June 18, 2007

    M I N U T E S
    IOWA COMMISSION OF LIBRARIES


Date:  June 18, 2007
State Library of Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
                                                                                                                            

Present:  Daniel Boice, Monica Gohlinghorst, Tom Martin, Jann Freed, and Frank Sposeto
Absent:  Rita Martens and David Boyd
Staff:  Mary Wegner, Barb Corson, Beth Henning, Sandy Dixon, Steve Cox, and Carol Simmons
Guests:  Eunice Riesberg and Brian Jennings
   
Gohlinghorst called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.

1.0   Set Agenda
Agenda was set as presented.

2.0  Introductions
   
    A.  New Commissioner
    Wegner introduced Thomas S. Martin.  Martin is vice president of Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank in Iowa City.  He is a member of the board of trustees of the Iowa City Public Library and a trustee of  Willowwind School.
    B.  Governor’s office - State Library liaison
    Wegner also introduced Brian Jennings, Policy Assistant, Office of Governor Chet Culver and Lt. Governor Patty Judge.  Jennings told the Commission about himself and his duties in the Governor’s office.

3.0   Approve Minutes
Boice asked for a change in the minutes of the April 16 meeting under 7.0, Commission Reports:  add “There were several conferences in the Dubuque area, including a Midwest Interlibrary Loan Conference.” to replace “Boice has been actively involved in several conferences.”  Sposeto moved to approve the minutes with the change, Boice seconded the motion.  Motion approved. 

4.0   Financial Report
Cox gave an overview of the financial report to bring Martin up-to-date.  He reported that both federal and state budgets are on target.  Cox explained two federal budget line item overages in out-of-state travel and communications, and four state budget line items overages in out-of-state travel, postage, advertising, and IT expenses.  These will be resolved by the next Commission meeting.  Wegner reported on the 2008 budget.  For FY08, the Legislature appropriated $125,000 in additional funding for Enrich Iowa, $135,000 in additional funding for the State Library, and $209,442 in additional funding for the Library Service Areas.  The State Library will use the additional funding for enhancements to the State Data Center Web pages.  Wegner also reported that the State Library’s FY08 operating budget is still 4.63% ($81,877) below the FY01 budget.   The financial report was accepted as presented.

5.0   Public Comment
None

6.0   Action Items

    A. Approval of LSTA five-year plan
    Wegner explained that a plan for the use of federal Library Services and Technology Act funding must be submitted every five years to the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.   Dixon presented an overview of the plan.  The five goals for 2008-1012 are (1) Provide expanded, equitable access to library information, materials and services to all Iowans; (2) Develop the knowledge and skills of Iowa library directors, staff and trustees in libraries of all types; (3) Sustain a state of lifelong learners by developing early literacy skills, a love of reading and information literacy skills; (4) Promote resource sharing and partnerships as a way for libraries to provide cost-effective, high quality service to Iowans; and (5) Strengthen Iowa’s libraries through state level leadership and statewide library advocacy, coordination and planning.  The plan includes strategies to achieve each goal,  as well as key output targets and key outcome targets for each goal.  Discussion of the report followed.  Boice said the plan was outstanding and that he especially liked the identifiable outcomes.  Dixon said the plan was written with outcomes-based evaluation in mind.  Boice moved to approve the report as presented, Freed seconded.  Motion carried.

    B.  Appointment of Library Service Area board members
    Dixon presented a list of Library Service Area boards with the names of AEA and community college members to be certified, and potential at-large members to be appointed.   She explained who were returning members and who were new, and asked that two motions take place: to certify the AEA and community college members and to appoint the at-large members.  Breakdown by LSA follows:
 
Central: 
Certify area education agency (AEA) appointment:  Susan Schrader
Certify community college appointment (CC):  Rebecca Funke
Appoint at-large:  Libby Mineart

East Central: 
Certify AEA appointment:  Jerry Cochrane
Pending:  community college representative
Appoint at-large:  Vernon Cerveny

North Central
Certify AEA appointment:  Harriet Adams
Certify CC Appointment:  Jeffrey Pilz
Pending:  at-large

Northeast
Certify AEA appointment:  Rhonda Sheeley
Certify CC appointment:  Karen Davidson
Appoint at-large:  Anita Cox

Northwest
Certify AEA appointment:  Jon Wibbels
Pending:  CC representative
Appoint at-large:  Cathy Greiner

Southeast
Pending:  AEA representative
Certify CC appointment:  Jane Campagna
Appoint at-large:  Lois Blythe

Southwest
Certify AEA appointment:  Deanna Etherington
Certify CC appointment:  Ann Coulter
Appoint at-large:  Mary Garst

Martin moved to certify the AEA and community college members, Sposeto seconded the motion.  Motion carried.  Freed moved to appoint the at-large members, Boice seconded.  Motion carried.
 
7.0   Discussion Items

A.  Teacher librarian administrative rule and Iowa School Library Program guidelines
    Wegner explained the Iowa School Library Program Guidelines which have been drafted by the Teacher Librarian Task Force, and provided a draft copy to Commissioners.  The administrative rule concerning the legislation requiring  Iowa school districts to employ a teacher librarian will go into effect July 11, 2007.  The Program Guidelines have been submitted to the Department of Education for final approval, and the DE will inform schools of the rule and the guidelines.  Wegner said that the DE and the State Library will work together to provide links to other documents which will be of assistance to school libraries.  Boice said the guidelines were excellent and, once finalized, should be shared with other states.

B.  State Librarian evaluation
Gohlinghorst reported that outgoing Commissioner Dale Ross was responsible for evaluating Wegner before his term ended on April 30, 2007, and that she received a very satisfactory review.  The report was sent on to the appropriate state agencies.

C.  August Commission meeting and retreat
Wegner provided information on the August retreat and business meeting.  The Commission will meet the evening of Monday, August 13 and all day Tuesday, August 14.  The meeting will be in conjunction with the Libraries on the Prairie session being held at the Gateway Center in Ames.  The Commission should arrive at 5:00 p.m. for the retreat.  The business meeting will begin at 8:00 a.m. on August 14 and will break at 11:00 a.m. to join session speaker Allen Kemp from the League of Cities.  The Commission will then reconvene and meet until 3:00 p.m.  A full agenda will be sent to the Commission once it is completed.  Wegner also reminded the Commission of the remaining meetings for 2007:  10:00 a.m. Friday, October 19 and 9:00 a.m. Friday, December 14.  Both will be held at the State Library.

8.0   Communications

A.  Commission Reports
Freed reported that the librarian position at Central College in Pella still has not been filled.
Gohlinghorst reported that Robin Martin has been named chair of the Iowa Center for the Book Advisory Council.  She said the All Iowa Reads committee has winnowed to six the number of titles under consideration for 2008. Gohlinghorst said she attended the June 12 ICN session for trustees presented by Pat Wagner.
Martin reported that the used book store that was housed outside the Iowa City Public Library has move to a new location on the second floor of the library.  He noted that a new program funded by grant money began in which city buses will pick up children who show their library card and take them to and from the library at no cost.  Martin said the Iowa City Public Library’s summer reading program started and is a big hit.
Sposeto reported that he had not visited any new libraries due to his job promotion but hopes to begin doing more soon.

B.  Library Service Areas (LSA) Report
Eunice Riesberg, administrator of the Northeast Library Service Area, represented the LSAs and reported on the downloadable audio reading program that Northeast, North Central and East Central service areas are collaborating on.  She explained the program and reported that 96 libraries will participate beginning July 2.  Riesberg said Library Service Areas are discussing how to best use new FY08 budget money on early childhood literacy programming.  She also told the Commission that her service area works with another LSA to file library federal e-rate applications as a consortium. 
 
C.  State Librarian’s Report
     1.  Library Services report – Barb Corson
     Corson reported that the State Library is purchasing a server to use for Iowa Publications Online.    The new server will be housed at Iowa State University and will be more accessible to SILO staff.  Corson is presenting a session at the American Library Association conference regarding Iowa Publications Online.  The medical reference desk  on second floor is no longer being staffed;   all reference questions including medical reference questions are now received by staff on the first floor.  Corson also said that one of the Library Services reference librarians is working several hours per week at the Law Library due to their high volume of information requests.
   
     2.  State Data Center report – Beth Henning
                   Henning reported that with the new money allocated by the legislature, the State Data Center is looking at programs to enhance its Web site.  She hopes to be able to offer more formats for customers who want charts, maps, and graphs that can be downloaded and sorted by category and year(s), and that are specific to a particular Iowa county.  

     3.  Library Development – Sandy Dixon
     Dixon said the State Library was asked to submit information on public libraries for an update of the Municipal Policy Leaders’ Handbook, and provided a handout of the new section on libraries.  Dixon reported that 270 libraries are participating in the Putting Libraries on the Web (PLOW) project funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  She also reported that the State Library is working with the Gates Foundation on an upcoming grant program which will provide computer hardware for eligible Iowa public libraries. 

      4.  State Librarian report – Mary Wegner
          Wegner said a news release on the State Library’s role in PLOW will be mailed during the summer.  Public libraries who participated in the PLOW project were provided with a news release template for their local news outlets.   Wegner said the May 2007 trip to Washington, DC for the American Library Association’s annual Legislative Days was successful.  The Iowa delegation consisted of Mary Wegner representing the State Library, and Sheryl Bissen and Duncan Stewart representing the Iowa Library Association.  The Iowa group met in person with Senators Grassley and  Harkin and with Representative Latham, and met with staff from the remaining four Iowa congressmen.  Wegner noted that the ALA national conference starts Friday, June 22 in Washington, D.C. and that five Iowa public librarians who participated in last summer’s Rural Sustainability training won a free trip to the conference.  Michele Leininger, continuing education consultant, is accompanying them on the trip.  Leininger will also speak at the ALA conference on blended online learning.

9.0    Adjournment
Boice moved to adjourn the meeting, Freed seconded.  Meeting adjourned at 2:50 p.m.

NEXT MEETING:  August 13-14, 2007, Gateway Center, Ames 
Retreat & Meeting (in conjunction with Libraries on the Prairie)

Submitted by Carol Simmons