Nebraska Library Commission - Minutes
Nebraska Library Commission
November 4, 1995
MINUTES
The Nebraska Library Commission held its regular meeting
Thursday, November 9, 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 Nebrask@ Online.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Ron Norman called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m.
Members present: Ron Norman, Jean Sanders, Myrna Vollbrecht, Frances Lovell,
Tom Harvey and Robert McPherson. Staff present: Rod Wagner, Nancy Busch,
Elaine Miller, Jim Minges, Ellen Van Waart, and Jo Budler. Guests Present:
Kathy Tooker, Kate Marek, Patty Hering, Ruby Beckman, and Steve Ooton (via
speaker phone).
Approval of Agenda: It was moved by Jean Sanders and seconded
by Frances Lovell to approve the agenda with the addition of an item,
Clarification
of Proposed State Aid to Public Libraries for 1996 . Motion carried on
a roll call vote: McPherson-aye; Harvey-aye; Norman-aye; Sanders-aye;
Vollbrecht-aye;
Lovell-aye.
Approval of the minutes of the September 8, 1995 meeting:
It was moved by Myrna Vollbrecht and seconded by Tom Harvey to approve
the minutes of the September 8, 1995 meeting. Motion carried on a roll
call vote: McPherson-aye; Harvey-aye; Norman-aye; Sanders-aye; Vollbrecht-aye;
Lovell-aye.
II. PUBLIC FORUM
Recognition of guests: The Chairman asked if anyone wished
to address the board to do so at this time.
Jim Minges, Library Development Director announced that
Barbara Johnson, Library Development Coordinator will be retiring at the
end of the year.
A discussion was held on the boundaries and funding
allocations
for the six Library Systems.
III. CORRESPONDENCE AND COMMUNICATIONS
A letter from Becky Baker, Director of Seward Public Library,
was handed out to the commissioners for their information (Attachment
I).
IV. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
Ron Norman, Chairman, reported on the Nebraska Library
Association
Convention held in Kearney in October.
V. DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Public Library Laws Revision Status: The Legislature's General
Affairs Committee will hold a hearing at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 14,
1995 regarding the Interim Study related to public library laws revisions.
Amendments to LB 590 (Attachment II) have been prepared and will be proposed
for approval during the 1996 legislative session. Public Library Guidelines
Revision: Jim Minges, Director of Library Development of the Library
Commission,
gave a report on the Public Library Guidelines Revision. A draft of the
revised guidelines (Attachment II) was distributed to the Commissioners.
The proposed guidelines revision will be distributed to public libraries.
The guidelines will be discussed in public meetings between now and the
spring of 1996. A proposal of the guidelines in a final form will be submitted
for acceptance to the Library Commission by November 1996.
Clarification of Proposed 1996 State Aid Allocations to
Public Libraries: When the Continuous Library Improvement Program (CLIP)
process was initiated, the need was recognized for some funding allocations
to go to those public libraries in recognition of their participation in
CLIP. The difficulty is the money that is available for Library aid is
so minimal to begin with, that it is difficult to distribute those funds
and have any real impact as a result. The Library Commission does recognize
that many libraries are able to make use of the limited funds they do receive
through the Public Library Program. The Library Commission needs to maintain
these funds to public libraries and also have some money available to those
libraries that have made the effort to be involved with the CLIP program.
There has never been any action by the Library Commission to not continue
distributing state aid to public library funds on a per library basis.
The State Advisory Council on Libraries has initiated for discussion of
a state aid package that would be built into our next biennium budget a
request for monies to aid libraries with technology needs. There has been
no significant increase for state aid in several years.
Federal Library Program Legislation Status: The Senate
and the House have passed legislation to replace the Library Services and
Construction Act (LSCA). Work is being done to reconcile the differences
between the House and Senate versions of the new federal library program.
A key difference between the two versions is in the Senate bill the program
would move out of the Department of Education where it is currently
administered,
to a new Institute of Libraries and Museums. It is to be hoped that the
final version will contain most of the features of the previous Library
Services and Technology Act.
Nebrask@ Online Update:
The activity on Nebrask@ Online has increased
significantly. The Nebrask@ Online Advisory Board will meet on Monday,
November 6, 1995. The following individuals have accepted appointment to
the Nebrask@ Online Advisory Board: Rod Armstrong, State Information
Technology Coordinator, Department of Administrative Services; George Beattie,
Executive Vice President, Nebraska Bankers Association; James Gamach, General
Casualty Company; Chris Hoy, Special Projects Director, Department of Economic
Development; Warren Jennings, Executive Director, Insurance Federation
of Nebraska; Dick Kohel, Controller, Secretary of State; Glen Mackie,
Information
Systems Analyst, Department of Motor Vehicles; Debra Peters, Zimmer-Blanc
Insurance Agency; and Joe Steele, Court Administrator, Supreme Court of
Nebraska. The State Bar Association has been asked to designate an individual
to serve on the Advisory Board, but as yet has not made an
appointment.
NLA-NEMA Conference: The mobile network was used at the
conference by a number of people to do World-Wide-Web searches and to try
OCLC's FirstSearch. The Library Commission received positive reactions
to the mobile network for workshops, training sessions, and
demonstrations.
VI. FINANCIAL REPORT
September and October Budget Reports: The September and October,
1995 Expenditure and Financial Reports were received and reviewed by the
Commissioners (Attachments III & IV).
VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
There was no unfinished business.
VIII. NEW BUSINESS
State Advisory Council on Library Appointments: It was moved
by Tom Harvey and seconded by Dr. Robert McPherson to delay the State Advisory
Council of Library Appointments until the January 12, 1996 Commission meeting.
Motion carried on a roll call vote: McPherson-aye; Harvey-aye; Norman-aye;
Sanders-aye; Vollbrecht-aye; Lovell-aye.
Nebrask@ Online Fees:
It was moved by Dr. Robert McPherson and seconded by
Jean Sanders to approve the fee increase for the Nebrask@ Online
(Attachment V). Motion carried on a roll call vote: McPherson-aye; Harvey-aye;
Norman-aye; Sanders-aye; Vollbrecht-aye; Lovell-aye.
NEBASE Advisory Council: It was moved by Jean Sanders
and seconded by Myrna Vollbrecht to approve the formation of a NEBASE Advisory
Council. McPherson-aye; Harvey-aye; Norman-aye; Sanders-aye; Vollbrecht-aye;
Lovell-aye.
Out-of-state Travel Request: It was moved by Dr. Robert
McPherson and seconded by Frances Lovell to approve the out-of-state travel
request of Rod Wagner to attend the Western Council of State Libraries
in Kona, Hawaii on November 17 -21, 1995. McPherson-aye; Harvey-aye;
Norman-aye;
Sanders-aye; Vollbrecht-aye; Lovell-aye.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by Myrna Vollbrecht and seconded by Jean Sanders
to adjourn the meeting at 11:26 a.m. Motion carried on a roll call vote:
McPherson-aye; Harvey-aye; Norman-aye; Sanders-aye; Vollbrecht-aye;
Lovell-aye.
Elaine Miller, 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.