Legislative Report Submitted

The legislative report for the reorganization of library services has been sent. A copy of this report is on the Iowa Library Association's website. Here is a direct link to the report: http://www.iowalibraryassociation.org/associations/2221/files/IowaLibraryServicesReorganizationReport.pdf

Thank you to everyone for your input as we worked to meet the legislative criteria for this report.  We will continue to address your concerns so that we will be providing quality service to libraries and all Iowans.

Survey Results Available

The results for the survey are now available on the Iowa Library Association's website.  Here is a direct link: http://www.iowalibraryassociation.org/associations/2221/files/SummaryofLibraryServicesReorganization%20PlanSurvey.pdf

Thank you for taking the time to participate in the survey and share your comments. This will assist in preparing for the ILA business meeting and the report to the legislators.

Complete the Survey

 If you haven't completed the reorganization plan survey, please take a moment to do so. The survey will close at midnight today, Friday, October 8th. The online survey link was sent via email to IowaLib,  IA-ACRL, Community College Librarians, Public Library Directors, and Iowa Library Association members.

This survey is not limited to ILA members. The survey provides another way for the whole library community to provide input into the reorganization process.

Thanks to those who have completed the survey!

Related Legislation

A few people have asked about the original legislation that was the impetus for this process. The legislation is in House Amendment 8516 to Senate File 2376, which was passed by the legislature in late March and signed by the governor on April. The language in the amendment that specifically refers to the committee’s work is as follows:

“3. a. The library services areas and the state library** shall work collaboratively to conduct a study of ways to streamline state-funded library operations and services. The study shall, at a minimum, address the following:
(1) Library service area service delivery strengths
(2) Best practices for delivering continuing education
(3) The use of social networking tools to provide consulting services
(4) Consolidation of bookkeeping and auditing functions
(5) Locally based creative collaborations among all types of libraries
b. The library service areas shall collaboratively submit their findings and recommendations in a report to the general assembly on or before November 1, 2010.”

The text of the amendment can be obtained through the legislature’s Web site: http://tinyurl.com/2anmla9

** Although the plan calls for “the library services areas and the state library” to conduct the study, at meetings held before the passage of the amendment , Dale Vandehaar, current president of the Iowa Library Association, offered to have ILA facilitate/broker the agreement to be presented in November. Legislators, legislative staff, LSA staff, and State Library staff who were present at the two meetings agreed that ILA would serve as broker/facilitator.

New Survey Coming

The reorganization committee will release a new survey regarding the proposed design for library services next Monday, October 4th.  The survey will close on Friday, October 8th at 5:00 p.m..  Watch your email for the link to participate in the survey.

Third Meeting - Draft of New Model

The third meeting of the Committee of 11 met on August 18th to revise the model, creating Design 1, and voted unanimously to support it.  The studio audience also voted 98% in favor of the plan.  This has been placed on the ILA website (Model, FAQ, Talking Points, Financials) and for additional comments by the Iowa Library Community.  Small changes will be made by the Committee of 11 based on forthcoming blog comments, and this completed design will become Design 2, which we in the Iowa Library Community will need to rally behind and support. 

(click on the model above to download PDF version)

As can be seen by viewing the design model, there is a new state agency, Iowa Library Services, that blends the former State Library of Iowa and the Library Service Areas. Satellite offices will still exist to provide direct training and assistance to libraries throughout the state.  Other services will be streamlined and centralized.  Per the legislative directive for less boards, the LSA boards will be eliminated when library services are consolidated.  More information on how this will all work can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions created to go with the model.   

It is anticipated that the ILA Governmental Affairs Committee (GAC) will recommend the passage of Design 2 as part of its proposed 2011 Legislative Agenda, which will then be voted on by the ILA membership at the October 2010 Annual Conference in Coralville and approved by the ILA Executive Board.  The plan is to send the final proposal to legislators just after the ILA Annual Conference, in mid-October. 

Notes on commenting:

• Every blogger needs to sign his or her name to their comments and also list the library he/she is employed at, if a library employee, or the local library supported, if you are a library patron.  This allows us to respond and follow up more effectively. 
• Your thoughtful comments are greatly appreciated, as we tweak this final design.

Second Meeting - Possible Models

The second meeting, on July 7, 2010, had the main Committee of 11 reviewing the survey results and their implications and then breaking into three groups, with the Studio Audience as a 4^th group, to produce possible service models, with visuals. 

Ideas from the first two meetings – as well as the visuals/models created in the 2^nd meeting -  were given to a subcommittee of five (5) from the larger committee.  The members of this subcommittee are: Ann Coulter, Mary Wegner, Bonnie McKewon, Nancy Trask, Lorraine Borowski and Dale Vande Haar.

This subcommittee met twice in July/August to review survey data, financials from all affected agencies and the four (4) models proposed. Their task was to create a visual model/proposal showing the new delivery design, complete with these items requested by legislators and/or suggested by our ILA lobbyists:

• projections of cost savings,
• clear oversight of state funds,
• one governor-appointed governing board,
• a plan for offering statewide consistent and high quality library services to all libraries,
• meeting the span of control (supervisor to employee ratios) requirements.
• Staff:  District consultant positions will be filled with LSA librarians, if they want the job. The library resource technician positions will be filled with as many LSA office staff as possible.