February 29, 2008

State Library of Iowa
Room 300
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Present:  Dan Boice, Jann Freed, Monica Gohlinghorst, Rita Martens, Tom Martin and Janet Mohs.
Absent:  David Boyd and Frank Sposeto.
Staff:  Mary Wegner, Barb Corson, Sandy Dixon, Beth Henning, Cory Quist and Fran Fessler.
Guests: Kim Kietzman, Southeastern Library Services, and Katherine Von Wald, Coordinator, Iowa Center for the Book.

The meeting was called  to order at 10:00 am  by President Monica Gohlinghorst.

1.0 Set Agenda

Agenda approved as set.

2.0  Approve Minutes

Gohlinghorst asked for approval of the minutes. Martin asked if a payment had been received from CBS for using the Law Library during the Iowa caucuses.  Wegner reported nothing has been received so far.  Marten moved to approve the minutes.   Boice seconded the motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

3.0  Financial Report

Cox  noted the financial report figures are through January 31.  Both the state and federal budgets are under budget at this time.  Martin asked if it was possible to have a copy of the budget e-mailed in advance of the commission meeting.  Cox will take care of this and e-mail  board members the financial report.  Report approved as presented.

4.0  Discussion Items

A.  Legislative Report

Wegner gave a brief overview of the Governor’s budget as well as explaining the sources of library funding. Wegner reported it was totally unexpected to learn the Governor’s budget proposal included an 18% cut to library funding. The 18% includes a $135,000 cut for the State Library, $259,442 cut for the Library Service Areas, and $725,000 cut for the Enrich Iowa program for a total cut of $1.1 million.  Depending on how the cuts would be handled, this drastic funding reduction could eliminate 75% of Direct State Aid to public libraries, or it could cut in half the amount of reimbursement paid to libraries for resource sharing (Open Access and Access Plus), or it could involve some combination of the two.

Wegner shared the handout used when she appeared before the Education Appropriation sub-committee on February 14 to talk about library funding.  The handout listed library statistics and included comments from libraries and library customers on the importance of libraries in Iowa.

The Iowa Library Association is encouraging libraries and library supporters to contact their legislators and lobby them to restore library funding.  Martin asked Wegner to put together a fact sheet for them to use when contacting their legislators. 

B.  Confidentiality of library circulation records

Wegner reported that the Iowa Open Records/Open Meetings Law is being reviewed, and a major revision has been drafted.  One piece of the open records law that surfaced and concerns libraries, is the issue of release of a minor child’s library records to a parent.  Presently the library director is the custodian of the library record and as such, has the authority to make the decision on whether to release the information to the parent. There may be an effort by some legislators to change this.  

C. Planning to Plan

Wegner announced that the State Library will issue an informal bid for a consultant to guide the State Library through a strategic planning process.  Tentative plans include a planning session with the board on Monday, April 21, and a second session to be held in May to seek input from State Library stakeholders and customers, and to meet with State Library staff.  The consultant chosen will have a library background, knowledge of current national library issues and challenges, experience in working with libraries in strategic planning, and experience working with state library agencies and/or state library organizations. 

5.0 Action Items

A.  Appoint subcommittee to evaluate State Librarian

Gohlinghorst asked Boice join her in evaluating Wegner. Boice accepted.

B.  Appoint subcommittee to review bylaws

Gohlinghorst asked Freed and Martens to review the State Library by-laws and report at the April 21 meeting.

C.  Set time April meeting

The Commission will meet at 8:30 a.m. on April 21, 2008, in Room 300, at the State Library.

6.0  Communications

A.  Commission Reports

Freed reported that Central College in Pella has a new library director.

Boice will attend upcoming meetings for academic libraries.

Gohlinghorst  announced that Raef Martins will be speaking March 14 at the Council Bluffs Public Library and is the final speaker in the Authors Bluffs series. The All Iowa Reads (AIR) committee will meet soon to look at the titles for 2009.  

Martens talked briefly about the development of the Iowa K-12 Core Curriculum which includes information literacy.

Martin reported that the Iowa City Public Library, like so many libraries, has budget concerns and they will be talking with local politicians. This spring the library will be hosting an Information Fair about summer camps going on in the area. The Downtown Merchants Association is trying to increase traffic in the downtown area and is planning to hire a new director.  Iowa City Public Library has a vacant office they will make available to the new director.

Mohs started a new job with Iowa Health Corporate. Their focus will be working on a plan to promote Health Care Literacy

B.  Special Reports –

1.  State Law Library - Cory Quist,

The Commission watched a video clip showing the 2007 make-over of the Law Library.  (This video was a part of the program at the fall 2007 Town Meetings.)  Quist explained that the changes were done for numerous reasons but mainly to serve their patrons better and achieve a more inviting atmosphere. Quist researched pictures of the original library arrangement and the intent was to restore that look.  Materials were shifted for easier access, floor space was opened up to make for more efficient use and an overall appealing look. A new staff reference desk and public access computer area was added. Quist mentioned that many tour and school groups visit the Law Library.  February 2008 had an all time high of 12,000 visitors.  The Iowa Library Association Legislative Day reception will be held in the Law Library on March 11.

2.  Iowa  Center for the Book  (ICB) – Katherine Von Wald

Von Wald reported that the Iowa Center for the Book has now existed for 6 years. Activities have included the annual All Iowa Reads program, including the presentation of an ICN session each year for discussion leaders and librarians to talk about the selection. Another major program is Letters about Literature, which is for students in grades 4-12.  Additionally, a database of Iowa authors has been started.  To be on the list, the author must live and write in Iowa. At this time there are approximately 90 authors on the list.  The ICB has its own Web site, which was recently updated.

C.  Library Service Area Report – Kim Kietzman, Southeastern Library Services

Kietzman has been the administrator at the Southeastern Library services for about 2 years with her office located in Bettendorf.  She set up a display of various literacy and interactive storytelling kits that will be available for checkout by any interested groups that provide storytimes.  Southeastern was able to purchase these kits with additional funding from the State. The Southeastern, North Central, Northwest, and Central LSA’s have joined together in bringing Saroj Ghoting back to Iowa to present 4 sessions of “Ready to Read @ Your Library”.  Kietzman will travel with Ghoting to Denison, Charles City, Indianola and North Liberty.  A consortium made up of the Northwest, Southwest, Central Iowa and Southeastern LSA’s have negotiated a contract with Overdrive, a vendor, to provide downloadable audio books to libraries.  This program is fee based and offers affordable access for small libraries. Staff at the LSA’s are the project managers and the Bettendorf office will host the server.

D.  State Librarian’s Report

1. Library Services Report – Barb Corson

Corson announced that National Library Week runs April 14 through 18.   Eleven different one-hour workshops will be offered to state employees, as well as two Lunch and Learn sessions. Each Lunch and Learn session will show a film about Iowa. In March, 1908, the State Library collection was split, with the law collection staying in the Capital and the remainder moved to this building. A photo display will be set up in the State Library to mark this 100^th anniversary event.  Artist Barbara Jones Prohl will display some of her artwork in the State Library. Timothy Skeers will start as the new full-time cataloger on March 24. 

2.  State Data Center Report – Beth Henning

Henning was pleased to announce that the IOWAccess Advisory Council has approved funding of $490,000 to redesign the State Data Center Web site.  The new Web site is expected to be completed by July 2009.

3. Library Development – Sandy Dixon

Karen Randleman, the new Youth Services consultant, started January 14 and currently is traveling around the state to conduct summer library program workshops.  Jay Peterson has been hired for the consultant position and will begin work March 31. Peterson is currently with the Kansas City Library Consortium.  He will be responsibleIn his new w for the E-rate program, school library survey and negotiating discounts for libraries. The second round of PLOW training has started with 48 libraries participating.  The Gates Foundation approved sending 60 librarians to the “Computers in Libraries” Conference to be held in Arlington, Virginia in April.  The  Gates-sponsored two day advocacy workshop “Turning the Page” will be held March 4 and 5 at the Embassy Suites in Des Moines.  Libraries receiving the Hardware Grant are required to attend this workshop. Dixon showed the updated edition of the Iowa Municipal Policy Handbook.  This handbook is given to all new leaders in government and Dixon wrote the section about libraries.

4. State Librarian Report – Mary Wegner

Wegner reported that the State Library has decided to move forward to develop a voluntary statewide shared automation system, open to Iowa libraries of all types.  The State Library has already begun to research options, and is looking seriously at open source software.  The plan is to put together a small group to help us discuss how to make this happen.

7.0  Public Comment

None

8.0   Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 1:35 pm.
Next Meeting:  8:30 a.m., April 21, 2008, Room 300, State Library
Minutes submitted by Fran Fessler