Tag Archives: Legislation

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Infographic: What do the MN multitypes do?

multitype_infographic_p1The MN multicounty, multitype library systems play an important role in the statewide fabric of libraries, but it is sometimes hard to explain exactly how.  Why? While we all have some common focus areas, we are also tasked with responding to specific needs in our respective regions. So services can vary by region. In the case of CMLE, we respond to the needs of 320 libraries in 12 counties in Central MN. Does this sound like a tall order? Why yes it is, and the hardest part is gathering up a good picture of the regional needs. Stay tuned for a member needs assessment coming soon, where we will give you an opportunity to provide input. For now, feel free to get the big picture of multitypes by taking a look at the infographic we recently created to help legislators understand the work we do. Multitype funding has been flat for eight years, so we are making the case for a funding increase, and hope we are successful. If we are, lots of exciting possibilities are on the seven multitype wish lists!

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

From the Director: A CMLE Wish List

PPphotoIf you have been following our legislative updates, you will notice that the Minnesota Multitypes have requested a funding increase. Just as it is fun to fantasize a bit about winning the lottery, so goes it with multitype funding. The multitypes were created in Minnesota Statute in such a way that our funding stays flat until we ask for an increase. This means that sometimes our funding can stay flat for 10-15 years, which has happened in the past. Needless to say, flat funding presents special problems when the cost of doing business increases each year!

I think you will be excited to hear what CMLE might be able to do if we should get the requested funding increase.

With this funding increase, CMLE would acquire additional infrastructure/staff/expertise to do the following either regionally or more broadly, in collaboration with others. Of course, if we get less than we ask for, things will need to come off this list, so please consider it a draft! CMLE could….

  1. Replicate tried, true, and evaluated programs (some by other multitypes) in the CMLE region. Possible examples are Camp Read a Lot, and the MILI Information Literacy Program (scaled for Greater MN region)
  2. Support better access, understanding, and hands on skill sets with media specialists and teachers around ELM resources, including the new Learning Express
  3. Explore expansion and/or provision of eBook collections to K-12 schools
  4. Increase the number of professional development events and activities for library staff from all library types
  5. Contract with an evaluation expert to assist libraries in evaluating their efforts and crafting their stories. Then, assist libraries in telling their stories through various venues, ranging from social media to the Legislature
  6. Contract with a copyright expert to respond to questions from the field
  7. Create an online professional library collection that supports librarians needs
  8. Increase CMLE’s ability to capture presentations (video) and share content more broadly
  9. Add the ability to bus Central MN library staff to Twin Cities events like MN Book Awards, Teen Lit Con, and Library Legislative Day

Are there CMLE member services on your wish list, but not on ours? Are there things on the list that surprise you? We are always interested in your input and feedback, so send them pronto to admin@cmle.org

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

MN Library Legislative Update

The following legislative updates were written by Elaine Keefe, library lobbyist for the Minnesota Library Association (MLA) and MEMO/ITEM.

CapitolReceived: Friday, 03/21/2014 at 2:46 pm

Omnibus Education Policy Bill (HF 2397 / SF 1889):  Yesterday both the House Education Policy Committee and the Senate Education Committee marked up and passed out of committee their respective versions of the omnibus education policy bill. Both bills were amended to remove the library maintenance of effort language proposed by MDE.  Both bills include the MDE provision allowing some flexibility in how public libraries meet the requirement to be open at least 20 hours per week in order to be eligible for Regional Library Telecommunications Aid.

The Library Task Force proposed by MDE was not included in the Senate bill.  This was done so that the bill would not be required to go to the Senate State and Local Government Committee.  The House also wanted to avoid having the bill stop in the House Government Operations Committee, but accomplished this in a different way.  They amended the language so that rather than creating a task force the bill requires the Commissioner of Education to consult with all of the same parties who were to have been represented on the task force and to issue a report by February 15, 2015.  MDE does not plan to do anything differently than they would have had their original language been included in the bill.

The House version of the bill was referred to the House Education Finance Committee, where it will be heard next Thursday, March 27.  The Senate version of the bill was sent to the floor.

Telecommunications Equity Aid (SF 2167):  Our bill to increase TEA funding by $6 million was heard in the Senate E-12 Education Budget Division yesterday morning. Marc Johnson of ECMECC and Dennis Fazio of TIES did a great job testifying about the need for an increase.  The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus E-12 budget bill, which will be released next week.

Minnesota Digital Library:  On Wednesday the House Legacy Committee heard an informational presentation from the Minnesota Historical Society about the programs they are providing with their legacy funding.  Since the Minnesota Digital Library appropriation is part of the Historical Society’s legacy funding, Valerie Horton testified about the progress of the MDL.  She did a terrific job and was very well received by the committee.  Chris Olson and Michael Scott attended the hearing to lend support.  David Kelliher, lobbyist for the Historical Society, commented to me how nice it was that Chris and Michael came to the hearing, and what great partners libraries have been with the Historical Society.

Received: Sunday, 03/23/14 at 6:27 pm

I am happy to report that there IS an increase in Telecommunications Equity Aid in the House Education Finance bill of $5 million!  The appropriation is increased from $3.75 million to $8.75 million.  This is a permanent increase. Thanks to the the eagle-eyed Sam Walseth for spotting this.  It is in the facilities article, at the top of page 59. It  includes an increase in the general education formula of $58 per pupil, about a 1% increase.

Please send thanks to our chief author, Rep. Kathy Brynaert, who pushed hard for this funding:  rep.kathy.brynaert@house.mn  and Rep. Paul Marquart, chair of the committee: rep.paul.marquart@house.mn

The bill will be heard on Tuesday, and marked up and passed out of committee on Wednesday. Here is a link to the delete-all amendment:  http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/docs/H3171DE4.pdf

Elaine Keefe
Capitol Hill Associates

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

MN Library Legislative Update

Capitol**This legislative update was  written by Elaine Keefe, lobbyist for MLA/MEMO. Slight clarifications/modifications made by Patricia Post** (Received on 02/26/14 at 6:45 pm)

The 2014 legislative session began on 02/25/14.  As is typical in a short session year, things got off to a fast start.

Library Task Force:  The MDE policy bill includes a provision establishing the Minnesota’s Libraries and Service Delivery Task Force.  It is charged with making recommendations to “increase service collaboration between library systems that ensures both equitable and cost-effective access to library services throughout Minnesota.  Recommendations shall not be limited to physical services and should include recommendations to increase access to emerging electronic services.”  I asked Kevin McHenry, assistant commissioner at MDE, about the department’s goals for the task force.  He said that MDE has gotten good results with task forces on other topics and thought this would be a good way to highlight the good work that libraries are doing and to look at emerging issues like digital literacy and e-books.  I brought up the e-book pricing issue that is on our platform and asked if it could be addressed by the task force.  Kevin was enthusiastic about the idea, as was state librarian Jennifer Nelson in an earlier conversation.

The bill received an informational hearing yesterday in the Senate Education Committee.  Senator Patricia Torres Ray, chair of the committee, asked MDE to develop some more specific language defining the charge of the task force. After the hearing I told Daron Korte, government relations director for MDE, that we would like input into the additional language and he said they definitely wanted to work with the library community.

Maintenance of Effort:  Today a new version of the MDE policy bill was posted.

It still includes the task force language referenced above, but it also includes some new provisions, including one that repeals most of the MOE language in Statute 134.34 and replaces it with a cross reference to the language in the 2011 tax bill that reduced all MOE requirements to 90% of the 2011 amount and froze it into perpetuity.  I have e-mailed Daron and Kevin to explain that while they may see this as clearing out obsolete language, we had hoped that eventually we could undo the freeze and return to the previous law.  That will be more difficult to accomplish if the language is repealed.

Exception to the 20 Hour Minimum :  The new version of the MDE policy bill includes a provision authorizing MDE to grant a public library an exception to the requirement that it be open at least 20 hours per week to receive Regional Library Telecommunication Aid if requested by the regional library system for one of the following reasons:

1) short term closing for emergency maintenance and repairs following a natural disaster

2) in response to exceptional economic circumstances

3) building repair or maintenance that requires public areas to be closed

4) to adjust public service hours to respond to documented seasonal use patterns

Data Privacy (SF 1770 / HF 2167):  Senator Kari Dziedzic and Rep. John Lesch have introduced a bill clarifying that all data created, collected, received, stored, used, maintained, or disseminated by any party in performing a contract entered into with a government entity must comply with the data practices act as if it were a government entity.  Contracts entered into by a government entity are still required to include a notice making it clear that the vendor must comply with the data practices act.  However, if the notice is not included the vendor is still obligated to comply with the data practices act.  This seems to be a much better approach than the bill that was pre-filed in January by Rep. Peggy Scott that made any contract that failed to include the notice unenforceable.

Library Accessiblity and Improvement Grants:  HF 1501, our bill introduced by Rep. Mary Murphy to provide $3 million in the bonding bill for libraries, will be heard next Tuesday, March 4 at 8:15am.  This is a joint hearing of the House Capital Investment Committee and the House Education Finance Committee.  Pat Conley and I will testify.

Telecommunications Equity Aid:  The bill is drafted and Sen. Tom Saxhaug and Rep. Kathy Brynaert will serve as our chief authors.  I am in the process of securing co-authors and hope to get the bill introduced on Monday.

Elaine Keefe
Capitol Hill Associates
525 Park Street, Suite 310
St. Paul, MN 55103
office 651-293-0229
cell 612-590-1244
elaine@capitolhillassoc.com

Academic, Check this out:, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Registration is Open: Library Legislative Day

Some rights reserved by Aine D
Some rights reserved by Aine D

Please register now for at least one day at the Minnesota State Capitol (March 4 and 5), where the focus is on library issues! The 2014 MLA/MEMO Library Legislative Day is an opportunity for library advocates (you, your staff and board, your patrons, other library lovers) to gather at the Minnesota State Capitol to show support and raise awareness of issues for libraries. There is no charge for this event, and the registration link is ready for you now!