PNLA Quarterly, Vol. 63 No.4 Summer 1999
Idaho
Kevin Booe,
Idaho Representative
News (Some news items are taken from the Idaho State Library Newsletter)
The 1999 legislative session approved and Governor Kempthorne signed House Bill 285 allowing library districts to increase their property tax budget base above the amount determined by the Idaho Code. The new law allows library districts to increase their base budget beyond the 3% (plus growth) property tax cap with the approval of two-thirds of the votes in a November or May consolidated election. Library districts could not adjust the cap previously even by voter approval. The law does not apply to municipal libraries or state funded libraries. Elections were allowed as early as May 1999 as an emergency clause because some library districts were facing serious budget concerns. The Idaho State Library's summer reading program, "Treasure Your Library," is part of the cooperative effort in 8 states, as part of the Cooperative Summer Library Program. Participating states include Idaho, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Utah. The states work together to develop summer reading themes and contract with a vendor to produce high quality program materials and incentives that can be purchased at affordable prices. The state library provides membership funds for Idaho through an LSTA grant. The Cooperative has met to develop future summer reading themes including next year's "Cosmic Connections," featuring art work by illustrator Mark Beuhner. The 2001 theme is "Road Trip, U.S.A."The Idaho State Library has prepared an instructional video for public libraries and their patrons, "LiLI-D Search Strategies." The video will be provided to all school and public libraries that qualify for the LiLI program. The tape demonstrates subject and keyword searches, printing, and e-mailing search results as well as an overview of the LiLI database site.
EBSCO's Newspaper Source has been added to the LiLI Database Project. Included in the database are EBSCO's Masterfile Premier and Newspaper Source.
The University of Idaho Library has plans to bring geographical and statistical data into the computer age with $750,000 appropriation from Congress with Idaho Senator Larry Craig's support. The project will establish a geospatial and numeric data library for Idaho. The library will allow easy access to maps, census data and other electronic information used by business, government, and researchers. The project is scheduled to go online next year. Training will begin in the summer of 1999.
The Kooskia library is planning to remodel a building which will give them up to 5 times the existing space. Friends of the library have raised $18,000 to date and need to raise $20-30,000 more. The Friends of the Kooskia Library have sponsored Art Shows, auctions, and sales of t-shirts, book bags, and more. The new library will increase its collection size from 1500 volumes to 7500 volumes and include reading and study areas and public access computers. Some Idaho public libraries have come under attack recently for having Daddy's Roommate and Heather Has Two Mommies in children's collections. The attack comes from a conservative group in Texas who have spread the news that public libraries have these titles in children's collections. Group members have addressed local media with their concerns which has caused several patrons to complain and file requests for reconsideration with the libraries. In addition, radio talk show host Dr. Laura Schlesinger's plea to complain about Internet access in Idaho has caused a flurry of complaints in some public libraries.
The Boise City Council and Mayor Brent Coles have approved a budget request from Boise Public Library to build a full service branch in SouthEast Boise. Cost of construction is estimated at $1.6 million. In addition the Council approved 3.9 million dollars for a major renovation and remodeling of the main library. The Council unanimously approved the request in the June budget workshop. The budget must proceed through budget hearings this summer and should be approved in late August or September.
People
Grove Koger, reference librarian at Boise Public Library, won the Allie Beth Martin award for outstanding reference service. The award recognizes a public librarian for demonstrating a range and depth of knowledge about books and other library materials and the distinguished ability to share that knowledge. Koger will accept the award at the ALA conference in New Orleans, LA. Baker and Taylor sponsors the award which includes $3,000.00.The Burley Public Library Director Susan Green recently accepted a job as the Children's Services Manager and as Assistant Manager at the Independence Regional Branch of the Charlotte Public Library, Charlotte, NC. Green has made a great contribution to Idaho library service , especially with her work on the LiLI project and districting efforts. Jennette Tate, librarian at Salmon River Public Library in Riggins, retired after 20 years of service. Citizens and the City Council honored Tate with an open house reception at the library.
Idaho Library Association
Elections for new officers will be held this summer. Once again, this year's conference is scheduled for October 7-9 at the Doubletree Riverside Convention Center in Boise.The Association Board continues to work on the Strategic Plan focusing on restructuring the organization. A subcommittee of the Board has outlined possible changes to the ILA structure that it will present to the membership this summer and at the Fall conference. One significant proposal is to add a conference chair position which would rotate through a 3 year cycle. This would free up the responsibility from 1st Vice President perhaps encouraging more people to run for the office.
No board meetings are scheduled for the summer.