Utah Library Association
Legislative Committee
Utah State Library Division
9-11 a.m.
August 13, 1998
Committee members in attendance:Douglas Abrams
Dan Barr
Karen Burton
Pete Giacoma
Amy Owen
Lynnda Wangsgard
Others in attendance: Chip Ward
Burton called the meeting to order at 9:10.
Membership:
There was general discussion of potential committee members with the goal of gaining more broad based representation from all areas of the state. Burton will contact those who were recommended and encourage them to serve. Those interested in serving, but unable to attend regular meetings because of travel restrictions, will be kept current via e-mail.
Budget:
Burton will forward a budget request for $1500 to the ULA Executive Board to cover the work of the committee. The request is due October 5. Barr will provide Burton (by September 1) with a line item summary of expenses for the previous year to aid in the preparation of the current year budget request.
ULA Program:
Burton will reserve a program slot for the ULA Conference in Cedar City during May 1999.
Legislative Leadership Forum:
The Legislative Leadership Forum was tentatively scheduled from 10-2 p.m., September 25, at Weber County’s Ogden Valley Branch Library, 131 S 7600 E, Huntsville.
The goal of the forum will be to develop a legislative agenda for the coming year. Attendees will be brought up-to-date on the legislative initiatives and other legislative action plans currently in process including, but not limited to, the Academic Library Initiative, “Libraries 2000"
ULA membership will be invited to participate in the forum via an article in Directions; personal letters, which will be sent to all public library and university library directors; a request that Bill Dabbs announce the forum through the UAL Consortium; and notification will be posted on the ULA Home Page. Burton will also extend personal invitations via the phone.
Legislative Considerations:
State Library Building
Debt service, operation, and maintenance costs of the new State Library facility will total approximately $1,000,000/year. Approximately $615,000 of this amount will need to be allocated from the State Library’s budget, the balance will be paid by third party contractors, etc. The goal is to obtain new funding for this revenue bond payment and not just simply cut the allocation from the State Library’s base budget to compensate for the expense.
Looking ahead to the next Legislative session is difficult because the DCED Appropriations Subcommittee may change as a result of elections this fall.
The new State Library facility will accommodate walk-in traffic at its new location; walk-ins require more time and take longer to serve than do those served by mail thus creating a potential workload increase for the staff. State Library circulation policies will need to be reviewed and revised to insure that the State Library is not inundated with public library customers and to make sure that the State Library does not compete with the public library in the community where it will be located. In addition, the State Library may need to revise its hours of operation to facilitate evening and weekend provision of service.
Public Library Funding
The Legislative Committee has agreed on a need to raise funds for Books, Bytes, and Bricks.
The Books portion of the funding may be supported through appropriations to the Public Library Development Fund.
The Bytes portion of the funding may be supported through LSTA funding.
The Bricks portion of funding may be supported through a revival and revision of the “Capital Facilities Act.”
Owen was asked to develop a number of scenarios illustrating how funding for Bricks, if approved, could be distributed to libraries thoughout the state.
Books, Bytes, and Bricks funding options will be open for consideration during the September 25 Legislative Leadership Forum.
Other:
There was general discussion concerning the need for the Legislative Committee to focus on broad based issues effecting libraries being careful to leave mission and roles to local communities.
There was also disucssion of the need to maintain professional decorum in relation to the individuals and issues that the Legislative Committee will likely be asked to undertake or review.
The next meeting of the committee was set for:
September 11, 1998
9-11 a.m.
Utah State Library.
Larry Ostler: Committee Charge for the Year
Final Plans for the Legislative Leadership Forum
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11 a.m.