September 6, 2007

Iowa Center for the Book Advisory Council
Meeting Minutes
September 6, 2007
Iowa City Public Library

Present:  Tim Barrett, Marvin Bergman, Susan Craig, Monica Gohlinghorst, Mary Heinzman, Sid Huttner, Jan Kaiser, Karen Keninger, Robin Martin, Marilyn Mercado, Carl Orgren, Kristin Steingreaber, Christie Vilsack., Katherine Von Wald, Timothy Walch, Mary Wegner, Annette Wetteland, Charlotte Wright

Guest:  Kate Scott, Iowa Polio Stories Oral History Project

I.  Introductions

II. Minutes
Gohlinghorst moved that the minutes be approved.  Mercado seconded, motion carried unanimously.

III. State Library Report
Wegner discussed the Putting Libraries on the Web (PLOW) project.  There are currently 275 public libraries with new Web sites thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the State Library of Iowa.

Wegner said that the State Library’s Youth Services Consultant, Mary Cameron, was resigning to take a position with the Department of Education.  She also noted that State Library staffers Barb Corson, Karon King, and Wetteland would staff a booth at the National Book Festival in Washington, DC on September 29.  More than 100,000 people attend the event.

IV. Web site
The new Web site received good reviews from the Advisory Council.  Von Wald encouraged the council to add information about literary events that will take place at their institutions to the literary events section of the Web site, as well as well as encouraging others to add their events.  Craig moved to officially thank Alan Schmitz of the SILO team for his work on the Web site.  Barrett seconded.  Approved.

V.  Iowa Author List
The Iowa Author List Committee discussed the process of adding authors to the list.

There was discussion whether storytellers should be added to the list.  Walch suggested that they may fit better on the literary calendar or perhaps have a link on the Web site to Iowa storytellers.

Iowa authors are continuing to be added to the list. Von Wald said she is encouraging authors to explain why they write and to comment on their writing.  She asked the Advisory Council to help contact more authors.

Kaiser said Des Moines Public Library had its own Iowa author list, but no contact information.  She suggested that maybe the Iowa authors on that list could be on the ICB’s.  However, the criteria for the two lists are different.  The Public Library’s list is retrospective; the ICB list includes only authors presently living in Iowa.

It was suggested that authors should be contacted annually to check their entry to see if updates are necessary.  An email can be generated to all the authors asking them to check their entry.  It was also suggested that the Iowa Writers Workshop be contacted about possible authors.

Members of the committee are Kristin Gerhard, Carl Orgren, Lorna Truck, Tim Walch, and Von Wald.

VI. Letters About Literature
Von Wald announced that Iowa’s second national winner in the LAL contest was announced.  Audrey Kiernan from Iowa City will travel to Washington, DC to read her letter at the National Book Festival. 

Von Wald also explained changes in the 2008 program.  There will be two winners in each of the three contestant levels, as well as four honorable mentions at each level.  Instead of trips to Washington DC, national winners and honorable mentions will receive a Target GiftCard and will be part of the discussion in deciding which library in their community will receive a LAL Reading Promotion Grant.

Von Wald said that the Iowa LAL awards ceremony will take place at the State Library in April 2008.  She and Wetteland staffed booths at three conferences in 2007 to promote LAL:  Iowa Council of Teachers of English, Iowa Talented and Gifted Association and Iowa Reading Association.

VII. All Iowa Reads
Craig said the All Iowa Reads Committee was selecting the 2008 book that afternoon.  So far in 2007, 62 institutions held 72 discussions on Splendid Solution.  She and Keninger reported that the response to Splendid Solution had been very positive and there were “lively” book discussions around the state.  They said the book and been a springboard for others to speak about polio.  Craig, Scott and Keninger were on National Public Radio’s “The Exchange” to talk about the book and the oral history project.

Craig said that in the future, a selection of books with Midwest connections that are considered for AIR, but do not meet the criteria, will be listed on the Web site so libraries can consider the titles for their book discussions.

VIII. Iowa Polio Stories Oral History Project
Scott presented a PowerPoint show and provided background on the oral history project.  She talked about the background of polio in Iowa and described some of the people she had interviewed.  She said she planned to attend the Iowa Polio Survivors Group luncheon and hoped to get some interviews there.  Vilsack commended Scott on her presentation and suggested she take it around the state. 

IX. Report from Committee Looking at Future Projects for the ICB
Vilsack said she thought the ICB needed more publicity.  It was suggested that the State Library look into getting an intern to help.  Kaiser suggested the ICB produce bumper stickers.  

It was noted that the Iowa Library Association fall conference will be in Des Moines in 2009 and that maybe the ICB could sponsor an author session and a program.  It was also suggested the ICB look into a partnership of some kind with Adel’s Iowa Author Fair.
(Committee Report separate attachment)

X.  Report from Committee Reviewing Advisory Council By-laws
The committee (Gerhard, Gohlinghorst, Huttner and Von Wald) recommended that no changes be made to membership guidelines.  Paragraph 4 of the by-laws clarifies what ICB has been doing.  Paragraph 6 clarifies the language in the old by-laws.  Huttner moved to approve the changes.  Steingreaber seconded.  Approved.
(By-laws included as separate attachment)

XI. Announcements
Huttner mentioned there were two exhibits in Iowa City; one on manuscripts and the other on early printed books.

XII. Date for May Meeting
May 15 at 10 a.m. in Pella.  (Note:  This was later changed to May 23 in Pella.)

Keninger moved to adjourn.  Gohlinghorst seconded.

Annette Wetteland, recorder.