THE DUPAGE LIBRARY SYSTEM
ANNUAL MEETING
OCTOBER 24, 2002
The 35th Annual Meeting of the DLS Membership held at the System Center, 127 South First Street, Geneva, Illinois was convened at 7:05 p.m.
Pres. Kepka welcomed everyone and asked the board to introduce themselves and tell something about themselves.
The board members present were: Don E. Brant, Bensenville Community Library, Bob Brown, Winfield Public Library, Marti Guarin, representing Aurora Public Library and is employed as the librarian for the Illinois Math and Science Academy, Laurie Kagann, Sun Publications, Robert Kepka, Addison Public Library, Mary Peterson, West Chicago Public Library District, Jackie Plourde, Naperville CUSD #203 Madison Junior High School, Barbara Siegman, Carol Stream Public Library, John Slusser, St. Charles Public Library, Marguerite L. Treest, Messenger/North Aurora Public Library, and Joyce Whitehead, National University of Health Sciences.
Other members present were: Betsy Adamowski, Itasca Public Library: Tanya Berley, West Chicago Public Library; Walter Blake, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary; Sarah Cole. North East Multi-Regional Training (NEMRT) Instructors Library; Carol Fox, May Watts Elementary School; Steve D. Fulton, Sugar Grove Public Library; Paula Garrett, Illinois Math & Science Academy; Karen H. Hannah, Winfield Public Library; Lynn Johnson, Carol Stream Public Library; Eva Luckinbill, Aurora Public Library: Ruth Martin, Oak Brook Public Library; Walter McLaughlin, Geneva Public Library; Lynn O’Dell, Carol Stream Public Library; Carolyn A. Sheehy, Oesterle Library-North Central College; Katharine Tyler, Glen Ellyn Public Library; Olya Tymciurak, Naperville Public Library; and Jeff Wisniewski, Helen M. Plum Memorial Library.
DLS staff members attending were Shirley May Byrnes, Carol Hamacher, Pam Kramer, Jane Plass, Denise Zielinski, and Phylis Wagner. Also attending was Neil Kelley, DLS Illinois State Library Consultant.
Exec. Dir. Byrnes talked about the state of the DLS system, and Denise Zielinski ran the accompanying PowerPoint presentation. During the past fiscal year, DLS consultants have been very busy consulting with member libraries.
Pam Kramer has done an excellent job of putting together an exciting schedule of continuing education programs, and Jane Plass has scheduled a variety of training sessions. Denise Zielinski is busy with networking groups. Several special interest groups and roundtables have been revitalized and some new ones added to meet member needs.
Committees and tasks forces were formed, such as the Long Range Plan Team, the new Legislative Advocacy Committee, the Boundary-Free Services Task Force, and the Scholarship Committee. Our communication to members, their trustees, and their legislators have increased through DLS News, a new DLS brochure, and several additional email lists.
Since state and federal legislation impacts libraries, DLS has attempted to keep members informed. There have been meetings dealing with the non-resident legislation, and DLS is the only system with 100% participation in this program. DLS encouraged active participation in state and national legislative advocacy days by offering transportation to Springfield to attend that event, and awarded three grants to member trustees to attend National Legislative Day in Washington DC. The new DLS legislative Advocacy Committee has planned three events. Basic training will be offered on December 6, a legislative breakfast held January 13, and advanced advocacy training session in February. Libraries and library systems need to increase their visibility to constituents and to funders at the local, state and federal level, and these programs should help prepare people for that work.
In the challenges and opportunities section of the report, it was stated that libraries need to recruit new people to the field. DLS plans to support these efforts with scholarships for MLS and LTA.
A few member library accomplishments were highlighted including building projects, grants received and successful referenda.
It has been a busy and productive year for DLS staff and members. The DLS system Board and staff plan to continue to find ways to enhance, highlight and support our members so they can provide the best possible library service to their patrons.
Joyce Whitehead, National University of Health Sciences
Nancy Mactague, Aurora University
Bernard Fradkin, College of DuPage
Marguerite L. Treest, Messenger Public Library of North Aurora
Stephen D. Fulton, Sugar Grove Public Library
Tanya Berley, West Chicago Public Library
Karen H. Hannah, Winfield Public Library
The audience was asked if there were any other nominations. There were none.
Dir. Kagann moved and Dir. Brown seconded that:
| THE FIVE PUBLIC LIBRARY CANDIDATES BE ELECTED UNANIMOUSLY. |
Motion carried unanimously.
Since there were three nominations for the one academic seat, a print ballot was distributed to the designated voters.
The winner for the academic seat was the incumbent, Joyce Whitehead.
Pres. Kepka welcomed the members new to the board, Tanya Berley from the West Chicago Public Library, Steve Fulton from the Sugar Grove Public Library, and Karen Hannah from the Winfield Public Library to the DLS board.
President Kepka presented the Millennium Service Award to the May Watts Elementary School in Naperville in the Indian Prairie School District #204 and the Carol Stream Public Library.
Carol Fox, director of the LMC media center at May Watts Elementary School, instituted LMC’s Center for the Study and Practice of Information Literacy and the QueSPER Information Literacy Curriculum programs. This information literacy program helps children learn to meet the information challenges of the future. Pres. Kepka presented Carol Fox with a plaque and check for $500 for the May Watts Elementary School.
The Carol Stream Public Library program Kindergarten Kids helps children entering school to make the transition from story time participant to that of a young student requiring reference assistance. Pres. Kepka presented Lynn O’Dell, director, and Lynn Johnson, Head of Children’s Services, with a plaque and $500 for the Carol Stream Public Library.
Pres. Kepka presented the retiring board members Bob Brown, Mary Peterson, and Barb Siegman with certificates of appreciation, and thanked them for all their time and service during the past six years they served on the board.
At 7:55 p.m., President Kepka adjourned the meeting.
Respectfully submitted.
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Mary Peterson, Secretary
X Minutes approved as read
Minutes approved as amended
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Robert J. Kepka, President