Nebraska Library Commission - Minutes
Nebraska Library Commission
May 12, 1995
MINUTES
The Nebraska Library Commission held its regular meeting
Friday, May 12, 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 Nebraska Online.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Ron Norman called the meeting to order at 9:30
a.m. Members present: Ron Norman, Jean Sanders, Myrna Vollbrecht, Frances
Lovell, and Dr. Robert McPherson. Staff present: Rod Wagner, Nancy Busch,
and Elaine Miller. Guests present: Kate Marek.
Approval of Agenda: It was moved by Jean Sanders and seconded
by Dr. Robert McPherson to approve the agenda with the addition of a date
change of the July 14, 1995 Library Commission Meeting to June 30, 1995.
Motion carried on a roll call vote: Vollbrecht-aye; Lovell-aye; McPherson-aye;
Harvey-absent; Norman-aye; Sanders-aye.
Approval of the minutes of the March 17, 1995 meeting:
It was moved by Myrna Vollbrecht and seconded by Frances Lovell to approve
the minutes of the March 17, 1995 meeting. Motion carried on a roll call
vote: Vollbrecht-aye; Lovell-aye; McPherson-aye; Harvey-absent; Norman-aye;
Sanders-aye.
II. PUBLIC FORUM
Recognition of guests. The Chairman asked that if anyone
wished to address the board to do so at this time. There was no response
from the guests
III. CORRESPONDENCE AND COMMUNICATIONS
No correspondence or communications were noted.
IV. CHAIRMAN 'S REPORT
Ron Norman, chairman reported on attending the Meridian Library
System meeting on May 10, 1995 in Broken Bow. During the meeting a discussion
was held concerning the realignment of the library systems. The Northeast
Library System has the most libraries of all the systems, which makes for
a heavy work load for the Administrator of that system.
V. DIRECTOR 'S REPORT
1995-97 Biennium Budget Status: Nancy Busch, Deputy Director
of the Library Commission gave an overview to the Commissioners on the
1995-97 Biennium Budget. The Governor was recommending a 3% salary increase
both years and the Library Commission would have to make up the other 1%
for 1995 and .5% for 1996. The Appropriation Committee recommended funding
the entire salary increase for agencies employing under 50 employees and
the Library Commission, and a 1.5% operating and travel inflation. The
Governor recommended funding the Nebrask@ Online watts line. The Appropriation
Committee did not recommend funding the Nebraska@ Online watts line. These
were the major differences between the Governor 's recommendation and the
Appropriation Committee 's recommendation (Attachment I).
Public Library Statutes Revision Update (LB 590): LB 590
did not come out of committee and did not advance, so it is currently in
general file. It was not selected as a priority bill by any senator nor
the committee. The bill will carry over to next year 's legislative
session.
Nebrask@ Online Update: Nebrask@ Online has completed
its first month of providing "batch " processing of driver 's license records
for the Department of Motor Vehicles. The interactive service for look-up
of individual records is also now available. A contract has been arranged
with the Secretary of State 's office to provide electronic access to various
records held by the Secretary of State. Work is also underway with the
State Court System to provide electronic access to various court records
and information. Nebrask@ Online is working with the State Bar Association
and with the State Court Administrator to pursue development of services
to the legal community.
Federal Library Programs Status: A package of recisions
of the current federal appropriations. Library Services and Construction
Act (LSCA) Title II money for technology and construction grants. When
Title II was initiated only a few states had submitted funding requests
for projects, Title II stood to loose almost the entire federal appropriation.
Nebraska was among the many states that had not submitted applications
for funding. The Library Commission has now submitted an application. Grant
awards have now been selected and papers were filed with the United State
Department of Education, and the grant awards have been approved. If the
Congress does rescind the remaining monies in the Title II program it should
not affect Nebraska because the monies in Nebraska have already been committed.
The Congress is looking at money that has not been committed. The bill
that would replace the Library Services and Construction Act is still close
to being intact, a few differences have emerged, there is an initiative
to eliminate smaller more specific federal grant programs and consolidate
them into larger block grants.
Spring Events (Nebraska Library Association Meetings,
Resource Sharing Workshop): The week of May 1st through 5th Regional Spring
Meetings were held. The meetings were sponsored by the Nebraska Library
Association, Public Library Trustees, Users and Friends and School Children
and Young Peoples Sections. Approximately 200 people attended the three
meetings held in Scottsbluff, Holdrege, and Fremont. The main part of the
program related to reference services in libraries. The Nebraska Library
Association and Library Commission collaborated to produce a new reference
manual called the Star Reference Manual. On May 19, 1995 the College and
University Section of the Nebraska Library Association will hold their
spring meeting in Omaha. The Paraprofessional Section of the Nebraska Library
Association will hold their spring meeting in Fremont on May 19th. The
Technology Roundtable and the Library Commission co-sponsored an all day
workshop entitled "The Changing Face of Resource Sharing " on May 10, 1995.
Approximately 80 people attended the workshop. Mary E. Jackson from the
Association of Resource Libraries was the guest speaker.
National Science Foundation Electronic Library Project:
On April 19 and 20, 1995 the Library Commission hosted a retreat for over
55 people from across the state. Keynote speaker for the retreat was Susan
Fayad, Networking and Resource Sharing Consultant from Colorado State
Library.
Status of Long Range Plan Goals and Objectives: Progress
is being made on the Long Range Plan. An update to the Long Range Plan
has to be submitted by the end of June, this is a change from October 1
last year. The State Advisory Council will meet on June 30th, and will
be involved in updating the Long Range Plan.
The Nebraska Library Commission "Home Page ": The Library
Commission has been involved in the creation of two different home pages,
home page being an Internet based component that allows someone searching
the Internet to come to a place on the Internet to receive information.
One home page is the Nebraska State Government Home Page. This home page
was initiated by a group of state agency representatives who are Internet
users. A National initiative is to have an officially designated State
Home Page for State Governments. The Library Commission was asked to take
the initiative to create the Home Page for Nebraska State Government. The
second home page is the Nebraska Library Commission Home Page.
VI. FINANCIAL REPORT
March and April Expenditure Reports: Commissioners received
and reviewed the March and April, 1995 Expenditure and Financial Reports
(Attachments II and III).
VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
There was no unfinished business.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
Review of Current Contracts: Commissioners received and reviewed
the Library Commission Contracts in effect as of May, 1995 (Attachment
IV). An additional contract is an inter-agency agreement with the Secretary
of State 's Office for Nebrask@ Online services. Governor Ben Nelson has
issued some new requirements for contracting.
Review of Grant Projects: Commissioners received and reviewed
the Library Commission Grant Project Awards (Attachment V). The grant project
review needs to be updated with the recent Title II grants.
Nebrask@ Online Fee Policies: Commissioners received and
reviewed the Nebrask@ Online Fee Policies (Attachment VI). The interagencies
will meet again on May 30, 1995 to dicuss the Nebraska Online Fee Policies.
At the next Library Commission meeting on June 30 the Library Commission
will have a Nebrask@ Online Fee Policies for the Commissioners to act
on.
Out-of-State Travel Request: It was moved by Dr. Robert
McPherson and seconded by Myrna Vollbrecht to approve an out-of-state travel
request from Rod Wagner to attend the Chief Officers of State Library meeting
in Chicago on June 23rd, 1995 and to attend the American Library Association
conference in Chicago on June 24th through June 27th, 1995. Motion carried
on a roll call vote: Vollbrecht-aye; Lovell-aye; McPherson-aye; Harvey-absent;
Norman-aye; Sanders-aye.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by Myrna Vollbrecht and seconded by Jean Sanders to adjourn the meeting at 11:20 a.m. Motion carried on a roll call vote: Vollbrecht-aye; Lovell-aye; McPherson-aye; Harvey-absent;
Norman-aye; Sanders-aye.
Elaine Miller, Secretary