About

Following is a video titled Introduction to WVLS. Tabbing takes you through the different video functions until you reach the transcript.

Transcript: Introduction to WVLS Video

Hi! My name is Jamie Matczak, Education Consultant with the Wisconsin Valley Library Service, or WVLS. WVLS is one of 16 public library systems in Wisconsin. You might be asking yourself, what is a public library system? Let's find out. Let's go back to 1971. At that time, the state of Wisconsin established public library systems: to promote development of strong local libraries, facilitate cooperative service development between libraries, provide those services that make the most economic sense, and advocate for library services. The goal of public library systems since their inception is to provide all Wisconsin residents with access to high-quality library services. Currently, every one of Wisconsin's 381 public libraries reside in a county that supports a public library system. Systems range in size from one to ten counties. Public Library Systems fall under the oversight of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and must fulfill specific service requirements to receive funds from the state. When the Wisconsin Legislature passed the law providing for the establishment of library systems, they built a partnership between state and local governments. In order to receive services from state-funded systems, libraries too must fulfill certain requirements. Examples include: The public library must have a properly appointed library board. The public library must employ a director with the appropriate education and certification. And the public library must be willing to share its resources with others who do not live in its community. Because of these agreements, Wisconsin residents may make use of any public library in the state. WVLS serves 34 public libraries in its seven-county service area which includes the counties of Clark, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida and Taylor. The Marathon County Public Library is the largest member library in WVLS and has an important legacy in Wisconsin library history. During the pre-public library system development phase in the '60s, the Wausau Public Library and Marathon County served as the regional hub for a reference cooperative in which a large library with an extensive reference collection provides reference services beyond to the smaller, more rural library communities that surrounded it. As what we might now call a beta site to test this service, the project was funded through what is now known as a Library Services and Technology Act federal grant. In this regard, the Wausau Library served as the very first resource library in Wisconsin and has been the resource library for WVLS for almost 60 years! WVLS operates under a 15-member board of trustees, which includes representation from each county based on population. Members are chosen for a three-year term by county Boards of Supervisors. The WVLS Board of Trustees relies on advisory groups and committees, such as the Library Advisory Committee (LAC) and V-Cat Consortium, to guide their decisions on system's priorities for service. WVLS provides consulting services and support in the areas of library administration, youth and adult services, technology, marketing, advocacy and more. The WVLS Mentoring Program supports the success of new library administrators for two years by matching them with experienced library specialists. WVLS offers a full range of continuing education workshops and webinars. Is there a topic you are hoping to learn more about? We can find it for you. WVLS and its partner systems in Eau Claire and Ashland administer regional-wide area networks which connect high speed Internet lines between the systems and their member libraries. This network offers support services such as centralized email and anti-virus software, PC and software support, discounted purchasing of hardware and equipment, and technology planning and consultation. WVLS manages its own Integrated Library System, otherwise known as the online card catalog or V-Cat. The V-Cat catalog contains the collections of 25-member public libraries and allows library patrons access to over 1.1 million library materials! Are your library patrons looking to take courses in photography? What about gathering genealogical data? WVLS funds access to databases such as Gale Courses, Ancestry, and more. WVLS funds two delivery operations. One transports materials between WVLS libraries and other libraries in Wisconsin. The other service, through a private courier, provides delivery three days a week to all WVLS member libraries. These two operations ensure that library patrons receive items in a timely manner. Over 30 makerspace kits are available for your library. Reservations can be made on the WVLS website. In the last two years, WVLS has awarded over 20 full scholarships for its members to attend statewide and national conferences. If there is ever something we can assist you with, please contact any member of the WVLS Team. Our office is staffed Monday through Friday, from 8 - 4:30, during the summer, and from 8 until 5 during the rest of the year. No matter what, WVLS is always here for you!