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SCLS 2023 Annual Report Instructions

Timeline and Dates

Computer Requirements

Background and Getting Started

After You've Entered Your Information

Tips and Other Information You Will Need  
(Please Note: these SCLS instructions supplement the official DPI instructions.)

Arranged by Annual Report Section:

Annual Report Timeline and Important Dates:

  • Information about library username and password for the LibPas system is the same as last year. If you don't have your username and password, contact tracie.miller [at] scls.info (subject: Annual%20Report%3A%20Timeline%20%26%20Important%20Dates) (Tracie Miller).
  • SCLS Annual Report Overview Webinar: Jan. 10, 2025 10 a.m. (register).
  • Notify Tracie Miller when your report is ready to review by Feb. 14, 2025 (or earlier)
  • IMPORTANT: Your library board must review and approve, and your board president must sign, your annual report. This may mean rescheduling your library board meeting or making special arrangements.
  • Email a signed copy of your annual report to Tracie Miller at SCLS Administration by Feb. 24, 2025.
    • SCLS will forward all reports to DPI to meet the statutory deadline.

Computer Requirements:

  • Internet access
  • A (recent) web browser (the DPI reports that the application has been tested with Internet Explorer 8 and higher, Firefox, Chrome, and Safari).
  • To print the annual report forms, you will need PDF reader software such as Adobe Reader.

Background and Getting Started:

  • IMPORTANT: Read everything from the DPI before starting.
  • Check out this What's new in the 2024 Annual Report information guide.
  • IMPORTANT: Libraries that are members of the ILS (LINKcat) will need to read and follow the ILS / LINKcat instructions.
  • The scls-annreport email list was created to communicate with those involved in the Annual Report process. Anyone who will be assisting with the report is encouraged to subscribe: go to the scls-annreport page and follow the directions on the screen.
  • While you are entering information, in addition to referring to the Instructions, brief definitions for data items are available by clicking on the hyperlinked name of the item. Fuller directions are available in the DPI instructions. 
  • Some tips on using the online form software:
    • For some questions, the data you reported last year appears to the right of the input box. Even if the 2023 data is exactly the same, you must enter it in the input box. 
    • If values change +/- more than 5% from one year to the next, LibPas will require a note of explanation before your form can be locked. Please use the bold number to the right of the data entry field (this is last year's value) to determine if your change is +/- 5% or more. If so, please be sure to add a note of explanation. 
    • If you do not supply an explanation for edit checks, messages about them, as well as required questions you have left blank, messages will appear when Tracie clicks on Submit/Lock, and your report will remain unlocked until you rectify them all. 
  • IMPORTANT: This report is mandated by state statute, and must be approved by your library board and signed by the board president and library director.
    • The statement in the Certification at the end of the report says: "I certify that, to the best of my knowledge, the information provided in this annual report and any attachments are true and accurate and the library board has reviewed and approved this report." Please note that this statement refers to the entire report, not just Section XIV, the Assurance of Compliance. 
    • Be sure to keep your board informed about the information in the report. 
    • In order to have the report approved by your board you may need to reschedule a board meeting or make special arrangements. Please meet the deadlines described in the timeline above. 
  • Try to access and use the online form as soon as you can, even if you don't plan to begin entering information yet.
  • See if you can access the online LibPAS form, following the DPI instructions. (If more than one person works on various parts of the form, you will need to perform this test at every workstation that will be used.) This will give you time to address any problems accessing the form, and still give you time to enter your information. Test to see that the data you are entering is actually saved: fill in some of the parts in a section, click Save, exit, then re-enter the annual report. Verify the data you saved.

Gather all of the answers to the questions before you sit down to start entering the information online. To speed the online process, you can print off a copy of the 2024 work sheet from the DPI and enter your information there. The actual time it takes to enter the annual report information is relatively short. If you are interrupted while entering information online, save your work before you walk away.


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After You've Entered Your Information:

  • Do NOT click on Submit/Lock. Tracie will do this after she has reviewed your report and you have made any necessary changes.
  • Notify Tracie Miller when your report is ready to review: By Feb. 14, 2025 (or earlier) to provide ample time.
  • Click on Print (in the upper right hand corner) to generate a PDF of your report. Click on the printer icon in the upper left hand corner of the PDF to print a copy of the report so you can refer to it when called or emailed about any questions or corrections.
  • When your report has been reviewed, and corrected (if necessary), notify Tracie Miller so she can give it a final review, then she will lock the file, which will remove the "Draft" watermark. Tracie will notify you when this has been done. Do NOT click on "Submit/Lock." At this point, Tracie can still unlock the file if additional changes are needed.
  • Print a copy. DPI will only accept as final approved documents those without the "Draft" watermark. 
  • After your board approves the report, make additional copies (see below) and have all copies signed by the Library Board President and Library Director. Remember that these signatures signify that the report has been reviewed and approved by the library board. When scanning and emailing the signed report, please review and verify that all pages are in the correct order. Once Tracie has received your signed email copy, she will forward the electronic version to DLT, at which time only DLT can unlock it for further changes.
  • Distribute signed copies as follows:
    • Email one (1) copy to Tracie Miller, at SCLS Headquarters, by Feb. 24, 2025, so it can be forwarded to DPI by the statutory deadline.
    • Keep one (1) copy for your files.
    • Give one (1) copy to your municipality.
    • In Columbia, Dane, Green, and Sauk Counties, give one (1) copy to the director of your county resource library.
    • In Wood County, send one (1) copy to the Chair of the Wood County Library Board.
    • Follow your local procedures for any additional copies (for example, library board members.)
       

TIPS & OTHER INFORMATION YOU WILL NEED arranged by Annual Report section 

(Note: these instructions supplement and do NOT replace the DPI instructions, which you MUST read!)

SECTION I (General Information)

This section will be pre-filled from DPI, but be sure to review it and make any additions or corrections. (see the DPI instructions)

#14, #15 & #16 (concerning branches, bookmobiles & other public service outlets) need to be completed even if your library has no branches/bookmobiles/other outlets. Enter "0" if your library does not have any. 

# 19 (Hours Library is Open). If your library maintains the same open hours all year, then enter the number of hours open per week in #19a and the number of weeks in the year in #19b. Then you would enter "0" for both #19c and #19d. (see the DPI instructions)

# 22 (UEI Number)—This field is optional. If your library has a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number on file with the DPI, the field will be pre-filled. Obtaining and providing a UEI Number for your library before it is needed can prevent delays in the LSTA grant application and award process. A UEI Number is required to apply for federal funds such as LSTA grants. Obtaining a UEI number is a free one-time process at SAM.gov.

 

SECTION II (Library Collection)

#1a. (Books in Print—End of Year Total). For LINKcat libraries this number has been pre-filled for you—see the ILS / LINKcat instructions.

#1b. (Books in Print Added During Year). For LINKcat libraries this number has been pre-filled for you— see the ILS / LINKcat instructions.

#2. (Physical Subscriptions)This number is the total number of current print serial subscriptions (including duplicate subscriptions) for your library: magazines, newspapers, annuals, etc.  Count subscriptions purchased from the library's budget as well as subscriptions donated to the library as gifts. However, do not count personal or staff subscriptions. Do not count electronic subscriptions for Flipster or other online magazine subscription services. For LINKcat libraries, see the ILS / LINKcat instructions.

#3a. (Audio Materials—End of Year Total). For LINKcat libraries this number has been pre-filled for you—see the ILS / LINKcat instructions.

#3b. (Audio Materials Added During Year). For LINKcat libraries this number has been pre-filled for you—see the ILS / LINKcat instructions.

#4a. (Video Materials). For LINKcat libraries this number has been pre-filled for you—see the ILS / LINKcat instructions.

#4b. (Video Added During Year). For LINKcat libraries this number has been pre-filled for you—see the ILS / LINKcat instructions.

#5a. (Other Physical Materials Owned). This category includes any special collections (toy kits, realia, equipment, etc.) of other materials owned by your library that are not already reported above. For LINKcat libraries this number has been pre-filled for you—see the ILS / LINKcat instructions. If a number is entered here, you must provide a brief description of the "other materials" in #5b.

#6 (Total Physical Items in Collection). This number is automatically calculated for you.

(In the Electronic Collection section, if a field is prefilled, then do not change the response as it was provided by your library system)

#7a. (Electronic Books). Answer "yes" or "no"

#7b (Electronic Books). This has been pre-filled for all SCLS libraries

#8a. (Electronic Serials). Answer "yes" or "no"

#8b. (Electronic Serials). This has been pre-filled for all SCLS libraries

#9a. (Electronic Audio Materials). Answer "yes" or "no"

#9b (Electronic Audio Materials). This has been pre-filled for all SCLS libraries

#10a. (Electronic Video Materials). Answer "yes" or "no"

#10b. (Electronic Video Materials) This has been pre-filled for all SCLS libraries

#11a. (Research Databases). Answer "yes" or "no"

#11b. (Research Databases) This has been pre-filled for all SCLS libraries

#12a. (Online Learning Platforms). Answer  "yes" or "no"

#12b. (Online Learning Platforms). This has been pre-filled for all SCLS libraries

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SECTION III (Library Services)

#1a. (Total Annual Circulation) has been pre-filled for LINKcat libraries—see the ILS / LINKcat instructions.

#1b. (Circulation of Children's Materials) has been pre-filled for LINKcat libraries—see the ILS / LINKcat instructions.

#1c. (Circulation of Other Physical Items) - has been pre-filled for LINKcat libraries—see the ILS / LINKcat instructions.

#2a and #2b. (Items Loaned and Items Received). See the DPI instructions. LINKcat libraries should select Total ILL not "Categorized ILL—For calculation details see the ILS / LINKcat instructions. This has been pre-filled for LINKcat libraries.

#3a. (E-Book Circulation). This has been pre-filled for all SCLS member libraries—based upon OverDrive statistics. If your library circulates e-book readers that are pre-loaded with e-books, you can add those separate circulation statistics to the number that has been pre-filled for your library. You can also add usage of any e-books from services like Hoopla or other resources. Individual libraries must run these reports. If you change the pre-filled number remember to add a note explaining the change.

#3b. (E -Serial Circulation). This has been pre-filled for all SCLS member libraries—based upon OverDrive statistics. You can also add usage of any e-serial from other services. Individual libraries must run these reports. If you change the pre-filled number remember to add a note explaining the change.

#3c. (E-Audio Circulation) This has been pre-filled for all SCLS member libraries—based upon OverDrive statistics. You can also add usage of any e-audio from other services. Individual libraries must run these reports. If you change the pre-filled number remember to add a note explaining the change.

#3d. (E-Video Circulation). This has been pre-filled for all SCLS member libraries with '0'.  You can add usage of any e-video from services like Hoopla or other resources. Individual libraries must run these reports. If you change the pre-filled number remember to add a note explaining the change.

#3e. (Uses of Children's Electronic Materials)—Total uses of children’s downloadable content (e-books, e-audio, and e-video) is pre-filled by the DPI with information provided by the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC)—based upon OverDrive statistics. If you have tracked them separately, you can add usage of any children's e-books, e-audio, or e-video from services like Hoopla or other resources. Individual libraries must run these reports. If you change the pre-filled number remember to add a note explaining the change.

#4a and #4b. (Registered Resident and Nonresident Users). Resident users live in your library’s municipality. Nonresident users live outside your municipality. LINKcat libraries—this data has been pre-filled for you—if you have questions, follow the instructions in the ILS / LINKcat instructions.

#5a (Overdue Fine Policy) Does your library charge overdue fines to any user when they fail to return physical print material by the due date. Answer "yes" or 'no". The question was asked of DPI, what about audio or video material? Only physical print material should be considered.

#5b (Automatic Renewal Policy) Under current interpretation of Wisconsin State Statute, a library may not include automatic renewal of physical materials which occurs without user request. This field has been pre-filled to "no". Do Not Change

#6. (Reference Transactions). Review the definition of a reference transaction in the DPI instructions, and refer to the SCLS "Reference Questions and Statistic" page. Be sure to count all reference questions, no matter how they were received (in person, by phone, by email, etc.), but NOT directional questions. You may use a typical week sample and multiply it by the number of weeks you were open. 

#7. (Library Visits). Report the number of people entering your library for whatever purpose during the year.

#8. (Uses of Public Internet Computers). Report the number of uses (sessions) of public Internet computers in your library in the last year. The instructions allow you to report all usage if computers are used for multiple purposes, and Internet usage can't be isolated. LINKcat libraries, include usage of LINKcat public workstations. 

Information about collecting this use data is available on the SCLS website at How to collect the number of users of public Internet computers. This page includes instructions for pulling data from "Library Online" and "MyPC" tracking software, and also offers suggestions for libraries that don't use tracking software.

Do NOT include usage by patrons using their own laptops/wireless devices and your library's wireless Internet access. 

(Number of Public Use Computers). When calculating this number, DO NOT include self checkout workstations, or laptops brought in by the public (you MAY include library-owned laptops that use the library's wireless access). According to the DPI instructions, you are allowed to include LINKcat or other nonLINKcat catalog computers that may have limited Internet access.

#9a. (Method for Counting Uses of Public Wireless Internet) and #9b. (Annual Count of Uses of Public Wireless Internet). For those libraries that use the Enterprise Wireless (Meraki) System, SCLS will pre-fill the data. The pre-fill can be double checked by referring to the Meraki data dashboard. If you do not use the Meraki System, you will have to determine your wireless session usage.

Programs

#10 - #13 (Number of Programs) Report the number of in-person, live virtual, and pre-recorded programs by targeted age groups. Include only those events sponsored or co-sponsored by the library, NOT those sponsored by other groups. Do NOT include activities delivered on a one-to-one basis, such as tutoring or homework assistance.  Please refer to the DPI Instructions if you have questions. More information about how to report programs is available here.

#14- #17 (Attendance and Views) Report the attendance for all programs reported above.  Remember, the program ages ranges are the targeted age group of the program and not the ages of attendees of the programs. Count all participants. Please refer to the DPI Instructions if you have questions. More information about how to report programs is available here.

#20a-e (Program Descriptions and Platforms). See the DPI instructions.

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SECTION IV (Library Governance)

This section will be pre-populated with the names from the previous year’s annual report. (NOTE: Be sure you do not just automatically accept what is entered—instead, review the information and make any necessary corrections.)

While most of the annual report requires that you report as of the last day of 2023, this section requires you to report CURRENT data, as of the date you are entering it. Additionally, many libraries have not been entering email addresses for these board members. The DPI needs an email address for at least one board member, preferably the board president.

#2 (Number of Library Board Members). This question is often overlooked simply because of where it falls within the Annual Report. Report the number of library board members here including any vacancies.

SECTION V (Library Operating Revenue)

Report ONLY library operating income/revenue here, NOT capital. When reporting both revenue and expenditures for your library on this Annual Report, the DPI has repeatedly stressed that you do not need to wait for official audit results from your municipality. See the definitions of both operating and capital funds in the DPI instructions for Sections VI and VII.

According to the DPI (and verified by the DPI staff): "Library operating costs paid directly by the municipality may be included as income and expenditures; however, the library must be able to document the expenditure of these funds for library purposes. (For example, employee fringe benefits or library heating and electrical expenses in a shared facility may be paid directly by the municipality. If documented, these expenditures may be included.)"

EXPENDITURES MAY NOT EXCEED INCOME! 

#1. (Local Municipal Appropriations for Library Service). Library operating costs (utilities, etc.) paid directly by your municipality may be included here; however, you must be able to document the expenditure of these funds for library purposes.

#2a. (Home County Appropriation for Library Service). If your library receives monies from your home county in addition to a rural reimbursement payment (for example, Sauk County's technology funds or Green County's improved access funds), those monies should be reported here. If your library's county funds include more than just rural use payments, then please add a note to this question, explaining the various county funds.

#2b. (Other County Payments). If your library "billed" adjacent counties for serving their rural residents, and received payment during 2024, enter those payments here. Enter the county name and the amount that your library received.

#3. (State Funds). These are State funds, received by the library from SCLS, or another state program.  You should also report TEACH funds here if you received a direct payment or reimbursement for expenses.

#3a. (Public Library System State Funds). The SCLS for Youth Literacy Grant or the TEACH Grant are reported (on separate lines) in #3a. SCLS for Youth Literacy Grant description has been pre-filled for those libraries that received the Grant in 2024.

#4. (Federal Funds). Libraries that apply for and receive e-rate funds on their own should list them here. (See the DPI instructions for more explanation about reporting E-rate reimbursement or discounts.) 

Wisconsin public library and regional library systems receive E-rate reimbursement in one of two ways: as a reduction in the cost of paid services or as a check (EFT) in the amount of the reimbursement.

  • If the cost of service is reduced, only the actual amount paid is reported as an operating expenditure and no corresponding revenue/income is received to be reported.
  • If reimbursement is received separately, the resulting lower cost is not reflected anywhere in operating expenditures but is included in operating revenue.

All LSTA project funds received should be reported here, unless they were used for capital expenses (in which case they are reported, as both revenue and expenditure, in Section VII, Library Capital Revenue, Expenditures, and Debt Retirement). During 2024 SCLS did not coordinate a system wide LSTA grant project. 

If you received ARPA funds from any source (municipality, state or SCLS) report them as Federal Funds. Only report if you received funds for reimbursement of expenses. Do not include if the municipality, state or SCLS purchased items on your behalf.

Libraries receiving funds from SCLS for e-Rate reimbursement, report the Grant total in #4 and be sure to include the description.


#5. (Contract Income) Contract income is income received from government units, libraries, and library systems other than your system for services provided by the library.

#6a. (Funds Carried Forward and Expended) refers to tax funds, not gift monies, carried forward from 2023 and used in 2024. 

#6b (Funds Carried Forward for Future Expenditures) refers to tax funds carried over from 2023 but not used in 2024. 

#7. (All Other Operating Income) includes fines, lost book payments, copy machine money, rental fees, other miscellaneous income and gift money, reserve funds held at SCLS, etc. which were available for expenditure in 2024 (whether it was expended or not). Gift monies are reported as "all other operating income" in the year they are received, regardless of whether they are expended. Gift monies unspent and carried forward from 2023 are reported in Section VIII (Other Funds Held by the Library Board) or Section IX (Funds Paid or Transferred to the Library Board Financial Secretary).

#9. (2023 Appropriation). This is the amount your library will receive from your municipality in 2024 for your operating budget. 


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SECTION VI. (Library Operating Expenditures)

Report only operating expenditures here, NOT capital.

According to the DPI (and verified by the DPI staff): "Library operating costs paid directly by the municipality may be included as income and expenditures; however, the library must be able to document the expenditure of these funds for library purposes. (For example, employee fringe benefits or library heating and electrical expenses in a shared facility may be paid directly by the municipality. If documented, these expenditures may be included.)"

#1. (Salaries and Wages). Enter the amount of salaries and wages for all library staff, exclude employee benefits.

#2. (Employee Benefits). Include amounts for paid employee benefits including Social Security, retirement, medical insurance, life insurance, guaranteed disability income protection, unemployment compensation, etc.

#3a. (Print Material). Report all expenditures for print materials. (books, print serial subscriptions, government documents, etc.)

#3b. (Electronic Material). Be sure to include here the amount expended by your library for databases, Library Overdrive Advantage Accounts, Flipster, Hoopla, etc. in 2024. Overdrive fees paid to SCLS will be reported in line #4.

#3c. (Audiovisual Materials). If your library is a member of the Audio Book Circuit (ABC) created by SCLS member libraries, include those costs here.

#3d. (All Other Materials). If your library circulates pre-loaded e-book readers to patrons, and if you purchased e-book readers during 2024, then the recommendation from the DPI is to record those expenditures here (rather than under #3c—Audiovisual Materials). 

#4. (Contracts for Services). Amounts paid by libraries and counties to SCLS for Technology, ILS (LINKcat), Overdrive and Delivery Services are reported below, alphabetically by municipality. Enterprise Wireless costs should only be reported here if you added access points mid-year and received a separate billing. Although it may seem logical to also enter here the amount that your library pays for SCLS-coordinated services such as MyPC, Envisionware, and/or Bibliotheca, they are not considered contractual according to the DPI's definition. Those expenses should be included under Question #5 (Other Operating Expenditures). Starting in 2020 Bibliotheca invoiced libraries directly for their maintenance contracts. SCLS has pre-filled the descriptions for SCLS Tech & ILS, SCLS Delivery, and SCLS OverDrive, OverDrive Advantage & OverDrive Magazines.


#7. (Operating Expenditures from Federal Sources)—Of all the operating expenditures you report in #1-5 in this section, report here the amount expended from federal program sources. This is a subset of the total expenditures reported in question #6, not an additional amount. This should almost always be the same amount you reported as the total income from Federal funds, in Section V, Question #4. If the library is reimbursed for 2023 operating expenditures by a federal program such as E-rate, LSTA Grants to State, or Laura Bush 21st Century Library Program (for ILEAD USA-Wisconsin), or ARPA, expenditures from federal sources must not be zero. The criteria for reporting the amount is the year in which the funds were expended and not the year in which reimbursement was received.


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Section VII (Library Capital Revenue, Expenditures, Debt Retirement and Rent)

see DPI Instructions

SECTION VIII (Other Funds Held by the Library Board)

This could include such things as funds from donations, investment interest, funds in SCLS “holding accounts,” funds in an account with SCLS Foundation, etc. Follow the instructions to enter Beginning Balance, Additions, and Subtractions. The Total will calculate automatically. If you move funds from one account to another, that should not be reported as an addition or subtraction. If they are in Other Funds Held and you move them from one account to another, the end result is the same. You should only report new money (deposits or interest), and subtractions (withdrawals to cover expenditures or market loss/fees). If you have no “other funds” click the “No other funds” box. Any funds subtracted from this section and to cover 2024 expenditures should also be added to Section V, No. 7, All Other Operating Expenditures. An equal amount should be added somewhere in your library expenditures. When you show subtractions in this field, please add a note to explain whether it was market loss or what expenditure it was used for.

SECTION IX (Funds Paid or Transferred to the Library Board Financial Secretary)

Funds balances submitted in this section indicate that a library trustee has been appointed as financial secretary and that donated library funds or property have been transferred to that person to be invested as allowed under Wisconsin Statute 43.58 (7) (b), 112.11(3), that person has been bonded under Wisconsin Statute 43.58 (7) (c). Follow the instructions to enter a Beginning Balance, Additions, and Subtractions. The Total will calculate automatically.

If you report an amount here, you must also attach a report of those funds (Wisconsin Statute  43.58 (7) (d) ) to the final print copies you send to SCLS. It need NOT include all the bank statements throughout the year. 

If you do not have any funds that meet the above definition click the “No Section IX Funds” box.  Contact tracie.miller [at] scls.info (subject: Annual%20Report%3A%20Trust%20Fund%20Question) (Tracie Miller) if you have questions.
 

SECTION X (Staff) See DPI Instructions for Explanation of New Job Titles

#1. Report as of the last day of the year just ended—2024. Report all positions funded by the library's budget whether those positions were filled or not—do not report volunteers. Libraries with 15 or fewer employees must include all employees under 1a and 1b. Libraries with more than 20 employees should list the director, chief assistants, branch librarians, department heads, and other supervisory personnel in #1a and certain information in #1b. ALL libraries must complete question #2. 

#1a. (Directors, department heads, branch heads, and full-tim or permanent staff). Provide the information requested for library staff holding the title of Librarian, and other staff, as space permits. Libraries with more than 15 employees list branch librarians, department heads, etc., and include others by title in 1b. There is a pulldown for “Type of Staff”—select the one which applies for each position. The Director must be entered on the first line—and indicate whether or not the director has an MLS using the “Type of Staff” pulldown. This section does not require the names of employees.

#1b. (Other Paid Staff). Libraries with 15 or fewer employees may report all staff in #1a. Libraries with more than 15 employees should provide the requested information for as many position classifications as space allows, beginning with those classifications with the most hours worked in a week. This question includes all employees paid from the library's budget. Even if space doesn’t permit entering all staff in 1b, ALL staff must be included in the calculations in #2, below. Enter the position classification in “Job Title,” the TOTAL wages paid to everyone in that classification in “Total Annual Wages Paid,” and the TOTAL number of hours worked per WEEK by everyone in that classification in “Hours Worked / Week.” In the "Type of Staff" pulldown, indicate whether the position has the title of "librarian" or requires an ALA MLS. See the example in the DPI instructions.

#2. (Library Staff Full-Time Equivalents—FTEs). All libraries must complete this question. Refer to the DPI instructions. Contact tracie.miller [at] scls.info (subject: Annual%20Report%3A%20Section%20X%20Staff%20Question) (Tracie Miller) if you have questions. 

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SECTION XI (Public Library Loans of Material to Nonresidents)

This section is primarily concerned with circulation to nonresidents—people who live outside your library's governmental unit / municipality. Please note that questions 2, 3, and 4 will automatically subtotal, and the amount entered in #1 is pre-filled with the totals from 2-6. For the 2024 Annual Report, Questions #2 through #7 & #9 have been pre-filled for LINKcat libraries—see the ILS / LINKcat instructions. To assist in determining adjacent counties, and the systems to which they belong, use the Wisconsin Public Library System map (from DPI ).

#3. (Circulation to Nonresidents Living in Another County in Your System). The seven counties in your system (SCLS) are Adams, Columbia, Dane, Green, Portage, Sauk, and Wood. This is pre-filled for LINKcat libraries.

#4. (Circulation to Nonresidents Living in an Adjacent County Not in Your System). These are counties that are adjacent to your county but not one of the seven counties in SCLS territory.  A county is adjacent if it shares any part of a border, or only touches at a corner. This is pre-filled for LINKcat libraries.

#7. (Method for Detemining Circulation Allocation). If your library is using circulation statistics either from LINKcat or your own library catalog, then you should select "actual" as the method of determining circulation allocation from this drop-down menu. This is pre-filled for LINKcat libraries.

#8. (Access Denied Under s.43.17(11)(b). There is currently only one SCLS public library that have unique access situations with a library in an adjacent system. So all but one SCLS members will answer "no" to this question.

#9. (Circulation to Nonresidents Living in an Adjacent County Who Do Not have a Local Public Library). This section is very important because this information is used to calculate the financial reimbursement your library is eligible to receive from adjacent counties. Included are documented circulations to county residents who don't directly support a local library. Names of adjacent counties have been pre-populated for all SCLS libraries. Question 9 is a subset of the amount reported in lines 1-6 above, not an additional amount. These circulation numbers have been pre-filled for LINKcat libraries. Non-LINKcat libraries, please use the ILS/LINKcat instructions to determine your circulation numbers.

Contact tracie.miller [at] scls.info (subject: Annual%20Report%3A%20Section%20XI%20Question) (Tracie Miller) if you have questions.
 

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SECTION XII (Technology) Please read the DPI Instructions, as this is an expanded and revised section.

#1 Indicate the speed of your connection to the Internet. For those libraries that receive TECH services from SCLS, we have pre-populated this information for you. If you do not use SCLS for your TECH, please use the DPI Instructions

#5a. Is your library CIPA compliant?  For those libraries that receive TECH services from SCLS, we have pre-populated this information for you. If you do not use SCLS for your TECH, please use the DPI Instructions

 

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SECTION XIII (Self-Directed Actvities)

#1 (Self-Directed Activities) Please see the DPI instructions for more information. Do not include the Summer Library Program as a whole or its registration number in this section. More information about self-directed activities is available here.

 

SECTION XIV (Public Library Assurance of Compliance with System Membership Requirements)

Read and review the statements carefully and indicate those that are being met by your library. Unchecked requirements indicate noncompliance. If there is a problem with a compliance issue, non-complying libraries will be required to complete steps necessary to attain compliance with all statutory requirements as soon as possible. Please notice that "online resources" has replaced "electronic databases" in the same services requirement for public libraries.
 

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SECTION XV (Certification and Statement Concerning System Effectiveness)

This report is mandated by state statute and must be approved by your library board and signed by your board president as well as by the library director. The section for Certification appears when you click on Print in the upper right-hand corner of the LibPAS electronic form to generate a PDF of your report, and it says: "I certify that to the best of my knowledge, the information in this annual report and any attachments are true and accurate and the library board has reviewed and approved this report." Please note that this statement refers to the entire report, not just Section XIV (Public Library Assurance of Compliance).

The Statement Concerning System Effectiveness can be submitted either online or on the paper form and then mailed to the DPI. Please note that the deadline for the DPI receiving the completed Statement is the same (March 1, 2025) no matter which format you select. As in the past, we encourage inclusion of the statement with the signed copy of the annual report.

You may need to reschedule your library board meeting or make other special arrangements in order to meet the required annual report deadlines.

For more information, contact: tracie.miller [at] scls.info (subject: Annual%20Report%3A%20Certification%20and%20Statement%20Concerning%20System%20Effectiveness) (Tracie Miller)