August 2006 Commission Meeting Minutes
August 8, 2006
Present: Monica Gohlinghorst, Frank Sposeto, Dale Ross, Daniel Boice, Jann Freed, Pam Bradley, Rita Martens, David Boyd
Staff: Mary Wegner, Beth Henning, Barb Corson, Judy Jones, Marie Harms, Sandy Dixon and Carol Simmons
Guest: Karen Burns, administrator, Southwest Iowa Library Service Area
Retreat Discussion: Commissioners discussed the following documents: “Long Overdue: A Fresh Look at Public and Leadership Attitudes About Libraries in the 21st Century”, which was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and
“Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources,” an online survey funded by OCLC.
Ross called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Wegner gave an overview of the first document and Dixon the second. Discussion followed.
Meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
Date: August 9, 2006
Present: Monica Gohlinghorst, Dale Ross, Daniel Boice, Jann Freed, Pam Bradley, David Boyd
Absent: Rita Martens and Frank Sposeto
Staff: Mary Wegner, Beth Henning, Barb Corson, Sandy Dixon, Annette Wetteland, Steve Cox and Carol Simmons
Guest: Karen Burns, administrator, Southwest Iowa Library Service Area
Ross called the meeting to order at 8:40 a.m.
1.0 Set Agenda
Agenda was set as presented.
2.0 Approve Minutes
Minutes were approved as presented.
3.0 Financial Report
Cox went over financial report statistics discussed at prior meetings so that new commissioner Boice and others would be up-to-date. He reported that the State Library budget is on target as projected.
4.0 Communications
A. Special Reports
1. “Libraries on the Prairie: Growing Rural Libraries” – report on the Gates Rural Sustainability Workshops.
Dixon reported that 292 libraries were represented at the two-day workshop funded by a grant from the Gates Foundation. The workshops were held in five locations around Iowa. 77% of the participants reported that two days was the right length of time to cover all the topics. 94% reported they would attend a similar workshop again. Participants gave the workshop high marks. Staff said it was highly successful. Dixon said Michele Leininger, continuing education consultant in charge of the workshops, will report to the Commission at a future meeting. Wegner noted that a representative from the Gates Foundation attended the last workshop session and said that Iowa was doing exemplary work.
B. Commission Reports
Boyd thanked Henning for meeting with Iowa Supreme Court administrators and staff to discuss what is available through the State Data Center. He also wanted the Commission to know how dedicated he finds the State Library staff. Gohlinghorst reported that Council Bluffs will be having a local authors fair. Ross said he attended the American Library Association (ALA) conference in New Orleans and noted that many of the attendees took time to help with restoration. He said one of the topics covered at the conference was the Americans with Disabilities Act, and another topic was library funding. ALA mid-winter will be in Seattle and the annual conference will be held next June in Washington, D.C. Ross has been asked to chair a session on “Trustees & Technology.” Boice reported that the Dubuque Area Library Information Consortia is sponsoring an interlibrary loan conference. He said he is looking forward to serving on the Iowa Commission of Libraries.
C. State Librarian’s Report
Corson reported on the door-to-door promotion the State Library does each year. State Library staff handed out promotional information about the library in other state buildings. This year, 1,000 packets were distributed. Corson also noted that the State Library had displayed photos by Don Berry during July. The photos were on loan from Simpson College in Indianola.
Henning said she did a presentation for librarians in the Central Library Service Area about how census data can help small businesses. She also presented at a statewide grants conference regarding data use. Henning told the Commission about the data Gary Krob is collecting regarding nursing home populations. College resident halls and state facilities will be collected at a later date for use by the U.S. Census Bureau. She noted that next year she and Krob will begin gearing up for the 2010 census.
Dixon gave Commissioners copies of the new Library Development brochure. She said she wrote the copy and Wetteland created the design and graphics. She also had an opportunity to present to city clerks in July regarding public libraries. She said the two complaints she heard most often were 1) librarians don’t think cities know enough about library governance and 2) clerks say librarians do not tell them enough about library funding.
Wegner said she and Kay Runge, director of the Des Moines Public Library, will meet to discuss possible collaboration on a survey about library perceptions. Wegner noted that she and Martens are chairing a task force on the new teacher librarian legislation.
D. Library Service Areas Report: Karen Burns, Southwest Iowa Library Service Area (LSA)
Burns thanked Dixon for facilitating a planning session for SWILSA and also thanked the State Library for funding the recent Iowa Library Association Leadership Institute. Burns said Maureen Sullivan (Maryland) facilitated the institute which had around 28 participants. She also reported that the LSA Trustee Executive Council met and approved next year’s budget increase request, which builds on the idea of providing librarians with the knowledge to teach early literacy programs for children. Mary Cameron, youth services consultant, is also involved with this effort. Burns explained that “Library 2.0” is a focus of the new SWILSA long range plan. Burns would like librarians to be able to meet customers’ needs regardless of their technology skills or age. She said she will try to blend technology and tradition in the hope of connecting with people, especially 14-17 year olds. Burns said she is aware that the focus can’t only be on the young, but older patrons’ needs as well. She noted that the two challenges that libraries always face, time and staff, are still obstacles, along with trying to balance technology, tradition and the right mix for individual communities. Burns said she thinks librarians are up to the challenge.
5.0 Public Comment
None
6.0 Action Items
A. Future Commission meeting dates
Dates confirmed: October 16, 2006; December 18, 2006; February 12, 2007; April 16, 2007
B. Task Force on resource sharing reimbursement and shared library automation systems
Gohlinghorst moved to form a task force to investigate and discuss reimbursement for library resource sharing and the effect of shared library automation systems resource sharing. Wegner explained that it would be a small group and asked Boice to participate. Boyd seconded, motion carried.
C. Elect Commission officers
Bradley and Boyd served on a subcommittee to nominate future commission officers. Bradley moved to elect Gohlinghorst chair and Martens vice chair. Discussion of when they would assume their duties followed. Boyd moved to appoint Ross, chair and Gohlinghorst, vice chair through April, 2007. Bradley seconded, motion carried. Boyd then moved to appoint Gohlinghorst, chair as of May 1, 2007 and Martens, Vice Chair. Bradley seconded, motion carried.
D. State Library and Enrich Iowa FY08 budget request
A subcommittee to discuss the State Library’s 2008 budget was named. Gohlinghorst and Freed will serve on the subcommittee.
7.0 Discussion Items
A. City contracts for public library services
Bradley offered a motion to reaffirm the Commission’s position regarding city contracts for public library services: “The Iowa Commission of Libraries reaffirms its position endorsing the principle of adequate compensation for library services for all Iowans and support for contracts for library services that work toward equitable tax support for libraries by all jurisdictions.” Boyd seconded, motion carried unanimously. State Library staff was asked to communicate the motion with public library directors.
8.0 Adjournment
Ross adjourned the meeting at 11:40 a.m.
NEXT MEETING: October 16, 2006, 11:00 a.m. State Library, Room 300
Carol Simmons, Commission Secretary
Present: Monica Gohlinghorst, Frank Sposeto, Dale Ross, Daniel Boice, Jann Freed, Pam Bradley, Rita Martens, David Boyd
Staff: Mary Wegner, Beth Henning, Barb Corson, Judy Jones, Marie Harms, Sandy Dixon and Carol Simmons
Guest: Karen Burns, administrator, Southwest Iowa Library Service Area
Retreat Discussion: Commissioners discussed the following documents: “Long Overdue: A Fresh Look at Public and Leadership Attitudes About Libraries in the 21st Century”, which was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and
“Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources,” an online survey funded by OCLC.
Ross called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Wegner gave an overview of the first document and Dixon the second. Discussion followed.
Meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
Date: August 9, 2006
Present: Monica Gohlinghorst, Dale Ross, Daniel Boice, Jann Freed, Pam Bradley, David Boyd
Absent: Rita Martens and Frank Sposeto
Staff: Mary Wegner, Beth Henning, Barb Corson, Sandy Dixon, Annette Wetteland, Steve Cox and Carol Simmons
Guest: Karen Burns, administrator, Southwest Iowa Library Service Area
Ross called the meeting to order at 8:40 a.m.
1.0 Set Agenda
Agenda was set as presented.
2.0 Approve Minutes
Minutes were approved as presented.
3.0 Financial Report
Cox went over financial report statistics discussed at prior meetings so that new commissioner Boice and others would be up-to-date. He reported that the State Library budget is on target as projected.
4.0 Communications
A. Special Reports
1. “Libraries on the Prairie: Growing Rural Libraries” – report on the Gates Rural Sustainability Workshops.
Dixon reported that 292 libraries were represented at the two-day workshop funded by a grant from the Gates Foundation. The workshops were held in five locations around Iowa. 77% of the participants reported that two days was the right length of time to cover all the topics. 94% reported they would attend a similar workshop again. Participants gave the workshop high marks. Staff said it was highly successful. Dixon said Michele Leininger, continuing education consultant in charge of the workshops, will report to the Commission at a future meeting. Wegner noted that a representative from the Gates Foundation attended the last workshop session and said that Iowa was doing exemplary work.
B. Commission Reports
Boyd thanked Henning for meeting with Iowa Supreme Court administrators and staff to discuss what is available through the State Data Center. He also wanted the Commission to know how dedicated he finds the State Library staff. Gohlinghorst reported that Council Bluffs will be having a local authors fair. Ross said he attended the American Library Association (ALA) conference in New Orleans and noted that many of the attendees took time to help with restoration. He said one of the topics covered at the conference was the Americans with Disabilities Act, and another topic was library funding. ALA mid-winter will be in Seattle and the annual conference will be held next June in Washington, D.C. Ross has been asked to chair a session on “Trustees & Technology.” Boice reported that the Dubuque Area Library Information Consortia is sponsoring an interlibrary loan conference. He said he is looking forward to serving on the Iowa Commission of Libraries.
C. State Librarian’s Report
Corson reported on the door-to-door promotion the State Library does each year. State Library staff handed out promotional information about the library in other state buildings. This year, 1,000 packets were distributed. Corson also noted that the State Library had displayed photos by Don Berry during July. The photos were on loan from Simpson College in Indianola.
Henning said she did a presentation for librarians in the Central Library Service Area about how census data can help small businesses. She also presented at a statewide grants conference regarding data use. Henning told the Commission about the data Gary Krob is collecting regarding nursing home populations. College resident halls and state facilities will be collected at a later date for use by the U.S. Census Bureau. She noted that next year she and Krob will begin gearing up for the 2010 census.
Dixon gave Commissioners copies of the new Library Development brochure. She said she wrote the copy and Wetteland created the design and graphics. She also had an opportunity to present to city clerks in July regarding public libraries. She said the two complaints she heard most often were 1) librarians don’t think cities know enough about library governance and 2) clerks say librarians do not tell them enough about library funding.
Wegner said she and Kay Runge, director of the Des Moines Public Library, will meet to discuss possible collaboration on a survey about library perceptions. Wegner noted that she and Martens are chairing a task force on the new teacher librarian legislation.
D. Library Service Areas Report: Karen Burns, Southwest Iowa Library Service Area (LSA)
Burns thanked Dixon for facilitating a planning session for SWILSA and also thanked the State Library for funding the recent Iowa Library Association Leadership Institute. Burns said Maureen Sullivan (Maryland) facilitated the institute which had around 28 participants. She also reported that the LSA Trustee Executive Council met and approved next year’s budget increase request, which builds on the idea of providing librarians with the knowledge to teach early literacy programs for children. Mary Cameron, youth services consultant, is also involved with this effort. Burns explained that “Library 2.0” is a focus of the new SWILSA long range plan. Burns would like librarians to be able to meet customers’ needs regardless of their technology skills or age. She said she will try to blend technology and tradition in the hope of connecting with people, especially 14-17 year olds. Burns said she is aware that the focus can’t only be on the young, but older patrons’ needs as well. She noted that the two challenges that libraries always face, time and staff, are still obstacles, along with trying to balance technology, tradition and the right mix for individual communities. Burns said she thinks librarians are up to the challenge.
5.0 Public Comment
None
6.0 Action Items
A. Future Commission meeting dates
Dates confirmed: October 16, 2006; December 18, 2006; February 12, 2007; April 16, 2007
B. Task Force on resource sharing reimbursement and shared library automation systems
Gohlinghorst moved to form a task force to investigate and discuss reimbursement for library resource sharing and the effect of shared library automation systems resource sharing. Wegner explained that it would be a small group and asked Boice to participate. Boyd seconded, motion carried.
C. Elect Commission officers
Bradley and Boyd served on a subcommittee to nominate future commission officers. Bradley moved to elect Gohlinghorst chair and Martens vice chair. Discussion of when they would assume their duties followed. Boyd moved to appoint Ross, chair and Gohlinghorst, vice chair through April, 2007. Bradley seconded, motion carried. Boyd then moved to appoint Gohlinghorst, chair as of May 1, 2007 and Martens, Vice Chair. Bradley seconded, motion carried.
D. State Library and Enrich Iowa FY08 budget request
A subcommittee to discuss the State Library’s 2008 budget was named. Gohlinghorst and Freed will serve on the subcommittee.
7.0 Discussion Items
A. City contracts for public library services
Bradley offered a motion to reaffirm the Commission’s position regarding city contracts for public library services: “The Iowa Commission of Libraries reaffirms its position endorsing the principle of adequate compensation for library services for all Iowans and support for contracts for library services that work toward equitable tax support for libraries by all jurisdictions.” Boyd seconded, motion carried unanimously. State Library staff was asked to communicate the motion with public library directors.
8.0 Adjournment
Ross adjourned the meeting at 11:40 a.m.
NEXT MEETING: October 16, 2006, 11:00 a.m. State Library, Room 300
Carol Simmons, Commission Secretary
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