Nebraska Library Commission - Minutes

Nebraska Library Commission

January 13, 1995

MINUTES

The Nebraska Library Commission held its regular meeting Friday, January 13, 1995 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, Jean Sanders, Myrna Vollbrecht, Frances Lovell, and Tom Harvey. Dr. Robert McPherson was absent. Staff present: Rod Wagner, Jim Minges, Elaine Miller. Other Library Commission staff present for the first part of meeting: Judy Winkler, Cathy Hatterman, Janet Greser, and Cindi Hickey. There were no guests present.

Approval of Agenda: It was moved by Frances Lovell and seconded by Myrna Vollbrecht to approve the agenda. Motion carried on a roll call vote: Norman-aye; Sanders-aye; Vollbrecht-aye; Lovell-aye; McPherson-absent; Harvey-aye.

Approval of the minutes of the November 4, 1994 meeting. It was moved by Myrna Vollbrecht and seconded by Jean Sanders to approve the minutes of the November 4, 1994 meeting. Motion carried on a roll call vote: Norman-aye; Sanders-aye; Vollbrecht-aye; Lovell-aye; McPherson-absent; Harvey-aye.

II. PUBLIC FORUM

Rod Wagner announced and introduced the Library Commission's employee of the year Judy Winkler. Vern Buis was announced as the Library Commission's manager of the year. Vern was not present for the meeting. New employees introduced to the Commissioners were: Janet Greser as NE Online Computer Desk Help Person, (Janet reported on and handed out material to the commissioners on how to use the Internet (Pine) E-Mail), Cathy Hatterman as Acquisitions Librarian in the Library Resource Center, and Cindi Hickey as NE Online Librarian.

III. CORRESPONDENCE AND COMMUNICATIONS

A letter from the United States Government Printing Office requesting the Library Commission be a provider of electronic access to some Congressional publications; such as the Congressional Record, Federal Register, and Congressional Bills databases on Nebraska Online. The Library Commission will be responding to the request in the future. (Attachment I.)

Letters from Sonny Foster, Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Administrative Services, on budget reductions for vacancy savings and streamlining government. (Attachment II and III.)

A letter from Carol Speicher, administrator of the Northeast Library System, concerning the Library Commission's Guidelines for Service, encouraging the Library Commission to reconsider the guidelines for per capita expenditures for public libraries. (Attachment IV.)

A letter to Senator Tim Hall of the Nebraska Legislature from Rod Wagner.

The legislature is looking at means by which to provide public access to legislative information. The Library Commission for several years has been providing access to legislative databases for Nebraska libraries. The Library Commission has requested two items: one is to provide public access so that individuals can access bills, statutes, and legislative hearing schedules through Nebraska Online. The second request: access to functions that are available to Senators' and their staff, which presently are not available to the general public. (Attachment V.)

IV. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

The Chairman had no report.

V. DIRECTOR'S REPORT

State Legislative Issues for 1995: Update on the Public Library Laws revision. The Library Commission has received updated copies of bill drafts for the Public Library Laws that were introduced last year. Several meetings have been held since the last legislative session to discuss changes to incorporate into a new bill.

The Nebraska Library Association (NLA) has scheduled its annual Legislative Day for Monday, February 13, 1995, at the Library Commission.

The budget hearing for the Library Commission is scheduled for February 28, 1995.

Federal Legislative Issues for 1995: With the new congress federal legislative issues are very much undecided. A new Federal Library Program is being worked on to replace the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) when its authorization ends. If LSCA funding were to be canceled the Library Commission would lose a nearly a third of its funding. LSCA is currently funded through the October, 1995.

Personnel: The Library Commission is currently at full staff. State Personnel is working with the Commission to update specifications for librarian positions at the Library Commission. Librarian position classifications have not been reviewed for over 10 years. The Governor has extended the hiring freeze.

Governor Nelson has recommended an increase in funding for the NE Online Service. Inclusion in the Governor's recommended funding is continuation of toll-free access for Nebraska Online, and providing authority to develop the Tier II functions.

Grant Projects; National Science Foundation: Work on the National Science Project is under way. The primary functions of this project are information content, identifying the types of training needs that library personnel have for use of electronic information services, and the kinds of information that would be made available through electronic library networks.

National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA): The

United States Department of Commerce awarded the State of Nebraska a technology infrastructure grant to help plan for statewide information technology development. The Library Commission and several other agencies are collecting information for preparation of an implementation grant application through the NTIA.

Department of Commerce Small Business Administration: Janet Greser and Cindi Hickey have been employed by the Library Commission as a result of the Department of Economic Development's Small Business Administration Grant.

VI. FINANCIAL REPORT

November and December Expenditure Reports: Commissioners received and reviewed the November and December 1994 Expenditure and Financial Report. (Attachment VI & VII.)

Federal Funds Audit Appeal Status Report: The Library Commission is working with an attorney from the Attorney General's Office. The Library Commission is now in a negotiation situation with the United States Department of Education concerning the findings under the federal funds audit.

VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Request for Proposals (Nebraska Library Commission): It was moved by Tom Harvey and seconded by Jean Sanders to approve the request authorizing the Library Commission's staff to enter negotiations for completion of a contract with Nebrask@Interactive, and the Director be authorized to sign an agreement provided the agreement is also approved by the other participating agencies of the Nebraska Information Consortium. Motion carried on a roll call vote: Norman-aye; Sanders-aye; Vollbrecht-aye; Lovell-aye; McPherson-absent; Harvey-aye.

VIII. NEW BUSINESS

State Advisory Council on Libraries Annual Report: Commissioners received and reviewed the State Advisory Council on Libraries Annual Report. (Attachment VIII.)

State Advisory Council on Libraries Appointments: It was moved by Myrna Vollbrecht and seconded by Frances Lovell to reappoint Phyllis Brunken, Laura Cundiff and Jeanne Leader, and to appoint Devra Dragos, Sylvia Person, Jeanne Saathoff, Kathy Tooker, Troy Strom and Richard Voeltz to the State Advisory Council on Libraries. Motion carried on a roll call vote: Norman-aye; Sanders-aye; Vollbrecht-aye; Lovell-aye; McPherson-absent; Harvey-aye.

Out-of-State Travel Request: It was moved by Myrna Vollbrecht and seconded by Tom Harvey to approve an out-of-state travel request from Rod Wagner to attend the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) meeting in Philadelphia, PA, February 2-8. Motion carried on roll call vote: Norman-aye; Sanders-aye; Vollbrecht-aye; Lovell-aye; McPherson-absent; Harvey-aye.

Director's Performance Review: It was moved by Tom Harvey and seconded by Jean Sanders to go into Executive Session to discuss the Director's performance review. Motion carried on roll call vote: Norman-aye; Sanders-aye; Vollbrecht-aye; Lovell-aye; McPherson-absent; Harvey-aye.

It was moved by Tom Harvey and seconded by Myrna Vollbrecht to approve the Commissioners recommendation of a 4% salary increase for the Library Commission's Director, Rod Wagner, effective July 1, 1995. Motion carried on roll call vote: Norman-aye; Sanders-aye; Vollbrecht-aye; Lovell-aye; McPherson-absent; Harvey-aye.

IX. ADJOURNMENT

It was moved by Jean Sanders and seconded by Tom Harvey to adjourn the meeting at 11:40 a.m. Motion carried on roll call vote: Norman-aye; Sanders-aye; Vollbrecht-aye; Lovell-aye; McPherson-absent; Harvey-aye.

Elaine Miller, Secretary