News from Illinois Library Association

Vol. 4, Issue: # 4 February 12, 2011

ILA Executive Board Determines Positions on Key Bills

Yesterday, the ILA Executive Board reviewed more than thirty-four key library bills and determined the association's position on these bills.

A major focus of our advocacy efforts will be the state budget. ILA opposes any further cuts to library grant programs including school, system, and public library per capita grants. Moreover, there are a numbers of bills proposed changing various state pension programs. To guide the board's decisions regarding these various bills, it was determined that the ILA Executive Board does not support changing the existing pension benefit programs, but if change occurs, those changes must be universal to all programs and participants and provide the participants with choice.

Please click to see the complete list.

ILA Supports
House Bill (HB) 177

Representative Joseph M. Lyons (D-19, Chicago) has filed House Bill 177, which clarifies that the paper copy of a library card application is not a public record once that information is entered into an electronic format and checked for accuracy. Currently, these paper copies must be stored for two years. This legislation will save libraries the cost of collecting, managing and storing these extra paper copies.

Please click here for the bill's status.
Please click here for the bill's full text.

House Bill (HB) 179

Representative Dan Reitz (D-116, Sparta) has filed House Bill 179 which makes several changes in library laws requested by ILA members. It removes an outdated reference in the municipal code that involves the calculation of the reimbursement to libraries in residential tax increment finance districts. It allows public libraries under the Local Library Act to file their Illinois Public Library Annual Report (IPLAR) report within 60 days of the end of the fiscal year like library districts, rather than the current 30 days. It also provides more flexibility for local libraries, library districts, and systems to secure insurance rather than a personal bond on the treasurer. This provision doesn't require libraries to change their current practice, but does allow an alternative that could be less costly and provide greater protection from loss of funds.

Please click here for the bill's status.
Please click here for the bill's full text.

We ask you to reach out to your local legislators and ask them to support both HB 177 and HB 179. Ask them to cosponsor these bills!

ILA Executive Board also determined to support the following bills:

Senate Bill (SB) 3,

Senate Bill (SB) 1311,

Senate Bill (SB) 1349,

Senate Bill (SB) 1722,

Senate Bill (SB) 1937,

Senate Bill (SB) 2055,

Senate Bill (SB) 2192,

(the concept of consolidation only if a library representative is included in the Local Government Consolidation Commission),

House Bill (HB) 268,

House Bill (HB) 1214,

House Bill (HB) 1277,

House Bill (HB) 1328,

House Bill (HB) 1365,

House Bill (HB) 1466,

House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 5,

Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 6, and

Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 10.

ILA opposes the following bills:

House Bill (HB) 146, and

Senate Bill (SB) 2077.

To wet your sweet tooth and warm up your funny bone, the Wednesday, October 19th, evening entertainment at the 2011 ILA Annual Conference will feature ComedySportz and a dessert reception at the Intercontinental Chicago O'Hare, the official conference hotel.

Emotional Symphony performed by ComedySportz ensemble members. photo by Johnny Knig

ComedySportz is the longest running short-form improv show in Chicago; now in its 23rd year. It's not stand-up comedy about sports...it's improv comedy played as a sport. The audience interaction at each show influences every scene, song or game played on stage. You vote for the team that makes you laugh the hardest and you decide the winner!

Watch for more details, coming soon!

ILA Candidates for 2011

The ILA Nominating Committee has announced the candidates for election in the spring of 2011.

For vice president/president-elect (three-year term beginning July 1, 2011 -- June 30, 2014):

ILA Vice President/President Elect

Charm Ruhnke, Peru Public Library

Pam Van Kirk, Galesburg Public Library

Board of Directors (three-year term beginning July 1, 2011 -- June 30, 2014). A candidate from each pairing will be elected in accordance with the ILA bylaws as amended at the 1998 ILA Annual Conference; a total of four directors will be elected to serve three-year terms on the ILA Executive Board.

Member-at-Large

Jennifer E. Bueche, Gail Borden Public Library District

Kate Hall, New Lenox Public Library District

Member-at-Large

Jeanne Hamilton, Helen Matthes Library, Effingham

John E. Sawyers, Kewanee Public Library District

Member-at-Large

David H. Carlson, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

Ellen Sutton, College of DuPage Library, Glen Ellyn

Member-at-Large

Scott E. Pointon, Des Plaines Valley Public Library District

Alissa Williams, Pekin Public LIbrary

Any ILA member wishing to be added to the ballot by petition may call the ILA office for information. Nominations by petition for an elective office shall be proposed in writing by at least one hundred (100) personal members of the association and delivered to the executive office by March 1, 2011. Candidates for director nominated by petition shall be added to the slate and placed in the paired candidate group that most clearly matches the affiliations of the petitioner as determined by the nominating committee. Petition candidates for vice president/president-elect will be added to the presidential slate as requested. The polls will open electronically April 1, 2011. In addition, paper ballots will be sent to persons requesting one. The return deadline is thirty (30) days after the ballot is postmarked. The electronic polls will close April 30.

Calling All Youth Services and Young Adult Services Librarians!

2011 Spring Workshops Announced

Wherever you live -- South, Central, or North -- there's a Spring Workshop for you! Visit the ILA Web site for more information and to register for these exciting workshops:

North

Programming on a Dime

Friday, March 25, 2011

Ideas for Children: 9:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Ideas for Teens: 1:30 - 4:00 p.m.

Arlington Heights Memorial Library

Central

Euphoria in Peoria: An Extravaganza Extraordinaire of Books for Youth

Monday, April 4, 2011

9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Lakeview Branch, Peoria Public Library

South

Early Literacy: Two Practical Approaches

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Lewis & Clark Library System

Sponsored by the ILA Youth Services Forum and Young Adult Services Forum.

In the News

If your library has a newspaper story with link, send it to us at doyle@ila.org for possible inclusion in the next ILA E-News. Thanks.

Sincerely,

Robert P. Doyle
Illinois Library Association

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Disclaimer: Links to non-ILA sites have been provided because these sites may have information of interest. The Illinois Library Association does not necessarily endorse the views expressed or the facts presented on these sites; and furthermore, ILA does not endorse any commercial products that may be advertised or available on these sites.