Coordinator's Discussion Group
Meeting Notes
Sunday, July 9, 2000
Chicago
Martha Roblee called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. and attendees introduced themselves.
IMLS Update
Jane Heiser introduced Robin Cabot, the newest IMLS staff person (formerly from the Arizona state library agency). IMLS now has a full staff. Heiser said the next LSTA conference would take place November 15-17 in Washington. The first day will give new LSTA coordinators the opportunity to learn the basics of the LSTA program. The conference will focus on evaluation and planning.
Heiser said a completed outline of a new LSTA manual will be posted on the IMLS website and the manual will be sent out one month before the November meeting. IMLS hopes to start a FAQ on the web. Heiser asked people to send her important questions they have about the LSTA program. She asked attendees to let her know if an LSTA auditor shows up. An auditor was looking at the LSTA program in Mississippi and IMLS knew nothing about it.
Heiser said the LSTA annual report will not be mailed; it will be on the Web. She will send an email indicating when it is posted. Nine states submitted their annual reports by December 31; 50% by mid-winter. Five or six are still pending. A summary of annual report data was distributed.
A draft of the evaluation proposal was distributed. COSLA agreed to the guidelines and they will be available in a month. No specific form of evaluation will be required (you can do it yourself; hire a consultant, etc.). The training session in November will help with various methods. In January 2001 states will have to tell IMLS what they are going to be doing. LSTA evaluation can be a program cost; it is not limited to administrative cost.
Joyce Ray of IMLS said the Education and Training grants of the National Leadership Grants program will be announced July 18. The remaining grant awards in the National Leadership Grants program will be announced in mid-September. Ray said IMLS is working with 4 other federal agencies on a digital library of education project. IMLS, in coordination with the University of Missouri-Columbia, sponsored a conference on libraries and museums in the digital world. More detailed information is on the IMLS website.
Terri Brown of IMLS said IMLS prepared a report detailing recommendations for its Native American Library Services grant program. The report is on the IMLS Web site. Brown said there is a need for consultants for the Native American Library Services grants.
Nancy Weiss of IMLS asked that states should let her know if there are any special programs meeting the needs of special users.
Elizabeth Sywetz of IMLS said state library agency chiefs and other participants would get a summary report of the focus group responses to IMLS services and programs.
State Evaluation Efforts
There was discussion of program regulations versus guidelines. It was indicated that COSLA does not want LSTA regulations and prefers guidelines because they are more flexible to meet the often dramatically different needs of states throughout the country. Florida, Arizona, North Carolina, Colorado and Kansas agreed to do early final evaluations of LSTA in order to provide information for LSTA reauthorization.
LSTA Reauthorization
Sandra Cooper, State Librarian, State Library of North Carolina, provided an update on LSTA reauthorization. LSTA expires September 30, 2002. COSLA is pleased with LSTA and wants minimal/no changes in the language but an increase in the dollars available, especially since the program is serving more types of libraries than ever before. COSLA and ALA sponsored a meeting on June 10 of a coalition of 24 LSTA stakeholders to discuss LSTA reauthorization. Representatives of the following organizations attended: ALA, ALA-WO, COSLA, ASCLA, ACRL, PLA, ARL, IMLS, NCLIS, ULC, and 2 regional OCLC organizations. Cooper sensed a lot of positive feelings about the current LSTA program. The group will meet again on July 10 and there will be two more meetings this year, one before the election and one after the election. The group hopes to develop a package of what it wants and be clear about its priorities. COSLA wants to make sure all types of libraries in states know how they are benefiting from LSTA, particularly the statewide programs. Good stories will be important.
Barbara Will, California State Library and ASCLA president, said ASCLA supports the LSTA program as it currently exists. She expressed a need for LSTA success stories. ASCLA will coordinate an LSTA website that will be searchable by congressional district. ALA staff designed the website and will post the information. ASCLA will start collecting stories (short: 150 words) in January 2001. Draft procedures will be developed. States will have an opportunity to review the stories submitted. Will intends to ask Patricia Schuman if she can have the list of tips for good stories that Schuman identified in the ASCLA President's Program on Sunday morning.
LSTA Reports: State Highlights
There was a brief discussion of the various reports states do for LSTA (not the IMLS reports). Some states brought samples. Representatives of states in attendance provided brief reports on LSTA activities in their states.
Alabama: the combination of Gates and LSTA money has meant Internet access for almost all libraries in the state; using LSTA for database licensing project.
Arkansas: database project spreads the LSTA money around to benefit everyone in the state; school libraries love it.
California: they have done a combination of big stuff and little stuff; LSTA funds were used for successful multitype system demonstration projects that have now been picked up by the state.
Connecticut: LSTA used for a pilot database project, which is now funded with $3 million in state funds.
Florida: With LSTA and Gates money, 99% of libraries have Internet access; two multitype cooperatives are linking catalogs for ILL; big state push to get information up on the web for citizens, so working on online applications, etc. They are giving a workshop on outcome evaluation for all LSTA applicants, as they will be required to do outcome evaluations.
Idaho: added advocacy position at the state library; working on demonstration projects for the 18% of unserved users in the state.
Illinois: bring in an expert LSTA projects have been successful; hired a retired newspaper person to write up highlights of LSTA projects.
Indiana: using LSTA for technology mostly. Expanded grants to school and academic libraries for the first time in 2000; 67 schools and 6 academic libraries applied.
Iowa: use most of the LSTA money for interlibrary loan and access to databases.
Maryland: lost 2 staff persons.
Massachusetts: doing a planning process for service to those with disabilities (Rhea Rubin); 25 libraries completed mini grants; developed a video to tell library stories.
Michigan: continuing to fund their electronic library.
New Jersey: funding telecommunications hubs for Internet access, adding content.
Oklahoma: using LSTA for advocacy and databases. Won a John Cotton Dana award for their LSTA supported summer reading program.
Oregon: worked with the Oregon Library Association on a summer library program planning grant; corporate sponsors have brought in $100,000; hired a half-time fund raising consultant.
Pennsylvania: introduced peer review of grants; award grants to school and public libraries.
South Dakota: lots of school library grants (small ones) this past year, especially grants for combined school/public libraries.
Tennessee: used $700,000 of LSTA for electronic library, but weren't successful in getting the state to pick up the costs; 97% of libraries connected.
Washington: 60% is competitive for public and school libraries; 40% statewide projects (database licensing, etc.). They have been concentrating on technology grants, but are moving towards targeted services.
Wisconsin: successful switch from LSTA demonstration project to state funding for statewide contractual costs for access by all libraries in the state and citizens from their homes to full-text databases (EBSCOhost and ProQuest). $2.1 million of LSTA; $2.5 million state funds.
Wyoming: using LSTA money for training; received $1 million from a foundation for training.
Other Business
Martha Roblee was elected to serve as chair of the group for one more year.
The meeting ended shortly after 4:00. Roblee indicated the minutes would be posted on the state library listserv.
Notes taken by Peg Branson (Wisconsin) and Martha Roblee (Indiana)
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