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Nebraska Library Commission - Minutes

Nebraska Library Commission
May 13, 1994
MINUTES

The Nebraska Library Commission held a regular meeting on Friday, May 13, 1994 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 Nebraska Online.

I. CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Ron Norman called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. Members present: Ron Norman, Dr. Robert McPherson, Marge Curtiss, Myrna Vollbrecht and Thomas Harvey. Jean Sanders was absent.

Staff Present: Rod Wagner, Nancy Busch, Jim Minges, Elaine Miller. Others present: Kate Marek.

Approval of Agenda: It was moved by Dr. Robert McPherson and seconded by Marge Curtiss to approve the agenda with the addition of setting meeting dates for the September and November, 1994 Nebraska Library Commission meetings. Motion carried on roll call vote: McPherson-aye; Harvey-aye; Norman-aye; Sanders-absent; Vollbrecht-aye; Curtiss-aye.

Meeting dates were set for the September and November, 1994 Nebraska Library Commission meetings; September 9, 1994 and November 4, 1994.

Approval of minutes of March 11, 1994: It was moved by Marge Curtiss and seconded by Tom Harvey to approve the minutes of March 11, 1994. Motion carried on roll call vote: McPherson-aye; Harvey-aye; Norman-aye; Sanders-absent; Vollbrecht-aye; Curtiss-aye.

II. PUBLIC FORUM

Recognition of guests. The Chairman asked that if anyone wished to address the board to do so at this time. Rod Wagner informed the Commissioners that Kate Marek, Southeast Library System Administrator, is scheduled to be a guest columnist for the Lincoln Journal-Star in July and September, 1994.

Time was then allowed for Commissioners to discuss informally any items of interest.

III. CORRESPONDENCE AND COMMUNICATIONS

No correspondence or communications were noted.

IV. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

Ron Norman reported that the Internet is being talked and written about everywhere: Nebraska Public Radio; Sunday Denver Post is advertising seminars to learn about the Internet; The Rotary Magazine has an article entitled "On the Internet All Roads Lead To Communities of the Mind "; and The New Yorker Magazine has an article entitled "Discards ".

V. DIRECTOR 'S REPORT

Telecommunications and Networking Initiatives: The Library Commission has been working with other state agencies: i.e., the Secretary of State 's Office, the Department of Economic Development, the State Courts Administration, the Department of Administrative Services, Central Data Processing, to provide information for the public on Nebraska Online. A private service provider is being considered to provide the capital and services to convert paper records so they will be accessible in electronic form. A fee would then be charged for accessing these records.

The Nebraska Library Commission has installed its own Internet connection with a dedicated line for Internet access that was arranged through the State Division of Communications. Nebraska Online is now linked to the Internet.

Currently, there are some federal government information resources that the Commission receives in CD-ROM format. The federal government is increasingly making federal information available via the Internet.

The Planning and Evaluation Institute in Cincinnati was attended by a seven member group from Nebraska. Three of the seven member group were from the Library Commission. Nancy Busch reported on the Institute. The focus of the Institute was on how to evaluate electronic network services such as Nebraska Online, use of the Internet, and reports on systems other states have similar to Nebraska Online. Eleven states were involved in the Institute. (Attachment I.)

The Library Commission is one of several agencies involved in a Corporation for a Public Broadcasting grant. The lead agency for the grant is Nebraska Educational Telecommunications. There were 12 grants given nationally and 2 grants were received by Nebraska including the Omaha Freenet Project. Senator Kerrey is sponsoring a seminar May 21, 1994 on technology and education. (Attachment II.)

Federal and State Legislative Issues: Rod Wagner attended National Legislative Day in Washington D.C. on April 19. A primary concern for the Commission is the possible loss of LSCA Title II. The Commission currently receives $180,000 annually in Title II funds. These funds have been used for helping libraries in both construction and technology.

Staffing: Dick Allen has retired from the Nebraska Library Commission. The Online Services Librarian position has been filled with the appointment of Annie Sternberg. Annie will begin working at the Library Commission on July 1, 1994. Candidates will be interviewed for the Network Services Director 's position. On June 11, the graduation ceremony will be held for the Nebraska Master 's in Library Science program from Emporia State University, including Library Commission staff members.

Continuous Library Improvement Program: The first workshops for this program begin May 24 At Gering Public Library. Further workshops will be held in Kearney, Lincoln, and Wayne in the ten days following the workshop at Gering.

The Nebraska Library Association - Nebraska Educational Media Association Annual Conference will be held in Omaha at the Holiday Inn Central on October 27 and 28. Peter Young, Executive Director of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science will be the keynote speaker. Hardy Franklin, President of the American Library Association, will be the speaker for the Library Commission 's Leadership Development Series on Friday of the conference.

The Children 's Book Review via satellite begins May 13, 1994, and concludes May 20, 1994. Pat Clark, volunteer for the Library Commission for several years, will be leaving the Commission after the book reviews. The reviews will be viewed by librarians in Idaho, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina.

VI. FINANCIAL REPORT

March - April, 1994 Expenditure/Financial Reports: Commissioners received and reviewed the March-April, 1994 Expenditure and Financial Reports. (Attachments III and IV).

Audit Report: The audit report was mailed previously to the commissioners for review.

VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

There was no unfinished business.

VIII. NEW BUSINESS

Status of Long Range Goals and Objectives: A major weeding of federal documents is in progress, with the hope of gaining some space on the second floor. (See attachment V.)

1993/94 Agency Contracts: Current year contracts were reviewed, with a correction for the Library System services. The correct figure is $599,000 annual for system contract payments. (Attachment VI.)

1993/94 Grant Projects: Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) Grants. A provision under Title I of LSCA that urban resource libraries, city 's of over 100,000, are eligible to receive a portion of the Title I monies with that amount being $44,847. This money is distributed between Omaha and Lincoln in proportion to each city 's population. Omaha and Lincoln have most recently used these monies to purchase the equipment to install Internet connections. Seventeen grants have been issued to State Institutional Libraries. The Institutional libraries used these funds to buy library materials for the residents of these institutions. (Attachment VII.)

State Aid Allocations for 1994/95: It was moved by Dr. Robert McPherson and seconded by Myrna Vollbrecht that the State Aid Distribution Summary and Recommendations for 1994/95 be approved. Motion carried on roll call vote: McPherson-aye; Harvey-aye; Norman-aye; Sanders-absent; Vollbrecht-aye; Curtiss-aye. (Attachment VIII.)

Biennium Budget Request Planning and Schedule: Commissioners received and reviewed the Agenda and Timeline for the Nebraska Library Commission Fiscal Year 95-97 Biennial Budget and Long Range Planning Process (Attachment IX.) Nancy Busch reported that the United States Department of Education has requested a different time frame for submitting the Long Range Plan from this fall to this summer.

The Biennium Budget Request is due September 15, 1995.

Out-of-State Travel Requests: It was moved by Myrna Vollbrecht and seconded by Tom Harvey to approve the out-of-state travel requests for Rod Wagner to attend the OCLC Regional Network Directors meeting in Dublin, Ohio, from May 24 - 26, 1994 and the American Library Association Conference and COSLA committee and business meetings from June 23 - 28, 1994. Motion carried on roll call vote: McPherson-aye; Harvey-aye; Norman-aye; Sanders-absent; Vollbrecht-aye; Curtiss-aye.

IX. ADJOURNMENT

It was moved by Dr. Robert McPherson and seconded by Myrna Vollbrecht to adjourn the meeting at 11:45 a.m. Motion carried on roll call vote: McPherson-aye; Harvey-aye; Norman-aye; Sanders-absent; Vollbrecht-aye; Curtiss-aye.

Elaine Miller, Secretary


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