August 13-14, 2007

M I N U T E S
IOWA COMMISSION OF LIBRARIES
Date:  August 13-14, 2007    Location: Gateway Center, Ames, IA
                                                                                                                                                       
August 13                                     

Hayden Conference Room                               
4:00 – 5:00 pm   Group discussion
6:00 pm               Dinner



August 14                                     

Harvest Room
8:00 am               Breakfast
8:30 am               Meeting begins


Meeting called to order at 8:30 a.m.

1.0   Set Agenda
Agenda set as presented.   

2.0   Approve Minutes
Boice moved to approve the minutes as presented, Freed seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.

3.0   Financial Report
Cox gave a summary of FY07 finances.  State funds for FY07 will be close to zero after paying final costs.  He explained other funds the State Library has received through book sales, the Westgate Endowment, the Library Service and Technology Act (LSTA), the Iowa Center for the Book, the Carver Trust (for an Iowa Center for the Book project) and Gates Grant accounts.  He also reported on the FY08 state and federal appropriations.  All accounts are on target for the new fiscal year. 

4.0   Communications

     A.  Special Reports         
          1.  Proposed State Data Center Web site upgrade – Beth Henning
Henning showed a slide show on the proposed State Data Center Web site upgrade that she presented to the IowAccess Council (IAC).  Henning explained the three phases of the IowAccess grant request process.  She reported that the State Data Center was approved for the first phase.   She also gave a demonstration on the current State Data Center Web site and how the upgrade will improve it.

     B.  Commission Reports
Martin said the projects he reported on in June are doing well.  The Iowa City Public Library’s summer library program distributed 2,500 book bags.  The used book store, Bookends, has moved to its new location on the second floor of the library and is making more money for the library.  Martin invited anyone attending the Iowa Library Conference (ILA) in Coralville in October to visit the Iowa City library.  Gohlinghorst reported that the second series of book talks at the Council Bluffs Public Library begins in September with author David Spicer.  The library is also going to host a program with the head animator for The Simpsons in late October.  The library’s used book sale is in early October.  Martens said the new teacher librarian rules have been adopted.  She also announced that the Department of Education has hired Mary Cameron, youth services consultant for the State Library.  Cameron’s first day with the Department of Education is September 7.  Boice reported that the Davenport area library consortium held an interlibrary loan conference which went well.  He said they will hold another conference next year and every other year after that.  Freed reported that the search continues for a library director at Central College in Pella.
 
     C.  State Librarian’s Report
Wegner reviewed with the Commission the Early Childhood Skills handout, which discusses training for Iowa librarians in early childhood literacy skills conducted by Mary Cameron, State Library Youth Services Consultant, from 2001 to 2007.  Wegner said that an excellent foundation has been laid on which to build additional early childhood literacy training for librarians and parents.  Attendance exceeded 1000 at seven different programs coordinated by Cameron.  Wegner also noted that two State Library staff members were speakers at the recent American Library Association annual conference: Barbara Corson on Iowa Publications Online and Michele Leininger on blended online learning.  Wegner reminded commissioners that ILA is being held in Coralville October 10-12 and asked them to advise her if they plan to attend.  She reported that the State Library is considering hiring a cataloger and that ads for the Youth Services Consultant position will be posted as soon as possible.

5.0   Public Comment
None

6.0   Action Items
     A.  Library Service Area (LSA) board members
    A list of proposed appointments/certifications compiled by Sandy Dixon was provided to the Commission.  Martens moved to appoint the following LSA board members, Boyd seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.
Central – Joyce Godwin, director, Indianola Public Library
North Central – Nancy Suby, director, Fertile Public Library
Southeast – Cheryl Leffler, trustee, Blakesburg Public Library

Boyd moved to certify the following LSA board members, Martens seconded.  Motion carried unanimously. 
East Central – Arron Wings, director, Kirkwood Community College Library
Northwest – Molly Galm, director of library services, Northwest Iowa Community College
Southeast - Cynthia Blinksinop, head of materials and media distribution, Mississippi Bend Area
Education Agency
   
B.   FY09 budget request
Wegner explained the state’s timetable for submitting FY09 budget requests.  All departments have been instructed to request level funding.  The Commission expressed concern about the adequacy of level funding.  Boice moved that the Commission express its concern that level funding for the State Library of Iowa does not adequately meet the library needs of the citizens of Iowa.  Boyd seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.  Discussion about how to best communicate the concern will continue at the October meeting. 

7.0   Discussion Items
     A.  Revised LSTA five-year plan
Wegner explained requested changes to the plan from Institute of Museums and Library Services (IMLS) and will report back to the Commission in October.

Recessed at 10:33 a.m. to join the “Libraries on the Prairie” workshop.  Resumed meeting after lunch with librarians.

Meeting called back to order at 1:00 p.m. and discussion ensued regarding conversations Commissioners had with librarians attending the workshop. 

During the October meeting, the Commission will discuss changing its December meeting time from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

8.0   Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 1:43 p.m.

NEXT MEETING:  October 19, 2007, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., State Library

Submitted by Carol Simmons

NOTE:  The October 19 meeting was canceled.