2024 Legislative Policy Statement

The Wisconsin Library Association affirms that:

Wisconsin residents value and use libraries for business, cultural, educational, and recreational purposes
Library information resources, a statewide knowledge network, and high-speed broadband access contribute to the state’s economic growth, business planning, and workforce development
Libraries provide Wisconsin residents with the essential information services they need to succeed at school, at work, and in their personal lives
Libraries contribute to the quality of life of Wisconsin residents through lifelong learning opportunities
Libraries support children and families with early literacy and reading readiness programs
Libraries play a key role in independent learning, in classrooms, and home-based education
Libraries deliver high value in a cost-effective manner through regional and statewide resource sharing

Ensures all Wisconsin residents have the broadest possible access to information resources and materials
Preserves the fundamental principle of publicly funded free and open access to library materials and services first established by Wisconsin law in 1872
Affirms the right of local public library boards to independently determine local library policy, staffing, and services based on community needs
Values privacy and confidentiality in the use of library materials and services, and promotes the privacy of library users
Supports the development of print collections, learning tools, digital resources, and community engagement for libraries of all types
Promotes regional and statewide sharing of library and information resources
Provides robust affordable broadband networks for all Wisconsin residents to access technology
Supports strong statewide leadership for library development and cooperation
Supports sustainable funding of public libraries and public library systems by local governments, counties, and the state
Promotes local and state taxing options that avoid adverse effects on libraries
Provides incentives for library system collaboration and supports policies and actions that result in increases in efficiency and effectiveness

To enhance all Wisconsin libraries:

Endorsement of publicly funded free and open access to library materials for all Wisconsin citizens
Use of the Universal Service Fund for BadgerLink online resources and other statewide library services
Sufficient, coordinated, and affordable broadband and Internet access
Enhanced support for collaborative delivery of library materials, shared online catalogs and electronic databases, and other services offered to all Wisconsin residents through regional public library systems
Continued support for statewide resource contracts: Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library, Cooperative Children’s Book Center, interlibrary loan from the Milwaukee Public Library and the University of Wisconsin-Madison collections, and Recollection Wisconsin
Sustained support for the Wisconsin State Law Library, the Theobald Legislative Library, and the Milwaukee County and Dane County Law Libraries
Support for free and open access to government publications and documents

To enhance Wisconsin public libraries:

Support for additional public library system aids to strengthen and enhance public library services at the local level
Funding that provides citizen access from home, work, or school to electronically published materials on a wide range of subjects
Increased allowable revenue limits and transportation aid for counties and local governments, to enable sustained and stable support for all Wisconsin public libraries regardless of size or location

To enhance Wisconsin publicly supported academic libraries:

Robust funding for the Universities of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Technical College System libraries to enable them to support research, teaching, and learning on their campuses
Full funding for the Wisconsin Historical Society Library
Additional funding for shared electronic library collections that support research and advanced study across the Universities of Wisconsin

To enhance Wisconsin school and institutional libraries:

Appropriate use of the Common School Fund for strong school library programs under the guidance of certified school library media professionals
Increased capacity and access to broadband services for all Wisconsin students
Increased funding for K-12 educational technology programs, infrastructure, and professional development
Employment of certified school library media specialists, instructional technology professionals, and appropriate support staff in every school
Extension of the protective status provided to correctional institution officers and sergeants to civilian staff (librarians, teachers, social, and health care workers) employed by the Department of Corrections