislative representatives to lobby for action on a particular bill. Current legislative information can also be found on the web site of the Wisconsin Library Association  http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/ 

LISTSERVS - WVLS has created several listservs for the WVLS area as a way to improve communication channels between WVLS and those served by WVLS.  Click here to learn about those listservs and how to subscribe to them: http://wvls.org/Directories/email_listserv.html

MULTITYPE LIBRARY SERVICE – WVLS views itself as a "multitype" library system, i.e., we serve (at their request) libraries of all types – public, school, academic, technical, and special. WVLS believes that meeting the library and information needs of the residents of our system area wherever they are (rather than making everyone go to public libraries) is a good way to provide service. In return, most non-public libraries in the WVLS area make their collections available on interloan which benefits all residents of the area. Non-public librarians also serve on the WVLS Library Advisory Committee.

NON-RESIDENT BORROWING – With a current public library card, residents of the seven-county WVLS service area (Clark, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida and Taylor counties) may use all 25 public libraries located within those seven counties. In addition, that same library card will be honored at all public libraries across the state of Wisconsin. For the most part, service at the public libraries outside of the WVLS area will be provided at no charge. However, there are a few places (like the Marshfield Public Library) where, while service will be provided, it has a price tag. This is because some libraries’ geographical location puts them in a position of serving many, many non-residents and their municipal and library boards have determined that they cannot afford to provide non-resident service without financial support.

OVERDRIVE AUDIOBOOKS – Overdrive offers audiobook titles that can be downloaded directly to a computer, an MP3 player or burned to a CD. A valid V-Cat card number is necessary for checkout and placing holds.

REFERENCE AND INTERLOAN SERVICE – Staff of any member library can send requests for information to the Wisconsin Valley Library Service office where highly trained staff will search for the information being requested. WVLS staff members begin their search at the Marathon County Public Library, Wausau, the headquarters library for the WVLS and extend the search, if necessary, to libraries across Wisconsin and the United States.

SPECIAL NEEDS SERVICES – WVLS staff serve in a consultant capacity encouraging and assisting area librarians in the extension of special needs programs/services for adult literacy, family literacy, American Indians, ADA, the blind and visually impaired, the deaf and hard of hearing, the developmentally disabled, the homebound, the economically disadvantaged, the elderly, the institutionalized elderly, those in jails and other correctional facilities, the mentally ill, non-English speakers, Southeast Asians, state institutions and the unemployed.

Specific types of WVLS services include: information about literacy programs; help in evaluating toys, equipment, etc. for those with special needs; sponsorship of continuing education programs for librarians in the area of library service to those with special needs; provision of bibliographies, catalogs or directories relating to special needs; interloan of audio cassettes on topics useful to persons with special needs or those who work with special needs populations; provision of deposit collections of large print books and audio cassettes to interested public libraries, nursing homes, and apartments for the elderly; encouragement for libraries to develop cooperative activities between libraries and local human service agencies and organizations; provision of demographic information on special needs populations to member libraries; and provision of help in the writing of special needs grant proposals.

STATISTICAL REPORT - WVLS staff annually prepare and distribute a statistical report which compares all public libraries in the WVLS area. This information is helpful as libraries set goals; develop budgets; and develop growth projections.

SUMMER READING PROGRAM GRANTS – WVLS shares the cost of summer library program performers.

TECHNOLOGY AND AUTOMATION SERVICES – WVLS staff members provide consultant and technical services to member libraries. They write and administer grant proposals to generate dollars for WVLS to help member libraries grow in the areas of automation and general technological advancements; prepare their own grant proposals; make on-site visits to explain hardware and software and provide training in its use; make explanatory reports to library boards and other groups on the impact of new technological developments on member libraries; help libraries set up web sites; attend training sessions to keep abreast of new developments and share information with member libraries; respond to questions from members about hardware/software; provide sample policies for its use; arrange for continuing education activities in this service area, etc. Consultant services are also available from the staff of the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning (DLTCL).

V-CAT – A shared, integrated library automation system for libraries in the WVLS area. The purpose of V-Cat is to facilitate resource sharing among system participants and to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of operations and services provided by member libraries.

WEB SITE – The WVLS web site can be accessed at http://wvls.lib.wi.us Here you will find information about: WVLS and its member libraries; a calendar of upcoming events of interest to librarians and trustees; employment opportunities;  a directory of WVLS libraries and librarians; and Internet links to other sites of interest to librarians and trustees.

WVLS hosts web pages on behalf of our member libraries and, upon request, for other agencies with library/literacy/research-type purposes.

WEBMASTER SERVICE PROGRAM – The WVLS webmaster is available to help member libraries establish or redesign a web presence. A library can use its own domain name and service provider or can choose to develop a web site under the WVLS domain name and service provider.

WESSLER SCHOLARSHIPS – The Wessler Scholarship Fund was established in memory of Carol Ruth Wessler, the first WVLS reference librarian. Personnel from all types of libraries may apply for Wessler funds to help pay the costs associated with attendance at continuing education activities related to all aspects of reference, referral and interloan service including such topics as: selection; collection development; personal improvement, i.e., conflict resolution; organization skills; supervision techniques; building sites (reference departments); etc. Information about this scholarship program, along with application forms, can be accessed via the WVLS web site at http://wvls.lib.wi.us/About/wessler.htm

WORKSHOPS – WVLS sponsors or arranges for many continuing education opportunities each year. Attendance at these sessions helps area library personnel and trustees to keep up with changes in the library service field. They also help area public library directors maintain their state-required certification.  Because of agreements which WVLS has with other library systems in Wisconsin, library personnel and trustees are also welcome to attend continuing education activities which are sponsored by other Wisconsin library systems.

Updated April 27, 2012