About Us: Publications

About Us -- Board of Directors -- Personnel -- FAQs -- Publications
pdf download


South Dakota State Library Board
South Dakota State Library Board
January 17, 2007
8:30 - 5:00 pm
Mercedes MacKay Conference Room
Minutes


Members Present: Eric Abrahamson, Linda Daugaard, Richard Van Beek, Linda Whitney, Roy Burr, Warren Wilson, Dorothy Liegl

Member Not Present: Stephanie Charging Eagle

Also Present: Jasmine Rousey, MaryLou McGirr, Greta Chapman, Keith Lekness, Dr. Rick Melmer

Call to order-Abrahamson

Approval of Agenda-A MOTION WAS MADE by Daugaard, seconded by Van Beek that the agenda be adopted. MOTION CARRIED.

Approval of Minutes-A MOTION WAS MADE by Daugaard, seconded by Whitney, to approve the minutes with the change to correct the duplication of the section on subcommittees. MOTION CARRIED.

Report of the Chair-Abrahamson
Abrahamson welcomed guests to the meeting. Abrahamson met yesterday with the SDLA Executive Board during their strategic retreat. Abrahamson thinks in line with the meeting held this fall with the SDLN Executive Board. Abrahamson commented that he sees SDLN, SDLA, and the State Library are all at a pivotal point of change, working on new strategic plans, and are thinking about what their role is in helping to create better libraries and better library services throughout South Dakota. Abrahamson thinks the opportunity for all three organizations to be in dialogue and develop a shared vision is terrific. McGirr will be helping with the Board's strategic process and vision planning today.

Abrahamson summarized Mary Bushing's report from last year. Strategic planning is what we should be doing. Abrahamson reviewed the shared governance concept that is articulated in the state statutes about how the state library is managed and run. Abrahamson also talked to the Executive Board about shared governance. This will bring a lot more work for the Board, for example, subcommittees. Abrahamson mentioned that he and Liegl will be attending ALA midwinter conference. They will be earnestly seeking a Deputy State Librarian.


Open Forum-Lekness
Lekness attended this meeting as a citizen. Lekness resides in a rural area of South Dakota (Sisseton) and works with people coming to South Dakota to do historical research and to increase personal knowledge about our state. In his role as the sole employee at the Nicollet Tower and Interpretive Center, he is a private researcher seeking information that is then shared with thousands of visitors annually. He discussed with the Board his concerns about the changes the Library has made and how it affects rural citizens. Abrahamson responded and reviewed some things that the Board has been discussing regarding these concerns.


New Business


Vision Planning-McGirr, Liegl, Abrahamson
McGirr distributed a handout summarizing the plans and goals regarding the current changes taking place at the State Library. Wilson reviewed with the Board the details of the Board of Regents meeting held last week. Abrahamson summarized by mentioning that Mary Bushing's report gave guidelines to keep a certain portion of our book collection without a strong case for why to keep them and what role they play in the future and mission and role of the State Library. In absence of that kind of rationale we have other players in state government seeking our extra space. This is happening in advance of our strategic planning process. This needs to be postponed until after the strategic planning process is completed. Liegl clarified how this incident began. Greta Chapman expressed concerns regarding South Dakota libraries to the Board. Abrahamson proposed an agenda for the discussion with Dr. Melmer.


Discussion with Dr. Melmer-Melmer
Abrahamson presented his proposed agenda to Melmer. Abrahamson briefly described the handout he presented regarding a vision for the role of the South Dakota State Library. Melmer summarized the meeting that was held with Board of Regents staff last week regarding the State Library's collections that had been identified in the Bushing Study as being retained. The Board wass asked to think about where the best place to hold the collection will be and if that place is the State Library. Melmer wants the service to be better than it was, at the comfort and convenience of the customer. Melmer wants to work with the Board regarding collection placement and hopes that though there may be changes, they will not change the quality of service to customers, but improve it.

Abrahamson reviewed, in detail, the vision document with the Board. Comments and concerns were welcomed by everyone present.

Liegl presented to the Board the goals of the Management Team. Comments and concerns were expressed and additional work on the goals to compress them into four major goals was suggested. A matrix was also presented to the Board.


Continuation of Discussion with McGirr-McGirr
McGirr presented and discussed with the Board a table illustrating the time and resources needed to adopt the State Library's strategic plan. There was a discussion about what should take place at the first retreat to be held and who should attend. The retreat is scheduled for January 24, 5:00pm-9:00pm and January 25, 7:30am-3:00pm. Dates were set for future meetings (February 14th or 15th, March 9th 10-3).


Discussion of LSTA Projects
Liegl presented six ideas for future projects some of which were long term and others short term. (attached)


Trustee Training
There was a discussion regarding trustee training. Ideas were discussed as to how to attract the maximum number of attendees. Different approaches were suggested including preparing an orientation package and a regional list of public libraries that shows when board meetings occur that SDSL board members could use for site visits.


Gates Grants
The following requested grants: A MOTION WAS MADE by Burr, seconded by Daugaard, to approve all grants. MOTION CARRIED.


SDLN Report-Wilson
Wilson updated the Board regarding current staffing situations at SDLN. Wilson also mentioned that libraries are not sure how to handle interlibrary loan processes and will need appropriate training.


Report of the State Librarian-Liegl
Liegl distributed a handout to the Board summarizing her report regarding the current events at the State Library.


Unfinished Business


Collection Development Policy
Dale Bertsch (one of the Governor's aides), has been reviewing the policy and has recommended that the criteria "age appropriate" be added to the website criteria. The policy states the State Library makes the decisions about what is age-appropriate for websites. The Board would like Melmer and Bertsch to take a second look at the policy for this specific language. The Board requests this be completed prior to the April Board meeting scheduled for April 9-10.


A MOTION WAS MADE by Daugaard, seconded by Whitney, to adjourn. MOTION CARRIED.
BACK