Nebraska Library Commission - Minutes
Nebraska Library Commission
May 9, 1997
MINUTES
The Nebraska Library Commission held its regular meeting
Friday, May 9, 1997, 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 Nebrask@ Online.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Ron Norman called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m.
Members present: Ron Norman, Karen Warner, Frances Lovell and Katherine
Fletcher. Staff present: Rod Wagner, Nancy Busch and Elaine Miller.
Approval of Agenda: It was moved by Karen Warner and seconded
by Katherine Fletcher to approve the agenda. Motion carried on roll call
vote: Lovell-aye; Sanders-absent; Norman-aye; Warner-aye; Fletcher-aye.
Approval of the Minutes of the March 14, 1997 meeting:
It was moved by Frances Lovell and seconded by Karen Warner to approve
the minutes of the March 14, 1997 meeting. Motion carried on roll call
vote: Lovell-aye; Sanders-absent; Norman-aye; Warner-aye; Fletcher-aye.
II. PUBLIC FORUM
No guests were present.
III. CORRESPONDENCE AND COMMUNICATIONS
A letter of resignation from the Nebraska Library Commission
was received from Dr. Robert McPherson. The resignation is effective
immediately.
In his letter, Dr. McPherson referred to his residence in Florida and partial
year return residence in Nebraska. It was noted that Dr. McPherson is just
a month short of completing his second term on the Commission. (Attachment
I)
Several letters and messages of appreciation to the Library
Commission and staff received were distributed to Commissioners. Karen
Warner commended the work that has been done by Library Commission staff
on the trial online databases.
IV. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
Ron Norman reported that he had attended the Public Forum
on Nebraskan's Library & Information Service Needs in Kearney on April
16.
V. DIRECTOR'S REPORT
National Legislative Day (Wagner and Warner): On Monday,
May 5, Rod Wagner, Kathy Tooker and Karen Warner attended briefings on
various federal legislative issues of interest to libraries. Laureen Riedesel,
Beatrice Public Library Director and Vice-Chair of the Nebraska Center
for the Book, attended the Annual Meeting of the Library of Congress Center
for the Book. On Tuesday, May 6, Karen Warner, Kathy Tooker, Laureen Riedesel
and Rod Wagner attended the Nebraska Congressional Breakfast and then
participated
in National Legislative Day activities in Washington, D.C. The Nebraska
Congressional Delegation is the only delegation that has a breakfast for
its constituents. The breakfast is held every Tuesday morning when the
Congress is in session. The group met with Congressional staff who work
most closely with the issues of interest to libraries.
Karen Warner reported that it worked very well with each
person attending bringing their own perspective to the forums. Kathy Tooker
told how the LSCA programs have been beneficial to libraries, Laureen Riedesel
discussed literacy issues and how libraries are very involved in literacy.
Karen Warner discussed the America Reads Program and how important the
program is for children and how Community Colleges could become involved
in the program. Rod Wagner discussed the transition to the new Library
Services and Technology Act, universal service issues related to the federal
telecommunications legislation, and budget needs of the federal documents
program.
Status of Personnel Reclassifications: The Department
of Administrative Services - State Personnel Division has approved the
proposal (with some modifications in specifications and pay grades) for
new positions and specifications to replace current Commission librarian
related positions. The new positions, Librarian and Senior Librarian will
replace the Librarian I, II, and III level positions. The Librarian position
will be the beginning level professional position (master's level degree
from an American Library Association accredited library school). New positions
within the Talking Book and Braille Service remain for completion.
Position Vacancies and Recruitment: Rod Wagner announced
that Richard Miller has been appointed to the Director of Library Development
position. Vickie Beaver, State Documents Assistant, will be resigning from
her position at the Library Commission, effective in early June. The position
of catalog librarian at the Library Commission is under recruitment.
Farmer's Mutual Lawsuit: Final oral arguments were made
on Monday, May 5. The judge is currently reviewing testimony, evidence,
and legal issues and will be making a ruling in the near future. Rod Wagner
reviewed the circumstances that prompted the litigation.
1997/99 Biennium Budget Status: The Appropriations Committee
has introduced their budget bills. For the Library Commission, the
Appropriations
Committee did approve the additional funds needed to pay for the additional
lease costs through the biennium. An additional $500,000, in response to
the campaign for the Libraries for the 21st Century, to the
Library Commission in ongoing funding for each year of the biennium. This
increase would be the single largest increase the Library Commission has
ever received in state funding. Decisions on how the funds would be spent
is part of the Library Commission's Long Range Plan and the State Advisory
Council will be involved in recommending how these funds will be used if
appropriated. The budget bills await approval of the Legislature and Governor. The Governor
may veto all or part of any appropriation.
Library and NLC Related State Legislation: LB 590 is the
bill that relates to Nebrask@ Online. There are also various property
tax related bills that will make adjustments to last year's legislation
that is significant for Nebraska public and school libraries. As of May
1, the Library Commission's Web page has an update on LB 660 and LB 686
(state telecommunications legislation related to universal service). LB
660 and LB 686 are the bills that state the layout of guidelines and authority
for the Nebraska Universal Service Fund. The bill would also put in place
a continued group that currently exists as the Nebraska Universal Service
Task Force, that Rod Wagner is currently serving on, and would create an
ongoing advisory body. The task force has been amended so that there would
not be a majority of telecommunications industry representatives on the
advisory board. The task force is presently made up of approximately 75%
industry representatives. LB 250 was passed several weeks ago (regarding
public library laws). The Governor has signed the bill so it is now law.
Long Range Plan Development (Public Forums, etc): A new
long range plan has to be submitted for the new federal library program.
A preliminary plan has already been submitted. At the same time staff have
been addressing the new state monies that the Library Commission may receive
and how that money would be used in Nebraska.
Public Forums: Nancy Busch facilitated the first three
public forums in Scottsbluff, North Platte and Kearney. Rod Wagner facilitated
the last three public forums in Columbus, Papillion and Lincoln. Attendance
was less than hoped for. However, the discussions were good and lots of
input was received on library and information service needs and priorities.
Staff have also been receiving comment cards which were distributed to
libraries for input.
VI. FINANCIAL REPORT
March and April Expenditure and Financial Reports: The March
and April 1997 Expenditure and Financial Reports were received and reviewed
by the Commissioners. (Attachments II and III.)
VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
There was no unfinished business.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
NLC Contracts in Effect (as of May, 1997): A list of current
contracts in effect as of May 1, 1997 for the Nebraska Library Commission
were received and reviewed by the Commissioners. (Attachment IV.)
Grants Issued During FY 1996/97: A report on grant funding
for both state and federal funding was handed out to the Commissioners.
(Attachment V.)
Commission Members' Travel Policy: It was moved by Karen
Warner and seconded by Frances Lovell to approve the Commission Member
Travel Policy. (Attachment VI.)Motion carried on roll call vote: Lovell-aye;
Sanders-absent; Norman-aye; Warner-aye and Fletcher-aye.
Out-Of-State Travel Request: It was moved by Karen Warner
and seconded by Katherine Fletcher to approve the out-of-state travel request
for Rod Wagner to attend the Western Council of State Libraries, Chief
Officers of State Library Agencies, and the American Library Association
Annual Conference to be held June 26-30, 1997, in San Francisco. Motion
carried on roll call vote: Lovell-aye; Sanders-absent; Norman-aye; Warner-aye;
Fletcher-aye.
Recognition for Dr. McPherson: Commission members requested
that Rod Wagner look into different ways of recognition for outgoing Commission
members that can be carried out for Dr. McPherson and future retiring
Commission
members. Action will be taken at the next meeting on what type of recognition
for retiring Commission members. Commission members requested that Rod
Wagner write a thank you letter to Dr. McPherson for his years of service
as a Commission member.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by Karen Warner and seconded by Frances Lovell
to adjourn the meeting at 11:03 a.m. Motion carried on roll call vote:
Lovell-aye; Sanders-absent; Norman-aye; Warner-aye; Fletcher-aye.
________________________
Elaine Miller, Secretary
All attachments are available upon request. If you
would like a copy, please contact Elaine Miller at the Nebraska Library
Commission, 800-307-2665 or 402-471-2045.
Attachment I - Letter from Dr. Robert McPherson
Attachment II - March Expenditure and Financial Report
Attachment III - April Expenditure and Financial Report
Attachment IV - NLC Contracts in effect as of May, 1997
Attachment V - Grants Issued during FY 1996/97
Attachment VI - Commission Members' Travel Policy