During the September 1, 2010 meeting of the Merger Design Team, we unfortunately experienced technical difficulties with the virtual communication technology. Below is a formal statement regarding the situation:
“Due to technical difficulties, the meeting of the Merger Design Team, scheduled for September 1, 2010, was unable to satisfactorily support meeting attendance and participation by means other than physical presence as required by the Open Meetings Act. All agenda items of the September 1, 2010 meeting will be deferred for action and discussion to a future meeting of the Merger Design Team.”
The team is working quickly to schedule future (technology problem-free) meetings, and we will post meeting information as soon as it becomes available. We apologize for any inconvenience that this created.
| Posted by Alice Calabrese on September 2nd, 2010.
If you plan to attend the meeting in person at MLS (125 Tower Drive, Burr Ridge, IL), please register in L2: http://www.librarylearning.info/events/?eventID=10815
The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m.; the agenda can be viewed here: September 1, 2010 Merger Design Team Agenda
A live video stream of the meeting will be available online. To watch over the web, follow these instructions to log into our Polycom video server at the time of the meeting:
Go to http://216.125.140.221/
Username: stream
Password: stream
On the menu in the left-hand sidebar, select Live Streaming > Live Streaming, then Play the current live session.
Windows is required to watch the meeting online.
| Posted by Alice Calabrese on August 26th, 2010.
Merger Design Team Appointments and Meeting
In response to the ongoing financial crisis facing the State of Illinois, five library systems have conducted joint planning discussions and have decided to seek a merger of the organizations. The systems provide services to more than 1,500 public, private, university, and school library members who represent more than 3,700 library locations. The library systems are: the Alliance Library System, DuPage Library System, Metropolitan Library System, North Suburban Library System, and the Prairie Area Library System.
Each library system has signed a Letter of Intent, indicating its willingness to develop one strong and sustainable organization to meet the needs of their member libraries. To create this new entity, each system board has appointed representatives to a Merger Design Team who will meet over the next nine months to create a proposal for a new library system. The Merger Design Team will work with a nonprofit merger consultant to develop a comprehensive merger proposal including a new governance structure and the identification of core library system services.
The first meeting of the Merger Design Team is scheduled for Wednesday, September 1, 2010, 7 p.m. at the Metropolitan Library System, 125 Tower Drive, Burr Ridge, IL.
Merger Design Team members are:
Alliance Library System (ALS)
- John Richmond, ALS Board President and Director of the Alpha Park Public Library District
- Sue Herring, ALS Board Member and Trustee of the Fondulac Public Library Distinct
- Wed Turner, ALS Board Member and Trustee of the Chillicothe Public Library
- Kitty Pope, ALS Executive Director
DuPage Library System (DLS)
- Su Erickson, DLS Board President and Coordinator of the DuPage Library at Robert Morris University-Aurora
- Jack T. Budz, DLS Board Member and Board Treasurer of the Bartlett Public Library District
- Donna Dziedzic, DLS Board Member and Executive Director of the Naperville Public Library
- Tom Sloan, DLS Executive Director
Metropolitan Library System (MLS)
- William Coffee, MLS Board President and Trustee of the LaGrange Public Library
- Crystal Megaridis, MLS Board Vice President, Board Treasurer of the Indian Prairie Public Library, Manager of Library Service for Praxair Inc.
- Milfred Moore, MLS Past Board President and Trustee of the Matteson Public Library
- Alice Calabrese-Berry, MLS Executive Director
- Su Bochenski, MLS Deputy Director
North Suburban Library System (NSLS)
- Kathy Caudill, NSLS Board President and Board President of the Ela Area Public Library District
- Kathleen Pilat, NSLS Board Vice President and Trustee of the Huntley Area Public Library
- G. Victor Johnson, NSLS Past Board President and Board President of the Arlington Heights Memorial Library
Prairie Area Library System (PALS)
- Catherine Yanikoski, PALS Board President and Manager of the Crest Hill Branch Library of the Des Plaines Valley Library District
- Charlet Key, PALS Board Vice President and Director of the Black Hawk Community College Library
- Alan Davidson, PALS Board Treasurer and Trustee of the Princeton Public Library
- Michael Piper, PALS Executive Director
For more information about the planned merger of these library systems, please contact Alice Calabrese-Berry, Executive Director, (630) 734-5000.
| Posted by Alice Calabrese on August 19th, 2010.
The highlights of the August 16, 2010 MLS Board of Directors Meeting are:
New MLS Executive Director Announced
As the President of the Metropolitan Library System Board of Directors, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Susan Bochenski to the position of Executive Director effective November 1, 2010. Su has worked at MLS since 2005, and her most recent position is Director of Operations, overseeing Finance, Information Technology, Delivery, and Building & Facilities. She has been a member of the Executive Management Team at MLS since 2005, and holds a Master of Library Science degree from Dominican University.
During this time of transition due to the impending merger, I am confident that Su has the experience and ability to manage current MLS operations as well as serve on the Merger Design Team with the ultimate result of continued service to the MLS membership.
Bill Coffee, President, MLS Board of Directors
Merger Update
The first meeting of the Merger Design Team will be held at the MLS Burr Ridge office September 1, 2010 at 7:00. This is an open meeting. Agenda items for this first meeting include team organization, merger consultant selection, team subcommittees, and future meeting schedule.
The Merger Design Team members representing MLS are:
- Bill Coffee, President, MLS Board of Directors
- Crystal Megaridis, Vice President, MLS Board of Directors
- Milfred Moore, Past President, MLS Board of Directors
- Alice Calabrese, MLS Executive Director (through 10/31/2010)
- Su Bochenski, MLS Executive Director
Announcements/Information
- Prairie-Hills Elementary School District 144 was reinstated to Full Membership.
- We continue to work with a leasing agent to try and sublet the 224 S Michigan Ave office. While we have had some inquiries, no sub-lessor has been found yet.
- The FY11MLS Board Committee appointments have been made, visit http://www.mls.lib.il.us/board/ for the list.
| Posted by Alice Calabrese on August 17th, 2010.
Date: October 22, 2010
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Venue: Oak Park Public Library
Address: 834 Lake Street – Oak Park, IL 60301
RSVP: Please Register via the L2 Calendar by clicking the following link http://www.librarylearning.info/events/?eventID=8717
|
|
Agenda
Welcome
Annual Report to Membership
Awards Ceremony
Closing Remarks
Adjournment |
Public Transportation
The Oak Park Public Library is located on Lake Street which is 1/2 block north of the CTA Green Line. The library is approximately 1/2 mile east of Harlem Avenue. |
Refreshments will be provided
Questions:
Contact Dorothy Kovacs
E-mail: kovacsd@mls.lib.il.us
Phone: (630) 734-5147
|
|
PDF Copy of Announcement
|
| Posted by Alice Calabrese on August 6th, 2010.
The quarterly meetings for both MLS and SWAN administrators have been moved to Wednesday September 8, 2010 at the Burr Ridge office.
- MLS: 9/8/2010 9:30AM
- SWAN: 9/8/2010 1:00PM
If you have questions regarding the MLS meeting, contact Alice Calabrese at calabresea@mls.lib.il.us
If you have questions regarding the SWAN meeting, contact Aaron Skog at skoga@mls.lib.il.us
| Posted by Alice Calabrese on July 28th, 2010.
From the MLS Executive Director:
It is with a great degree of sadness that I announce the decision of the MLS board to suspend our Consulting and Continuing education services due to the State’s deteriorating financial situation. Over 95% of MLS funding originates from an annual grant from the Illinois General Assembly distributed through Secretary of State Jesse White’s office. Library systems have not had a budget increase in more than 20 years, and in August 2009, we received a 16.5% budget cut.
To date, MLS has only received 57% ($1,534,593) of the money owed to it for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010. The remainder of the FY10 payment is $1,151,978. We have been notified that we should not expect any additional state payments until the end of the calendar year, perhaps not until January, 2011. Only by drastically reducing expenses in the immediate short term can MLS reach our goal to continue to support the Delivery service and support to SWAN.
The MLS board also voted to approve a Non binding Letter of Intent to participate in merger talks with the Alliance, DuPage, North Suburban and Prairie Area Library Systems. Those talks will begin with a Design Team selected from each System in August, 2010
.
Personally this an emotional time for me as I plan to retire from my position. I have spent twenty-two years in the position of Executive Director of a Library System. To see all the work lost that has gone in to library cooperation in Illinois and the sharing of resources, training and professional development, consulting, just to name a few is profoundly saddens me.
I wish to thank all Library System staff across the State of Illinois who have lost positions for their dedication, hard work and leadership.
Alice Calabrese Berry
Metropolitan Library System Board Highlights: On Monday, June 21 the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Library System met at 3:00 p.m. at the MLS office located at 224 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60604. Following are the highlights from the June 21, 2010 MLS Board meeting:
- Reinstated the following members to full membership status: Vedder Price Library; Worth School District 127 and Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP
- Certified the following MLS FY2011 Board Election Results:
Public
Murray Barr, Homewood Public Library
Crystal Megaridis, Indian Prairie Public Library
John Chrastka, Berwyn Public Library
Academic
Merri Monks, American College of Education
Special
Amy Affelt, Compass Lexecon
Public Library Administrator
Megan Millen, Flossmoor Public Library
- The MLS board approved the Non Binding Letter of Intent to participate in the merger process with ALS, DLS, NSLS, and PALS.
- The MLS board approved an expenditure of up to $10,000 for the purpose of hiring a facilitator for the merging process.
- Outgoing board members Janet Kelenson, Tom Read and Marilyn Boria were recognized for their outstanding contributions as board members.
- The MLS board voted to accept the Executive Committee’s recommendation to eliminate the consulting and continuing education services and to assure Delivery, SWAN and strategic restructuring continue to be funded.
The meeting agenda can be found at http://www.mls.lib.il.us/board.
Update on Metropolitan Library System Services: Resource Sharing and the Union List of Serials. For information about what is happening with these services go to http://www.mls.lib.il.us/ennounce/2010/04_12/resourcesharing.asp
The following documents are being made available to outline the current financial situation, how this decision was made, and the status of all system services:
Read about the status of the Future of Illinois Library Cooperation (FILC) and An Update on Illinois Library Systems Restructuring in the June 20, 2010 issue of ILA E-news at this link
State-wide Library System Updates at Web Junction Illinois at
http://webjunctionworks.org/il/blog/index.php/category/news/
L2 Calendar Update from Illinois State Library can be found in the June 11, 2010 issue can be read in the current ISL newsletter at http://www.librarynewsletters.org/isl/issue.aspx?volume=3&issue=23
The Chicago White Sox have dedicated July 7, 2010 as Library Appreciation Night. On this night the White Sox are offering specially priced tickets to all librarians, library staff, trustees and their families and friends. Note the new online payment option. Prices and ordering information can be found at http://www.mls.lib.il.us/consulting/pdf/ChicagoWhiteSoxLibraryAppreciationNight_2010.pdf
Library Law: Is your Library Website a Public Forum? In this day and age of computer technology, your library’s website is one of your most important resources in providing information to your patrons. Your website contains a plethora of information, including a calendar of events, hours of operation, policies and procedures and an online catalog, to name a few. Is your library’s website also a public forum subject to First Amendment scrutiny? A recent decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, Sutliffe v. Epping School District, 584 F.3d 314 (1st Cir. 2009), held that your library’s website is probably not a public forum, but that you have to be careful so that it does not become one. http://www.mls.lib.il.us/ennounce/2010/04_12/librarywebsite.asp
This is the last issue of MLS E-nnounce.
| Posted by Kathy Roegge on June 23rd, 2010.
Metropolitan Library System to Suspend Services effective June 30, 2010. Due to the State’s deteriorating financial situation, the MLS Board’s Executive Committee met to review the revised FY11 Funding Priorities.
In May 2010, Anne Craig issues the following directive to System Directors:
- Support Delivery and LLSAP (SWAN) services until FY2010 final payment is received. (Note: Last month the anticipated payment date for this $1.1 million was October 31, 2010. The Comptroller now suggests that the payment date will be delayed until January, 2011).
- Work toward a strategic restructuring of the library system, with the intent that services to libraries can be reinstated as funding becomes available.
In order to ensure that funds are available for these three priorities (Delivery, SWAN and restructuring) it was recommended to the Executive Committee to eliminate Consulting and Continuing Education services effective July 1, 2010. This recommendation includes maintaining only a skeleton staff for back office operations to support SWAN, delivery and minimal member services. The Executive Committee voted to recommend to the full board the elimination of those services effective July 1, 2010.
The following documents are being made available to outline the current financial situation, how this decision was made, and the status of all system services:
Shared Message for distribution to Library Patrons Bookmark http://www.mls.lib.il.us/consulting/pdf/sharedmessage.pdf.
Illinois Library Systems to Suspend Fund for Illinois Libraries. Read complete letter at http://www.mls.lib.il.us/consulting/pdf/FundIllinoisLibraries.pdf.
Read about the status of the Future of Illinois Library Cooperation (FILC) in the June 7, 2010 issue of ILA E-news http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs011/1102339694985/archive/1103443700911.html. Complete information about the entire FILC effort is available on the ILA web site at http://www.ila.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=266&Itemid=222.
State-wide Library System Updates at Web Junction Illinois at http://webjunctionworks.org/il/blog/index.php/category/news/
On Monday, June 21 the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Library System will meet at 3:00 p.m. at the MLS Chicago office located at 224 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60604. The meeting agenda can be found at http://www.mls.lib.il.us/board.
Voting for the FY2011 MLS Board continues through Friday, June 11, 2010. Election results will be reported to the MLS Board on Monday, June 21, 2010 and will be posted on the MLS web site on Tuesday, June 22, 2010. Vote at http://www.mls.lib.il.us/board/elections/index.asp.
Read about MLS’s The Customer Focused Library grant project in the June 2010 issue of the ILA Reporter at http://www.ila.org/pub/reporter/vol28no3.pdf.
CLASS announces Rita A. Bert Librarianship Award Winner. Read full article at http://www.mls.lib.il.us/ennounce/2010/04_11/ritaabertaward.asp
Applications are being accepted for the Susan Kraybill Roberts Memorial Scholarship in honor of the former director of the Grande Prairie Public Library District. The scholarship is for any resident of MLS (Cook, DuPage & Will Counties) pursuing a degree in library science, including programs for technical assistants, undergraduate or graduate degrees. Complete details and the application available at http://www.southsublib.lib.il.us/susan-roberts-scholarship.
Oak Park Public Library Set to Join SWAN. This summer the Oak Park Public Library (http://www.oppl.org) is set to join MLS’s System Wide Automated Network, otherwise known as SWAN, making them the 81st library to become a member. Read full article at http://www.mls.lib.il.us/ennounce/2010/04_11/oakparkjoinsswan.asp.
Brookfield Zoo Language of Conservation Partnership with Local Libraries. You’d have to try hard to miss one of the giant billboards around Chicago promoting the new Great Bear Wilderness exhibit at the Brookfield Zoo. However, you may not be aware of related events and activities planned at two MLS Public Libraries in partnership with this project. Read full article at http://www.mls.lib.il.us/ennounce/2010/04_11/brookfieldzoolanguageconservation.asp
The last issue of MLS E-nnounce will appear June 23, 2010. System communication will be handled through the MLS blog http://ennounce.mls.lib.il.us and mailing lists http://www.mls.lib.il.us/members/networking_groups.asp.
| Posted by Christina Stoll on June 9th, 2010.