About ALS




	Contact information: Arrowhead Library System 210 Dodge Street, Janesville, WI 53548 Phone: 608-758-6690 * Fax: 608-758-6689 Website: http://als.lib.wi.us Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staff Arrowhead Library System was established in 1974 to coordinate and expand Rock County's public library services. All Rock County residents benefit from enhanced, cost-effective library services through the continued cooperation of ALS and its member libraries. Services to Rock County Libraries - Highlights Manual of Services Member and Affiliate Libraries System Board Staff Record Retention Policy Personnel Policy Manual SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS Delivery Arrowhead transports library materials to all Rock County Public Libraries; Beloit College and Blackhawk Technical College and all public schools in Rock County, (except Clinton & Edgerton.) Arrowhead’s delivery system connects with the statewide delivery to bring materials from throughout Wisconsin to Rock County public, school, and college libraries. Payment is received from school, college, and technical libraries, and this payment covers nearly ½ of the delivery costs for the system. To be sure we have the most cost effective delivery service, bids were let for delivery in the spring of 2001 and they ranged from $27,000 to $50,000, all higher than the cost for the Arrowhead System to own and operate its own van. The statewide delivery system brings interlibrary loan and other library materials directly to the Arrowhead office and the items are distributed to the libraries in the Arrowhead system. This cooperative effort is just one of the many ways that the library system is working with other agencies to cut costs and improve service to citizens. Arrowhead pays the cost of the statewide delivery service. Public Relations Arrowhead provides a full-time public relations consultant to assist the seven libraries with publicity, news releases, print pieces (brochures, posters, etc.), program planning and special projects. The Arrowhead Library System also participates in the Rock County 4-H Fair, works with the Janesville and Stateline Literacy Councils, and is a member of the Wisconsin Public Library consortium which provides services such as OverDrive. Continuing Education Arrowhead provides at least eight continuing education workshops for library staff. These workshops are designed to improve skills and efficiency of staff and present new concepts in library service. Several of these workshops are sponsored with other library systems, in order to reduce costs and provide quality workshop presenters. Workshops have included summer reading program preparation, genealogy, customer service, Spanish collection development, long and short-range planning, children materials collection development, storytelling, and starting and maintaining a Friends group. Interlibrary Loan Arrowhead serves as a clearing house, training center and substitute interlibrary loan assistance for member libraries. An Arrowhead staff person is available to assist member libraries with difficult interlibrary loan transactions. Training for member library interlibrary loan staff is also provided, either by an Arrowhead staff member or Reference and Loan staff. An Arrowhead library staff member can also serve as a temporary substitute for interlibrary loan staff at member libraries who are ill or on vacation. Nursing Home and Assisted Living Collections Arrowhead maintains a large-print collection that is rotated among more than 15 Rock County nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Because of reduced state funding we will no longer be able to add materials to this collection, but will continue to rotate the old materials. There is no other service that provides large print books to these facilities. Jail Library Services Working jointly with the Rock County Sheriff department, the Arrowhead Library System, with a $2,000 grant from Rock County, supplies paperback books to the Rock County jail. Rock County deputies make recommendations, pickup and deliver the books. This is another cooperative effort between Rock County agencies that saves money and staff time for jail inmate services. Member libraries also donate used paperback books for this collection. Computer Training and Technology Support Cooperative efforts with Rock County Public Schools, Gates Foundation grants, and Arrowhead Library System’s computer trainer, Arrowhead provides workshops for staff and the public in all seven Rock County communities. Workshop training includes e-mail, word processing, spreadsheets, and the Internet. Two libraries, the Hedberg Public Library and the Beloit public library have computer labs with space for 10 – 16 students. Library staff from all Arrowhead libraries are encouraged to attend staff training sessions at these libraries. LSTA grants have also provided computer classes with a Spanish translator for Spanish speaking clients at the Janesville and Stateline Literacy Councils. Consulting The Arrowhead Library System provides consulting services for the public libraries in Rock County. These services include ADA accessibility issues, budgeting, purchasing and expanding library collections, children’s services, programming for adults, technology maintenance and repair, and services to people with special needs. For more information about library services and cooperative cost saving benefits for Rock County libraries and taxpayers contact Ruth Ann Montgomery at montgomery.ruthann@als.lib.wi.us MEMBER LIBRARIES Public Beloit Public Library - Kristi Howe, Director Clinton Public Library - Mary Bieber, Director Edgerton Public Library - Sherry Machones, Director Eager Free Public Library, Evansville - Kathi Kemp, Director Hedberg Public Library, Janesville - Bryan McCormick, Director Milton Public Library - Lisa Brooks, Director Orfordville Public Library - Sarah Strunz, Director AFFILIATE LIBRARIES Academic Beloit College - Col. Robert H. Morse Library/Richard Black Information Center Blackhawk Technical College Library School Beloit School District Evansville School District Janesville School District Milton School District Parkview School District Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped SYSTEM BOARD Richard Bostwick - President - Rock County Supervisor Eloise Eager - Vice President - Eager Free Public Library Board Member Jane Thompson - Rock County Supervisor Jose Carrillo - Member at large Bill Wilson - Member at large Dave Carlson - Hedberg Public Library Board Member Doreen Dalman - Beloit Public Library Board Member Ex-officio members Kristi Howe, Director, Beloit Public Library Bryan McCormick, Director, Hedberg Public Library J. Russell Podzilni, Chairman Rock County Board of Supervisors Ruth Ann Montgomery, Director, Arrowhead Library System The ALS board meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. STAFF Director - Ruth Ann Montgomery, 608-758-6693 montgomery.ruthann@als.lib.wi.us Administrative Assistant - Martha Aasen, 608-758-6690 amartha@als.lib.wi.us Public Relations Coordinator - Martha Gammons, 608-758-6695 gammons.martha@als.lib.wi.us Automated Systems Administrator - Melody Clair, 608-758-5805 clair.melody@als.lib.wi.us Interlibrary Loan - Anita Schultz, 608-758-6691 schultz.anita@als.lib.wi.us Computer Instructor - Sheryl Oberle, 608-758-6692 oberle.sheryl@als.lib.wi.us Van Drivers Gordon Odegaard John Ashenfelter Jeff Kakuske Updated 26 October 2011
	© 2012 Arrowhead Library System 210 Dodge Street Janesville, WI 53548 608-758-6690