Updates

At a called meeting of IPLA on February 4, 2010 the revisions to the bylaws were approved and a new board elected. Also attached is a copy of the Strategic Plan for 2010.

Congratulations to our new IPLA Board!

2010
Sally Stegner, Marcia Au, Ginny Nilles, Peg Harmon, Ware Wimberly

2011
Edra Waterman, Jim Cline, Kelly Ehinger, Rita Douhitt, Stephen Boggs

2012
Larry Oathout, Loren Malloy, Tamsie Maurer, Julia Akers, Nick Schenkel

IPLA Officers

President – Virginia Nilles, Muncie-Center Township Public Library
Vice President – Edra Waterman, Plainfield Guilford Township Public Library
Director at Large – Sally Stegner, Lawrenceburg Public Library
Director at Large – Lissa Krull, Nappanee Public Library

Other 2009-2010 officers
Past President – Peg Harmon, Kokomo-Howard County Public Library
Secretary/Treasurer 2008-2010 – Jane Hall, Argos Public Library
Director at Large – Marcia Learned Au, Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

Meeting Rescheduled & Proposed Bylaws

The December 2, 2009 meeting has been rescheduled to February 4, 2010 at 1 p.m at Hancock Public Library. 

Current and proposed bylaws for review and vote on February 4, 2010

IPLA Nominating Committee at Work

Several members of IPLA’s 2010 Board, nominated and elected on Oct 20, are filling slots defined in IPLA’s current bylaws.

At the February 4, 2010 membership meeting, IPLA members will vote on a bylaws amendment to expand the board and elect additional members as needed to fill the new board positions.

The special Nominating Committee appointed to prepare a slate for approval on February 4, 2010 includes Jos Holman(Chair)(Tippecanoe Public Library), Sally Stenger (Lawrenceburg Public Library), and Marcia Au (Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library.)

This group is charged with recruiting individuals to round out a new 15-member board, one composed of members from all areas of the state and bringing together a strong mix of experiences, perspectives, and skills.

Recommendations for new IPLA board members can be submitted to any member of the Nominating Committee or by completing the Nominating Form. The form is also posted under “IPLA Board Members” in the main menu of this website until the deadline.  The deadline for submitting names is November 6.

Strengthening IPLA: A New Form for A New Function

Since early summer, the IPLA Board and its Core Planning Team have been working to reinvigorate and reorganize IPLA so that it can better address the needs of the public library community.

Through a series of small group, large group, and town hall formats, IPLA leaders have learned much about the changes that its members want to see.  A three-year strategic plan, an organized way to make those changes, was presented and approved at the IPLA annual meeting 2009.

Significant changes include:

• New language regarding IPLA’s Purpose and Philosophy which aligns the IPLA’s new mission, vision, and values (Articles II and III)
• An expanded Board system (more board members and the annual organization of statewide work groups) to improve representation and involve more members in IPLA work. (Article VI)
• A new, more transparent nominating process which includes the members’ election of a majority of Nominating Committee members (Article VIII)
• The ability to use electronic rather than ‘print’ notification of proposed amendments (Article X)

As required by current bylaws, proposed bylaw changes must be published in a special edition of Focus at least 30 days in advance of a membership vote.  Accordingly, we anticipate a special edition of Focus to be released by mid October and we are making plans to call a special membership meeting of IPLA on December 2, 2009 at the:

Hancock County Public Library
900 W. McKenzie Rd.
Greenfield, IN  46140
Phone:  317-462-5141 (main)

At this meeting the revised Bylaws will be voted upon by the IPLA membership and a new board elected immediately in accordance with the new provisions. 

Thank you for your time and consideration in these and all matters affecting public libraries in our state!

Ginny Nilles, President-Elect and Planning Chair

Town Hall Meetings: In Search of Common Ground

“This could become a habit, a great one!” so says one of the more than 100 participants in last week’s town hall sessions sponsored by IPLA. “What energy!”

Indeed, several of the eleven sites reporting from around the state agreed that organizing a series of regular IPLA town hall meetings should be a top 2010 priority.

Last week, ten groups linked via an audio-visual network – and one new Skype group – conducted structured discussions around the IPLA plan draft posted on Sept 4. The final plan draft will be presented to IPLA members at their October annual meeting in Ft. Wayne.

At the end of the discussions, all groups reported key themes and points of consensus around three basic questions concerning: guiding principles, priorities for the coming year, and leadership.

“Our immediate quest is finding common ground on which to build a strong, relevant, and representative public library association,” says Ginny Nilles, IPLA Planning Chair and President-elect. 

The groups appeared to be doing just that – zeroing in a few areas in a way which will greatly inform the priorities of a newly expanded IPLA Board when it is officially elected later this year.

A copy of the town hall agenda and a synthesis of that feedback are posted for your review.

Town Hall Evaluations

Don’t forget! All town hall participants have been asked to complete an online evaluation this week.

In addition to feedback on sites and logistics, participants have been asked to share what they saw as the most significant common ground among all eleven groups – AND to suggest issues for 2010 town hall discussions.

Those results will also be reported on this website by early next week.

Developing An IPLA Town Hall Tradition

Public libraries are about community.

The new IPLA Mission elevates the importance of “aligning the public library community to act on matters of common interest.”  The new Vision Statement directly correlates the vitality of public library systems with the vitality of the communities they serve.

But what does that really mean for IPLA?

IPLA initiated the idea of town hall meetings last March in the midst of a tumultuous and confusing legislative session. The feedback was overwhelming – and an idea was born.

Again in June and July, IPLA invited public library advocates to participate in local meetings – each with the goal of providing direction to IPLA planning.

When asked, “Why do we need an IPLA?” those groups consistently reported two things: the building of unity and trust within the public library community around purposeful work with statewide impact – AND – the need for a proactive grassroots system which champions local input into a statewide advocacy agenda which cannot be effective without local community action.

Start local. End local. Create a map for building a statewide public library community with statewide impact.

Second IPLA Plan Draft Is Now Posted

During June and July, IPLA leaders asked for statewide participation in an IPLA strategic planning process. (See August 6^th post below.)  The second plan draft, incorporating feedback received throughout August, is ready for your review . It will be the subject of discussions at town hall meetings on September 15.

September 4, 2009  Plan *Update* This plan was voted on and approved unanimously at the October 2009 meeting of ILF & IPLA at the ILF Conference.

Coming Sept 15! Town Hall Meetings Back By Popular Demand!

At the first series of town hall meetings in March (only five short months ago!), you called for the reinvigoration of IPLA as a true grass roots organization capable of building an inclusive, cohesive network of public libraries.

You also recommended continued, more frequent use of video-conferenced town hall meetings to improve communications within the public library community.

From 1:30 to 3:30 pm EDT on September 15^th, IPLA’s Core Planning Team, joined by district representatives to its July planning retreat, will host ten town hall meetings around the state.

All public library champions are invited to participate in those town hall discussions where the three-year strategic plan for IPLA will be examined and input solicited regarding the adoption of first-year priorities for 2010. Preliminary plans for an expanded and more representative IPLA Board will also be reviewed.

Register now to become a part of this historical statewide discussion!