December 14, 2007

M I N U T E S
IOWA COMMISSION OF LIBRARIES
Date:  December 14, 2007   
Location:  State Library of Iowa
10:00 a.m. 2 p.m.

Present:  Dan Boice, Tom Martin, Monica Gohlinghorst, Janet Mohs, Rita Martens, Frank Sposeto, Jann Freed, and David Boyd

Staff:  Mary Wegner, Annette Wetteland, Sandy Dixon, Barb Corson, Beth Henning, Steve Cox, and Carol Simmons

Guests:  Kate Scott, Polio Oral History Project, and Lily Lau, administrator, East Central Library Services

The meeting was called to order at 10 a.m.

1.0   Set Agenda
Gohlinghorst added action item C:  Commission of Libraries representative to Iowa Library Association Foundation board  

Wegner introduced a new Commission member, Janet Mohs, who replaced Pamela Bradley.  Her appointment fills the Commission position which represents health care.   Mohs gave a short overview of her background.  She works for Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines and has been a registered nurse for 34 years with a focus on pediatric critical care.  Commission members and staff introduced themselves. 

2.0   Approve Minutes
Boice asked that a correction be made to his report in the October minutes.  The town should be Dubuque, not Davenport in his report regarding area library consortium holding an interlibrary loan conference.  Sposeto moved to approve minutes with the correction, Martens seconded the motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

3.0   Financial Report
Cox reported that both the federal and state budgets are on target.  There was a discussion of a potential donation from CBS News for broadcasting from the Law Library during the Iowa caucuses.  The report was accepted as presented.

4.0   Public Comment
None

5.0   Action Items

    A.  State Library planning process
    Wegner referred to code sections 256.51, section d, which was provided in the Commission packets and which requires the State Library to develop “a biennial unified plan of service and service delivery for the division of libraries and information services.”  Wegner explained that the State Library needs to develop an agency-wide strategic plan.  In the past, the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) plan and a joint plan developed with the Library Service Areas (LSAs) have covered the State Library.  With recent changes at the federal level regarding the LSTA plan, Wegner said it is time to put together a strategic plan which covers all units of the State Library – Library Development, Library Services, and the State Data Center.  She would like to hire a consultant to help develop the plan   She will seek feedback from the LSAs and Area Education Agencies in the development of the plan.  Boice moved to approve the change to development of a State Library-specific plan; Freed seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.

    B.  Set dates for 2008 meetings
    The following dates were set for 2008 Commission meetings.  9 a.m. to 1 p.m. February 29; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 21; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 20; 4:30 to 7 p.m. August 14 and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. August 15 (retreat/meeting); 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. October 24; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. December 15.  All meetings except the August retreat will be held at the State Library.  The August meeting location will be determined at a later date.

    C.  Appointment of Iowa Library Association (ILA) Foundation Board Member
    Iowa Library Association Foundation board bylaws call for a representative on the ILAF board appointed by the Commission of Libraries.  Dale Ross, former Commission member, has completed a three-year term and is willing to continue to serve as the Commission representative.  Wegner confirmed with ILA that the Commission representative does not have to be a current member.  Martin moved to re-elect Ross as the Commission representative on the ILAF board; Sposeto seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.

6.0   Discussion Items

A.  LSTA Plan for 2008-1012
http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/ld/lsta/planeval/plan08
    Dixon briefly discussed the Library Services and Technology Act Plan for 2008-2012, which has been formally approved by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.    Federal LSTA guidelines are being interpreted differently than in past years.  Some State Library activities formerly funded with LSTA monies may have to be funded with state monies in the future.  Some programs which may be affected are the Leadership Institute, development of the trustee handbook and work on funding disparities among libraries.
 
B.  Status of Commission of Libraries vacant position
This position was filled by Janet Mohs.  No further action was needed.

C. Public library trustee development
Wegner explained that part of the Commission’s role is to encourage public libraries and trustees to advocate for their libraries.  Martin said he and Wegner had a telephone conversation regarding his role as Commissioner after attending the ILA conference in Coralville and the PLOW workshop in Ames.  After conversations with librarians and trustees at these two functions, Martin said he is interested in the role of the Commission in helping work with trustees.  Trustee training by the State Library and the Library Service Areas were discussed.  Several ideas were discussed on how to more effectively address the trustee advocacy role.  Wegner asked if the Commission could continue to discuss the issue at another meeting and all agreed.

D. Iowa Library Association legislative agenda
http://www.iowalibraryassociation.org/associations/2221/files/2008%20Legislative%20Agenda.pdf
    Wegner explained that state government agencies were instructed to request level funding for FY08-09 budgets.  She shared the Iowa Library Association 2008 Legislative Agenda, which calls for $250,000 in new money for the State Library to purchase databases, and increased funding for Enrich Iowa and the LSAs.  Wegner reminded the Commission that the State Library’s budget is still under what it was in 2001, and that the reimbursement per transaction for Open Access is considerably less than half of the real cost.  Commissioners discussed sending a letter to the governor and/or legislators to outline State Library funding issues.
  
7.0   Communications

A.  Commission Reports
Martens reported that she has been busy working on statewide education initiatives, including the Model Core Curriculum. 
Sposeto – no report
    Martin reported that the Iowa City Public Library Foundation had developed a strategic plan.  He asked if anyone was attending the Public Library Association Conference in Minneapolis March 24-29, 2008.  Several State Library staff plan to attend; Lau said East Central is taking a bus load of librarians, as was the Southwest Library Service Area.  Wegner said Commissioners attending the conference would be reimbursed for their expenses.
    Gohlinghorst said the “All Iowa Reads” book, announced at the ILA fall conference, is Digging to America by Anne Tyler.  The Council Bluffs Public Library will host author Jodi Picoult on January 10, and an exhibit from the American Library Association’s “Women in Medicine” will be displayed the first week in January.
    Boyd thanked Beth Henning, State Data Center Coordinator, for a pamphlet she provided him with Native American population statistics. 
    Freed also thanked Henning for information she provided to students in one of her classes.  She also reported that Central College, Pella, hired a new library director, Natalie Hutchinson.   
Boice said he attended the Governor’s Board and Commission Orientation Workshop in November.  He also attended the ILA fall conference and noted that the session on library trustees was very interesting.  Boice said the presenter was impressed with the State Library’s Trustee Handbook, calling it the best he’d seen.

B.  Library Service Area Report – Lily Lau, Administrator, East Central Library Services
East Central is working on Early Childhood Literacy initiatives.  There is an on-line plan that consists of information on  promotion, training, program development, collaboration, and resource development.  Lau said they have also held several workshops.  Some of the LSAs are working on program development with a Toddler Fest, a day-long workshop where they bring together people from all kinds of agencies who work with children.  East Central received an LSTA grant from the State Library of $6,000 to purchase Play-Aways.  155 of the audio books were purchased, and have been divided into kits so libraries can borrow them.  They have been very popular.  Lau said the only down side is batteries need to be replaced each time the books are used, and there is an issue with sharing the ear plugs. 

C.  Special Reports         
    1.  Kate Scott – Iowa Polio Stories and Oral History Project
    http://www.iowacenterforthebook.org/air/ips/view-stories
    Scott gave a PowerPoint presentation about the Polio Oral History project and how it illustrates the effect of polio in Iowa.  She described how the project got started with the 2007 All Iowa Reads Book, Splendid Solution: Jonas Salk and the Conquest of Polio by Jeffrey Kluger.  When finished, Iowa Polio Stories written transcriptions of the oral interviews will be housed at the State Historical Society in Iowa City, and brief descriptions of each interview will remain on the Iowa Center for the Book Web site.

     2.  Annette Wetteland – National Book Festival and Iowa’s Letters About Literature national winner
    Wetteland shared a handout about the festival, held in Washington, DC on September 29, and talked to the Commission about the State Library’s booth in the Pavilion of the States on the National Mall.  She also reported that the highlight of the festival was hearing Audrey Kiernan, an 11th grader from Iowa City, read her award winning letter in the National Letters About Literature Contest.  Kiernan is the second national winner from Iowa in the five years the state has participated in the Letters About Literature contest. 
 
D.  State Librarian’s Report
    1.  Library Services report – Barb Corson
        Corson reported that the position for Librarian 2/Cataloger is posted and will close on Dec. 17th.  She said they are looking forward to having a full time cataloger for the first time in seven years.  In response to customer feedback, Corson said that Law Library hours will be extended during the legislative session, with the Law Library opening at 7 rather than 8 a.m. Monday through Friday.  Corson said she has been working with a statewide group on an IMLS grant project to develop a statewide plan to preserve and conserve the collections from all types of libraries, museums, and historical societies.

    2.  State Data Center report – Beth Henning
        Henning reported on progress toward the redesign of the State Data Center Web site.  She said the next step is to request funding from the IOWAccess Advisory Council on January 9, 2008.  Henning said they are wrapping up activities related to the Census Bureau's Census 2010 Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) program. The goal of LUCA is to improve the 2010 census by giving local communities the opportunity to review and update the residential address list which will be used by the Census Bureau to deliver the 2010 census forms. Henning said she made presentations at several League of Cities and Iowa State Association of Counties meetings in 2007 to encourage local governments to participate in the program.  She also noted that this week the Governor sent a letter to all cities and counties that have not yet registered for LUCA urging them to do so before the December 31 deadline.  On December 19, Henning said the State Data Center will host the new coordinator of the Kansas State Data Center, Peter Haxton. 

    3.  Library Development – Sandy Dixon
        Dixon reported that she is in the process of filling two consultant positions.  Interviews have been held for the youth services consultant position; the other consultant position has been posted and the application deadline is January 7, 2008.  So far, approximately 70 libraries have completed the Gates Hardware grant requirements which have included doing a computer inventory in TechAtlas and completing the 2007 Internet survey.  About 50 libraries have decided to participate in PLOW (Putting Libraries on the Web) Round 2.  Required classes will be held January through March, 2008.  Dixon noted there was a record breaking attendance of 479 at the 2007 Town Meetings.  There were 342 participants in 2006.

     4.  State Librarian report – Mary Wegner
Wegner thanked State Library staff members Sandy Dixon, Gerry Rowland, Marie Harms, Michele Leininger and Helen Dagley for their willingness to assume extra responsibilities following the unexpected death of Library Development Consultant Beth Marie on November 18, 2007.  Beth Marie was widely loved and respected, and is missed very much by her many friends in the Iowa library community.  The State Library has established a Web page in her memory at
http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/about/bmq1

Wegner also said that CBS News, featuring Katie Couric and Harry Smith,  will broadcast from the Law Library for a few days leading up to the January 3, 2008 Iowa caucuses. 

8.0    Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 2:23 p.m.

NEXT MEETING:  February 29, 2008 at the State Library
Minutes submitted by Carol Simmons.