KASL

KSDE Update

KSDE will begin a Lexile Framework for Reading Initiative August 1. While library media specialists are already intimately acquainted with the lexile framework and use it effectively with students, teachers, and parents, KSDE intends to begin actively promoting it in tandem with reading assessment results. Check out Lexile's Find a Book site to develop individualized reading lists and notice how other states are using lexiles:  Oregon, Virginia. Many school library catalogs include lexile information with book records and now might be a good time to promote what you do with the Lexile Framework to your teachers and administration.  

Lexile Map

Jackie Lakin also announced that in the fall, the Kansas Learning First Alliance plans to develop a dvd recording responses by different groups to Shift Happens to promote 21st Century Skills. 

You will be hearing more about both of these projects.

Kan-ed Update

Later in the summer, Kan-ed plans to offer free training on distance learning and is currently developing a listserve as well as a web portal so that everything connected to Kan-ed is in one place. The Training/Tutorials link includes training videos and tutorials for Kan-ed services from Backpack to Test Builder.  

Keep supporting Senate Bill 285 for an additional two years of Kan-ed funding.

State Librarian Search

The search for a new State Librarian is on, with the idea that the interview process may begin in September. Then the Search Committee makes a recommendation to the governor and if the offer is accepted, a background check is conducted. Then the candidate goes before the Senate Committee in January of 2010 and if approved, the candidate is voted on and confirmed by the full Senate. Realistically, it will be February 2010 before a new State Librarian is instated. In the meantime, Marc Galbraith is serving as interim State Librarian.

State Librarian to Retire

Dear SLK Board Members,  
 
This past week I gave a letter to Governor Sebelius to announce my retirement on June 1, 2009.  This is something that my family and I have been contemplating for nearly a year and something I am looking forward to very much.     
 
In Ecclesiastes it says that there is a season for everything, and after 35 years of working in libraries, it is time for a new season for me.  I want to turn my time and energy towards helping my aging parents, enjoying my grandchildren and doing some gardening and quilting. 
 
The past 4 1/2 years at the State Library of Kansas have been wonderful, and it has been in part because of all of you...the great people I work with on the SLK Board. You have been open to new ideas and endured many changes, and you have challenged me to learn and think.  I'm very proud of the work we have done together, and as a result, I think we have made library service better for Kansans.    
 
Marc Galbraith will be named interim in June, and I hope that the next few weeks can be a time of planning for the future and continued progress.  I have no doubt that because of the dedication of all of you, the best days of the State Library of Kansas are still ahead.  
 
Sincerely, 
 
christie 

 

Christie P. Brandau

State Librarian of Kansas

785-296-3296

Fax: 785-368-7291

christieb@kslib.info

 

Check out our website at www.kslib.info !

State Library of Kansas 2008 Annual Report

The State Library of Kansas is proud and eager to share its accomplishments from 2008 and to showcase the many programs and services we bring to community libraries. Originally, the State Library carried books to rural communities by wagon and horseback.

Today the Library delivers much more than just books to community libraries and the citizens of Kansas, and we do it with the convenience of the Internet. Take a look back at 2008.

2008 Annual Report

State Library of Kansas News

News and information from the State Library of Kansas is available on their new blog.  The State Library Publications page may be of interest also.

State Library of Kansas Board

The Board met Friday morning, March 20. You have probably all heard that budget reductions to the State Library are severe and have particularly impacted Homework Kansas and state aid to public libraries. What is new is that the Senate Ways and Means Committee plans to reconsider these reductions in the end-of-session omnibus bill. All the senators expressed regret and concern regarding the budget cuts and particularly stipulated that there be no cuts from Talking Books. Christie Brandau, State Librarian, reiterated her ongoing commitment to Talking Books.  She said that so much is changing technologically that in order to move Talking Books into the 21st century, the State Library has plans to sit down when they are not in Crisis Mode and consider how to best deliver service in the state.

On a more cheerful note, Thursday the Senate approved Kan-ed funding by voting 37-3 for Bill 285 stipulating that 100% of funding will come from the Kansas Universal Service Fund (KUSF) for the next three years.  That bill now moves to the House. This might be a good time to let your representatives in the Kansas House know that this bill deserves their support. Brad Williams, the Executive Director of Kan-ed and everybody at Kan-Ed did a wonderful job of communicating clearly to legislators the need for a consistent funding model. Brad stated at the SLKB meeting on Friday that library support was essential as well. 

Brad also reported that Kan-ed is busily making 36 T1 connections a week, and that his target is to have everybody who has ordered a connection connected by July 31, though that target may be impeded by an AT&T strike in early April. I know that Council Grove is having Kan-ed connect one of our previously neglected elementary schools that was getting along with a completely unsatisfactory DSL internet connection and that healthy Kan-ed funding will positively impact online databases available in Kansas, though the details about that are still murky. A healthy, funded Kan-ed does positively impact schools and student learning in the state.

Martha House

News from the State Library of Kansas Board

Jim Minges reported for the Statewide Inter-library Loan Courier Task Force.  The Task Force hopes to implement an ILL Courier system in July of 2009.  The service will be open to any library able to pay whatever the cost is determined to be.

Brad Williams, Chief Information Officer of Kan-ed, reported that the Governor recommended a 20% cut for Kan-ed, a crippling cut to funding essential for operation.  It is not too early to begin talking to legislators about this.

Christie Brandau made the following announcement about budget cuts at the State Library.

"The Kansas Division of the Budget delivered its budget recommendations last week, including the recommendation for State Library funding.  It is a difficult budget year, and agencies are being asked to cut  their funding for the current  year as well as for FY2010. 

 

For FY2009, (July 1, 2008- June 30, 2009), our funding has been reduced by 3% or $166,289.  After consultation with the SLK management team as well as the SLK Advisory Board and the System Administrators, the funding will be taken from three programs:  State Library Operations ($9,700), Audiobooks, Music and More ($20,920) and state aid ($135, 669).  The statewide, state funded  programs untouched by this cut are HomeworkKansas and Talking Books, both services that were already funded for FY09.  State Library funding for the databases, for the Kansas Library Catalog and continuing education programs is through the federal LSTA funding and is not affected by these reductions.

 

For FY 2010, we have been asked for an additional reduction of $162,238 or a total of  $297,271 less than FY08.  In order to accommodate this reduction,  we regretfully submitted a package that included elimination of HomeworkKansas.  However, the Division of the Budget did not recommend accepting this package, and we will need to look elsewhere to reduce that amount of state funding.  

 

The bottom line for Kansas libraries is that this year there will be fewer resources from the State Library, fewer online audiobooks and less state aid for FY09.  I don't know the bottom line for FY10, but we will work hard to minimize the impact on Kansas library patrons. 

 

On the positive side, we will still have the same  experienced and dedicated staff at SLK, ready to help whenever they can.  And, we will have a new position!  We will be consolidating job responsibilities at SLK, and replacing a former staff position with a part-time Youth Services Consultant in the near future. This will be a great step forward for us in the provision of children's programs like Kansas Reads to Preschoolers, etc. 

 

As always, if there are questions,concerns or suggestions, please feel free to contact me or any of the SLK staff."