Blog Posts by jan.wall

District libraries - 2010 trustee election

jan.wall — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:37:51 -0700

Yes, you will be responsible for any elections that are held in 2010. (The 'election reform' bill that passed in last year's legislative session won't take effect until January, 2010.) At the election, which will be held on May 25, 2010, you will elect a trustee who will serve until 2015. (You might have to elect a trustee to fill out a term they were appointed to as well.)

According to Idaho code 34-1405(2), you need to notify your county clerk about your trustee election by the last day of November. (Many county clerks send out a reminder, but don't let it catch you by surprise!)

ICFL won't be mailing out an election calendar this year, but it can be found under 2010 District Library Trustee Election Calendar

I will send out reminders to both LibIdaho and post on this blog as the time gets nearer, but for now, keep March 5 - 12 in mind as the first date(s) you need to be aware of (publish notice of petition availability and filing deadline.)

E-rate: SLD website unavailable until September 14

jan.wall — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:15:58 -0600

It certainly seems the season for construction - both real and virtual! The SLD website will be down for an upgrade until 6 a.m. PDT or 7 a.m. MDT on Monday, September 14.

Don't forget that you can submit Form 486 (Receipt of Service) for 2009-2010, Form 472 (BEAR - Reimbursement Form) for 2008-2009, and Form 470 (Description of Services Requested) for 2010-2011 once the website is back up and running.

E-rate: New vendor for internet

jan.wall — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:53:30 -0600

You may be aware that legislation was passed that created the Idaho Education Network*. Public libraries are included in this legislation. What this means, in a practical sense, is that the State of Idaho is committed to a build-out of bandwidth that is necessary to provide educational opportunities to schools and other entities such as public libraries.

As part of this effort, the Department of Administration submitted an establishing Form 470 for Internet Service Providers to bid on. One of the accepted bidders is ENA (Education Networks of America). As such, they can provide e-rate discounted internet access to your library off of the state contract - and you don't have to file a 470!

Here's what ENA would do: 1) provide commercial-grade internet connectivity (assuming that the capability is there in locations that are interested); 2) offer discounts off of the bill rather than a reimbursement; 3) handle filtering issues (as an enhancement to the internet service) by either providing a temporary login for adults, or a permanent login for those (adult) library patrons who wish it; 4) would give a bid to interested libraries.

Since IEN is in its early stages, ICFL would like to know if you might be interested in an exploration of what ENA has to offer your library. Please contact me with further questions or if you are interested in this exploration -

jan.wall@libraries.idaho.gov

*"IEN means the coordinated, statewide telecommunications distribution system for distance learning for each public school, including two-way interactive video, data, internet access and other telecommunications services for providing distance learning. The term also includes connections to each institution of higher education and other locations as necessary to facilitate distance education, teacher training and other related services." For more information on IEN, go to I.C. 67-5745D - http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title67/T67CH57SECT67-5745D.htm

E-rate Form 486 2009-2010

jan.wall — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:47:28 -0600

If you have received your funding commitment letter for 2009-2010, you can file Form 486 (Receipt of Service Confirmation Form) at any time. The deadline is October 28 (or 120 days after you receive the funding commitment, whichever is later), but why wait until the last minute? It can be filed online at http://www.sl.universalservice.org/menu.asp.

Election reform

jan.wall — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:07:07 -0600

With the passage of election reform legislation, library districts (and cities, etc) will see a difference in how elections are handled. The legislation, HB 372, is 98 pages long, but fortunately only a handful of pages pertain to libraries.

Library districts will hold an election as usual in May 2010, but after January 2011, counties will conduct elections. Here are some highlights:

There will be only 2 elections a year - in May and November. (The May election date will change to the third Tuesday in May rather than the fourth.)
Counties will designate polling places and will handle notification etc. (Here's an excerpt from what the law will say in 34-1401: "...The county clerk shall conduct the elections for political subdivisions and shall perform all necessary duties of the election official of a political subdivision including, but not limited to, notice of the filing deadline, notice of the election, and preparation of the election calendar.")
Petitions will still be picked up at the library.
District trustee elections will be held in odd years, and terms will be for 6 years rather than five. If a trustee resigns during his/her term, the trustee who is appointed to replace will serve until the next election (in an odd year) and then will serve out the rest of the term.
There will be a staggered implementation that can be a rather complicated formula, but we will let you know more as the time gets closer.

Changes to open meeting Part 2 - Executive Sessions

jan.wall — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:21:30 -0600

New sections of code on executive sessions are underlined:

67-2344. WRITTEN MINUTES OF MEETINGS. (1) The governing body of a public agency shall provide for the taking of written minutes of all its meetings. Neither a full transcript nor a recording of the meeting is required, except as otherwise provided by law. All minutes shall be available to the public within a reasonable time after the meeting, and shall include at least the following information:
(a) All members of the governing body present;
(b) All motions, resolutions, orders, or ordinances proposed and their disposition;
(c) The results of all votes, and upon the request of a member, the vote of each member, by name.
(2) Minutes pertaining to executive sessions. Minutes pertaining to an executive session shall include a reference to the specific statutory subsection authorizing the executive session and shall also provide sufficient detail to identify the purpose and topic of the executive session but shall not contain information sufficient to compromise the purpose of going into executive session.

67-2345. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS – WHEN AUTHORIZED. (1) An executive session at which members of the public are excluded may be held, but only for the purposes and only in the manner set forth in this section. The motion to go into executive session shall identify the specific subsections of this section that authorize the executive session. There shall be a roll call vote on the motion and the vote shall be recorded in the minutes. An executive session shall be authorized by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the governing body. An executive session may be held:
(a) To consider hiring a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent, wherein the respective qualities of individuals are to be evaluated in order to fill a particular vacancy or need. This paragraph does not apply to filling a vacancy in an elective office or deliberations about staffing needs in general;
(b) To consider the evaluation, dismissal or disciplining of, or to hear complaints or charges brought against, a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent, or public school student;
(c) To conduct deliberations concerning labor negotiations or to acquire an interest in real property which is not owned by a public agency;
(d) To consider records that are exempt from disclosure as provided in chapter 3, title 9, Idaho Code;
(e) To consider preliminary negotiations involving matters of trade or commerce in which the governing body is in competition with governing bodies in other states or nations;
(f) To communicate with legal counsel for the public agency to discuss the legal ramifications of and legal options for pending litigation, or controversies not yet being litigated but imminently likely to be litigated. The mere presence of legal counsel at an executive session does not satisfy this requirement;
(g) By the commission of pardons and parole, as provided by law;
(h) By the sexual offender classification board, as provided by chapter 83, title 18, Idaho Code;
(i) By the custody review board of the Idaho department of juvenile corrections, as provided by law; or
(j) To engage in communications with a representative of the public agency’s risk manager or insurance provider to discuss the adjustment of a pending claim or prevention of a claim imminently likely to be filed. The mere presence of a representative of the public agency’s risk manager or insurance provider at an executive session does not satisfy this requirement.
(2) Labor negotiations may be conducted in executive session if either side requests closed meetings. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 67-2343, Idaho Code, subsequent sessions of the negotiations may continue without further public notice.
(3) The exceptions to the general policy in favor of open meetings stated in this section shall be narrowly construed. It shall be a violation of this act to change the subject within the executive session to one not identified within the motion to enter the executive session or to any topic for which an executive session is not provided.
(4) No executive session may be held for the purpose of taking any final action or making any final decision.

To summarize:

Specific reference to code section, recorded roll call vote, 2/3 majority to enter executive session;
Minutes identify purpose and topic;
Session may be held to discuss qualities of individuals (prospective hires) but not staffing in general;
Session can only be held for specific statutory reasons and topic cannot be changed during executive session.

Up next - violations and penalties. (The plot thickens...)

Changes to open meeting Part 1 - Agendas

jan.wall — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:59:21 -0600

Here's what the new section of code will say for agenda notification:

67-2343 (4) An agenda shall be required for each meeting. The agenda shall be posted in the same manner as the notice of the meeting. An agenda may be amended, provided that a good faith effort is made to include, in the original agenda notice, all items known to be probable items of discussion.
(a) If an amendment to an agenda is made after an agenda is posted but forty-eight (48) hours or more prior to the start of a regular meeting, or twenty-four (24) hours or more prior to the start of a special meeting, then the agenda is amended upon the posting of the amended agenda.
(b) If an amendment to an agenda is proposed after an agenda has been posted and less than forty-eight (48) hours prior to a regular meeting or less than twenty-four (24) hours prior to a special meeting but prior to the start of the meeting, the proposed amended agenda shall be posted but shall not become effective until a motion is made at the meeting and the governing body votes to amend the agenda.
(c) An agenda may be amended after the start of a meeting upon a motion that states the reason for the amendment and states the good faith reason the agenda item was not included in the original agenda posting.

To summarize:

More than 48 hours before (or 24 for special meeting) but agenda is posted – post amended agenda and no vote needed.
Less than 48 (24) hours before, post the amended agenda, but vote to accept in meeting.
At the start of the meeting – motion stating reason for amendment and good faith reason why item wasn’t included. Vote to amend.

Stay tuned - more to follow!

NEA reports "Reading on the Rise"

jan.wall — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:25:03 -0700

January 12, 2009

Washington, D.C. -- For the first time in more than 25 years, American adults are reading more literature, according to a new study by the National Endowment for the Arts. Reading on the Rise documents a definitive increase in rates and numbers of American adults who read literature, with the biggest increases among young adults, ages 18-24. This new growth reverses two decades of downward trends cited previously in NEA reports such as Reading at Risk and To Read or Not To Read.

"At a time of immense cultural pessimism, the NEA is pleased to announce some important good news. Literary reading has risen in the U.S. for the first time in a quarter century," said NEA Chairman Dana Gioia. "This dramatic turnaround shows that the many programs now focused on reading, including our own Big Read, are working. Cultural decline is not inevitable."

For more on this story:
http://www.nea.gov/news/news09/ReadingonRise.html

To download the brochure:
http://www.nea.gov/research/Research_brochures.php

E-rate: Next step (Form 471 window opens 12/2)

jan.wall — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:11:29 -0700

If you've written your tech plan (which is necessary for everything except basic telephone service), or have an approved plan which runs through June 30, 2010 and have filed Form 470, then the next step is Form 471. The application window will open next week at noon EST on December 2 and will close on Feb. 12, 2009 at 11:59 EST. This is a 73-day window which is a few days less than previous years.

Remember, Form 470 has to be posted at least 28 days before you can file Form 471.

Questions? Contact me -

E-rate: Get your $$ (Form 472 - BEAR - 2007-2008)

jan.wall — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:11:55 -0600

Now is the time to submit Form 472 (BEAR, Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement) to get your money for the year that ended June 30, 2008. You have 120 days after the end of service (October 28), or 120 days after receiving a funding commitment, whichever is later, to submit for reimbursement.

If you submit Form 472 online (http://www.sl.universalservice.org/menu.asp), make sure that your Service Provider is monitoring and capable of processing online forms. If you haven't heard anything within a couple of weeks, check the status of your Form 472 online or call your Service Provider to remind them that your reimbursement request is still pending.

You can see from this process that it's probably not best to wait until the last minute to file!

This is the last step - don't let the $$ you deserve slip out of your grasp...