April 16, 2007

M I N U T E S
IOWA COMMISSION OF LIBRARIES
1 p.m. April 16, 2007
State Library of Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa

Present:  Dan Boice, Monica Gohlinghorst, Dale Ross, David Boyd, Rita Martens, Jann Freed
Absent:  Frank Sposeto
Staff:  Mary Wegner, Barbara Corson, Steve Cox, Sandy Dixon, Beth Henning, Beth Marie Quanbeck, Cory Quist, Carol Simmons, Annette Wetteland
Guests:  Karen Burns, Southwest Iowa Library Service Area; Katherine Von Wald, Iowa Center for the Book; Barbara Shultz, North Central Library Service Area.

Meeting was called to order by Ross at 1:00 p.m.

1.0   Set Agenda
Agenda was set as presented.

2.0   Approve Minutes
Boice moved to approve the minutes as presented, Boyd seconded, motion carried.

3.0   Financial Report
Cox reported that finances are in good shape.  In March, the last of the 2006 LSTA funds were expended and 2007 funds are now being used.   The Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust awarded $8,500 to the Iowa Center for the Book to implement an oral history project as part of the 2007 All Iowa Reads program.  The State Library will match the grant with federal LSTA funds.  Through this project, approximately 50 interviews with Iowans telling their stories about the polio epidemic and their personal experiences will be recorded and transcribed.

4.0   Public Comment
None

5.0   Action Items

    A.  State Librarian evaluation
    Gohlinghorst will report to the Commission at the June meeting.

    B.  June and August Commission meeting dates and times
    The June 18 meeting will begin at 1:00 p.m., with lunch at 12:30.  The meeting is expected to conclude by 3:30 p.m.  The August meeting date and place were changed to August 13 and 14 in Ames.  The Commission will join librarians during part of the morning session of the Libraries on the Prairie conference on August 14th. 

    C.  Approval of LSTA evaluation document
    Dixon outlined the LSTA Five Year Plan Evaluation Report (2003-2007), which had been sent to Commissioners before the meeting.  This report must be submitted by the State Library to the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.  Dixon discussed the highlights and explained that this evaluation will be used in the development of the State Library’s LSTA Plan for 2008-2012, which must be submitted by June 30.  The Commission approved the Evaluation Report as presented.

6.0   Discussion Items

    A.  Development of LSTA Five Year Plan for 2008-2012
    Wegner reviewed the five goals from the 2003-2007 Plan:
        1.  Provide expanded, equitable access to library information, materials and services to Iowans of all ages, using an understanding of customer needs to improve services and to increase customer awareness of library resources.
        2.  Improve library service to Iowans through knowledgeable, customer-oriented staff and well-informed, effective public library trustees.
        3.  Position librarians to be recognized as the experts in helping Iowans become competent information consumers.
        4.  Identify and encourage resource sharing and partnerships in order to help libraries provide effective, high-quality service to Iowans.
        5.  Strengthen Iowa’s libraries through state level leadership and statewide library advocacy, coordination and planning.

Wegner asked the Commission if changes were needed.  Discussion followed.  The Commission agreed that the 08-12 goals should remain essentially the same as the 03-07 goals.  Dixon said an outline of the plan will be ready for discussion in June, and the Commission would be asked to approve the new goals at the June meeting.

    B.  Law Library materials
    Wegner reported that she had been contacted by representatives of the University of Iowa Law Library, inquiring if the State Library was interested in transferring legal historical materials to their collection.  Wegner said that she and Corson discussed this issue with State Law Library staff.  Wegner introduced Cory Quist, one of the State Library Law Librarians, who presented an overview of the State Law Library collection and its history.  Quist explained that the State Law Library’s historical collection was the life’s work of A. J. Small, one of the preeminent law librarians of his time.  This collection originated with the intention that it would be kept at the seat of state government.  Quist also said that a preservation plan for State Law Library materials has been developed with the assistance of Tom Keyser, State Library staffer and certified preservationist.  After discussion, Boyd moved to keep the historical legal collection at the State Law Library, and Gohlinghorst seconded.  The motion carried unanimously. 

7.0   Communications

    A.  Commission Reports
    Freed reported that Robin Martin, director of the Central College library in Pella, is retiring.
Martens is working with Wegner on the Teacher Librarian Task Force and will share a copy of what they have done with the Commission at the June meeting. 
    Gohlinghorst reported that several programs were underway at the Council Bluffs Public Library for National Library Week.
    Boice has been actively involved in several conferences.
    Boyd reported that Law Week is coming up and they plan to present a three part series for high school students over the ICN regarding Civil Rights.  Past presentations have been well received.
    Ross asked to give his report just prior to adjournment.

    B.  Library Service Areas (LSA) Reports – Karen Burns, Southwest Iowa Library Service Area
Burns reported that the LSA Trustee Council is working on advocacy for trustees.  A brochure is being developed by Patrick Finney, director of the Washington Public Library.  The Southwest Iowa Library Service Area is working on online learning, and conducting Computerside Chats on a variety of topics.  Burns said she is trying to give librarians more training options.  Michael Stephens will be working with Burns on a two-day workshop.
Shultz reported that North Central LSA has contracted with Overdrive Company for a four-year cooperative program with Northeast and East Central LSAs to provide downloadable audio books to their libraries.  About 80 libraries are registered so far.  The project will begin July 1. 

    C.  State Librarian’s Report

    1.  Library Services report – Barb Corson
    Corson discussed e-mailing a quarterly newsletter about State Library services to 1500 state employees.  She said Library Services receives about 300 new library card requests after each mailing.

    2.  State Data Center report – Beth Henning
    Henning shared the Data Center’s New Iowans handout with the Commission.  Co-worker Gary Krob produced it in cooperation with Iowa Workforce Development. Henning is working on the 2010 pre-census project and will share information soon with Iowa’s city clerks. For National Library Week, Henning organized the State Data Center’s Data Showcase for state employees.  Numerous state agencies have developed 50-minute presentations about the data available on their Web sites.  188 people are registered.

    3.  Library Development – Sandy Dixon
    Dixon reported that Mary Cameron’s Summer Reading/Teen Workshops were well attended even though five were rescheduled due to the weather.  The State Library has received a new Gates grant, which is to be used to provide computer hardware and software to public libraries that meet certain requirements.  This grant requires a match from the library -- 25% the first year and 50% the second year.

    4.  State Librarian report – Mary Wegner
    Wegner has been in touch with Governor Culver’s appointments staff regarding new appointments to the Commission.   

    D.  Special Reports         

    1.  Beth Marie Quanbeck, Library Development Consultant
        Dixon introduced Beth Marie Quanbeck to the Commission and Quanbeck gave a short overview of her past experience.  Quanbeck will work with EBSCOHost, represent the State Library on the Iowa Education Consortium and take over the school library survey.  Her first day at the State Library was April 2, 2007.

    2.  PLOW (Putting Libraries on the Web) program progress – Sandy Dixon
        Dixon reported that the Gates Foundation has agreed to extend the Staying Connected grant through November 2008.  No additional funding will be provided, but the State Library will have twelve additional months to carry out grant activities.  The extension was requested by the State Library because of the large number of libraries participating in the PLOW program.  She said that trainers are in the middle of the third set of classes required of all PLOW libraries.  Ross asked if the project had been reported to American Library or Library Journal.  Wegner said that the State Library is planning a news announcement describing the State Library’s role in the PLOW project, which will be released in the summer.  Wegner asked Wetteland to notify the library press as well as the Iowa press about PLOW.

    3.  Center for the Book update – Katherine Von Wald
        Von Wald gave the Commission a copy of the bookmark being distributed about All Iowa Reads 2007 and the Iowa Polio Project.  She recommended that the Commission go to the Web site and read the stories about the impact of polio on Iowa families.  She noted that Splendid Solution was the first nonfiction book chosen for All Iowa Reads.  She said she is pleased with the stories on the Web site and with photographs Wetteland was able to find.  Letters about Literature awards for Iowa students were presented April 13th at the Iowa Reading Association Conference.  The number of participants went from 989 in 2006 to 1,921 in 2007.  Von Wald noted that All Iowa Reads is in the process of choosing a book for 2008 and that she would welcome suggestions.

    In closing comments, Ross expressed his thanks and said that his experience as a Commissioner had been very rewarding.  He especially wanted to thank Katherine Von Wald for mentoring him, and also thanked State Library staff.  He said how important libraries are to Iowa and the nation, especially to small communities. 

8.0    Adjournment
Martens moved to adjourn, Boice seconded, meeting adjourned at 3:09 p.m.

A reception honoring Dale Ross for his many years of stellar service to the Commission of Libraries and the Iowa library community followed the business meeting. 

NEXT MEETING:  June 18, 2007, Room 300, State Library of Iowa

Submitted by Carol Simmons