Nebraska Library Commission - Minutes
Nebraska Library Commission
January 4, 1994
MINUTES
The Nebraska Library Commission held a regular meeting on
Friday, January 14, 1994 at 9:30 a.m. at the Nebraska Library Commission,
The Atrium, 1200 "N" Street, Suite 120, Lincoln, Nebraska. Notice of the
Meeting was submitted to local newspapers (Lincoln Journal-Star,
Omaha World Herald), and posted on Nebraska Online.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Ron Norman called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m.
Members present: Ron Norman, Dr. Robert McPherson, Jean Sanders, Marge
Curtiss, and Thomas Harvey. Myrna Vollbrecht was absent. Staff present:
Rod Wagner, Jim Minges, and Elaine Miller. Others present: Jean Dale, Kate
Marek, and Carol Speicher.
Approval of Agenda: It was moved by Marge Curtiss and
seconded by Thomas Harvey to approve the agenda as distributed. Motion
carried on roll call vote: Harvey-aye; Norman-aye; Sanders-aye;
Vollbrecht-absent;
Curtiss-aye; McPherson-aye.
Approval of minutes of September 2, 1993: It was moved
by Dr. Robert McPherson and seconded by Marge Curtiss to approve the minutes
of September 2, 1993. Motion carried on roll call vote: Harvey-aye; Norman-aye;
Sanders-aye; Vollbrecht-absent; Curtiss-aye; McPherson-aye.
II. PUBLIC FORUM
No guests were present at the beginning of the meeting.
Time was then allowed for Commissioners to discuss informally
any items of interest.
III. CORRESPONDENCE AND COMMUNICATION
The Chairman requested that the Secretary send a letter of
condolence to fellow Commissioner Myrna Vollbrecht on the death of her
husband. The Chairman also reported that Ray Means, Director of the
Reinert/Alumni
Memorial Library at Creighton University in Omaha passed away.
Letters from Gil Feis, Administrator, Educational Service
Unit #9, Hastings (Attachment I); Barbara-Rose Collins, Member of Congress
(Attachment II); and Steve Fossellman, Director, Edith Abbott Memorial
Library, Grand Island (Attachment III).
IV. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
Ron Norman reported that he had attended the Annual meeting
of the Nebraska Library Association in Grand Island last October.
V. DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Federal Legislative Issues: Rod Wagner reported that he is
serving on the COSLA Legislative Committee which has prepared recommendations
for a new Federal Library Program to come into being after the current
Library Services and Construction Act expires in 1995. COSLA and several
other national organizations including the American Library Association
Legislative Committee, American Library Association Public Library Division,
and the Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies Division of The American
Library Association and the Urban Library Council are working together
to develop a plan and proposal for a new federal library program.
State Legislative Issues: The Public Library Laws Revision
Proposal has been cast into Bill LB997 (Attachment IV). A hearing on LB
997 and LB 932 (non-resident fees) will be held at 2:30 p.m. on January
24 in the Capitol. The Nebraska Library Association is sponsoring a Legislative
Day, scheduled for February 24.
Nebraska Online/Internet: A bill seeking inclusion of
public libraries for telecomputing services through Educational Service
Units is expected to be introduced. Last session a bill was enacted that
permitted Educational Service Units to levy additional tax revenue to purchase
and install equipment for Educational Service Units to provide access to
the Internet for public schools. The Library Commission has proposed an
amendment to that statue to permit Educational Service Units to also provide
services to public libraries. The Library Commission has its own Internet
connection. One of the objectives of the Commission has been to provide
a link through the Internet to Nebraska Online.
Continuous Library Improvement Program: Jim Minges, Library
Development Director, reported that a program has been developed nationally
called the "Public Library Development Program". The Commission is trying
to develop a different approach in Nebraska that would emphasize simplicity
and be useful for all public libraries. This program would include a model
that would allow libraries to use an entirely different model if they so
choose, just as long they have a community based planning process that
would involve community assessment, mission setting for the library, and
some very specific short term action steps as an outcome. In years to come
the Commission would link this process to state aid to public libraries.
This program will be introduced through a monthly satellite program beginning
in February.
Staffing: Currently the Library Commission has three vacant
positions within the agency. Interviews are presently being held for the
library assistant position. Two professional positions are vacant including
the Network Services Director. Applicatons for this position are due January
14. The position recently vacated by Kate Wakefield is being updated.
VI. FINANCIAL REPORT
August - December, 1993 Expenditure/Financial Reports:
Commissioners
received and reviewed the August-December, 1994 Expenditure and Financial
Reports (Attachments V-IX).
VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Regional Library System Report and Recommendations: It was
moved by Jean Sanders and seconded by Thomas Harvey to approve the Regional
Library System Report and Recommendations (Attachment X). Motion Carried
on roll call vote: Harvey-aye; Norman-aye; Sanders-aye; Vollbrecht-absent;
Curtiss-aye; McPherson-aye.
Long Range Plan: Commissioners received and reviewed the
Nebraska Long Range Plan for Library Services (Attachment XI).
VIII. NEW BUSINESS
State Advisory Council on Libraries Annual Report: Commissioners
received and reviewed the State Advisory Council on Libraries Annual Report
(Attachment XII).
Issues for 1994 State Advisory Council on Libraries: It
was moved by Thomas Harvey and seconded by Dr. Robert McPherson to have
the following issues be considered by the State Advisory Council on Libraries
in 1994: (1) State and Federal Telecommunications; (2) Information Technology;
(3) State and Federal Library Legislation and Funding. Motion carried on
roll call vote: Harvey-aye; Norman-aye; Sanders-aye; Vollbrecht-absent;
Curtiss-aye; McPherson-aye.
State Advisory Council Appointments: It was moved by Marge
Curtiss and seconded by Jean Sanders to reappoint Becky Baker, Director,
Seward Public Library; Verda Bialac, Assistant Director, Omaha Public Library;
and Lupe Mier, Director, Bellevue Public Library for 3 year terms. To appoint
Dr. Elmer Baker, Administrator, York College, and Sally Wise, Director,
Law Library, University of Nebraska-Lincoln until 1995. To appoint Maureen
Battistella, Library Director, Wayne State College; Dena Crews, Technology
Librarian, Chadron Public Library; Sharon Wiegert, Children's Librarian,
Papillion Public Library for 3 year terms. Motion carried on roll call
vote: Harvey-aye; Norman-aye; Sanders-aye; Vollbrecht-absent; Curtiss-aye;
McPherson-aye.
Video Service and Fee Policies: It was moved by Dr. Robert
McPherson and seconded by Jean Sanders to approve the changes in the Video
Service and Fee Policies (Attachment XIII) effective January 1, 1994. Motion
carried by roll call vote: Harvey-aye; Norman-aye; Sanders-aye;
Vollbrecht-absent;
Curtiss-aye; McPherson-aye.
Out-Of-State Travel Requests: It was moved by Marge Curtiss
and seconded by Jean Sanders to approve the out-of-state travel request
for Rod Wagner to attend a COSLA meeting and the ALA Midwinter Conference
in Los Angeles, California on February 3-8, 1994 and retroactive the Regional
OCLC Network Directors meeting in Dublin, Ohio that was held November 16-19,
1993. Motion carried on roll call vote: Harvey-aye; Norman-aye; Sanders-aye;
Vollbrecht-absent; Curtiss-aye; McPherson-aye.
Director's Performance Review: It was moved by Marge Curtiss
and seconded by Dr. Robert McPherson to go into Executive Session to discuss
the Director's performance and salary at 11:10 a.m. Motion carried on roll
call vote: Harvey-aye; Norman-aye; Sanders-aye; Vollbrecht-absent; Curtiss-aye;
McPherson-aye.
The meeting reconvened in open session at 11:25 a.m.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by Dr. Robert McPherson and seconded by Marge
Curtiss to adjourn the meeting at 11:30 a.m. Motion carried on roll call
vote: Harvey-aye; Norman-aye; Sanders-aye; Vollbrecht-absent; Curtiss-aye;
McPherson-aye
Elaine Miller, Secretary