February 12, 2007

MINUTES
IOWA COMMISSION OF LIBRARIES

Date:  February 12, 2007                                                     
Location:  State Library of Iowa, Room 300
1:00 – 3:00 pm                                                                            
1112 East Grand
Des Moines, Iowa  


Present:  Dale Ross, Daniel Boice, David Boyd, Monica Gohlinghorst, Rita Martin, Frank Sposeto
Absent:  Jann Freed
Staff:  Barb Corson, Steve Cox, Sandy Dixon, Fran Fessler, Beth Henning, Mary Wegner, Annette Wetteland
Guests: Roy Kenagy, Administrator, Central Library Service Area, Dale VandeHaar, LSA Executive Trustee Council President.       

1.0  Set Agenda
Ross asked that 6.0 Action Items, be moved under 3.0  Financial Report.  Agenda set with the change. 

2.0  Approve Minutes
Ross asked for approval of December 18 minutes.  Minutes approved as presented.

3.0   Financial Report
Cox explained that the federal budget is on target and the 2006 funds nearly spent.  
Cox said level federal funding is expected for FY07. The state budget also remains on target.  Improvements were made to the Law Library including re-arranging furniture, purchasing a new front desk, and setting up a computer area with electrical hook-ups.
Payments have been disbursed to libraries for Access Plus, Open Access and Direct State Aid.
Governor Culver has recommended level funding in FY08 for the State Library and the Library Service Areas, but the State Library and LSAs will present requests for additional funding to the legislative Education Appropriations Subcommittee.

4.0  Action Items
    A.  Appoint Committee for State Librarian’s Evaluation
Ross asked Gohlinghorst to assist him in evaluating Wegner’s performance.  Gohlinghorst accepted.  Ross and Gohlinghorst will report at the April Commission meeting.

    B.  Appoint North Central Library Service Area Trustee
Dixon presented the application of Don Dye from Belmond, IA to serve on the NCLSA Board of Trustees. His term will run through June 2008.  Boice made a motion to approve the appointment.  Boyd seconded. Motion carried.

    C.  Report of Bylaws Review Subcommittee
Gohlinghorst and Boice reviewed the by-laws and recommended the following changes:

    Section II.   Membership
    B. Change “less” to “fewer”  ...if that person attends “fewer” that one-half of the regular     meetings of the Commission within any period of twelve calendar months beginning July 1     or January 1.”

    Section III   Commission Meetings
    I.  Add comma after “conditions”…If a meeting is canceled due to unsafe conditions, then     all business that would have been conducted at that meeting will be conducted…….”

In addition Boyd noted that the “Code of  Iowa (2007)” is out and recommended changes  be made in all  lines of the bylaws that currently read “Code of Iowa (2005)".

Ross asked for a motion to accept the by-laws with the changes.  Sposeto moved.  Martens seconded. Motion carried.

5.0  Communications
    A.  Special Reports
    1. Iowa Center for the Book—Annette Wetteland
Katherine Von Wald was unable to be at the commission meeting.  Wetteland reported that the Letters about Literature program has seen a 90% increased in student participation in Iowa. The program is also seeing more home schooled students participating in LAL. Ross reported that the January 30 ICN session with Susan Craig and himself discussing the All Iowa Reads selection (Splendid Solution:  Jonas Salk and the Conquest of Polio by Jeffrey Kluger) was well attended and created good discussions about polio.   This book has generated a great deal of interest and people are being encouraged to submit their personal stories about polio on: www.iowapoliostories.org   An on-line book discussion is planned during National Library Week, April 16-20.  Martens brought up a suggestion from Commission member Jann Freed to include an AIR book discussion at the two day retreat in August.

B.  Commission Reports
Gohlinghorst asked for suggestions of possible titles for the 2008 All Iowa Reads selection.
Martens reported that she has looked at data collected from schools and AEAs, which both show a pattern of deep declines in reading at the 6th grade level. She stressed that it is important for libraries and schools to look at programs and materials, especially for teens, and find ways to encourage and improve reading skills.  Ross said the American Library Association’s (ALA) Midwinter Conference in Seattle was well attended.  He noted that ALA’s new administration has created a better climate for libraries and finances are on sound footing. Ross also reported that ALA has finished a salary survey with comparisons between librarians who have and do not have master’s degrees.  The survey shows that most librarians are between the ages of 46 and 54, and are female.

C.  State Librarian’s Report
Henning distributed the new African-American profile.  Boice asked if a handout for Hispanics was available and also mentioned how easy it is to navigate around the State Data Center’s Web site. 

Dixon announced that interviews for the vacant library development consultant position will take place February 22.  She said she hoped the new person can start in early April or sooner.  Dixon said she is updating the Iowa Trustee Handbook and expects to have it ready in June.  She has asked Gohlinghorst; Bonnie McKewon, NWLSA administrator; Barb Shultz, NCLSA administrator; and Wendy Street, director of the Pella Public Library to be readers and comment on the handbook. 

Wegner announced that Mary Cameron, State Library Youth Services Consultant, was elected president of the multi-state Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) and will serve until June 1, 2008.  Forty-two state representatives meet annually to plan summer library programs.  Wegner said a reception for Ross, who will be retiring from the Commission after serving three terms, will be held immediately after the April Commission meeting. The 2006 Enrich Iowa report has been printed and distributed to the Governor and Iowa legislators.  Wegner and Kenagy addressed the Iowa Education Appropriations Subcommittee and provided handouts telling the library story.  The State Library’s budget requests included: $160,000 for new databases or possibly audio books for libraries; $100,000 for State Data Center Web site upgrades and $250,000 for Open Access.  This would allow Open Access reimbursements to increase from 31 to 35 cents per transaction.  Wegner reported that about 150 Iowa public libraries meet poverty guidelines set by the Gates Foundation for a new hardware grant it is launching.  Wegner met with CBS network representatives in December in regard to using the Law Library for newscasts during the 2008 Iowa Caucus.  The Iowa Highway Patrol recently used the Law Library to film a safety commercial for television.

Corson reported that the State Library has subscribed to NewsBank, a database which includes the Des Moines Register as well as six other Iowa newspapers and some magazines.  She displayed some new books that have been purchased for the Iowa collection.  Corson invited the Commissioners to view the portrait of former First Lady Christie Vilsack which hangs in the Johnson Brigham Room, and a display of work by artist Phillip L. Bryant, located on the first floor.

D.  Library Service Area Report – Roy Kenagy, Central Library Service Area (LSA)
Kenagy introduced Dale Vande Haar, chairman of the LSA Executive Trustee Council.  VandeHaar is also a Des Moines Public Library trustee and head of Des Moines public school libraries.  Kenagy reported that the LSAs are trying to advocate for themselves more by setting up an internal lobbying structure. Polk County libraries have been informed that county funding will not continue at the current level.  It is expected that cuts will eventually be around $350,000 and the libraries may have to mutually decide if they can continue to serve an estimated 26,000 rural residents.  Kenagy talked about the “Toddler Fest” program originated by Judy Proksa, children’s librarian at the West Des Moines Public Library.  It is a free program for children ages 2-4 and  is a joint effort between other agencies and area children’s librarians. A Toddler Fest in Des Moines is tentatively scheduled for September 22. At least four other communities have scheduled Toddler Fests in 2007.  Kenagy will do an informational session on the program at the Kids First Conference in April.

6.0 Public Comment
Vande Haar commented that states that provide adequate funds for books and have a strong school library system do not experience low reading test scores.

7.0 Discussion Items
A.  Evaluation of State Library’s 2003-07 Library Service and Technology Act (LSTA) Plan
Wegner reported that work is progressing on the 2003-07 LSTA evaluation. Goals are being reviewed and documented.  A draft of the report will be mailed to Commission members before the April meeting, at which time they will be asked to approve it.  Dixon will soon begin writing the five-year LSTA plan which is due in June.  Dixon asked the Commission if their assumption is that the LSTA-funded activities should primarily have a statewide impact.  All agreed.

B.  PLOW (Putting Libraries on the Web) Progress Report
Dixon gave a brief update on the PLOW project. The second round of PLOW workshops has started and Dixon showed the Commission a sample Web site. The libraries are becoming more familiar with the PLONE software and how to add and change content on the Web site.  Much of the content was preloaded with individual library information, databases, and links to other Web sites. A great deal of credit goes to Marie Harms, Alan Schmitz, and Paul Ertz for their work on this project.  Approximately 280 libraries remain in the project. By spring most of the Web sites will go live and the libraries are expected to keep them updated.  The State Library will provide PLOW participants with sample news releases they can use when their sites go live.

8.0  Adjournment
Gohlinghorst moved to adjourn.  Sposeto seconded.  Motion carried.  Adjourned at 3:00 pm

Next Meeting:  April 16, 12:30 – 3:30 pm.  Room 300, State Library.  Reception for Dale Ross follows meeting.