PNLA Quarterly, Vol. 63 No.3 Spring 1999
IDAHO
Kevin Booe
Idaho Representative
People
Sonja Hudson is the new Grants Officer at the Idaho State Library. Sonja moved from the Department of Education as Grants Program Specialist.Bill Church, ISL Interlibrary Loans, retired after 13 years with the state library. Bill worked in the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and in the Army as a Sergeant Major.
Joy Perry, Children's Librarian at the Caldwell Public Library, retired in September. Joy worked at the Caldwell Public Library since 1983.
Lynn Reining stepped down as director of the Garden Valley Library. Taking her place is Stephanie Williamson.
Susannah Price, Rand Simmons, Adrian Taylor, Joe Reiss, and Eli Oboler were all added to the Intellectual Freedom Honor Roll at ALA Midwinter. Mr. Oboler was added posthumously.
News
The legislature is considering two important pieces of legislation this session. One would allow library districts the ability to go to their patrons and ask for an override of the 3% cap on base budgets. This would be a one time only override and would apply only to library districts. Currently, the bill has passed the Idaho House and is in the Senate.The other major piece of library legislation would allow for libraries to consolidate districts. City libraries would be able to join existing library districts, and districts would be able to consolidate. The bill is still in committee.
Meanwhile, Governor Kempthorne deleted the Read to Me Project from his proposed 2000 budget. Governor Batt and the Legislature had appropriated money for the program which was channeled through the state library. Governor Kempthorne cut funding from his budget for the program and has requested dollars for a new preschool reading program funded through public schools. The Read to Me Project continues this year through the state library. Advertisements in Spanish and English were broadcast statewide to emphasize the importance of fathers reading to their young children.
On March 1, the brand new Eagle Public Library opened its doors to the public. The 15,000 square foot library replaces a 3000 square foot library and serves one of the fastest growing communities in Idaho. Eagle Public joined the LYNX consortium at the same time expanding the Treasure Valley Library Consortium to 7 member libraries. The Ada Community library has requested membership in the LYNX consortium as well. Migration is tentatively scheduled to be complete by July 1, 1999.
Kuna is still in the construction stage of its brand new library. Voters passed a bond issue last year. The library district was a joint school/community library. Voters agreed to dissolve the joint library district and approved a bond to construct a new building. Kuna hopes to open this spring.
The Idaho State Library is conducting several teleconferences instructing librarians and staff in the use of LiLI databases. The teleconferences will run this spring. Database and vendor selection took place in January. EBSCO is one of the vendors selected and will provide the statewide database for periodical index services. The Governor did request continued funding for the statewide database project.
The Gates Library Foundation will be awarding Idaho libraries money for computers, Internet access, and technology training during the year 2000. State librarian Charles Bolles says that qualified libraries will need to be patient. "GLI plans to begin working with Idaho libraries in January 2000, and there are several steps involved through August 2000 and beyond. GLI is very methodical in its approach."
"By working with public libraries in Idaho, we hope to expand access to computers and the Internet across the state," stated Bill Gates, co-founder of the Gates Learning Foundation. (Idaho Library News, March 99).
Hackers broke into the Emmett Public Library's computer system. Computers were down for nearly a month this winter while staff corrected problems and installed security monitoring software.
The Idaho Community Foundation awarded two public libraries money to launch a "book bag" program and material purchases. The youth programs funded include the Patterson Elementary School and the Stanley Community Library who received $150 and $1,000 respectively.
Idaho Library Association (ILA)
The ILA board continues to work on its strategic plan. This year the board is analyzing the ILA Speaker's Network and will make appropriate modifications to the network. The Speaker's Network consists of librarians and library supporters who speak out on library issues, mostly legislation. However, the ILA Board may want to broaden the scope of the Network to include advocacy activities. ILA is also introducing some new awards this year. One, the public library of the year award, will be awarded to outstanding public libraries. Criteria are being developed by the Public Library Division. The Scholarship and Award Committee is considering adding an award for "distinguished career" which would recognize librarians or staff who have had made significant contributions to libraries, librarianship, and library services throughout their careers.ILA hired a lobbyist for the first time this year. The lobbyist will work in conjunction with the Legislative Chair and Committee. Reports are posted to the ILA President, Vice President, and 2nd Vice President weekly. The lobbyist will be working on the aforementioned bills. ILA will evaluate the effectiveness at the end of the legislative session.
Continuing Education
LiLI searching workshops, presented by the Idaho State Library will be held between March 23 and April 21 at various locations throughout the state. Librarians will have opportunities to learn searching techniques and capabilities on the statewide database system.Spring ILA mini-conferences will be held this April. Advocacy issues, LiLI, and summer reading will be major topics. The 6 regional conferences will last for one day. Locations of the 6 conferences include: Post Falls, April 23; Moscow, April 22; Treasure Valley, April 10; Twin Falls, March 19; Pocatello, April 29; and Idaho Falls, May 14.
This year's ILA conference is in Boise, October 6-9 at the Double Tree Riverside. Conference chair is Ron Force at the University of Idaho Library.
Check the ILA webpage, www.idaholibraries.org, for more information and other continuing education opportunites.