Library Administration

See WVLS Communication for a complete list

• County Library Plans
  • Clark County Plan of Library Service 2017
  • Forest County Plan for Library Service 2021-2025
  • City of Antigo and Langlade County Joint Library Agreement 2017-2026
  • Lincoln County Library Plan 1999
  • Marathon County Library Plan 2005
  • Oneida County Library Plan of Service 2020-2024
  • Taylor County Plan for Library Service 2017 Revision
• WVLS Member County Participation Agreements
  • Clark Member County Participation Agreement
  • Forest WVLS Member County Participation Agreement
  • Langlade WVLS Member County Participation Agreement
  • Lincoln WVLS Member County Participation Agreement
  • Marathon WVLS Member County Participation Agreement
  • Oneida WVLS Member County Participation Agreement
  • Taylor WVLS Member County Participation Agreement
• WVLS Member Library Participation Agreements
  • Abbotsford WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Antigo Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Colby WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Crandon WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Dorchester WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Gilman WTCPL WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Granton WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Greenwood WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Laona WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Loyal WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Marathon County WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Medford WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Merrill WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Neillsville WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Minocqua WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Owen WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Rhinelander WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Rib Lake WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Stetsonville WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Thorp WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Three Lakes WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Tomahawk WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Wabeno WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Westboro WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
  • Withee WVLS Member Library Participation Agreement
• Statutory Resource Library Agreement
  • 2024 MCPL WVLS Statutory Resource Library Agreement

• CHAPTER 43 of the Wisconsin Statutes
• Wisconsin Open Meetings Law
• Open Meetings Law and Library Board Closed Sessions – WI DPI Resource
• Wisconsin Public Records Law
• Record Retention Schedule for Wisconsin’s Public Libraries
• Wisconsin Public Library Systems
• Public Library Assurance of Compliance with System Membership Requirements
• Public Library Annual Report – WI DPI Resource
• Public Library Director Certification – WI DPI Resource
• 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

Please see the About WVLS page to find information on WVLS:

Find information on the topics below:

1. WVLS Calendar of Events
2. V-Cat Steering Committee
3. Library Advisory Committee (LAC)
4. WVLS Grants and Scholarships
   1. Innovation and Collaboration Grant
   2. Library Legislative Day
   3. ARSL Conference Grant
   4. Wessler Scholarship
5.  WVLS Courier Delivery/Courier Best Practices

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: 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

WVLS Annual Report Resources

• Find all resources on the WI New Public Library Director Boot Camp website.
• View resources on: Administration, Advocacy, HR/Personnel Management, Legal, Money, Organizations, and Materials.

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

Library Materials Challenge Support Resources

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

• Contact the CCBC to notify them of your library’s issue. Consult their excellent resources.
• CCBC Intellectual Freedom Information Services: provide information and referral for Wisconsin librarians and teachers who are facing attempts to censor materials for minors in their libraries and classrooms. (Read an article about the CCBC service.)
• Comic Book Legal Defense Fund CBLDF: Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the First Amendment rights of the comics medium.
• Intellectual Freedom Infographics.
• Steps to Take When Materials are Challenged: suggestions, support, and helpful links.
• What IF . . . Forum: a question-and-answer forum for librarians, teachers, administrators and others who have questions about what the principles of intellectual freedom look like in practice.
• What IF . . . Library: read our responses to questions that have been submitted to the What IF… forum.

American Library Association: Challenges to Library Materials

• Challenge Support: Support, Challenge Hearings, Strategy and Tips.
• Essential Preparation: Working with Community leaders, Motives and Tactics, Challenge Reporting and Assistance, and more.
• Reporting a Challenge

Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)

• Access to Information: censorship and challenges, equity of access, and more.

Association for LIbrary Service to Children (ALSC)

• Professional Tools for Librarians Serving Youth: Access, Advocacy, Intellectual Freedom toolkit, Coping with Challenges, and more.

Banned & Challenged Books

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

• 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.

ALA – Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights

• Access for Children and Young Adults to Nonprint Materials
• Access to Digital Information, Services, and Networks
• Access to Library Resources and Services for Minors
• Access to Library Resources and Services Regardless of Sex, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, or Sexual Orientation
• Access to Resources and Services in the School Library
• Challenged Resources
• Diversity in Collection Development
• Economic Barriers to Information Access
• Equity, Diversity, Inclusion
• Evaluating Library Collections
• Exhibit Spaces and Bulletin Boards
• Expurgation of Library Materials
• Importance of Education to Intellectual Freedom
• Internet Filtering
• Intellectual Freedom Principles for Academic Libraries
• Labeling Systems
• Minors and Internet Activity
• Library-Initiated Programs as a Resource
• Meeting Rooms
• Politics in American Libraries
• Prisoners Right to Read
• Privacy: Privacy is essential to the exercise of free speech, free thought, and free association. See also Questions and Answers on Privacy and Confidentiality.
• Rating Systems
• Religion in American Libraries
• Restricted Access to Library Materials
• Services to People with Disabilities
• The Universal Right to Free Expression
• User-Generated Content in Library Discovery Systems

• WVLS Newsletter
• WVLS Digital Lites Blog
• Wisconsin Library Association
  • Membership
  • Conferences
  • Wisconsin Library Association Blog
• American Library Association
  • ALA News and Press Center
• ARSL Association for Rural and Small Libraries 
• COSLA Chief Officers of State library Agencies
• Up Next Blog from Institute of Museum and Library Services IMLS
• RUSA Reference and User Services Association

Children Services

• American Library Association:
  • Early Literacy & Libraries
  • Services for Children
• Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), an ALA division.
• Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA), an ALA division.
• Public Library Association: Early Literacy
• Public Libraries Online: Public Library Association Resources
• Resources for School Librarians: Resources gathered by retired school librarian
• School Library Journal
• WEMTA Wisconsin Educational Media & Technology Association: Resources and K-12 Library Information
• Wisconsin’s Common School Fund: WI DPI Information about the main source of state funding support for K-12 school library materials
• WI Libraries for Everyone: WI DPI Blog

Teen Services

• American Library Association
• American Libraries Magazine
• District Level Leadership for School Library Media Programs: WI DPI Information
• The Magpie Librarian: Blog, school librarian and former NYPL Youth Services Librarian
• Public Libraries Online: Public Library Association Resources
• YALSA Young Adult Library Services Association
  • Book Awards, Conferences/events, Teen service guidelines, webinars, professional tools, Teen Read Week, Teen Tech Week, and more!
• YA Books and More: Blog
• YSS Youth Services Section, WLA: Resources and YSS Blog
  • The Wisconsin Library Association’s Youth Services Section provides a forum and resource for people in Wisconsin’s libraries who share a commitment to serving children and young adults, their parents, caregivers, and teachers.
• Resources for School Librarians: Resources gathered by retired school librarian
• School Library Journal
• Teen Librarian.com: Blog (public & school)
• WEMTA Wisconsin Educational Media & Technology Association: Resources and K-12 Library Information
• Wisconsin’s Common School Fund: WI DPI Information about the main source of state funding support for K-12 school library materials
• WI Libraries for Everyone: WI DPI Blog

Adult Services

• American Library Association
  • Learn more about adult library services as well as programming and exhibitions for the adutl community.
• American Libraries Magazine
• Library Journal
• Programming Librarian: Adult Programming
• Public Library Association
  • Programming & Instruction, Community Engagment & Outreach. Increase your community engagemetn and outreach. Learn how ot identify and work with community groups.
• Public Libraries Online: Public Library Association Resources
• WI Libraries for Everyone: WI DPI Blog

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

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

• WVLS Trustee Resources Website
• Tools and Resources for Public Library Directors (DLT)
• Trustee Essentials:  A Handbook for Wisconsin Public
• Trustee Essentials – Table of Contents
• Library Trustees
• COSLA Chief Officers of State Library Agencies
• Wisconsin Library Trustees and Friends (WLTF)
• United for Libraries

New Library Director Orientation

• Practical Internet Privacy
• FBI in Your Library – ALA
• USA PATRIOT Act and Intellectual Freedom – ALA
• Sample of Search Warrant Procedures – LLRX.com
• Sample Policy on Privacy of Library Records and Use – Wisconsin Department of instruction

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

• The Wisconsin Public Library Policy Resources is a resource developed and maintained by the  Division for Libraries and Technology, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Find resources on:
  • Sample Public Library Policies
  • Policies by Library
  • Policies by Type: ADA Compliance, Behavior, all the way to Unattended Children, and Volunteers.Administrative Essentials: A Handbook for Wisconsin Public Library Directors
• 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. Find resources on:
  • Administrative Essential #15: Policies and Procedures.
  • Trustee Essentials: A Handbook for Wisconsin Public Library Trustees
    • The Trustee Essentials: A Handbook for Wisconsin Public Library Trustees is a resource prepared by the Division for Libraries and Technology with the assistance of the Wisconsin Public Library Trustee Handbook Revision Task Force in 2002; revised in 2012, 2015, and 2016. Find resources on:
    • Trustee Essentials #10: Developing Essential Library Policies
• Wisconsin Library Trustee Resource Page
  • The Wisconsin Library Trustee Resource page includes tools and resources for public library directors and board members. This page is maintained by Wisconsin Department of Instruction Division for Library and Technology team. Find resources and modules on:
  • Trustee Training Module #2:
  • The four tests of a legally defensible policy:

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.

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 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

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

Strategic Planning Resources

• Administrative Essentials: A Handbook for Wisconsin Public Library Directors
  • Administrative Essential #16: Planning for the Library’es Future
• Trustee Essentials: A Handbook for Wisconsin Public Library Trustees
  • Trustee Essential #11: Planning for the Library’s Future
• Wisconsin Public Library Standards
  • Public Library Standard #2: Imperatives for Planning

• 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

• Division for Libraries and Technology Web Site
• Public Library Development Team
• Wisconsin Public Library Policy Resources
• Wisconsin Public Library Standards
• Small and Rural Library Resources
• Wisconsin Library-Related Websites
• Youth and Inclusive Services
  • Serving Special Populations
  • Adults with Special Needs
  • Youth with Special Needs
• “Did you Know?”
• Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI)

Wisconsin Library Standards

• Wisconsin Public Library Standards, March 2018, 6th Edition developed by Department of Public Instruction (DPI).
• Copyright Resources for Schools and Libraries. Links to resources to help schools and public libraries comply with U.S. copyright law.
• County Library Planning, Funding, and Related Issues
• Economic Impact Studies and Resources. Links to various economic impact studies and resources for conducting local studies.
• Wisconsin Library Policy Resources Page. Links to policies of many Wisconsin public libraries.
• Wisconsin’s Open Meetings Law and Library Board Closed Sessions
  • FAQ About Wisconsin’s Public Records Law
  • Wisconsin Department of Justice Open Meetings Law and Public Records Law.
• Wisconsin Public Library and Library System
  • Statutes
  • Administrative Code

• 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