URGENT: Internet Access at the library in DANGER

People rely on the Internet at the Racine Public Library to apply for jobs, send resumes, check on the status of their applications, send and receive email regarding employment, and pursue continuing education opportunities. In 2010 there were 60,930 Internet sessions. January through May 2011 there have been 24,809 sessions.

Internet access throughout the state of Wisconsin would be severely limited by Sections 23-26 of the Omnibus Motion to the UW System Budget Bill as passed by the Joint Finance Committee. This bill will cut the innumerable services which public libraries, UW System libraries, and school libraries provide to citizens of the state of Wisconsin.

• Access to broadband Internet through WiscNet is crucial to public and school libraries and library users across the state of Wisconsin;

• If this bill passes, public libraries, as well as UW System libraries, private colleges and university libraries, K-12 libraries, special libraries, local historical societies and museums, hospitals, local municipalities and other public offices will be severely hindered in providing affordable and outstanding bandwidth Internet access to their users;

• Because the cost would skyrocket, the passage of Sections 23-26 of the Omnibus Motion to the UW System Budget Bill, will have crippling effects on our collaborative services such as on-site Internet access and services to visitors, "universal borrowing" for all collections, high-speed interlibrary services, and cooperative purchasing of databases and electronic resources.

We count on your support so the library can continue to provide these valuable services.

State elected officials will vote on this on Tuesday, June 14, 2011. Contact information:

Rep. Robin Vos (888) 534-0063 Rep.Vos@Iegis.wisconsin.gov
Rep. Bob Turner (888) 529-0061 rep.turner@legis.state.wi.gov
Cory Mason (888) 534-0062 Cory.Mason@legis.wisconsin.gov
Sen. Van Wanggaard (866) 615-7510, Sen.Wanggaard@legis.wisconsin.gov

Save WiscNet: Call Your Legislators This Week!

Save WiscNet: Internet for Higher Ed, Libraries & K-12 Schools Under Attack

Take Action!
Ask your legislators to reverse Joint Finance decision

Please call your legislators this week to urge them to restore WiscNet and retain cost-effective Internet service for institutions of higher education, K-12 schools and public libraries.

On Friday, June 3, the state legislature's Joint Committee on Finance passed Motion 489 that contained a provision (among many others) that would eliminate WiscNet as a department or office within the UW-Madison Department of Information Technology and eliminate $1.4 million in funding for WiscNet for 2012-13. Thus, all public institutions of higher education, 95% of public libraries and 80% of schools now receiving Internet services through WiscNet would be forced to seek these services from private telecommunications providers.

Almost all schools and libraries will pay more to private providers; the average cost is estimated to be three to five times higher than the current costs through WiscNet. But the cost is much greater than just dollars. The successful cooperative and collaborative network that WiscNet has fostered between higher education, K-12 education and libraries for the past 16 years will disappear. See the WiscNet website for more information.

Call your state senator and state representative and tell them this means libraries and schools in their districts will no longer be able to afford the Internet access that student and patrons want and need. Ask that sections 23-26 of Motion 489 be deleted on the floor of the legislature before the budget bill is approved and is sent to Governor Walker for his signature.