December 2006 Commission Meeting Minutes

Present:  Dale Ross, Daniel Boice, David Boyd, Jann Freed, Monica Gohlinghorst,
Rita Martens
Absent:  Frank Sposeto
Staff:  Barb Corson, Steve Cox, Sandy Dixon, Beth Henning, Judy Jones, Michele Leininger, Carol Simmons, Katherine Von Wald, Mary Wegner, Annette Wetteland
Guests:  Barb Shultz, Administrator, North Central Library Service Area

1.0   Set Agenda
        Agenda was set as presented.

2.0   Greeting and Overview of Office of Citizens’ Aide/Ombudsman
        Wegner introduced Bill Angrick, State Ombudsman, to the Commission.  Angrick gave an overview of the Ombudsman’s duties which include handling complaints and making sure state rules, laws, and policy are fair.  He also distributed handouts.  Angrick said his job was like librarians in that it involves helping to educate Iowa citizens. 

3.0   Approve Minutes
        Changes to the minutes:  Martens asked to change “early” literacy to “adolescent literacy;” the minutes stated that Gohlinghorst attended a session with author Sara Paretsky.  They should have said she would be attending.  Boyd noted that Pam Bradley should not be listed as absent because she had resigned prior to the meeting.  Minutes approved with changes. 

4.0   Financial Report
        Cox reported that both state and federal funds are on target for the year.  He said Direct State Aid checks were distributed to public libraries in November, and that Open Access and Access Plus checks would be distributed in January.

5.0   Communications
   A.  Special Reports         
 
     1.  Judy Jones
        Wegner reported that Jones would be retiring at the end of the month.  Jones, a Library Development consultant, served as LSTA Coordinator and worked with e-rate, grants for libraries, databases, the Iowa Educators’ Consortium, and more.  Jones told the Commission about how her job duties had changed over the years.  She described seeing a need for information on grants and grant writing for librarians and taking the initiative to start a service to meet this need.

     2.  Katherine Von Wald – Center for the Book
Von Wald reported that this is the first year All Iowa Reads has picked a nonfiction book -- Splendid Solution:  Jonas Salk and the Conquest of Polio by Jeffrey Kluger.  Von Wald said Pam Rees, medical librarian, compiled a nice bibliography of materials about polio and other epidemics for the Center for the Book Web site.  She said there will be a form on the Web site that Iowans can use to tell their stories about the polio epidemic and the advent of the vaccine. She is seeking funds for developing oral histories about polio in Iowa.  Von Wald also reported that Wetteland found pictures at the Historical Library about polio in Iowa, which will be used as part of this year’s All Iowa Reads materials.   The All Iowa Reads kick-off book discussion will be at 6:30 p.m. January 30 over the ICN, with Dale Ross and Christie Vilsack conducting the session. 

     3.  Michele Leininger – CE programs update
                             Dixon introduced the State Library’s Continuing Education Consultant, Michele Leininger.  Leininger presented an overview of online learning, and briefly discussed the State Library’s recent experiences and plans.   Leininger participated in a project to beta test online learning software through WebJunction, and is using this information to develop State Library classes. 

  B.  Commission Reports
              Boyd reported that former Justice McGibbin is now on the Board of Trustees of the Ottumwa Public Library.
    Boice reported the Dubuque area libraries are interested in investigating a group purchase of the OverDrive audio products which the State Library is discussing with BCR. 
    Ross will be attending the ALA Midwinter Conference in Seattle.  He has been appointed to the ALA Nominating Committee.
    Gohlinghorst reported on a partnership between the Council Bluffs Public Library and the local Barnes and Noble Bookstore.      Martens reported on the work of the Department of Education’s Adolescent Literacy team.  The team will issue a final report to educators summarizing their yearlong study before the start of the next school year.  She also reported that the Teacher Librarian Committee, which she co-chairs with Wegner, has met several times and has sent their recommendations on to senior staff in the Department of Education. 

  C.  State Librarian’s Report
Wegner distributed a State Library publication which highlights State Library accomplishments over the past eight years.  State agencies were asked by the Vilsack administration to prepare a document of this type in addition to other descriptive materials intended for the new governor’s office.  State Library materials were forwarded to Governor Vilsack and Governor-elect Culver as part of the Department of Education report.  “State Library of Iowa: Sustaining a State of Learners” is available on the State Library’s Web site under the “About Us” tab. 
Corson reported that Linda Robertson, law librarian, had retired and that day-to-day operations of the Law Library will be overseen by Law Librarians Mandy Easter and Cory Quist.  Margaret Noon, Library Resources Technician, will work at the law library through the legislative session.  The Law Library has become part of Library Services and all three staff members will report to Corson.  Corson also said that the University of Iowa Press is publishing a biographical dictionary of famous Iowans and that several of her staff have researched and compiled 14 articles for it.
Dixon told the Commission that the position vacated by Jones will be filled as soon as possible.  She also reported that the PLOW training sessions are well underway.  She noted that staff is doing a great job and that participating librarians are excited about the training and their new Web sites.
Wegner said that a reporter from WHO-TV interviewed Linda Robertson prior to her retirement, and the can be viewed on the WHO Web site.  Wegner said she is also working with Glen Dickinson, Legislative Services Agency, about sharing the scheduling for room 300.

  D.  Library Service Areas Report – Barb Shultz, North Central Library Service Area
    Shultz reported that North Central’s goal this year has been teaching librarians the correct way to fill out E-rate forms.  North Central purchased wireless laptop computers for a traveling lab.  Classes were held in Fort Dodge, Algona, Mason City and Iowa Falls.  North Central will continue its highly successful trustee training series in June with library consultant Pat Wagner.

6.0   Public Comment
None

7.0   Action Items
  A.  Bylaws review subcommittee
    Ross asked Gohlinghorst and Boice to be on the subcommittee.  Both accepted.  Simmons will send them the current by-laws to review.

  B. Set dates for June, August, October, and December 2007 meetings
Meeting dates and times were set for 12:30 p.m. February 12; 12:30 p.m. April 16; 12:30 p.m. June 18; August 7 and 8 (time and place to be announced); 10:00 a.m. October 19; and 9:00 a.m. December 14.  A reception honoring Dale Ross’ work on the Commission will be held following the April meeting. 

8.0   Discussion Items
  A.  Upcoming Legislative Session
Ross reported that the Iowa Library Association’s (ILA) Governmental Affairs Committee is already making contacts with legislators and that Amy Campbell and Craig Patterson will continue as ILA’s lobbyists.  Wegner distributed a list of key legislative leaders for the 2007 session of the Iowa General Assembly.

  B.  Gates Staying Connected Grant:  Putting Libraries on the Web (PLOW)
Dixon reported that 300 libraries had signed up for the training,  She said the PLOW project is a huge success, but involves a lot of staff time.  She told the Commission that almost everyone in Library Development is helping in some way with the project.

9.0   Adjournment
Boice moved to adjourn, Gohlinghorst seconded.  Motion carried.  Adjourned at 2:07 p.m.

NEXT MEETING:  12:30 p.m. February 12, State Library, Room 300.


Submitted by:  Carol Simmons