Kansas Library Association Council Meeting Minutes – October 9, 2003 - Topeka, Kansas

Present: Patti Butcher, First Vice President; Bob Walter, Immediate Past President and Nominations Committee Chair; Rosanne Goble, Executive Director; Barbara Dew, Recording Secretary; Jane Hatch, Finance Committee Chair; Hans Fischer, KLTA Representative; Margaret Knecht, Archivist; Connie Doeden, Continuing Education Committee Chair; Duane Johnson, State Librarian; Lynn Haggard, Interlibrary Loan Roundtable Chair; Joseph Forte, College and University Libraries Section (CULS) President; Jean Hatfield, Public Library Section Chair; Michelle Swain, Library Instruction Roundtable Chair; Laura DeBaun, ALA Membership Committee Chair; Patricia Renn-Scanlan, KASL Representative; Anne Liebst, KLA Webmaster; Sha Li Zhang, Publications Committee Chair; Mac Reed, Government Documents Roundtable Chair; Melanie Miller, Intellectual Freedom Roundtable Chair; Max Burson, Private Academic Libraries Section (PALS) Chair; Kate Capps, KLA Newsletter Editor; Arlene Wiler, Children’s and School Libraries Section Chair; Vikki Stewart, Promotions Chair; Jim Dodson, Braren, Mulder, German Associates, Inc.
I. Call To Order and Introductions: First Vice President Patti Butcher called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m. and explained that President Deb Ludwig was absent due to family illness. Patti introduced Vikki JO Stewart as the new Promotions Committee Chair and announced that Bob Walter has agreed to be Parliamentarian. A quorum was declared present. Sue Blechl, Emporia Public Library Director, introduced five visiting Russian librarians who are touring Topeka for the day. They stopped in to meet and briefly observe KLA Council. In response to questions from council members, they relayed through an interpreter that they attend ALA and IFLA, their largest problems are finance and information overload, and that Internet instruction classes are very popular in their libraries.
II. Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting: Barbara noted that the footer with date was not updated on the minutes that were emailed. Kate Capps was not present at the June meeting but sent a written report that Barbara did not receive. Kate will email her one. With those corrections, the minutes of the regular meeting of June 12, 2003 were unanimously approved on the motion of Jane Hatch.
III. Approval of the Agenda: Patti and Rosanne distributed a revised agenda. 
IV. Financial Report: Rosanne Goble reviewed the printed financial reports (blue). Dues are still coming in. Some lines such as MPLA Representative and printing & postage will probably go over budget. In response to a question, Rosanne confirmed that conference balances are separate from and in addition to the individual sections/roundtable balances.
V. Executive Secretary's Report: Rosanne reviewed her printed report (red). One of the highlights was her involvement with Kansas Enrichment Network, a group looking at ways to help organizations collaborate on effective after school and out of school activities for youth. She thanked Topeka-Shawnee County Public Library for allowing the ICE Management Class to take place. Roseanne will take part in an October 25 panel at the Dole Institute, Lawrence, presenting on the USA Patriot Act and how it affects libraries and library users.  
VI. Action Items:
A.      Director Evaluation—Goals and Evaluation Procedure (purple): The council unanimously endorsed the proposal of the Executive Committee about the evaluation process and the Executive Director’s 2003-2004 goals and objectives.
B.      Fundraising Initiative Report: (white copy of agreement & sheet of projected expenses) Jim Dodson of Braren, Mulder, German Associates (BMG), Davenport, IA reviewed his company’s work with other Kansas entities to build their endowments and how the KLA project would differ from that. He proposed working with a small committee to develop a casebook, and then from informational meetings with potential major donors and key community leaders, develop a fund raising feasibility study and a report of KLA’s financial potential. Patti clarified that this is a feasibility study, although it lays the groundwork for a campaign. Hans Fischer clarified that the library community would be in charge of fundraising, not BMG, although BMG personnel will certainly assist with the planning and execution of the plan. On the motion of Bob Walter, the President and First Vice President were unanimously authorized to execute the written agreement with Braren, Mulder, German Associates, with the replacement of all instances of “Board Members,” “Board,” or “Board of Trustees” in the contract with “KLA Council.” On the motion of Laura DeBaun, the President was unanimously authorized to name a special committee to work with BMG. Patti noted that Deb Ludwig has asked Jane Hatch to chair the committee. Rosanne reported that Vicki JO Stewart has been asked to help develop a corporate membership for KLA that should also assist this project.
C.      Content Insurance and Bond: Rosanne reported that a problem developed with the underwriter because of KLA’s lobby status. On the recommendation of the second company, changes in the money handling procedures have been reorganized so that depositing money and writing checks is separated and the checks are co-signed. The second company’s fees are less than the first one. 
D.      Compilation Report—Kennedy and Coe: Some copies of the accountants’ compiled financial statements and report were available for members to review. A copy is filed with the minutes.
VII. Committee/Officer Reports:
A. ALA Membership: Laura DeBaun will make sure there is ALA membership information at Tri-Conference.
B. Annual Conference: Patti Butcher announced that Tri-Conference proposals are due November 1, and she thanked Anne Liebst for putting the form online. The committee will meet November 10 to put the program together. Patti would like to develop “tracks” for the program. Ian Jukes, a futurist from Canada, will present on the first day of the conference and Chris Crutcher will be the keynote speaker on Thursday. Awards will be presented at the Exhibitor’s Bash.
C. Bylaws: TimRogers was not present.
D. Continuing Education and Scholarship: Connie Doeden highlighted her written report of the year’s grants and scholarships.
E. Finance: Jane Hatch noted that most of the committee’s activities have already been touched upon.
F. Futures: Leroy Gattin was not present. Patti noted that dates for Tri-Conference are set for several years, and that the MPLA Board voted to hold their conference in conjunction with Tri-Conference in 2009 in Overland Park.
G. Legislative and Federal Relations: Mona Carmack was not present.   Rosanne reported that Mona will schedule a meeting with Attorney General Phil Kline, and hopes to develop a cooperative relationship regarding legislation on children’s Internet safety. Duane reported that the Legislative Committee is alert to conversations with the governor’s staff and the position on this topic. Patti reported that the Legislative Committee took a look at KLA’s Statement on Filtering and because of last summer’s Supreme Court decision, recommends that the Statement be rescinded. Following discussion, Council on the motion of Jane Hatch voted unanimously that the Statement be withdrawn and the Intellectual Freedom Committee brings a revision to the next Council meeting. Hans Fischer asked about the article about taxing authority that appeared in the August issue of “Kansas Government Journal.” Duane responded that the Legislative Committee is carefully examining this issue. The position of The League of Kansas Municipalities is that only elected officials have taxing authority. Patti noted that Legislative Day is Thursday, February 19, 2004.
H. Membership: Sally Conard was not present.
I. Nominating: Bob Walter had no report. The committee will start working soon and will have a slate by the January meeting. Patti thanked Bob again for serving as KLA President.
J. Parliamentarian: Bob Walter had no report. 
K. Promotions: Rosanne reported that Vicki JO Stewart would organize a corporate membership drive using a model from the Iowa association. Vicki JO hopes to have a plan in place by December.
L. Publications Committee: Sha Li Zhang reviewed her written report. She has worked with Rosanne, Deb, and Sally Conard to redesign a new KLA membership application brochure which went out in August. Rosanne thanked Sha Li for her outstanding work in designing the brochure.  
 
VIII. Section Reports:
A. Children's and School Libraries: Arlene Wiler reported that they would have programs at Tri-Conference.
B. College and University Libraries: Joe Forte reported that CULS would meet October 23-24 in Wichita with 24 presenters. He thanked Rosanne and KLA for help with the conference.
C. Kansas Library Trustee Association: Hans Fischer reported that there were positive evaluations of the Hesston fall conference with the Public Library Section. KLTA will continue to emphasize salaries through articles in “Trustee Talk.” KLTA’s website will be ready early next year. They are discussing with ICE at least one teleconference/year.   Wednesday, March 31, 2004 will be Trustee/Friends Day at Tri-Conference. The winter board meeting will be February 7, 2004, with February 14 as the snow day. He thanked Shannon Roy for helping KLTA address the salary issue, Cindy Hickey, ICE Coordinator, and Jan Michaels, the new KLTA Administrative Assistant, as well as Rosanne. He asked Duane to update the group about the benefits issue. Duane explained that the Kansas Health Care Commission has again been approached to allow libraries to participate in the state health plan that was earlier opened to city and county governments and school districts. Duane has been assured that in another year, this will be opened to libraries. Duane says that enrollment is somewhat complicated and expensive, but could be a good opportunity. 
D. Private Academic Libraries: Max Burson reported that Dr. Susan Taylor, McPherson College Director, was appointed to fill an open position on Kansas Library Network Board.
E. Public Libraries: Jean Hatfield thanked Rosanne for helping so much with the fall conference.
IX. Roundtable Reports
A. Collection & Technical Services: Tim Rogers was not present.
B. Distance Education: Terri Summey was not present.
C. Government Documents: Mac Reed recapped the summer conference. The focus was on the census. They are planning a Tri-Conference program on displays that may be of interest to people other than government documents librarians.
D. Independent Information Workers: Susan Fowler was not present.
E. Information Access and Technology: Cheryl Jorgensen was not present.
F. Intellectual Freedom: Melanie Miller briefly reviewed her written report.
G. Interlibrary Loan: Lynn Haggard reported that her committee would meet tomorrow to develop Tri-Conference programs.
H. Kansas Library Operation Associates: Sally Conard was not present. 
I. KPLACE Librarians: Terry Harley was not present.
J. Librarians for Cultural and Ethnic Diversity/Social Responsibilities: Kim Patton was not present. 
K. Library Instruction: Michelle Swain reported that they are soliciting ideas for Tri-Conference. The July video workshop at Emporia State University was great! There was a good mix of school, public, and academic librarians.
L. New Member: Catherine Jeanjean was not present.
 
X. Other Council Members Reports:
A. ALA Councilor: Carol Barta was not present.
B. Archivist: Margaret Knecht has no report.
C. Diversity Task Force: Carol Barta was not present.
D. FoKL Liaison: Sue Blechl was not present.
E. KASL Representative: Patricia Renn-Scanlan met August 9 in Salina. They awarded scholarships for AASL that will be in Kansas City October 22-25. This is a great opportunity for school librarians! Patricia distributed copies of the ALA Resolution titled “School Libraries and Librarians are Critical to Educational Success” that was passed at the conference in Toronto last June. She reported that KASL adopted a Statement of Concern and encouraged Council to send a letter of support or pass a resolution of support. Jean Hatfield suggested that the Children’s and School Libraries Section be charged with developing a statement for action at the next meeting. CSL Chair Arlene Wiler agreed to do this.
F. KLA Education Foundation Report: Bob Walter noted that the committee has still not reorganized. The structure may be determined by how the project with BMG develops. He’ll ask Deb Ludwig to appoint a couple of people to help him restructure the board.
G. KLA Newsletter Editor: Kate Capps reported that adjustments to handling the newsletter outside of Hutchinson are still being made. The deadline for the next newsletter is November 15, 2003.
H. KLA Webmaster: Anne Liebst reviewed her printed report. PayPal is not heavily used as yet. She is investigating other payment options. 
I. MPLA Representative: Jean Hatfield reported that Kansas is the most highly represented state at MPLA’s conference at Lake Tahoe next month.
J. Kansas Library Network Board Liaison: Eric Hansen was not present.
K. Reforma Representative: Jean Hatfield announced that the national group is co-sponsoring the MPLA Conference and that Heartland Chapter is sponsoring a book discussion at the fall Public Library Section/KLTA Conference. It will be an evening TALK-type program of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.
X. Other Announcements/Items of Business: Duane distributed a list of the education and research databases available through consortial purchasing of KAN-ED, Kansas State Library, KLNB, university libraries, and the Topeka, Johnson County, and Olathe libraries.   A brochure of this plus the steps of how to access the databases will be developed. Patti announced for Deb Ludwig that future meeting dates of KLA Council are January 23, March 31 (at Tri-Conference), July 23, and October 22.
XI. Adjournment: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 12:30 p.m.
Barbara Dew
Recording Secretary