Establishment of Advisory Panel (Iowa Library Services)
Legislation passed during the 2011 legislative session reorganized the delivery of services of Iowa libraries by combining the Library Service Areas and the State Library into one new agency called Iowa Library Services. One of the main purposes of the new agency is to work with Iowa libraries of all types and all sizes to make library service in Iowa the best it can be.
The State Library and the Iowa Library Association Executive Board worked closely together to appoint the Advisory Panel, which is established by the library reorganization legislation. The legislation called for the Executive Board of the Iowa Library Association to appoint a simple majority of the members of the Advisory Panel, and for the state librarian to appoint the rest. This group will, in accordance with the bill, “advise and recommend …evidence-based best practices, to assist the commission and division to determine service priorities and launch programs, articulate the needs and interests of Iowa librarians, and share research and professional development information.” The legislation also requires that the panel represent libraries of all sizes and types, and various population levels and geographic regions of the state. Names prefixed with # are Iowa Library Association Executive Board appointments; those prefixed with + are State Library appointments.
# Linda Adams -Arlington Public Library
+ Jean Casey - Clear Lake Public Library
# Nathan Clark - Ruthven Public Library
# Ann Coulter - Southwestern Community College
+ Patricia Dawson - Hubbell Center
# Carrie Falk - Shenandoah Public Library
# Rebecca Funke - Des Moines Area Community College
+ Sam Garchik - Regina Jr/Sr High, Iowa City
# Jennie Garner - North Liberty Community Library
+ Jacallyn Gunzenhauser - Humeston Public Library
# Greg Heid - Des Moines Public Library
# Vicki Hibbert - Clive Public Library
+ Valerie Karczewski - Lake Park Public Library
# Sandy Long - Whittemore Public Library
# Katherine Martin - Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa
+ Alan Mask - Wartburg College Library
# Nancy Medema - Bettendorf Public Library
+ Catherine Noble - Gutekunst Public Library, State Center
+ Ellen Petty - Garner Public Library
+ Doug Raber - Marion Public Library
+ Sheryl Taylor - Hulst Library, Dordt College
# C.J. Thompson - Kling Memorial Library, Grundy Center
We received 117 applications for the panel, and selecting only 22 from the many excellent applications was a difficult challenge. We extend our warmest thanks to all who applied, for your willingness to work on behalf of the Iowa library community.
The public library size breakdown is as follows:
2 panel members from size A (under 500): Adams and Gunzenhauser
2 panel members from size B (500-599): Clark and Long
2 panel members from size C (1000-2499): Karczewski and Noble
2 panel members from size D (2500-4999): Petty and Thompson
2 panel members from size E (5000-9999): Casey and Falk
2 panel members from size F (10,000-24,999): Garner and Hibbert
2 panel members from size G (25,000-49,999): Medema and Raber
1 panel member from size H (50,000+): Heid
In addition:
1 panel member represents Iowa's public universities: Martin
2 panel members represent community colleges: Coulter and Funke
2 panel members represent private colleges: Mask and Taylor
1 panel member represents K-12 schools: Garchik
1 panel member represents special libraries: Dawson
The geographic breakdown of public library representatives:
2 from NW
2 from NE
3 from NC
3 from C
2 from SW
3 from SE
The geographic breakdown for all Advisory Panel members:
3 from NW
4 from NE
3 from NC
5 from C
3 from SW
4 from SE
The following Advisory Panel members are graduates of the ILA Leadership Institute:
Nathan Clark, Sandy Long, Catherine Noble, Jennie Garner, Sheryl Taylor, and Nancy Medema.
Iowa Library Association officers (past president, president, and president-elect) and the ILA GAC chair will serve as ex-officio members of the panel.
The Advisory Panel will meet in person at least twice a year; terms are for four years and are staggered; members will be reimbursed for their travel expenses. In-person attendance at meetings is encouraged.
We are excited about the development of this new group, whose advice will be very important as we move forward in the implementation of the new model for delivering services to Iowa libraries. We again want to extend our deep appreciation to all the Iowa librarians who volunteered to serve on this panel.
