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.
I attended most of the Reorganization Committee's meetings and this was the most transparent process I have seen in the library community or any community.
ReplyDeleteI support the plan, because it is truly a plan created by the library community; LSA staff participated fully in the process. This plan retains the most important aspects of the LSAs while creating a new agency in which for the first time special consultants out in the field and out of Des Moines will would out of one agency to deliver state supported services to local libraries.
This plan also revises the State Library Commission to make it more representative and creates an Advisory Committee of librarians to advise the Commission. A suggestion made at the final meeting was for current LSA trustees to be the first appointees to the Advisory Committee.
Over the past 20 years, three governors from two different political parties have repeatedly cut the LSAs and in recent years the State Library has been repeatedly cut.
Whoever said 'Never be afraid to change a losing game.' might have been referring to these agencies' history so apt is the advice for us.
After observing the political scene pretty closely during all these years and cuts I concluded some time ago that the issue is governance and not service. Both agencies have their critics to be sure, but also many supporters, which is the only reason, especially in the case of the LSAs, that they are still in existence.
Governor Branstad consistently cut the Regional Libraries/LSAs throughout his four terms as Governor, but cuts continued under Governor Vilsack. The State Library has also failed to thrive in the past 9 years.
Is the current system really the best that we can achieve as some on this blog have suggested? The LSAs carry money over from year to year for emergencies or basic expenses while staff positions are cut, some staff give up health insurance, etc. How viable is a system in which the people we rely on to be aware of cutting edge innovations are unable to attend conferences or fill their own training needs year after year?
I think we can do better and I think this plan will create one new agency that is better than the two old ones while retaining what is best from each.
Vicki Hibbert
Clive Public Library
Part 3a. did not provide intensive study between the two groups as the intent of the so called bill as the make up of the committee was mostly other groups of librarians. It was a make up of all the library community. That's water over the dam now so we move on.
ReplyDeleteSome personal reflections. The wife and I went on a trip to see some cranberries and color up north. We stopped at libraries in places such as Wausau, WI a big modern place, Ironwood, MI an old Carnegie but very cozy and a unique mining town. Ashland,WI a hotel made into a library and in Two Harbors, Mn where an old Carnegie and modern new part. Then state of the art, Brainard and St. Cloud, Mn. All were very personal in the information we wanted.Emails, camping places, tourist hot spots and local information. They were patron heavy and vibrant with customers. I thought the engine behind them was a good system in all three states. Yes they have had cuts as some stated. They seem not to walk away of what is working. Tea at a library on a hill overlooking Lake Superior on a rainy day in little Bayfield, WI library was welcome.
We have similar libraries here in Iowa. Keep what is good and not discard just to discard. I think it will work out.
The Branstad administration is back and VHibbert is right these were years of less money. Representative Dolores Mertz helped by walking with Branstad in the skywalk talking about libraries. I know Ms. Hibbert is very correct on the history evolved on LSA's. Transparent models happened in bringing the Community College and AEA on board with elimination of elected boards. Hard fought at that time in LSA history. Now with Branstad in running things he may not want more state workers,advisory boards again. I remember that Del Stromer fought hard at keeping the AEA at education meetings.It was good for small schools. Now could a stronger relationship be formed with the AEA in the state with libraries as a back up plan if Branstad's adm. does not approve this model? The infrastructure is there. Today's world seems to let groups go and apply for the job again. Reorganize for efficiency or just because we haven't done anything for awhile. Is the current model the best we can do or no room for alternatives. Do we do it to please the legislature or patrons of iowa or ourselves?
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