Nebraska Library Commission - Minutes
Nebraska Library Commission
January 9, 2009
MINUTES
The Nebraska Library Commission held its regular
meeting Wednesday, January 9, 2009, at the Nebraska Library Commission,
Lincoln, Nebraska. 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 Mary Nelson called the meeting to order at 9:30
a.m. This meeting is in compliance with the Open Meeting Law.
Members present: Jean
Ahrens, John Dale, Mary Nelson,
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; Mary Nelson - aye; and Carol
Spencer - aye. Motion approved.
Approval of the
Minutes (November 6, 2008): A motion was made and seconded to approve
the November 6, 2008, meeting minutes. Motion carried on roll call vote: John Dale - aye; Mary Nelson - aye; Carol Spencer -
aye; and Jean Ahrens - aye. Motion approved.
PUBLIC FORUM
No public was in attendance.
Chair's Report and
Commissioners' Comments
Chair Mary Nelson shared an article from the Kearney
Hub and Holdrege newspaper about the Holdrege Library Gamers Day. Holdrege
is beginning to feel the pinch of the economy; the state has closed the
local Work Force Development office. The library was recently asked by the
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to provide free access
workstations to assist their clients. Mary said that these things bring new
demands to the community and the library and library representatives are
looking for ways to address them. The Holdrege library has completed its
Nebraska Memories project and Pam Soreide, Holdrege library director, will
be giving a presentation to the local Historical Society on February 10.
John Dale reported that Lincoln City Libraries received
excellent coverage from KOLN/KGIN 10/11
news regarding the increase in library usage when economic times are down.
Vicki Wood is the new Lincoln City Libraries Youth Services Coordinator.
John has asked Dave Oertli, the Library Commission's Talking Book and
Braille Services Director, and Annette Hall, the Commission's Volunteer
Services Coordinator, to present on TBBS services at the Lincoln Volunteers
Partner board meeting in February.
Carol Spencer reported that in October the local Broken
Bow Runza restaurant gave $520 to the library foundation. Runza chose the
library to receive a percentage of their one-day sales income. The library
assisted in collecting over 500 books to give low income people with their
holiday basket. The library has
completed the conversion to Follett's Destiny library automation software.
Broken Bow has been accepted as a Read- Aloud city. This is a family
oriented program. The library also received new children's books through the
Libra program.
Jean Ahrens reported that the Scottsbluff public
library has raised $800,000 for its library building project. The city has
agreed to provide $1.5 million for the project. This amount is down from the
original amount the city said it would provide. A local movie theater will
host a fundraiser for the library. They will have raffles and ask for
donations. Money from fundraisers will be used to match challenge grants
that the library has applied for. The theme for the fundraiser projects is
"The Library is the Community's Living Room." The Scottsbluff newspaper will
assist the fundraiser by taking pictures of people reading on a red sofa.
The Scottsbluff public library will host another Prime Time Family Reading
program in February. Scottsbluff has hosted the Prime Time program twice and
Alliance once. Rod Wagner stated that the Nebraska Humanities Council
manages the program and that the Library Commission has provided funds for
libraries to hire a teen intern to assist with the program.
Director's Report
Personnel - Rod Wagner acknowledged Maria Medrano-Nehls
for completing the Library Technical Assistant (LTA) program. Rod stated
that Central Community College is taking over the program to provide
administration, coordination, marketing and instruction. This new
arrangement will provide consistency and should make it easier for students.
The change should also help the Commission should there be scholarship funds
available. Scholarship award management has been difficult due to the
differences among Nebraska's community colleges in their procedures for
administering financial aid.
State Legislative Issues and Outlook
for 2009
Rod Wagner mentioned the convening of the 2009
legislative session on Wednesday, January 7. As has been the case in recent
years, there are many new members; all but a few of the 49 senators have
served less than six years in the legislature. Opening day activities
included election of committee chairs. Sen. Lavon Heidemann returns as chair
of the appropriations committee. New appropriations committee members
include Tom Hansen (North Platte), Heath Mello (Omaha), and Jeremy Nordquist
(Omaha).
The Governor will make his state of the state
presentation later this month. His budget recommendations will also be
introduced at that time. Agency budget hearings will begin February 24th
and continue through March 26th. The Library Commission's budget
hearing is scheduled for March 17.
The state is in a better financial position now, at
least in terms of cash reserves, than in 2001 when several rounds of budget
cuts began and continued into 2004. The current state general fund balance
should help avoid severe budget cuts. But a lean budget is likely. A current
news article indicated that forty-one states are dealing with budget
deficits.
Federal Library
Programs and Issues (LSTA and Economic Recovery Initiatives)
The future of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) is uncertain -
both its re-authorization and funding. There was intent to introduce
re-authorization legislation early in the 2009 congressional session but
that strategy has likely changed given the attention to economic issues.
The American Library Association is promoting inclusion
of funds for library projects in an economic stimulus appropriation. A major
component is library construction. Staff has been collecting information
from Nebraska libraries to determine which might be in position to use
federal funds for a construction project (from new buildings to additions,
renovations, remodeling and energy savings improvements). There has been a
good response from libraries. Federal funds would be significant in moving
these projects along. They would help create jobs and aid local and state
economic development.
Nebraska Center
for the Book & Nebraska Book Festival
Garry Alkire (Scottsbluff) is the new President of the Nebraska Center for
the Book (NCB). Garry is an administrator at Nebraska Western Community
College.
Mike Cartwright has served as Nebraska Book
Festival director the past three years. He has decided to end his contract.
The Center for the Book, Library Commission and Nebraska Humanities Council
(as the festival's primary sponsors) will consider options for the future of
the festival. Mike has done the ground work for the next festival and has
left things in a good place. And he has agreed to be available to provide
information and advice for those who will be assuming responsibility for the
festival. The NCB board will next meet on February 7 in Lincoln.
Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation Library Programs and Grants
Christa Burns has been working with Nebraska libraries
to complete the technology inventories that need to be done as a step toward
determining library eligibility for the foundation's Opportunity Online
Hardware Grant program. The Gates Foundation's connectivity pilot program
with seven states has begun. Participation by other states will be
determined based on the results from the pilot program.
Librarians for
the 21st Century Grant Application - "Cultivating Nebraska
Librarians 2.0: Building 21st Century Skills"
The grant application was sent for delivery on December
15. Mary Jo Ryan, John Felton and Kathryn Brockmeier put in many hours and
did a great job planning and preparing the application. Many factors are
involved in funding decisions. Grant awards will be announced mid-June.
Youth Grants for
Excellence
The Nebraska Library Commission awarded a total of
$40,000 in grants for 25 libraries and two regional library systems to
assist in providing improved services to children and young adults, and to
provide continuing education and training opportunities for children and
young adult librarians.
Library
Improvement Grants
The Commission received 30 grant applications
requesting $343,500 in grant funds. The Commission has about $180,000
available for grants. Grants will be awarded in March.
NLC Weekly
Webinars - NCompass Live
On Tuesday morning this week Commission staff presented
the first of what is planned to be a weekly one hour webinar. The January 7
session was titled "Meet the NLC, Part
1." Part 2 is scheduled for
this coming Wednesday. Additional sessions are scheduled through February 18
and are open for registration. Named NCompass Live each webinar is held live
and also recorded for availability to anyone at any time following the live
presentation. Information about webinars can be found on the Commission's
website at:
nlc.nebraska.gov/ncompasslive/
Nebraska
OverDrive® Libraries (digital audio-books program)
Nebraska Overdrive Libraries is a shared, growing
collection of digital audio-books available through Digital Library Reserve.
The content is available to patrons of participating libraries through the
Overdrive/DLR system. The site is designed for remote use by library patrons
or by download to Overdrive Download Stations at the library. Users access
the digital materials via the web. Materials may be checked out for a
limited period of time, downloaded to a patron's computer or other device
and are then automatically returned to the collection when the checkout time
expires. Statistics, reports, training and marketing materials from
Overdrive are available for all participating libraries. There are currently
33 participating Nebraska libraries. For further information:
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/wikis/overdrive/
Rod stated that the LSTA annual State Program Report
was due on December 30 but the Commission received an extension to January
9. The report was sent yesterday.
John Felton and Kathryn Brockmeier are working on the
final report for the completed grant. Kathryn sent out a survey to all
scholarships recipients and is receiving good response.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Rod Wagner stated that the December financial report
was included in the meeting packet and the January report was distributed
this morning. John Dale asked for information concerning the education
services operating expenditure, which was significantly higher than the
budgeted amount. Wagner stated he would check with Doreen Kuhlmann, business
manager, to determine expenses for this item and report back to Commission
members. John also asked about the personal vehicle mileage that was
two-thirds spent to this point. Wagner stated that the November State
Advisory Council on Libraries meeting resulted in significant mileage
reimbursement expenses.
LSTA
Appropriations Status - Rod Wagner stated that we will receive LSTA
allotments on the basis of the congressional continuing resolution. Our
federal allocations are at last year's level.
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS
No unfinished business.
NEW BUSINESS
State Advisory Council on Libraries Appointments - Rod
Wagner recommended that Kris Rogge and Cindy Gitt be re-appointed each for a
three-year term.
Rod Wagner recommended Ellen Weed (Norfolk Regional
Center), Ceri Daniels (Williams, Wright, Johnson and Oldfather LLP), Trine
McBride (Ord Township Library), Robin Bernstein (Freeman-Lozier Library,
Bellevue University), Pat Leach (Lincoln City Libraries) and Karen Hein (UNO
Library Science Program) for appointment each for a three-year term.
A motion was made and seconded to approve the
recommended State Advisory Council on Libraries appointments. Motion carried
on roll call vote: Mary Nelson - aye; Carol Spencer - aye; Jean Ahrens -
aye; and John Dale - aye. Motion approved.
Director's Annual Performance Review - Commission
members conducted the Director's annual performance review.
National Library Legislative Day will be held May 11 &
12. Commissioners Jean Ahrens, Carol Spencer and either John Dale or Mary
Nelson will participate.
Next Meeting - The next meeting will be a joint meeting
with the State Advisory Council on Libraries to be held March 13, 2009.
Adjournment
- Chair Mary Nelson adjourned the meeting at 11:40 p.m.
Sincerely,
_______________________________________________
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.