DRAFT Minutes
Citizens’ Library Advisory Ad Hoc Committee
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Ashland Public Library, Gresham Room
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Attendance:
Vavra, Gibb, Burkholder, Churchman, Keil, Blossom (library staff liaison)
Absent:
Battistella, Mayor Morrison, Seltzer (city staff)
Guests: Jim Bradley, Friends of the Talent Library
I.Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 4:00 pm. Members introduced themselves.
II. Citizen Issues:
Bradley reported on the Talent Friends of the Library Annual Meeting
III. Approval of Minutes: Keil/Burkholder approved as amended.
Paragraph 2: “His recommendation to the county budget committee is to continue to fund at the current level of services, but he reminded the group that they could decide whether or not to allocate the funds. The County Budget Committee has already approved the Recommended Budget. The County Commissioners will adopt it in June.
Paragraph 10: Other than Ashland and Talent, no other incorporated city has …
IV. Blossom reported on the Oregon Library Association Meeting. There were many presentations on marketing library services, libraries working with the community, and how to run a successful election. Blossom learned of different library governance options happening within the state and will report back with more information.
Blossom will be leaving with a state library delegation to Washington DC to lobby on behalf of libraries and library issues, ie, funding, censorship, open access to information.
V. Keil reported on the County LAC meeting. LSSI delivered reports on library usage and statistics. Jim Kelly, a LAC board member gave a marketing report. Ann Seltzer has the reports. The LAC is working on their marketing campaign, focusing on adult literacy. They are planning on having something on the ballot for library funding in November 2010. The LAC believes voter education is the key to turning the votes around.
There are 2 opening on the LAC board as of this time. The CLAC feels it is important to have the Medford business community represented. No one is representing Ashland on the board. It would be good to have representation.
VI. The committee was very pleased that the City Council recommended adoption of the measure the CLAC put forth, and requested further information from the city staff on numbers.
Information that goes to the city council is also on the listserv so is considered public information. The committee has been informed that it is general policy of public bodies to notify the committee if someone is taping the meeting.
VII. Future Meeting Planning
Cathy Shaw has been invited to the May 23 meeting to discuss different taxing options.
Keil wants to continue working on permanent funding, including looking outside Ashland for information. Burkholder suggest more research into other forms of governance, how the funding works, how the relationships work. Vavra would like to develop proposals of different possibilities of how to get funding. Gibb suggests looking at possible forms of governance and how to pay for it, creating a document that lists different government options, and here’s what’s possible, then sharing that with other groups.
A matrix was suggested
Fees Property tax Sales Tax Income Tax Federal $
County
____________________________________________________________________________
District
____________________________________________________________________________
City
More information needs to be gathered on organizational structures supporting libraries working throughout the state. Idea of inviting State librarian Jim Scheppke to report on this was discussed.
Burkholder will contact him to get his ideas on this. Blossom will contact Lyn Howe, a county LAC board member to see if she will attend some of the Ashland CLAC’s meetings.
Blossom mentioned that Ron Dubberly, a longtime library manager and consultant is now part of LSSI. He is helping Redding and Shasta County develop community outreach and a community needs plan. He may be available to Jackson County to help with long range planning.
Future Meetings:
May 22 with Cathy Shaw presenting, June 5 –possible Jim Scheppke presenting, June 22, July 17, Aug 21, Sept. 11, Sept. 25.
Meeting adjourned 5:52.