[Dome] Libraries Study Committee
Minutes
December 11, 1998First Meeting of Two

MEMBERS PRESENT

Senator Mary E. Kramer, Co-chairperson
Senator Dennis H. Black
Senator Sheldon Rittmer		 Representative Willard Jenkins, Co-Chairperson
Representative Marcella Frevert
Representative Henry Rayhons

MEETING IN BRIEF

Organizational staffing provided by Susan Crowley, Legal Counsel
Minutes prepared by Nicole Haatvedt, Legal Counsel

  1. Procedural Business.
  2. Discussion of Proposed Recommendations.
  3. Adoption of Recommendations.
  4. Materials on File With the Legislative Service Bureau.

COMMITTEE BUSINESS

1. Procedural Business.
Co-chairperson Senator Mary Kramer, Legislative Service Bureau staff, Legislative Fiscal Bureau staff, and legislative caucus staff met in Room 19 of the State Capitol Building at approximately 2:05 p.m. The Capitol Complex telephone operator connected the Committee members for the conference call. The conference call concluded at 3:20 p.m. The members used in discussion a memorandum from Legislative Service Bureau staff compiling recommendations offered by members and others during the previous meeting and proposed recommendations prepared by Co-chairperson Kramer. The memorandum and proposal are attached and by this reference made a part of these minutes.
2. Discussion of Proposed Recommendations.
a. Co-chairperson Jenkins' Proposal. Representative Henry Rayhons expressed concern regarding one of the recommendations suggested by Co-chairperson Representative Willard Jenkins in written materials faxed to the Committee members prior to the conference call. Representative Rayhons was concerned that smaller, more rural libraries would be eliminated. He opined that libraries in small communities are a vital part of the community, the loss of which would have a detrimental impact on the community.
   Co-chairperson Jenkins explained he was not recommending that library facilities be eliminated, but that instead the library system should be evaluated to explore possible means of pooling some of the resources and having more centralized technological services which require highly trained staff. He stated that there is not enough money to provide full library services in each of the 538 libraries in the state. Co-chairperson Jenkins proposed a pilot program exploring the best method for organizing the library system with the limited resources available.
b. Senator Black's Proposals. Senator Dennis Black proposed that the Committee recommend the following:
c. Representative Frevert. Representative Marcella Frevert agreed with Senator Black's recommendations. She added that there is precedent for nonstate employees to be eligible for state benefits in the Iowa Seed Capital Corporation. She also stressed the importance of the regional library system. She stated that many local libraries are surviving because of the services provided by their regional libraries.
d. Senator Rittmer. Senator Sheldon Rittmer opined that more funding should be provided for the library system in some way, whether it is through the Enrich Iowa program or some other program. He stated that there should be more funding for Open Access and for the regional library system. He also said that regional employees should not become state employees.
e. Co-chairperson Kramer. Co-chairperson Senator Kramer explained one of her proposed recommendations distributed to the Committee prior to the conference call. She stated that the proposed state funding to libraries provided for in the Enrich Iowa program was partially based on local libraries' compliance with "state standards." She opined that the funding should be geared more toward the needs of the local library communities.
f. Regional Library Employees. The Committee members discussed methods of providing state benefits to regional library employees, including making regional employees state employees or providing state health insurance benefits to regional employees. Co-chairperson Kramer stated that, in order for regional employees to receive state benefits without being state employees, the General Assembly must give the regional boards of trustees authority to approach the Iowa Department of Personnel to work on a benefit plan to include the regional employees in the state employee health insurance plan.
g. State Funding for Local Libraries. Several of the Committee members agreed with Co-chairperson Kramer's proposal that state funding be tied to local community needs identified through a needs assessment rather than to a set of state standards. Co-chairperson Kramer suggested avoiding a specific funding recommendation by taking a philosophical approach to empower local libraries at all levels. Representative Frevert expressed concern about funding for regional libraries that provide important services to local libraries and other local entities if such an approach is taken.
h. Pilot Program for Restructuring Library System. The Committee members also discussed Co-chairperson Jenkins' suggestion concerning establishment of a pilot program to explore the system of libraries within local communities and to encourage innovative collaboration among libraries to meet their own support services needs, including resource and staff sharing. While some of the members approved of the pilot program, other members expressed concern about creating a new pilot program or study rather than just providing state funding for local and regional libraries.
3. Recommendations.
a. Regional Employees. Representative Frevert moved that the Committee recommend the General Assembly require the Iowa Department of Personnel to include regional library employees as eligible employees for the state employee health insurance plan if a Regional Library Board of Trustees chooses to participate in the plan. The Committee members all agreed to the recommendation in a roll call vote.
b. Items to Be Considered by the General Assembly. The Committee members also agreed to submit, without recommendation, the following items, proposed by presenters at the Committee meeting and by Committee members, to the General Assembly for further consideration:
4. Materials on File With the Legislative Service Bureau.
a. Legislative Service Bureau memorandum compiling recommendations offered by Committee members and others at the October 9, 1998, Committee meeting.
b. Proposed recommendations prepared by Co-chairperson Kramer.

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