Southwest Wisconsin Library System Shared Resources and System Services

1775 Fourth Street Fennimore, WI 53809 608 822 3393 kross@swls.org

Dear Library Patron:

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) created the framework for library systems in 1974. Since then, systems have worked behind the scenes to support public libraries in ways that allow them to serve you better than they could if they had to stand alone. It is not surprising that library system services tend to be invisible to most library users. So, if you don't know what a library system is, or even that we exist, we invite you to read this short informational 'tour.'

According to the American Library Association, there are at least 16,298 public libraries in the United States. Many of them are members of library systems, regional libraries, library districts, or other networks that vary in kind from place to place. Each library system is governed by a citizen board of trustees that represents the system's geographical service area. Each year library systems submit a plan to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction that meets the DPI's service mandates.

SWLS is one of 17 library systems in Wisconsin. It provides a host of resources to the member libraries in its five-county service area. This increases the types and quality of services that the region's 27 public libraries offer to the people of Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Lafayette, and Richland Counties.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Requests...
from library users like you are posted to HORIZON, SWLS's shared automation network. They are then processed and routed throughout the Southwest Wisconsin Library System; if unfilled within our immediate network, they are routed to other Wisconsin library systems, out-of-state libraries, and even to the Library of Congress to fulfill your requests.

Collection Development Consultants. . .
are available to help your librarian build your library's collection of materials to keep it fresh and dynamic. which may also involve Space Planning & Interior Design considerations.

Van provides regular and speedy delivery. . . .
of Interlibrary Loan requests, equipment, and needed supplies to member libraries within the SWLS service area. It is also one of the many delivery "links" connecting us with 16 other Wisconsin Library systems and their members.

Continuing Education workshops. . . .
are offered to inform librarians about changes in library and information services so that they are better able to serve you. And it is through these workshops that librarians earn the necessary Continuing Education Units for maintaining their Public Librarian Certification . CEU's and certification requirements are defined and monitored by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) .

Collections of Reference-Professional materials. . . .
including journals, books, audio-visual, and other resources are maintained at SWLS Headquarters to aid the librarians and their staff with program planning, materials selection, and self-education.

Youth Services/Special Needs services. . . .
are coordinated by system consultants. These include the annual Summer Library Program , Continuing Education opportunities, grant writing assistance, program planning, and project development.

Automation Services. . . .
provides consulting and computer support for all 27 SWLS member public libraries. 26 of the 27 belong to NETSouthwest since they share Horizon, an automated circulation system maintained by SWLS.

With a System Borrowers' Card. . .
you can borrow and return materials at any of the 28 member public libraries throughout our five-county service area. Adjacent library systems may also honor the SWLS system card due to long-standing reciprocal borrowing agreements between some Wisconsin library systems.