HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-06-2023 Library Board of TrusteesIowa City Public Library Board of Trustees
Meeting Agenda
March 6, 2023
2nd Floor - Boardroom
Special Meeting - 4:00 PM
Carol Kirsch - President
Tom Rocklin - Vice President
DJ Johnk - Secretary
1. Call Meeting to Order.
Joseph Massa
Claire Matthews
Robin Paetzold
2. Approval of March 6, 2023 Board Meeting Agenda.
3. Public Discussion.
4. Items to be Discussed.
John Raeburn
Hannah Shultz
Dan Stevenson
A. Review and Adopt ICPL Board of Trustees Statement Concerning State Legislation Ramifications
for Public Libraries.
Comment: A draft of the letter will be distributed and available. Board action required.
S. Adjournment.
If you will need disability -related accommodations in order to participate in this meeting, please contact len Miller, Iowa City
Public Library, at 379-887-6003 orjennifer-miller@icpLorg. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to
meet your access needs.
The following documents were handed
out during the meeting.
IOWA CITY
''rs PUBLIC LIBRARY
O"�� 123 S. Linn St. • Iowa City, IA 52240
DIRECTOR Elsworth Carman • PHONE 319-356-5200 • Fax 319-356-5494 • icpl.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date:
Contact:
Phone:
The Iowa City Public Library Board of Trustees Supports an Independent, Nonpolitical
State Library of Iowa
This year's legislative session will prove to be a significant one for the people of Iowa, and if we
do not act in the best interests of our citizens, we stand to witness irreparable damage to
libraries in our state.
The current proposal to drastically reorganize the state government has the potential to limit the
liberties and rights of Iowans to access knowledge. We feel that this is a critical turning point for
the future of our State, and stand in strong opposition to these measures.
Reorganization bills SSB1123 and HB126 move the State Library to the Department of
Administrative Services. This would eliminate the oversight of the current citizen -led
commission, making the State Librarian a political appointee. This will transform the State
Library of Iowa from one of the most open and accessible decision -making state libraries to one
of the least equitable and transparent in the nation. A library's unique position in a community
requires specialized support, funding, and the ability for all Iowans to have access to all
materials throughout the state.
The State Library oversees crucial services to all public libraries and the communities they
serve. From distributing federal funds to providing training to librarians to ensuring public
libraries are meeting accreditation standards, the State Library ensures all Iowans have access
to information and library resources. If this legislation passes, it will put all Public Libraries in a
difficult position to weigh the value of their state library accreditation moving forward.
Restructuring administrative oversight of these institutions will make every public library
vulnerable to shifting political motivations. Libraries have long stood as entities independent of
political fluctuations, each considering how to best serve their community. The Iowa City Public
Library Board of Trustees supports the State Library of Iowa as the infrastructure for funding
and collaboration in Iowa's exceptional public library system.
Adopted and approved by the Iowa City Public Library Board of Trustees on March 6, 2023.