PNLA Quarterly, Vol. 63 No.2 Winter 1999
IDAHO
Kevin Booe, Idaho Representative
People
Marilyn Poertner was named Director of Boise Public Library. Marilyn was the Assistant Director and began her duties as Director in August.Stanley Shepard, 78, retired head of special collections at the University of Idaho Library, died on July 16. Stanley was a member of ILA, PNLA, and ALA. He was editor of the Idaho Librarian from 1969 to 1975.
Kay A. Flowers has been named University Librarian at the Idaho State University Eli M. Oboler Library. Flowers has been on Rice University's Fondren Library staff since 1978.
Ed Rinker was named Idaho Trustee of the Year by the Idaho Library Association. Mr. Rinker retired off the Garden City Library board in August. A reception for Mr. Rinker was held in September.
Margaret Schiff retired from the Garden City Library as director in September. Margaret was recognized with a special citation from ILA at her retirement party. Heather Mather assumed the role of director in Garden City in September.
News
Libraries in Southwest Idaho are beginning to explore creation of a library district for residents in unincorporated areas who have to pay large non-resident fees to public libraries for borrowing privileges. Libraries in Nampa, Caldwell, Homedale, Middleton, and Cascade met to discuss opportunities and logistics with consultants from the State Library. Across Idaho, districting continues to be a prominent theme as libraries look for better ways to serve Idaho's rural population and create a more stable funding base.The Idaho Department of Correction has dismantled five inmate law libraries. The restructuring complies with a recent Supreme Court decision that ruled correctional facilities do not have to supply inmates with legal information other than that which directly applies to their sentence. The restructuring greatly reduced the number of law books available to inmates and eliminated inmate law clerks (Idaho State Library Newsletter, Sept. 1998).
The library legislative agenda for 1999 will be a slim one. Idaho's new governor, Dirk Kempthorne, and several new faces in the Idaho Legislature will probably mean a transitional period for Idaho legislatures and lobbyists. The Governor will be introducing his goals and plans for his administration which will probably take up most of the legislative session. New faces in the legislature will also mean new legislator education. One bill which may surface would allow library districts a one-time exemption from the 3% cap on the property tax levy.
The state attorney general has joined with 16 other state attorneys general in a fraud lawsuit against Baker and Taylor. Attorney General Al Lance alleges that Baker and Taylor overcharged public schools and libraries in Idaho and seeks repayment of such overcharges as well as civil penalties for the company's fraudulent scheme.
Idaho Library Association (ILA)
ILA has formed a restructuring committee which is examining ILA's bylaws, officers, committees, and functions and making recommendations for improvement. This was a part of the ILA Strategic Plan adopted 3 years ago, and changes in the organization will probably be forthcoming. Changes in officers will be presented to the ILA Executive Board in January.Legislative day for Idaho is January 19. ILA will host a legislative breakfast at the statehouse in Boise.
Conference receipts were better than expected. Evaluations of the conference on the most part were positive. This year's officers are President Dawn Wittman, First Vice President/President Elect Ron Force, Second Vice President Larry Almeida, Secretary Barbara Greever, and Treasurer Sandi Shropshire. Bylaw changes were approved at the annual conference in August.