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Vol. 4, Issue: #22 | September 22, 2011
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Please Write to Governor regarding Consolidation Commission
| Illinois Library Association is asking its members to send a letter to Governor Quinn to request that he appoint a library representative to the Local Government Consolidation Commission. The Commission is a task force which will survey Illinois local governments and look for ways to increase cooperation, eliminate redundancies, and encourage local government mergers.
During the Spring 2011 Illinois General Assembly Session, both the ILA Public Policy Committee (PPC) and the ILA Executive Board considered this legislation and determined to support the bill only if library representation is included on the Commission. Both PPC and the board thought it would be best if the library community is represented in any discussions regarding consolidation. Those discussions were higlighted in the March 25, 2011 ILA E-Newsletter:
"The library community has long recognized the value of thoughtful and well-managed consolidation. The creation of library districts are the prime example of the benefits in terms of cost savings, greater patron access, and increased service. More recently, library systems have led an effort to reorganize, cut costs, and focus on core services.
The ILA Executive Board supports, in principle, logical consolidation. It is crucial, however, that any effort to study or implement consolidation must have proportional library representation and leadership. Preferably, this representation would be formalized on any task force, but could also be achieved by appointment of library supporters to any task force or commission ultimately created.
Consolidation can mean many things. ILA supports maintaining the unique identity and independent role libraries play in our society. ILA supports library led and managed consolidation where it furthers our mission and provides better value to those served."
House Bill (HB) 268 was passed on May 17, 2011 and it was signed by the Governor on August 12, thus creating the Commission via Public Act 97-316. The Commission must report its findings to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2012.
While most of the Commission members are predetermined, the Governor has the discretion to appoint a local elected official representing a local governmental body other than a county, township, municipality, or park district. ILA has nominated Mr. Richard McCarthy, an elected trustee at Elgin's Gail Borden Public Library District for more than twenty years, and currently the president of that body.
We urge you to mail or fax your own letter directly to the Governor supporting this nomination and asking the Governor to appoint Mr. McCarthy to represent the interests of local public libraries throughout Illinois. We have provided a sample letter below, but feel free to personalize your letter as you think appropriate. We also ask you to e-mail a copy of your letter to ILA at advocacy@ila.org.
Thank you!
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SAMPLE MESSAGE TEXT:
Governor Patrick Quinn
James R. Thompson Center
100 W. Randolph Street
Suite 16-100
Chicago, IL 60601
Fax: 217-524-4049
RE: Public Act 97-316; Local Government Consolidation Commission
Dear Governor Quinn,
I am writing to support the Illinois Library Association in its nomination of Mr. Richard McCarthy to be appointed to the Local Government Consolidation Commission. The Commission was created by Public Act 97-316. As this Commission is charged with evaluating the operations of local governments throughout Illinois, it is crucial to have an experienced library person on the panel.
Mr. McCarthy has served as an elected trustee at Elgin's Gail Borden Public Library District for more than twenty years and is currently president of that body. On the state level, he served two terms on the construction grant committee of the Illinois State Library and as a board member of the Illinois Library Association. Professionally, he is a library architect and has been involved in the design of libraries across the nation.
A library representative should be on this task force because the library community has led efforts to consolidate library systems and encourage the merger of libraries into library districts. Mr. McCarthy can bring this experience and insight to the Commission's deliberations.
Thank you for your kind consideration of this request and please let me know if you require any additional information.
Very truly yours,
Name
Title
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Conference Is Just One Month Away
Are You Ready? Make your Hotel Reservation September 26 is the registration deadline at the InterContinental Hotel. Please call (800) 341-7949 or visit http://www.icohare.com to make your registration. The online registration code is ILA. The Single/Double/Triple/ Quad rate is $150.
Register for Special Events Registration confirmations will be mailed this week. You can still register for conference meal events by going to your online profile and clicking on My Events, then 2011 ILA Annual Conference, and selecting Add Sessions. Access your profile by visiting ila.org and clicking on Members Only Login. Your login is your e-mail. If you have not yet changed your password, the default is Password1. Visit the Updated Conference Web Site Visit the #ILAConf2011 Web site for the latest conference information: We look forward to seeing you in Rosemont! |
IACRL Call for Programs
Proposals Due October 31 | |
The Programming Committee for the Illinois Association of College and Research Libraries (IACRL) is issuing a call for participation for its annual conference to be held March 16, 2012, at the Doubletree Hotel in Oakbrook, Illinois. The conference is broadly themed as "Adapt, Adopt, Accelerate."
In keeping with the theme, the programming committee is interested not only in traditional panel presentations (e.g., groups of four 15 minute papers), but also in "focused discussions" (groups of 5 minute (or less!) position statements around a broad theme followed up by give-and-take between/ among audience and panel members) or in other non-traditional presentation formats. In short, we are actively encouraging people to explore new ways of sharing knowledge at the conference. Please submit your panel topics along with mode of presentation, abstracts of the papers (for traditional panels) or summaries of discussion positions (for focused discussions).
For more information and to submit a program proposal, visit the IACRL Conference Web site.
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Library Trustees: Have You Got a Story to Tell?
| We have a theory. Library trustees probably represent one of the broadest cross-sections of Illinois that you can imagine. Bankers, lawyers, soccer moms, grandfathers, military veterans, peaceful protestors, you name it. If you're a trustee (or you know someone who is) that has a story to tell, send us a short description of what makes you "unusual." While you're at it, tell us what made you become a trustee. We'll capture these for the ILA Web site and feature in a 2012 article in the ILA Reporter. Send your stories to cwatkins.consult@gmail.com.
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Young Adult Services Forum: "Gaming NOW @ Your Library" Panel at ILA Conference 2011
| At the ILA Conference in October, the Young Adult Services Forum is sponsoring the "Gaming NOW @ Your Library" panel moderated by Maggie Hommel on Thursday, October 20 at 9:00 a.m.; additionally, Rose Allen and Veronica DeFazio are presenting a Talk Table from 2-3 p.m. on Wednesday, October 19th, at the ILA Conference called "Serving Teens with Special Needs." Throughout the conference, be on the lookout for YASF members with custom buttons for you to take home!
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| In the News
Library-related stories appearing in local news media are reflected in this section of the ILA E-Newsletter. The intent is to alert and inform the Illinois library community about issues and events that are considered significant by the general media.
| Sugar Grove Library Board Critic Fills Trustee Spot
To continue reading about this story, please click here.
Amazon in Talks to Launch Digital Book Library
To continue reading about this story, please click here.
Sixty Writers Recruit Readers at Aurora Library Gathering
To continue reading about this story, please click here.
Meet the Woman Who Makes Deerfield Library Tick
To continue reading about this story, please click here.
Get an Indian Prairie Library Card, Get a Dance Lesson
To continue reading about this story, please click here. Winnetka Library Leaders Consider Making a Move on Post Office PropertyTo continue reading this story, please click here. Winnetka-Northfield Library to Hold Budget HearingTo continue reading this story, please click here. Public and School Libraries in Decline: When We Need ThemTo continue reading this story, please click here. Salem Library Board Discusses Tax Levy Problems with CityTo continue reading this story, please click here.
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-Newsletter. Thanks. |
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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.
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CALENDAR
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October 20, 2011Deadline for December issue of the ILA Reporter. Guidelines for Submissions to the ILA Reporter.October 18-20, 2011ILA Annual Conference
February 18, 2012Trustee Forum Workshop, Hickory Ridge Marriott Conference Hotel, Lisle, Ill. March 18, 2012 Illinois Association of College and Research Libraries Conference, Doubletree, 1909 Spring Rd., Oak Brook, Ill.
ILA COMMITTEE AND FORUM REPORTS March 2011 Reference Services ForumApril 2011 Youth Services Forum
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