Updated: 12/23/02
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Rick Krumwiede
Terry Dawson
Minutes
of the System and Resource Library Administrators Association of Wisconsin
WLA Office
December 4, 2002
The meeting was called
to order at 10:13 a.m. by Dimick, followed by introductions of the 32
people present.
Present were: Rick Krumwiede, OWLS; Mark Arend, Winnefox LS; John Nichols,
Oshkosh PL and Winnefox LS; Mark Merrifield, Nicolet LS; Mike Sheehan,
Northwest LS; Jessica MacPhail, Racine PL; David Polodna, Winding River
LS; Michael Tyree, West Bend PL; Bernie Bellin, Lakeshore LS; Walter Burkhalter,
Mid-Wisconsin LS; David Weinhold, Eastern Shores LS; Barbara Dimick, Madison
PL; Mary Bethke, Marathon County PL; Jim Zwadlo, Southwest Wisconsin LS;
Alan Engelbert, Manitowoc PL and Manitowoc-Calumet LS; Sandra Robbers,
Indianhead Federated LS; Tom Hennen, Waukesha County LS; Peter Hamon,
South Central LS; Terry Dawson, Appleton PL; Douglas Baker, Kenosha PL
and Kenosha County LS; Kathy Schneider, WILS, Michael Sheehan, Janet Jennings,
Northern Waters LS; Paula Kiely, Milwaukee PL; Mark Morse, L. E. Phillips
PL; Karen Krueger, Hedberg PL; Ruth Ann Montgomery, Arrowhead LS; Paul
Kiesner, Brown County; Cal Potter, DLTCL; Larry Nix, DLTCL; Paul Nelson,
WLA & LD & L; Alan Zimmerman, DLTCL; Robert Bocher, DLTCL; Mary
Wilkins Jordan, Kenosha PL and Kenosha County LS; Sally Drew, DLTCL
John Nichols asked to add discussion of the ALA Washington Office and
public perception of its political representation to the agenda.
The minutes of the August 23, 2002 meeting were unanimously approved on a motion by Merrifield and seconded by Burkhalter.
Polodna presented the treasurer's report and noted there was no income and no expenditures since the last report. The stipend for the ALA Washington Legislative Day delegate from SRLAAW was discussed. Although there has not been a SRLAAW delegate in recent years, there have been 11 or 12 Wisconsin attendees representing library interests. Those speaking in favor of continuing the stipend for a SRLAAW delegate said this is a worthwhile activity for systems to fund and the fee assessed for the stipend is a small annual expense for systems. It is important to maintain contact with both state and federal government officials. Regional meetings with federal representatives were suggested. David Polodna moved that the $50 stipend be continued. Tom Hennen seconded and the motion carried.
A draft of the System Funding Advocacy Plan was presented by David Polodna. Goals were for funding system aid at 11.25% of local expenditures in the next biennium and 13%, as prescribed by statute in future bienniums. Larry Nix handed out charts showing system aid increases under the proposed plan and it was suggested that the chart be used to set targets for system funding requests. It was agreed that WLA and FOWL be added to the list of supporters. Opponents may include some legislators, and a unified plan to promote systems should be created. Peter Hamon moved to accept the draft with revisions as recommended. John Nichols seconded and the motion carried.
Paul Nelson reported on the LD & L committee. Meetings will be scheduled with newly elected legislators as well as those appointed to leadership positions in the cabinet and key committees. Nelson encouraged people to contact new and returning legislators and suggested that one of the "buzz" phrases will be "regional solutions" to problems. Systems are the poster child for collaboration and regional solutions. Milwaukee County is attempting to collect funds from the "Consolidation Incentive Program."
Cal Potter reported that 13% system funding, as required by state statute, was presented to the DOA as part of the State Superintendent's budget. $1.4 million was submitted for BadgerLink. The new bills to be presented to the legislature will include a first bill with language changes that Cal will present. A second reform bill will be delayed until after the budget bill. David Weinhold moved that SRLAAW endorse the language change bill. Tom Hennen seconded and the motion carried.
Larry Nix's table describing system aid funding in the next biennium was discussed. The argument for the increase would be to increase system aids in order to increase access for citizens and contribute to the economic development of the state and its communities. Doug Baker moved to endorse the Public Library Systems Aids for Priority Based Budgets Draft using 2002 aids as a base, and adding 5% in 2004, and another 5% in the second year, 2005. Peter Hamon seconded. The discussion included questions about how to explain the increase. Supporters of the increase need a common understanding of how system aids are used and a common approach to the explaining the increase. The motion carried with 16 yea and 3 nay votes.
Chairman Dimick presented a plaque to Cal Potter and expressed SRLAAW members' gratitude for his leadership and service to libraries in the State of Wisconsin. Potter also graciously accepted a congratulatory cake with a humorous inscription.
Potter said he would continue to support library and system needs. In his continued efforts to increase awareness of the political process, Potter suggested the need for librarians to volunteer to serve on boards such as the TEACH board or the Board of Regents in order to gain visibility with government officials.
The public perception of SRLAAW was discussed. It was suggested that discussions of issues be summarized in the minutes. Peter Hamon agreed to take responsibility for any "off the wall" comments. The consensus was to allow freedom of expression to each individual minute taker.
John Nichols presented an article on activism by ALA lobbyists. A discussion followed on the various styles of political presentation and lobbying for library issues.
David Weinhold and Josh Morrill presented the statewide survey project on behalf of the Public Library Consortium. There is still $5,000 needed to do the statewide user/non-user survey. A steering committee will be needed to analyze the questions and review the data. The survey can be adapted at the local level after the statewide survey is done. Other surveys may follow this initial survey.
Robert Bocher reported that Gates training workshops will be held in 2003. Future staff training funding received from the Gates Foundation will be based on the number attending the installation workshops. Bocher encouraged institutions to send the maximum number of participants allowed for each institution to insure that the maximum amount of training funding is received.
Larry Nix reported that there will be a certification study committee to study level 2 and 3 certification requirements. Because the ETN courses are being phased out other education opportunities need to be made available and the orientation and handbook for new librarians needs to be revised.
Cal Potter said that the 2003 LSTA funds have not yet been approved by congress and he urged people to contact their congressmen to let them know that the funds should be reauthorized. LSTA funds will be used for a conference on the future of WISCAT in 2003. An outside facilitator will be hired to lead the conference. An additional $34,000 was given to Reference & Loan to transition away from the OCLC tapes.
Sally Drew discussed the abandonment of the OCLC tape loading into WISCAT. More than 100 libraries send in OCLC tapes. A letter has gone out to academic libraries and special libraries that use OCLC tapes to load records into WISCAT.
Hennen reminded us that the State Standards are due for revision in 2005
Bocher announced that the Technology Committee will meet Dec. 13th. Many school media centers are losing their librarians. There will be vacancies on the Technology committees and new nomination forms must be used to apply for a spot on the committees. Drew said that a wide spectrum of the library community is needed to fill the vacancies on various committees.
Drew talked about the delivery service and the advisory committee. The external delivery system is growing about 9% and little is known about the impact on internal delivery systems. She asked for delivery statistics from the systems in order to analyze this. Drew also asked for input on other issues the advisory committee should consider.
Drew reported that the cataloger has been cut at the State Historical Society and there is some question about the effect the cuts will have on the State Government Documents Depositories. There are less printed copies of government documents and more information on the WEB. However, none of the WEB documents are being archived and can disappear quickly, sometimes within six months. Depository libraries may be asked to take over cataloging of government documents and other duties.
David Weinhold discussed the county tax exemption issues in Ozaukee County where 80-90% of the people are in areas served by a library. Al Zimmerman said this is an area that needs to be monitored very carefully.
Jessica MacPhail has served on the committee for the new edition of the Dewey Decimal publication. It will be issued in June. There is more of an international focus in the new Dewey.
The next meeting will be February 28, 2003.
Bernie Bellin moved to adjourn. Mark Merrifield seconded and the meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ruth Ann Montgomery
Acting secretary
