Meeting Minutes
STATE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON LIBRARIES
Kearney, Nebraska
March 14, 2008
State Advisory Council members present:
Patty Birch, Jan Boyer, Deb Carlson, Steve Fosselman, Patricia Gross, Theresa
Jehlik, Scott Kinney, Marty Magee, and Becky Pasco. Nebraska Library
Commissioner 's: Jean Ahrens, John Dale, Mary Nelson, and Carol Spencer.
Commission Staff: Kit Keller, Maria Medrano-Nehls, Richard Miller, and Rod
Wagner. Guest Jim Connor
Welcome and Introductions
State Advisory Council on Libraries Chair, Marty Magee,
welcomed everyone to the meeting. Marty stated that this year 's theme is Library
Advocacy which includes marketing, accessing your population, and getting out
and spreading the word about your library.
NLC Commission Chair, John Dale, welcomed everyone and
stated that the Commissioners enjoy attending the State Advisory Council on
Libraries meetings because they always get some great information about library
related issues.
Approval of the Agenda: A motion was made by Scott
Kinney and seconded by Jan Boyer to approve the agenda. Motion approved.
Approval of Minutes (November 16, 2007): A motion
was made by Steve Fosselman and seconded by Patricia Gross to approve the
minutes. Motion approved.
2008 Council
Priority Topics
Rod Wagner stated that he and a few staff members met with
Marty Magee to discuss the council activities for the year. Two things that were
observed this past year in the public meetings the Commission held talking to
people about the new 5-year plan, were the issues of marketing and customer
service. In conjunction with Marty Magee 's suggestions for library advocacy it
was decided that the Council would address these topics during the course of the
year.
Reports/Discussion
Nebraska Library
Commission Reports
Federal Library Programs Update - Rod Wagner reported that the increase
in Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds were looking pretty
good last time the Council met. We were hopeful that Congress was moving toward
an appropriation that would finally implement the full base state allotment for
all states under the LSTA. The current state allotment has not been changed in
decades. The remainder of the LSTA monies above the base state allotments is
apportioned based on a state 's population. Nebraska, being one of the smaller
states received increases that were pretty minimal.
Several years ago during the reauthorization process, the larger states
agreed to increase base allotments for smaller states as long as it did not
affect their funding.
Rod stated he believes that we are at the end of our
opportunity to receiving the extra monies. Despite the fact that the House and
Senate did pass appropriation bills that would have allowed for full base
allotment when the President vetoed the larger appropriation that this bill was
part of; Congress had to go back and work on a new appropriations bill and
somehow the LSTA ended up being cut. It was not funded at the level the
President had asked for and not at the level the House and the Senate had
included in the original appropriations bill. There is a $10 million cut in the
state programs part in LSTA. The result for Nebraska is about a $60,000 lost in
LSTA funds this year. Congress is now working on a new federal budget and it
would be great if Congress would enact a new appropriations bill before the
elections. If this doesn 't happen, the prospects of increased funds are slim.
LSTA has another year before its authorization expires.
The other concern that has been raised about LSTA is that
the people who administer the program at IMLS have taken a more restrictive use
of funds by the states for LSTA. Some projects and services we have done for
many years are now under scrutiny. There is a question about using LSTA funds
for general library development, activities such as continuing education, and to
some extent advocacy and marketing.
We have some latitude because in some areas we are able to use state monies in
place of federal funds by changing the funding source. We treat the state and
federal funds interchangeably for quite a few of our activities.
2008 Nebraska Legislative Session Update - Rod Wagner
reported that the State Revenue Forecasting Board lowered their estimates for
state tax collections over the next couple of years. This affects the amount of
money the Governor and Legislature has to work with and the lower numbers might
make state budget changes necessary. There are no appropriations in the
Legislature related to the Nebraska Library Commission. The colleges,
universities, and public schools will probably be affected by the state revenue
change. Due to the change in
estimated revenue the Governor and Legislature are considering a reduction in
school aid distributed this year. Nothing has been said about cutting the
current or the coming fiscal year funding.
Rod reported there were some legislative bills related to
libraries. After several years there is a good possibility that bill LB572 that
would allow the regional libraries system employees to participate in the state
insurance program might get approved.
LB 768 is a bill that would allow sanitary improvement districts to
contract for library services.
Sanitary improvement districts are usually in the metro areas, this bill will be
especially helpful in Sarpy County. LB760 refers to a study of recommendations
to the Nebraska State Law Library. The library is housed on the 4th
floor of the State Capitol. The library is in very bad shape. The bill would
develop a task force to make recommendations to address the problems of the
library. Nebraska Library Commission
was identified as one of the organizations to have representation on the task
force.
Nebraska Library Association (NLA)
- Becky Baker reported
that NLA is looking for a new web master. Scott Childers has resigned his
position as the current web master effective at the end of the year. The
NLA/NEMA conference will be held October 15-17, 2008 in Lincoln. The 2009
conference will be held at the new facility in LaVista on October 28-30, and the
2010 conference will be held in Grand Island on October 13-15.
The NLA Publications Committee is formatting a survey to ask the members
about the possibility of changing the format of NLAQ to online. Jenny Puchalla
will represent NLA at the National Library Legislative Day in Washington, D.C.
Nebraska Educational Media Association (NEMA)
- Becky Pasco
reported that NEMA is dedicated to providing high quality professional
development across the state. They are working closely with the Library Systems
and ESU 's (Educational Service Units), to make sure this is being accomplished.
The ASL standards are pushing NEMA to review their own standards. The new
additions and revisions to the bylaws were just approved.
Assessment - Marketing - Customer Service - Kit Keller
reported that marketing is sometimes misunderstood. Marketing is part of a
process and a planned process that starts with assessment and with evaluation.
The marketing process starts with assessment and moves to
outcome evaluation and enables library staff and reporters to spend their energy
on something that is customer focused and finish with an evaluation.
When doing marketing you are always in a cycle which includes:
- Knowing your community - know your customers, staff,
and library needs. How are you addressing the needs of your customers? Do an
assessment of the needs.
- Know your library - Kit describes this process like a
map, you know where you want to be, know where you are; know what you
already have, and how to get where you want to get.
- Implementation - involve other people, outline plan,
write plan, resource tools and techniques.
- Communication - need to reach people, learn new tools
of communication
- Evaluation - outcomes (how does the program change
someone 's life or affects the community).
Sharing Survey Results (Council Member Survey)
Chair Marty Magee sent out a survey to State Advisory
Council on Libraries members prior to the meeting.
The Nebraska State Advisory Council on Libraries
is established by the Nebraska Library Commission to advise the Commission
on statewide library development and planning.
How do you feel you are best able to meet these expectations?
•
State Advisory Council on Libraries members
should participate in the training/programs offered by NLC - share the knowledge
and encourage participation of online training, training/programs offered by NLC
•
Definition and direction for NLC and State
Advisory Council on Libraries
•
Focus on good topics
•
NLC should share what they have accomplished each
quarter (disseminate NLC goals and objectives)
•
Proactive not reactive
In the past, the State Advisory Council on Libraries has: shared
challenges and successes from each of our libraries; learned about current
Nebraska Library Commission initiatives; heard reports from representatives
of the Nebraska Library Association and the Nebraska Educational Media
Association; reviewed documents such as the Nebraska Library Commission LSTA
(Library Services and Technology Act) Five-Year Plan.
Please comment on what you may have found helpful. This might also include
activities in which you 've participated, or meetings that were particularly
beneficial.
•
Shaping
discussion for benefit/improvement and action by NLC
•
Connect
with Commissioners, NLC staff and each other as leaders
•
Targeting
feedback on meeting focus
•
Relate to
LSTA goals
•
Advisory
not bulletin board
What might be the best ways to communicate our experiences and
learning 's back to our library communities?
•
E-mail
with summary of State Advisory Council on Libraries meeting - Marty will do
summary
•
Minutes
on listserv - use link to minutes - title should be catchy
•
List of
contact information for State Advisory Council on Libraries and Commission
members
•
Develop
and respond on blog
•
Professionalize State Advisory Council on Libraries, impact on local libraries,
liaison with NLA and NEMA
•
Listening
post, we are here for you
•
Speak and
listen
Council Roundtable
Patty Birch reported that she is focusing on integrating
technology in student 's lives. Patty 's challenge is providing technology support
to the teachers.
Becky Pasco reported that UNO Library Science programs are
now nationally recognized by the American Association of School Librarians as of
February, 2008. Becky stated they are adding a second library science faculty
member. Her challenge is her new program in Chadron. It 's a growing program and
she 's sure word will spread and it will become a great program.
Becky Baker reported that Seward public library building is
paid in full. The mortgage will be burned during National Library Week.
Marjorie Harrison stated she has visited most of the
libraries in the Panhandle Regional Library System. Marjorie stated it is a
challenge to visit every library and get involved in different organizations.
Patricia Gross reported that she is thankful that Marjorie
Harrison is their System Coordinator. Pat
stated her challenge is working and training her new teachers.
Jan Boyer said her challenge is that they are still in the
middle of their renovation.
Theresa Jehlik reported that Omaha Public Library is
finishing up their big READ project. The book chosen was
Call of the Wild. This was the time that the zoo collaborated on a
project with the library. Omaha may be building a new baseball facility which
will affect the city funding.
Carol Spencer reported that she enjoys the State Advisory
Council on Libraries meetings and enjoys hearing about what is going on in
libraries across the state.
Mary Nelson reported that the Holdrege library has found
that collaboration is very important to their library. They are currently doing
a Phelps County READ program with the community college, and museum. They have
also borrowed books from the Lincoln City Libraries to conduct the program
because their library did not have the funds to buy all the books required.
Lincoln City Libraries graciously sent their books and some books on tape. With
their help the library is having a very successful program. Their challenge is
that they have outgrown their library.
John Dale reported that he is a retired minister of a
Christian church and was recently called on to meet with a group regarding
distance learning opportunities. John stated that his church denomination
provides Laymen serial training for those who have a call to ministry but not on
a professional level or have an interest in seminary level training. John felt
it would be a benefit to provide this training and continuing education for
ministers by distance learning. At the meeting John was asked what kind of
library resources would there be if there was a distance learning program. John
see 's three things that might assist this program; use of both UNL and UNO
library, public libraries can provide interlibrary loan services, and training
to the program participants on what resources are available in your library to
assist them.
Jean Ahrens reported that she is very pleased that Deb
Carlson is serving on the State Advisory Council on Libraries.
Deb Carlson reported that she was delighted to be serving
on the Council. Deb is the Children 's Librarian at the Scottsbluff public
library. The Scottsbluff library is
in desperate need of an addition and need $4.1 million to complete the addition.
The library has a very large amount of community support for the project. They
have submitted and application for a Kiewit Foundation grant and hopefully that
will come through. Deb wanted the children to become involved in the raising of
money for the library so they encourage each school to do a project to raise
money for the library. The school children from a near-by grade school collected
$1,000 in pennies for their Paving by Pennies project. The pennies were taken to
the library where the children paved the floor of the meeting room. The projects
are getting great media attention.
Maria Medrano reported she is almost completed with her LTA
program and her challenge was completing Patty Birch 's, Collection Development
class.
Steve Fosselman reported that due to the renovation and
expansion of the library they have had an increase in their usage and while it
is a good thing they have issued themselves a window of opportunity to inform
the public of more of the library services. Their greatest success in the last
month is they have been in the local newspaper 's Saturday Salute three times for
services. In the last week the library has been in the paper five out of six
days all for different things. Steve stated that there will be highway
construction in front of the library until November which will make marketing
the library a challenge.
Scott Kinney reported that the Chadron library received a
grant from NLC last year to remodel their teen room. Since the remodel young
adult circulation has increased, last month 's young adult circulation was up
266%. The library also was awarded at the excellence level this year for
accreditation. Scott stated he see 's challenges as opportunities to overcome.
Kit Keller reported that NLC approved 26 improvement grants
for some really good projects. Data collection is now complete and the challenge
is finishing up the last of the IMLS grant which is very activity driven.
Jim Connor - stated he is celebrating being back in
Nebraska.
Marty Magee handed out a new Homework Help brochure listing
multiple health resources, targeted at high school students. It 's
available online at:
http://nnlm.gov/mcr/education/pdf/trifoldhomeworkhelp0308.pdf.
All of the resources are free and
students as well as patrons should be encouraged to use these resources.
Marty stated her challenge is that she also teaches an LTA
online class and the server at the community college has been down which slowed
down student contact.
New Business
Election of Council Vice-Chair -
Becky Pasco and Deb
Carlson nominated Patricia Gross as vice-chair. The nomination was accepted and
approved by verbal vote and approval.
Professional Development Group -
Marty Magee reported that
Kathy Tooker, Richard Miller and Laura Johnson realized there is a gap in terms
of what we are letting people in the state know about in terms of continuing
education. The Nebraska Library Commission calendar lists all of their workshop
and programs but does not always know of other CE trainings/workshops going on
across the state. The group decided it would be nice to have one calendar of
events so a subcommittee has been developed to outline what is needed in the
database to add to the calendar.
Future Search Conference -
Rod Wagner reported that the
Future Search Conference will be held in Schuyler on June 9 & 10. The idea for
this conference came up at the last Leadership Institute. The two facilitators
at the institute are also facilitators for the Future Search process and they
agreed to facilitate for a conference in Nebraska. A planning group was formed
and they came up with a list of names of people to be invited to participate.
The idea is that hundreds of people could be invited but we don 't have the
facilities or the capacity to involve more than 80-90. People were chosen to
represent diversity across the state, representatives of all types of libraries,
people serving in public offices, educators, organizations, and others who could
be helpful in coming up with ideas and actions that would be of value to
Nebraskans.
Recommendation and Resolutions -
No recommendations or
resolutions were stated.
July and November Meetings-
Dates and Locations - Marty
Magee stated that the July meeting will be held July 18 in Chadron at the CSC
campus and November 21 at the Benson branch library in Omaha.
Adjournment - A motion was made by Jan
Boyer and seconded by Theresa Jehlik to adjourn the meeting. Motion approved.
Meeting adjourned at 12:45 p.m.