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"For the past year the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) has been working with its BadgerNet Converged Network (BCN) vendor partners and the federal National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to implement a $23 million federal Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant intended to expand broadband fiber to Wisconsin schools and libraries. Following extensive examination of complex technical issues, and review of multiple alternatives, DOA, the BCN vendors and NTIA have exhausted all practical options and DOA will be declining the award." (Michael Huebsch, Secretary, Department of Administration, in a letter to TEACH Customers, February 11, 2011.)

This news that the BTOP grant is not going to become a reality is disappointing and problematic for many public libraries and schools across the State of Wisconsin, including the 14 suburban public libraries within the MCFLS network. The grant offered great promise as a way to meet the increasing demands for internet bandwidth expansion in our public libraries and schools in a cost effective manner.      

We have been assured. however that for many libraries the bandwidth increase the fiber grant was going to provide (up to 20Mbps) will untimately be delivered. Much will depend on the increases in bandwidth that will result from the pending extension of the BadgerNet contract. There is a proposal from AT&T that contains substantial bandwidth cost reductions. These reductions will stretch available funding from the TEACH program so that it can provide bandwidth increases that will meet or come close to those in the grant. It is not possible to know when this contract extension will be finalized but it is hoped this can be completed sometime in Q2 of 2011.  
 

At MCFLS, we encourage a timely and successful completion of the extension of the BadgerNet contract  so that public libraries in Milwaukee County can implement much needed cost effective expansions in internet bandwidth. 

The MCFLS Young Adult Services Committee is excited to announce the 2011 nominee titles for the Milwaukee County Teen Book Award!  The MCTBA was started by the YASC in 2009 to promote teen reading and literature by highlighting and awarding books published for teens of both quality and appeal.  The fifteen nominees for 2011 were selected from teen titles published between September 1, 2009 and August 31, 2010.

The 2011 MCTBA Nominees are:   

You by Charles Benoit

Fat Cat by Robin Brande

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Fire by Kristin Cashore

Maze Runner by James Dashner

Happyface by Stephen Emond

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

Liar by Justine Larbalestier

Ash by Malinda Lo

Tangled by Carolyn Mackler

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Bruiser by Neal Shusterman

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

Teens will be able to vote for their favorite title(s) through March 1, 2011.  Votes for the 2011 MCTBA may be submitted via email to waplteens@mcfls.org, via mail to the West Allis Public Library c/o Katie Hubbard, or dropped off in person at teens' local Milwaukee County Public Library.  Ballots and more information will be available online at http://mctba.wordpress.com/ after the New Year.

The winning title will be announced April 1, 2011.

The 2011 MCFLS YASC MCTBA Committee

Emily Alford, Greenfield Public Library

Beth Henika, North Shore Public Library

Katie Hubbard, West Allis Public Library

Megan Markiewicz, West Allis Public Library

Tiffany Wait, Shorewood Public Library