Kansas Library Association Council Meeting

Minutes of the January 21, 2005

Lawrence Public Library

 

Present:  Patti Butcher, Rosanne Siemens, Jane Hatch, Pat Gaunce, Duane Johnson, Hans Fischer, Leroy Gattin, Cindi Hickey, Vikki JO Stewart, Eric Hansen, Susan Moyer, Kate Capps, Susan Taylor, Laura DeBaun, Connie Doeden, Catherine Newland, Debbie Madsen, Catherine Jeanjean, Carol Levers, Donna Lauffer, Andrew Mangels, Michelle Swain, Kristen Becker, Donna Hobbs, Patricia Renn-Scanlan, Margaret Knecht.

 

I.                     Call to Order: President Patti Butcher called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m.

a.       Patti introduced 3 new members to the Council: Andrew Mangels (Membership Committee Chair), Donna Lauffer (Intellectual Freedom Roundtable Chair), and Carol Levers (Social Responsibilities Roundtable Chair).  Patti also introduced Cindi Hickey, Chair of the Intellectual Freedom Task Force.

 

II.                    Approval of the minutes of the October 29, 2004 meeting: Kristen acknowledged a change was needed under PALS report to indicate PALS did not meet with the Regents, but with KICA and Kan-ED representatives. (Hans Fischer, Donna Lauffer SMC).

 

III.                  Approval of the Agenda: (Capps, DeBaun SMC)

 

IV.                  Financial Report: Rosanne reported individual membership dues are still low and KLA is still hoping to get more memberships with Tri-conference registration.  Institutional dues are lower than anticipated, Support Funds are the lowest and that anticipated income will not be there for the year.  Patti may need to send a letter to institutions and others who made a three year pledge and have not sent in the third year payments.  However, KLA is halfway through the year and things are looking good.  For the month of December, KLA did not take in as much as it spent, and Rosanne is holding off spending money until some of the other anticipated income is there, and that should be in February or March. 

 

V.                   Executive Director’s Report: Rosanne reported she has been busy working on the Legislative Day activities.  House Bill 2027 is currently in a House committee.  This bill would change the time period a public library trustee sits out between appointments from 2 years to 1 year.  HB2026 (Kan-ED) has had a hearing in the House Education Committee.  Senator Paul Davis is looking at a bill that would exempt library Friends groups from paying sales tax.  Opposition may come from other groups that wish to be tax exempt.  Patti added to Rosanne’s report that they attended an advocacy workshop at ALA Mid-winter.  Statewide, Kansas is doing a wonderful job and should be proud of itself.  Patti also mentioned they had a conversation with association presidents from Iowa and Missouri.  Missouri may be interested in a joint conference.

 

VI.                  Items for Discussion:

a.       Bylaws – Michelle Swain recommended a change in the bylaws that will appear on the ballot.  This change is to rename the KLA Legislative Committee to the KLA Governmental Affairs Committee.  This was the second reading of the report and it will now be placed on the ballot to be sent out before Tri-conference.

b.       Agreement between KLA and KLA Educational Foundation – Jane Hatch asked members of the council to look over the agreement between the KLA Educational Foundation and KLA.  No action was requested at this time.  Jane asked council members to make comments or changes in the agreement to her or to Rosanne and that action will be taken by Council to approve the agreement at the March 30 meeting. 

c.       Investment Policy – Jane asked members of the council to look over an investment policy.  Jane believes KLA and the KLA Educational Foundation needs to adopt an investment policy and have that in order prior to the fund raising campaign.  Jane thanked Duane Johnson for all his work on preparing the two documents.

d.       Intellectual Freedom Task Force – Cindi Hickey provided a written report to be included with the minutes of this meeting.  Patti asked Donna Lauffer to join the Intellectual Freedom Task Force.  Patti hopes the task force and roundtable will help inform librarians of intellectual freedom issues.

 

 

VII.                Reports

a.        Legislative and Federal Relations Committee – Pat Gaunce distributed a written report and reviewed the report.  She asked all library workers who can attend Legislative Day on February 17, 2005 to show up and talk about KLA’s legislative priorities and  library issues with their legislators.  Michelle Swain designed the push cards “Do the Math” and calculator/clocks were purchased for each legislator.  KLA will present the Governor and new State Librarian, Christi Brandau with an honorary membership to KLA on Legislative Day.

b.       Membership Committee – Andrew is happy to be on board and looks forward to a strong membership campaign.

c.       Promotions Committee – Vikki Jo provided a written report.  For the 2005 Tri-Conference KLA is having “Give KLA a Leg Up” Geography Bee.  There will be 3 members per team.

d.       Kansas Library Trustee Association – KLTA will have a meeting Feb. 5 at Salina Public Library and Christy Brandau will be in attendance.  KLTA Board has challenged the FOKL Board for funds to the KLA Educational Foundation.  The challenge is based on the percentage of board members making a pledge to the Educational Foundation.  The loser will pay for the other board’s luncheon at the joint KLTA/FOKL luncheon at Tri-Conference.  There is an upcoming training session by KLTA for trustees in NW Kansas.

e.       Intellectual Freedom Roundtable – Donna expressed her pleasure at being named the Chair of the Intellectual Freedom Roundtable.

f.         KLA Newsletter – Kate Capps asked the council if it would be okay to change the deadline for article submission from the 15^th of the month to the first of the month beginning with the fall issue.  Printing delays causes the newsletter to be distributed later than it previously has been.  Council thought it would be reasonable to change the deadlines to the first of August, November, February and June beginning with August 2005.

g.       State Library – Eric Hansen provided a written report in Marc Galbraith’s absence. 

 

VIII.               Visioning – KLA Initiatives and the Work of the Council: Patti asked groups to form and come up with at least 3 things that would improve KLA.  The attached document is a compilation of the results.

 

IX.                  Lucky Library Links – Vikki Jo distributed a flyer discussing lucky library links and a pledge card.  The KLA Educational Foundation is requesting all council members participate in the fund raising efforts.   The first of many library links were awarded to those members who had returned pledge cards.

 

X.                   KLA Educational Foundation Campaign – Jane Hatch reviewed the campaign.  The target is $5 million.  Jane asked if council members if they would be interested in attending several workshops regarding effective fundraising for small libraries and how to do the “ask”.  She will ask Jim Swain to help facilitate such a workshop.  There is the capability to hold this session via the video conference equipment so people could attend a site.  Council members agreed this could be done over the video conferencing network. 

XI.                   

Patti added that concessions had been made with the conference hotel and center in Overland park for this year.  There will no longer be a minimum number of rooms or food and beverage minimum. 

 

The meeting adjourned at 1:02 pm (Capps, Lauffer SMC)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KLA Initiatives & roles

 

?          Well, funded, effective and ongoing, glitzy and broad MEDIA CAMPAIGN

?          Inclusive communication and membership initiative

?          Strengthen KLA’s internal and external position vis-?vis in-state and out-of-state groups

?          Highlight economic development impact of libraries

?          Merge Kansas library organizations into one

?          Advocacy:

Legislative

Legal

Lobbying

?          Leader in continuing education for professionals

?          Stronger networking opportunities

?          Recognize “Best in our Field” – many categories

?          Attract new people to the profession

?          Build future leaders; continue strong association leadership

?          Endowment leading to self-sufficiency

?          KLA is the “axle on the wagon wheel” of many constituent groups

?          Libraries as a “Destination Place”

 

Group Lists

 

**Each discussion group is divided by **.

 

Big powerful organization that people pay attention to.

Provide legal assistance on issues.

Inclusive/ better job communicating to all members of the library community that they are a part of the action and have a say.

Recruit; do 20/20 style focus groups statewide.

Keep up with intellectual freedom issues.

Show benefits of libraries regarding current and potential economic impact and development in communities.

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Council/ Structure of KLA = axle/ wagon wheel

Voice for librarians and for citizens/ change agents

Outreach and CE to ESL, new citizens, disenfranchised

Endowment – ways to stay strong.

Good leadership right now.

More collaboration among KASL, KAECT, KLA.

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Support to members – increase members:

 provide opportunities for librarians to become professionally

involved- not all can participate at national level.

provide networking opportunities for members.

Represent libraries at state legislature and other governmental bodies.

Promote libraries to ALL – not just the choir of librarians.

***********************************************************

 

Strong advocate for libraries.

Leader in library area.

Provide more specific training opportunities, i.e. personnel

Stronger networking opportunities

Showcase “best of the libraries”

Share ideas

Liaison with legislature

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Lobbying.

Advocacy, esp. promoting libraries, library issues, librarianship and intellectual freedom.

Providing (or promoting) training and development of librarians, i.e. continuing education.

Provide (or promote) cooperative efforts between and among librarians in Kansas and outside of KS (esp. from different types of libraries). Coordinate or catalyze efforts, i.e. one organization to represent KS libraries.

Promote librarianship as a career, through K-12 initiatives.

Promote library services and resources which support the information needs of Kansans, esp. to smaller communities, and librarians in smaller places (even if it’s promoting by librarian who knows to colleagues).

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KLA ought to have as primary purpose to promote libraries in an active, professionally prepared promotion of libraries in the public media—and the $ to do it effectively and comprehensively.

                What libraries are

                What libraries offer

                Why public should care about libraries

                Target the youth population, young families, non-English speakers,

business community

 

Strive to be more inclusive and recruit participation in association.

Need to humanize libraries – perception that reading in print is “the past”, and that libraries as an institution are “apart” or “intellectual.”

Continuing Ed. Role – identify trends, publicity effort to promote new roles, educate library staff and trustees about new roles for libraries.

Educate funders and local, county, state governing bodies about new roles.

 

***************************************************

 

Advocacy, esp. legislative and laws, lobbying

Education, both of our communities and of librarians

Recruiting diverse membership

Continue interacting at national level

Facilitate different groups working together (i.e. ICE in KLA office)

Support of rural libraries and library systems