September 7, 2006
Iowa Center for the Book Advisory Council
September 7, 2006
Attending: Timothy Barrett, Marv Bergman, Susan Craig, Monica Gohlinghorst, Sid Huttner, Tim Walch, Roy Kenagy, Robin Martin, Carl Orgren, Kristin Steingreaber, Katherine Von Wald, Mary Wegner, Annette Wetteland, Charlotte Wright
I. Introductions
II. Minutes of May 4, 2006 approved.
III. State Library Report – Mary Wegner. State Library staff Barb Corson, Beth Henning and Annette Wetteland staffed a booth at the National Book Festival in Washington, DC on September 29th. It’s estimated that more than 10,000 people attended.
IV. Iowa Center for the Book Foundation – Mary Wegner. The Articles of Incorporation were signed by an outside coordinator (Peg Armstrong Gustafson) and sent to the Secretary of State’s office. Bylaws are the next thing to be written.
V. All Iowa Reads (AIR) – Susan Craig and Karen Keninger. The 2007 selection will be announced at the October 13, 2006 Iowa Library Association (ILA) Conference. The author’s publisher said he thinks the author will willing to appear at next year’s ILA Conference in Coralville. This year’s AIR author, Marilyn Robinson, is speaking at the October 13 ILA Conference. Craig said Robinson spoke at the Iowa City Public Library and was excellent. Von Wald said there were nearly as many book discussions around the state this year as last year at this point. She said it is still difficult to know exactly how many book discussions take place in Iowa. She asked the group to add information about their book discussions to the Literary Calendar. Walch suggested putting sticker endorsements on books that are sold, but Wright said that can be difficult. Publishers may have to do it. Steingreaber said she is excited about the 2007 selection and will encourage teachers to read and discuss the book with high school students.
VI. Letters About Literature (LAL) – Katherine Von Wald. Von Wald reported that many people and groups were contacted about the program. Letters of the winners and semifinalists are on the Iowa Center for the Book/LAL Web site. There were 985 entries from students in Iowa, and nearly 100 semifinalists.
VII. Possible Newsletter. The newsletter will have to put on hold until the ICB Web site is moved to Plone software. (State Library staff is heavily involved in training librarians through Gates’ grants and it may be April or May 2007 before there is staff time available to make the move.) People will be able to subscribe to the newsletter. Wegner showed the group BCR’s electronic newsletter.
VIII. Possible compilation of list of authors presently living and writing in Iowa for Web site. The Iowa Authors Project committee is Von Wald, Kristin Gerhard, Carl Orgren, Lorna Truck and Walch. The authors list will help connect readers with authors and their books, and identify authors who are willing to speak to groups. The committee wants the list to be very inclusive, but contain only authors of books.
Criteria mentioned for the author list: Should self-publishing authors be included? Do we want background information on the author? Check to see if they have Web sites. Define a book by the number of pages? (Do not want pamphlets.) Should books have been published for sale at one time? Timothy Barrett moved that the project be approved subject to development of definitions. Approved.
IX. Appointment of committee to look at redesign of Web site. The committee will include Von Wald, Barrett, Craig, Martin, Huttner and Wetteland.
X. NEA Big Read. Von Wald said she explained to a Big Read representative that their program is complementary to Iowa’s All Iowa Reads program. Libraries may do both. Big Read selections are mostly classics. NEA is providing some money through grants for promotional materials. The ICB will support NEA Big Read, but will not be an official sponsor of it.
XI. Replacement of Members. Replacements are needed for a public library representative and an at-large representative. Roy suggested Jan Kaiser, DMPL. Von Wald will contact her. She will also try to contact Susan Bedell who is an at-large member. A new ICB chair will be elected next spring.
XII. Announcements. Craig discussed the Iowa City Public Library’s “Family Nights at the Library” aimed at Title I elementary school children and their families. A grant provides transportation to the library. It’s been very successful. Coralville and North Liberty public libraries are also participating in the Iowa City program. Consensus among the ICB committee was that this would be a nice statewide project.
Kenagy announced that Michael Carey received the Iowa Library Association’s Johnson Brigham plaque for his essays and poetry. Carey does many school programs.
Barrett mentioned Scott Cleland, an excellent presenter out of Minnesota who, through costume changes and props, tells where the alphabet came from. He discusses cave paintings also. Barrett said Cleland is great at keeping the attention of kids in K-12.
XIII. Date for Spring Meeting. 10 a.m. Thursday, May 10, State Library of Iowa.
Meeting adjourned.
