Nebraska Library Commission - Minutes
Nebraska Library Commission
March 11, 2005
MINUTES
The Nebraska Library Commission held its
regular meeting Friday, March 11, 2005, at the Central Community College,
Kearney. Notice of the meeting was submitted to local newspapers (Lincoln
Journal-Star, Omaha World Herald), and posted on the Nebraska
Library Commission Homepage.
Vice-Chair Velma Sims-Shipley called the
meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. Members present: Jean Ahrens, Patrick Gross, Mary
Nelson, Velma Sims-Shipley, and Carol Spencer. Staff present: Rod Wagner and
Maria Medrano-Nehls. Guests: Kathy Tooker, Sharon Osenga, John Seyfarth and
Nancy Escamilla.
Approval of Agenda:
A motion was made
to approve the agenda. Motion carried on roll call vote: Jean Ahrens - aye; Pat
Gross - aye; Mary Nelson - aye; Velma Sims-Shipley - aye; and Carol Spencer -
aye. Motion approved.
Approval of the Minutes (January 7,
2005):
A motion was made to approve the January 2005 meeting minutes. Motion
carried on roll call vote: Pat Gross - aye; Mary Nelson - aye; Velma
Sims-Shipley - aye; Carol Spencer - aye; and Jean Ahrens - aye. Motion
approved.
PUBLIC FORUM
Nothing to report.
Correspondence and Communication
Rod Wagner reported that the Tekamah public
library recently sent Sally Snyder, NLC children and young adult services
coordinator, an e-mail message to report that a Tekamah resident was so
impressed with the library's teen space project that they donated $500 to the
project. Tekamah was one of several libraries that received a Library
Commission grant for a teen space project.
Chair's Report and Commissioners' Comments
Vice-Chair Velma Sims-Shipley reported that
the Fremont public library was among the libraries that received a grant for a
teen space project. The Fremont public library will hold its annual book sale
in April. Last year, the book sale resulted in over $10,000 in receipts.
Mary Nelson reported the Holdrege public
library is also working on a teen space project funded by a Commission grant.
Local youth are working on the project and it seems to be going well. The
Holdrege public library board will be interviewing candidates for the library
director's position.
Mary shared an article about the McCook
Community College library. The article concerned wireless laptop computers that
are used at the college library with great success.
Carol Spencer reported that the Broken Bow
public library is working on its teen space project. Carol attended Nebraska
Library Legislative Day and found it very interesting and worthwhile. The
Broken Bow public library has had a budget problem and was concerned that the
library would lose eligibility for state aid funds. A community member donated
$2,500 to the city with a stipulation that it go to the library. There has been
good community support for the library and residents have been attending City
Council meetings. There has been a public uproar over the library being closed
on Saturdays due to budget reductions. The library will soon resume Saturday
hours.
Patrick Gross reported that he recently
visited the Pierce public library. The Wayne public library foundation group
met recently and decided to form a library friends group.
Jean Ahrens reported that the Scottsbluff
public library has chosen an architectural firm to conduct a building
feasibility study. The library is planning several activities for the One Book
- One State project, including a brown bag lunch book discussion series and
some evening book discussions. The Library Friends annual meeting was held in
February with a presentation on women mystery writers. A local poet will read
from her work this spring.
Director's Report
Personnel - Rod Wagner reported that the
Commission is moving forward to recruit for two positions. A project assistant
position has been advertised for assistance with the recruitment and retention
LSTA grant project. This will be a three-year position funded by the grant. A
library technology consultant position has been posted for applications. This
position will be initially funded from the Gates Foundation grant. Permanent
funding will be sought to continue the position after grant funds are no longer
available. Scott Sholz was recently hired to fill the vacant Talking Book and
Braille Service circulation coordinator position; this position has been vacant
since Cherie Longmuir left to become the Panhandle Library System Coordinator.
The position was held open due to budget cuts and uncertainty over future
funding. Scott holds a B.S. degree in music and has experience in audio
recording. Part of Scott's job will be to assist with the TBBS recording
studio.
League of Municipalities Midwinter Conference
/ Library Boards - Rod Wagner reported that he, Brenda Ealey, Kathy Tooker, and
Kristen Rogge attended the conference and hosted the NLC / Regional Library
Systems exhibit. It was a great opportunity to meet with mayors, city council
members, and city employees from across the state. The conference was held the
same day as the hearing on LB 599 (concerning public library boards). Rod
reported that following the hearing, the General Affairs Committee voted to not
advance the bill. The library trustee survey that Lynn Bradman conducted has
some interesting results and should provide good information for work with
library trustees.
The survey results may also help to address
some of the issues raised by the LB 599 proponents. Joan Birnie (Broken Bow
library director), Gary Wright (Broken Bow library board president), Penny
Jeffery (Oconto library director) and Rod Wagner testified in opposition to
LB599 at the legislative hearing.
One Book - One State - Rod Wagner reported
that many activities are planned for the One Book - One State project. The
Cather Foundation is due recognition and thanks for initiating the project. The
Nebraska Library Commission has had involvement in the project by way of the
Nebraska Center for the Book. One of the NLC's activities was a drawing for
book discussion kits. The winning libraries will receive a package with My
Antonia books and reader guides. Also, the Library Commission will host a
book discussion on April 13 which will be open to the public. The Commission
has also had extensive involvement publicizing and promoting the project.
2005 Nebraska Book Festival - The festival
will be held October 7-8 at Nebraska Wesleyan University. Ted Kooser has agreed
to participate and will be the keynote speaker.
Brownville Book Festival - Rod Wagner
reported that Brownville (Nebraska's Oldest Little River Town) will hold a book
festival (Wine, Writers and Song Festival) on April 23-24. Brownville
was designated an International Booktown in 2002 by Richard Booth, founder of
the International Booktown movement.
Rod Wagner thanked Kathy Tooker for her great
organization skills in arranging the Nebraska Library Legislative Day event.
Legislative Day participation has grown each year. This year, because of the
growth in participation, the luncheon was held at The Cornhusker Hotel. The
youth recognition activity has become a successful component of Legislative
Day.
Financial Report
The January and February reports were
included in meeting packets. Rod stated that, overall, expenses are within
budget. Personnel expenditures will increase with re-filling of some vacant
positions, but these expenses will be within budgeted amounts.
Budget Hearing - The state revenue
forecasting board recently met and increased state tax revenue projections for
the next two years. Both the Governor and Appropriations Committee have
recommended a small state funds increase for the Library Commission's operating
budget for the next biennium. The Commission's budget hearing was held earlier
this week. The hearing was devoted to addressing the Commission's request for
additional state funds for public library aid, regional library systems, and
database licenses. After all the budget hearings are completed, the committee
will make decisions on budget recommendations to present to the legislature. It
will probably be late April before the committee's budget recommendations for
the Library Commission are known. Rivkah Sass (Omaha Public Library), Sally
Payne (Papillion Public Library) and Patty Birch (North Platte High School)
also testified at the budget hearing.
Unfinished Business
There was no unfinished business.
New
Business
Out-of-State Travel - Rod Wagner requested
approval to attend the Western Council of State Libraries meeting in Glenwood
Springs, Colorado, from April 17-19. He also requested approval to attend the
Chief Officers of State Library Agencies meeting and National Library
Legislative Day in Washington D.C., May 2, 3 and 4. Motion carried on roll call
vote: Mary Nelson - aye; Velma Sims-Shipley - aye; Carol Spencer - aye; Jean
Ahrens - aye; and Pat Gross - aye. Motion approved.
Adjourn
Vice-Chair Velma Sims-Shipley adjourned the
meeting at 9:15 a.m.
Maria Medrano-Nehls, Secretary
All attachments are available upon request. If you would like a copy,
please contact Sue Biltoft at the Nebraska Library Commission,
800-307-2665 or 402-471-2045.