Updated: 07/22/03
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Minutes
of the System And Resource Libraries Administrators Association of Wisconsin
July 10, 2003
WLA Office, Madison
The meeting was called to order by President Bernie Bellin at 10:08 a.m., who declared a quorum present.
Present: Alan Engelbert, Manitowoc PL and MCLS; Phyllis Davis, SCLS; Jessica McPhail, Racine PL; Doris Nix, MCFLS; Connie Crooks, Milwaukee PL; Peg Branson, DLTCL; Mark Merrifield, NFLS; Jeanne Stoltenburg, NWLS; Jim Zwadlo, SWLS; Alan Zimmerman, DLTCL; Terry Dawson, Appleton PL; Mark Morse, L.E. Phillips PL; Sharon Winkle, Mead PL; Pete Hamon, SCLS; Rick Krumweide, OWLS; Bob Bocher, DLTCL; David Weinhold, ESLS; Ruth Ann Montgomery, ALS; Carol Gibson, MCLS; Mike Cross, DLTCL; Rick Grobschmidt, DLTCL; Sally Drew, DLTCL; Kathy Schneider, WiLS; Mark Arend, Winnefox; David Polodna, WRLS; Tom Hennan, WCFLS; and last and least, Bernie Bellin, LLS.
Following introductions there was a call for changes or additions to the agenda. There were none.
It was moved by Merrifield, seconded by Polodna to approve the Minutes of the February 28, 2003 meeting. Motion carried. Later in the meeting, it was moved by Polodna, seconded by McPhail to approve the minutes of the April 23, 2003 meeting with the addition that those present at the meeting be listed. Motion carried.
LD & L REPORT
Budget and Governor's
Action: Grobschmidt reported that the Governor is looking at the budget
and is contemplating vetoes in some areas. There is no timetable for Doyle
to sign the budget. Joint Finance specified that the use of Universal
Service Funds to supplement system aids would sunset on June 30, 2005.
The Governor may decide to veto the sunset provision. Grobschmidt requested
that Systems keep track of dollars spent for Internet access and technology
purposes to justify continued use of USF money. There is some concern
that the reduction in GPR system aids could result in maintenance of effort
problems in relation to LSTA.
Joint Finance voted to cut an additional 5% over the 10% cut in the DPI budget the Governor proposed. The residential schools (blind, deaf) are exempted from the additional 5% cuts, putting more pressure on the remainder of the DPI budget. Funding for Badgerlink appears to be ok, although the budget includes cost to continue only. The TEACH program will probably remain in D.O.A., instead of moving to DPI as the Governor had proposed. There is a decrease in the disbursements from the Common School Fund due to lower income from investments, and school media specialists are being laid off in many districts, especially at the elementary level. All municipalities are concerned about the looming reductions in shared revenue, perhaps to be coupled with strict levy limits.
Mandate Relief Law & Library Systems: SB15 prohibits the creation of new unfunded mandates and introduces legislation to repeal all mandates. It will be interesting to see what is included in the term "mandate." To this point 3 requests have been received by DLTCL for mandate relief. All have been denied. Weinhold asked if library system mandates can be waived. Hennan wondered if a system could request mandate relief if it was doing anything that is not mandated. Cross will look into the matter and respond.
Zimmerman and Davis discussed AB431, which changes the basis for exemption from the county library tax from mill rate to per capita. In response to concerns raised, the bill now permits use of the lower of the two amounts as the basis for determining eligibility to exempt from the county tax. The bill also removes capital expenditures from county maintenance of effort requirements. Our concerns remain that wealthy areas with small populations could develop a poor library and exempt themselves because of high per capita payments, exacerbating cross over borrowing problems. It might also lead to the creation of more joint school/public libraries. It is a local problem that does not and should not require a statewide solution. Hennan stated that the adoption of county library standards could prevent this situation from occurring. It was moved by Hamon, seconded by Winkle to advise LD &L that SRLAAW is opposed to AB 431, and to urge SRLAAW members to contact local and county officials to oppose the bill as well. Motion carried.
LEGISLATION AND
BUDGET UPDATE
Davis commented that the bill regarding parental access to children's
library records has passed in Assembly and Senate committees without including
any of the changes recommended by WLA and COLAND. The bill is likely to
pass.
DPI REPORTS
Gates Library Grants: Bocher reported that the grants are going
well. All PC's were installed by the end of May. Follow up training grants
will be submitted to Gates in September or October. Training opportunities
for staff should be available from the fall of 2003 to fall 2004.
Reduction in Statewide Contracts: Drew stated that the four statewide contracts had received flat funding for a number of years, and now were facing cuts of $154,000. The decision has been made to fund the RLBPH and the CCBC; while providing funding for July, August and September only for the WILS and Milwaukee Public Library ILL contracts. Drew was curious about how library systems and local libraries might respond to this situation.
Drew stated that the WILS contract functioned on a per transaction basis, with access to the Madison campus at $5.30. Access to the other UW campuses is through OCLC. The OCLC fee might apply. CUWL does not believe its members could continue to provide service without compensation. Libraries or systems could decide to pay for ILL through WILS ourselves. R& L could continue to make the referral and pass charges back after September.
Drew indicated that it is unknown on what basis Milwaukee Public might continue to provide access and what options might be available. R& L can continue to make referrals to MINITEX and out of state, but there will be packaging and mailing costs involved. It is likely that there will be significantly less access to State Historical Society materials.
The group discussed various possibilities, ranging from systems paying to continue access through WILS, to putting some money toward it but controlling ILL costs by controlling volume via some form of rationing, to ceasing to provide access and allowing individual libraries to pay or not as they chose. Responses from individuals were as follows:
- Hamon's priorities
are to continue to have access to out of state ILL and to UW-Milwaukee
along with the Madison campus. Most of SCLS other borrowing is via a
shared system versus use of WISCAT. Hamon wondered aloud if SCLS would
stay in WISCAT.
- Morse stated that
L.E. Phillips is doing a pilot project to send a high volume of requests
across state lines, probably for immoral purposes. He will report on
it to Drew.
- Polodna stated
that WRLS cannot pick up the costs and felt that most libraries would
not.
- Arend felt it
was important that systems and libraries develop a common approach.
Otherwise, patrons might go shopping for Ill services.
- Gibson stated
that in 2002, 11% of Manitowoc Public Library's ILL was filled via WILS
while 1% was filled via Milwaukee Public. Assuming that pattern is typical
for public libraries around the state, DLTCL should cease funding the
Milwaukee contract immediately and put all available funds into the
WILS contract.
- Nix stated that
most of MCFLS ILL is internal and they might pull out of the statewide
delivery system.
- Dawson stated that some OCLC libraries have stated a willingness to loan to each other, and he would like more information. Schneider said the group is called LVIS, Libraries Very Interested in Sharing. Dawson suggested that ILL might cease to be viewed as a basic service. If so, the costs could be passed back to the patron. Engelbert concurred with this, but was quickly reminded that we just went through a major effort to fend off the imposition of fees in public libraries, so shut up already.
- Hamon questioned
why DLTCL had released a brochure promoting the use of WISCAT and ILL
by schools. Drew stated that schools want to borrow from schools and
that was why they put out the WISCAT brochure and that there was no
intent to compete with local shared systems. Hamon stated that the effect
was not what the Division planned, regardless of intent.
- Polodna suggested
that politically, cutting off ILL would result in pain for the using
public, which might yield political support for funding.
- Merrifield indicated
that Nicolet was looking internally at rationing service, and limiting
the number of requests by heavy users. He felt that if we could afford
some but not all requests, it helps to make the case to the patron that
if they want more service, they will have to talk to their legislator
to get more.
- Drew wondered
if all available funds should be used for requests that can be filled
by the State Historical Society.
- Gibson asked about
the collection development budget for R&L and what it is used for.
Drew stated that the budget is $50,000 and is used to buy reference
materials and some circulating. Gibson stated that she could not remember
the last time an MCLS ILL request was filled by R&L, and suggested
that the collection development funds should be diverted into the WILS
contract. Drew did not seem to feel it was a possibility, but will look
into it.
- Hamon suggested
that any money that exists should be given to library systems to let
them buy what they want in terms of ILL, rather than providing funding
for three months, stopping service and then having funds to provide
three months service in the next year of the biennium.
- Drew advised that Z39.50 will not permit the placing of holds just as we do on local shared systems, and that there has to be intervening gateway software. McPhail stated that if Z39.50 won't work, that the funds should be taken and used to fund ILL through WILS or OCLC.
Drew asked each system to provide an assessment of what it will do with regard to WILS. Will we provide service, drop service entirely, or put "x" amount on deposit with WILS and use it until it is gone. She also wants to know how systems want to manage the ILL process - run it through R& L or will we go direct. Schneider stated that WILS had to know by early August what systems were planning to do in order to manage their budget.
Drew and Arend supported having a meeting with system directors, WILS and ILL staffs to hash out a position. Bellin suggested that there was no time to have such a meeting now, and that Drew should send out a revised copy of the handout "Impact of 2003-2005 Budget on Statewide Contracts", and system directors should meet with ILL staffs and libraries and respond.
Library Legislative Task Force Bills: Cross stated that the Division was seeking sponsorship for items listed on the "Language Bill," which are regarded as being non-controversial. The items on the "Reform Bill" are regarded as controversial, and will be introduced after the state budget is adopted. Cross also pointed out as a point of information that if there were to be major changes in the shared revenue formula, there would have to be a change in the funding formula for systems as well.
Winkle reminded SRLAAW that the district legislation is currently without sponsors. She asked if DLTCL could take over as liaison to the bill drafters. Cross will check with Grobschmidt. Cross believes that there will have to be Republican sponsorship for it to go anywhere. Hamon stated that a draft is needed in order to find sponsors.
Records Retention for Libraries and Systems: Cross wants to work out a general schedule for retention to be approved by the state Records Board. Each library board could then adopt the schedule and just notify the Records Board of having done so. If a library does not adopt a retention schedule, it functions under the general provisions, which require retention for a minimum of seven years of all records. Cross indicated that libraries can use adopted municipal schedules.
DLTCL ILL Conference
/ SRLAAW ILL Committee Report: As it turns out, SRLAAW had not appointed
an ILL Committee. Engelbert, Hamon and Lori Freund agreed or were appointed
to serve. Drew will serve as Division liaison. Bellin asked that other
interested in serving please notify him. The purpose of the committee
would be to identify alternatives available for ILL and Wisconsin and
identify data necessary to evaluate them. LITAC is also looking into the
issues of ILL, WISCAT and Badgerlink. DLTCL is also working to define
issues and determine what data is needed. Their intent is to develop issue
papers for various groups. The Division is planning to hold a one or two
day conference on ILL, probably next spring.
Library Director Certification: Branson reported that COLAND had
endorsed the Division's recommendations regarding certification but wants
more discussion of them. Highlights of the changes include requiring new
directors in libraries with populations under 6,000 to take a minimum
of one library management course a year for four years in order to maintain
a temporary certificate; and requiring that applications for certification/recertification
at any level be signed by the president of the board of trustees. There
is a recommendation that all new directors receive orientation to the
library system shortly after being hired. There was discussion regarding
whether or not orientation should be made a basic requirement for certification
or not. These remain recommendations at this point and are not in effect.
CD Class Action Settlement: Cross had sent out some information regarding this issue in May. Since then a federal judge approved the general settlement but the not part on how the CD's would be distributed to libraries, particularly because the settlement allowed libraries to sell CD's we didn't want, which could lead to some interesting and awkward situations. Cross will monitor the situation and provide updates when appropriate.
Annual System Directors Meeting: We were reminded that this meeting is scheduled for July 31st at the WLA office in Madison.
Wiscnet and State Telecommunications Contract: Bocher reported that the rebidding of the telecommunications contract (video lines and Internet) is held up. UW's have a lot of concerns about the contract, particularly that too much emphasis is being placed on the video side rather than the data side. There is the feeling on the part of some that E Rate regulations are driving the design of the network, with potential long term detrimental effects. There is also general concern that potential vendors will low ball costs to the state, making it very attractive to D.O.A. but then passing more of the costs back to localities.
CIPA Filtering Decision: Bocher indicated that, since the decision came down, only Milwaukee Public had said it would filter, because of budget issues. No other libraries have said they will filter, and systems will probably rearrange how they budget. The date on which FCC rules will become effective is not known. DLTCL is anticipating that there will be some form of certification that libraries and systems will have to sign, which for LSTA could be June of 2004, and for E Rate could be July, 2004. In response to questions, Bocher stated that systems receiving E Rate would have to filter, but staff could give themselves permission not to filter. (One question that was raised after the meeting is, if a library system staff in its entirety decides that they don't want to filter, does the system have to buy filtering software and install it, even if it won't be used?) If a system has five libraries that filter and five that don't the E Rate discount could be prorated. Libraries could decide whether or not to turn filters off if requested to do so - it is discretionary.
LIBRARY SYSTEMS
AS A GROUP FOR HEALTH INSURANCE
Weinhold inquired if there was any interest on the part of SRLAAW to join
together as a group to buy health insurance. MCFLS expressed interest.
The state is revising its guidelines for participation in the state health
insurance program, effective 2004, so it may now be easier for systems
to participate than it had been. Formerly, 65% of employees covered by
WRF had to opt to take the state plan in order for a system to participate.
Under the new guidelines, waivers can be granted and the employee not
be counted against the 65% participation ratio if the employee is covered
by another health insurance plan, is covered by a different plan that
the employer sponsors, or if the annualized cost of the premium for state
insurance would exceed 10% of the employee's annualized salary.
ALA LEGISLATIVE
DAY REPORT
McPhail reported that the delegation from Wisconsin met with Senator Feingold,
who was the only member of Congress to meet with them. Turns out that
Feingold knew Grobschmidt from their days in the Legislature and is a
fan.
SRLAAW NOMINATING
COMMITTEE REPORT
Bellin reported on behalf of the Committee that McPhail had been nominated
as Vice President. It was moved by Engelbert, seconded by Weinhold
to accept the nomination. Motion carried to wild acclaim.
The next meeting is scheduled for August 22nd at the Marathon County Public Library in Wausau. Prior to adjournment, it was announced that Jerry Sommers, former Director of the Brown County Public Library, had died.
There being no further business to conduct, Bellin adjourned the meeting at 2:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Alan Engelbert, Recorder
