Nebraska Library Commission - Minutes
Nebraska Library Commission
January 6, 2006
MINUTES
The Nebraska Library Commission held its regular meeting
Friday, January 6, 2006, at the Nebraska Library Commission. Notice of the
meeting was submitted to local newspapers (Lincoln Journal Star,
Omaha
World Herald), and posted on the Nebraska Library Commission Web site.
Chair Velma Sims-Shipley called the meeting to order at
9:30 a.m. Members present: Jean Ahrens, John Dale, Patrick Gross, Mary Nelson,
Velma Sims-Shipley and Carol Spencer. Staff present: Rod Wagner and Maria
Medrano-Nehls.
Approval of Agenda: A motion was made and
seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried on roll call vote: Jean Ahrens
- aye; John Dale - aye; Patrick Gross - aye; Mary Nelson - aye; Velma
Sims-Shipley - aye; and Carol Spencer - aye; Motion approved.
Approval of the Minutes (November 4, 2005): A
motion was made and seconded to approve the November 2005 meeting minutes.
Motion carried on roll call vote: John Dale - aye; Patrick Gross - aye; Mary
Nelson - aye; Velma Sims-Shipley - aye; Carol Spencer - aye; and Jean Ahrens -
abstain. Motion approved.
PUBLIC FORUM
There was no public comment.
Correspondence
and Communication
Rod Wagner referred to a letter received from Mary Reiman,
Lincoln Public Schools Library Media Services Director, thanking the
Commission for the Ted Kooser program, Poetry - Capturing the Moment,
DVD. The Commission received several letters and e-mails expressing
appreciation for the Kooser program disc and poster.
Patricia Gross, Gering High School Librarian, sent a
letter thanking the Commission for grant monies allowing schools to use
e-books through the Nebraska Library Commission's NetLibrary arrangement with
Solinet.
Rod noted Congressman Tom Osborne's letter regarding the
USA PATRIOT Act.
Chair's Report
and Commissioners' Comments
Velma Sims-Shipley reported that the Fremont public
library purchased a new digital microfilm printer. Fremont is celebrating its
150 year anniversary in 2006. Bill Kloefkorn will write a poem for Fremont's
anniversary celebration and read it at John C. Fremont Days.
Patrick Gross reported that Wayne public library was part
of a $16,080 Technology, Innovative, Grant, Economic, Revitalization (Tiger)
grant. The Ponca public library is $3,000 from its goal of a new addition to
the library.
Carol Spencer reported that Broken Bow residents recently
voted on the city's local sales tax. Voters had the choice to discontinue the
1% tax, extend the tax or increase the tax to 1.5%. They chose to increase the
sales tax starting in 2007. The added .5% will be used for operations. It is
hoped that some of the money will trickle down to the library. The library
will start the Paws for Books program and a Lapsit Story Time. The library
received a $2,640 Youth Grant for Excellence from the Nebraska Library
Commission to purchase portable library packs. Broken Bow has many home
schooled children so the packs will be helpful to them. Carol recently visited
the Valentine public library and introduced herself to the new Director, Ann
Quigley.
Jean Ahrens reported that Nadine DiBacco left her
position as Director of the Gering public library. Gering has been selected as
a site for the Prime Time Family Reading Program. The program is targeted at
the growing Hispanic community and not only benefits the library but it also
benefits high-risk readers. Jean reported that the Panhandle Library System
received a $2,000 Youth Grant for Excellence from the Nebraska Library
Commission to have Sherry Clark present at different sites in the Panhandle
System area. Judy Shakner, author, will visit three schools and several
libraries. The Scottsbluff public library is celebrating its fortieth
anniversary in the current building. They will use this as the kickoff for
fundraising for the new library addition.
John Dale reported that Lincoln City Libraries has added
a computer booking system to reserve computer time. Myrna Tewes and Marti
Fritzen will be retiring this year. John will be leading a couple of booktalks
on two of Harold Bloom's books.
Mary Nelson reported that Sherry Houston, RVLS System
Administrator, reported that there were several new people hired in RVLS area
libraries last year, and there are many training events coming up for library
personnel and trustees. The Holdrege library book sale has been renamed the
Holdrege bookfest. The Friends group purchased a digital camera and projector
for the library.
Director's
Report
Prime Time Family Reading Program - Rod Wagner reported
that the Nebraska Library Commission has a role in an up-coming national
conference for the Prime Time Family Reading Program. The conference was to be
held in New Orleans but due to Hurricane Katrina those plans were disrupted.
The Nebraska Humanities Council offered to host the conference in Lincoln.
Before the conference begins, the NHC is bringing together State Program
Directors and conference presenters at the Nebraska Library Commission offices
for an all day meeting. The Library Commission provided grant funding to the
Nebraska Humanities Council to supplement the family reading program. The
Commission funds pay for a youth intern in the participating libraries. At the
November State Advisory Council on Libraries meeting, Nancy Escamilla talked
about the intern selected in Scottsbluff. The young lady is very enthusiastic,
delighted and proud of her selection as an intern. The youth interns are a
component of the Commission's recruitment and retention project. It is hoped
that the youth intern stipends will encourage young people to become
interested in library careers. Nancy Escamilla has four or five of her teen
youth group who have expressed interest in library careers. Each library
hosting the Prime Time program will have a paid youth intern.
READ Posters - Rod Wagner stated that posters were made
of many different people at the NLA/NEMA conference including the Governor and
his wife and Lincoln Mayor Colleen Seng. The Commissioners would like to have
posters made of themselves with their favorite book.
Consumer Health Information Symposium - Rod Wagner
reported that the Consumer Health Information Symposium was held in
mid-November in North Platte. There were representatives from libraries and
health related organizations from several communities. The hope is that
symposium participants will develop consumer health information projects in
their communities as a result of their participation in the symposium. The
Library Commission and the UNMC Library of Medicine worked together to plan
the symposium and the consumer health information project.
NLC Grant Programs - Rod Wagner reported that 20
libraries were awarded Youth Library Service project grants totaling $35,000.
The Commission received 15 LSTA grant applications requesting around $215,000.
Grant awards will be announced before March 10.
State Budget Request - Rod Wagner reported that the
Library Commission's $325,000 mid-biennium budget request will be considered
during the 2006 legislative session. The majority of the funds would be used
for licensing an online encyclopedia. The remainder would pay for some
companion services that supplement the encyclopedia. The encyclopedia is
intended for all ages. The additional online information resources would
target kindergarten through 8th grade students. These online
services would be made available through NebraskAccess. The Governor will
present his budget recommendations toward the latter part of January. The
Legislature's Appropriations Committee will hold budget hearings prior to
presenting the Committee's budget recommendations to the Legislature in March.
Appropriation hearings will begin the end of January and end February 10. The
Commission's hearing will be held one of those days.
Library Board - Town Councils/Village Boards (Legislative Bill Draft) - Rod
Wagner stated that a bill will once again be introduced in the Legislature to
allow cities of the second class (those under 5,000 population) to change the
function of city or village library boards. The bill draft prepared by the
League of Municipalities would give city councils and village boards the ability
to assume authority for library personnel, finances, and property management. A
motion was made and seconded to make an effort to keep this bill from reaching
the floor of the Legislature. Motion carried on roll call vote: John Dale -
aye; Patrick Gross aye; Mary Nelson - aye; Velma Sims-Shipley - aye; Carol
Spencer aye; and Jean Ahrens - abstain. Motion approved.
LSTA Five-Year Program Evaluation and Long Range Plan -
Rod Wagner stated that the LSTA state program five-year evaluation and long
range plan will be due in March 2007. The program evaluation and long range
plan development will be initiated this year. Both activities will be
coordinated with preparation of the Library Commission's 2007 - 2009 biennium
budget request.
Poetry - Capturing the Moment Project - Commissioners
received a Poetry-Capturing the Moment DVD. The Nebraska Library
Commission and Nebraska Center for the Book were partner agencies in the
Nebraska Educational Telecommunications production.
One Book - One State Program - Rod Wagner stated that the
Southeast Library System offered to facilitate the project this year and chose
a book by Alex Kava titled One False Move. Alex Kava is a mystery
writer and lives in Omaha. The Sandoz Society will be the lead organization
for the 2007 program. The Sandoz Society selected Mari Sandoz's Crazy Horse
for the statewide book discussion program.
Financial
Report
The November and December financial reports were included
in meeting packets. Rod Wagner stated that the Commission's budget is on track
at the mid-year point.
LSTA Appropriation - Rod Wagner stated that Nebraska
should receive a small increase in LSTA funds this year. However, the LSTA
grant award has not yet been received and the actual amount is not known.
Audit - Rod Wagner stated that the Nebraska Library
Commission will be audited starting January 9.
Unfinished
Business
Library License Plates - Rod Wagner stated that Beth
Goble, NLC Government Information Services Director, checked with the
Department of Motor Vehicles to determine whether library license plates could
be made available in Nebraska. Beth learned that specialty plates, such as
these, would have to be authorized by the Legislature by a change in state
statutes. A suggestion was made that license plate holders could be made and
sold at the NLA - NEMA conference.
New Business
21st Century Librarian Scholarships - Rod
Wagner recommended approval of staff recommendations to provide scholarships
for Masters of Education in School Library Media. A motion was made and
seconded to approve the recommendation for the Masters of Education in School
Library Media scholarships. Motion carried on roll call vote: Mary Nelson -
aye; Velma Sims-Shipley - aye; Carol Spencer - aye; Jean Ahrens - aye; John
Dale - aye; and Patrick Gross - aye. Motion Approved.
State Advisory Council on Libraries - Rod Wagner
recommended the appointment of Cindy Gitt and Kristen Rogge to the State
Advisory Council on Libraries, and the re-appointment for second terms of
Janice Boyer, Theresa Jehlik, Diana Johnson and Becky Pasco. A motion was made
and seconded to approve the recommendations for appointments and
re-appointments. Motion carried on roll call vote: Velma Sims-Shipley - aye;
Carol Spencer - aye; Jean Ahrens - aye; John Dale - aye; Patrick Gross - aye;
and Mary Nelson - aye. Motion approved.
Nebraska Library Legislative Day and National Legislative
Day - Rod Wagner stated that Nebraska Library Legislative Day will be held
February 14 and National Legislative Day is May 1&2. Rod encouraged the
Commissioners to participate in both events.
Out-of-State Travel Request - Rod Wagner requested
approval to attend the COSLA meeting and ALA Midwinter Meeting in San Antonio
January 19 - 23. A motion was made and seconded to approve the Director's
travel request. Motion carried on roll call vote: Carol Spencer - aye; Jean
Ahrens - aye; John Dale - aye; Patrick Gross - aye; Mary Nelson - aye; and
Velma Sims-Shipley - aye. Motion approved.
Director's Performance Review - Commissioners discussed
the Director's performance review.
Next Meeting - The March 10 joint Commission and State
Advisory Council on Libraries meeting be held at the Lexington public
library.
Adjournment
Chair Sims-Shipley adjourned the meeting at 11:45 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.