Upcoming Meetings to Note

From the Rockford Public Library website:

The Executive Committee will meet on Monday, July 23 at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Board of Trustees meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the Friends of RPL Community Room at the East Branch Library.

As of right now, the meeting's agenda has not been posted on the web page.

Also listed on the website is the information about the Sullivan Center Open House. From the website:

From 6:00 - 7:00, enjoy light refreshments and sample programming from Paper Airplane, an acoustic guitar/vocal duo playing an eclectic mix of your favorite songs, Aloha Hula Girls Polynesian Dance Troupe and a viewing of Our City, Our Story with a presentation from the series' producer, Pablo Korona. The public spaces of the building will be available to tour during the first hour as well. From 7:00 - 8:00, attend a community forum led by Paul Logli, President of the Rockford Public Library Board of Trustees. Logli will outline the Board's vision of the Sullivan Center as a library programming space and an arts and cultural center for the community. We look forward to sharing our thoughts on how the Library could serve as a steward of this wonderful resource and hope you will join us for the discussion.

SOL urges the public to attend and to ask questions or raise any concerns anyone may have about the possible acquisition of the Sullivan Center.

Meetings this month

From the RPL website...

The Financial Planning and Properties Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, May 16 at 11:45 a.m. in the Friends of RPL Community Room at the East Branch Library.

We hope everyone can make it.

The last Board Meeting

There is a nice guest column in the Rock River Times by Mike Korn this week that sums up what happened at the April 23 library board meeting. The comment about the examples given for weeded books was well put. After the meeting, a used book seller said that she bought a fairly new beautiful set of Shakespeare books at the used book sale that looked like they had never been checked out. She mentioned that just because a book hasn't been circulated, does not mean it has not been pulled off the shelf and used. The focus on all the outdated medical textbooks made the outcry about the weeding seem silly. (Did anyone see the Bruce Quast cartoon in Sunday's paper?)

A point of clarification from Mike Korn's guest column about the violations of The Open Meetings Act: Logli stated at the meeting that the Open Meetings Act was never violated, but that is simply not true. The link to the act is above for anyone who wants to read it, but the provision that we know for a fact has been broken read as follows, "In addition, a public body that has a website that the full-time staff of the public body maintains shall post notice on its website of all meetings of the governing body of the public body." The Rockford Public Library did not follow this provision, not just once, but multiple times as Rachel stated at the last board meeting.
A staff member brought it up in a monthly meeting beginning last fall (2011) that the incorrect meeting time and location was listed on the website. (The website stated meetings were held at Main at 6pm, when they were actually held at the East branch at 5:30.) During the January board meeting this fact was brought up by several of the public speakers and the information was corrected.
However, the committee meetings were not listed in March on the website. It is suspected that other provisions of the Open Meetings Act may have also been violated (such as the one that states meeting notices must be posted at the location of the meeting and one other location) but this has not been confirmed.
Regardless, it is true that the Open Meetings Act has been violated repeatedly this past year, and yes, Rachel did state that when the board president is the former state's attorney this fact is embarrassing, even unforgivable. "Unforgivable" was perhaps not the correct word choice and "inexcusable" should have been used instead.
After hearing about Daniel Ross receiving threats, it is important to SOL that the dialogue about the library and the library board is civil and does not incite people, so Rachel wishes she could change the adjective "unforgivable," to the more accurate "embarrassing." SOL's mission has been to inform the public about the current situation with the Rockford Public Library and has never been to be adversaries with the library director or board members.

Finally, there was also a wonderful guest column in Sunday's Rockford Register Star by Amy Orvis if you missed it.

Meeting this Monday at Bookworm

Due to the problems of the massive weeding, the movement forward with the Sullivan Center, and the board's disregard of the Open Meetings Act, it seems advisable to get some of us together prior to the next board meeting to discuss our next steps.

For those who are able to come, we'll meet at the Bookworm Cafe at the East branch library on Monday, April 16 at 6pm. Please spread the word.

The Importance of Monday Night's Meeting

The committee meeting that was rescheduled for yesterday did not take place, likely because it too would have been in violation of the Open Meetings Act. (Thankfully it seems like they may start taking that seriously.) The committee meeting's agenda was posted at the East branch, but interestingly it was a new agenda that did not contain the Sullivan Center, Rock River's lease, or Sunday hours. (Hmm... something is fishy.)

If you did not see the news, the library union took a no confidence vote in director Frank Novak's leadership. From the confidential proposals to the violations of the Open Meetings Act, it is clear that the direction Novak wants to take the library does not consider the needs and wants of the community. (The Open Meetings Act violations pre-date this blog. The meetings listed an incorrect time and location on the website and agendas are still frequently not posted on the website. Thankfully, Monday's agenda is posted.)

It is important we have a strong showing at Monday's board meeting. The community needs to stand with the dedicated library staff as they address the board on why they have no confidence in Frank Novak's leadership. Please come (and bring a friend!) this Monday, March 26 at 5:30pm at the East branch library in the Community Room. Hope to see you there!

Due to Open Meetings Act Violation Meeting Today Rescheduled

Today at the Finance Committee meeting, it was brought to the committee's attention that the meeting was in violation of the Open Meetings Act, which states that meetings must be posted 48 hours prior to the meeting. It's not the first time RPL has violated the Open Meetings Act, but may be the first time they were called on it. The meeting was rescheduled for this Friday, March 23 at 12pm at the East branch library.

Thank you to board member Donald Thayer, who took the stand that since they were in violation, the meeting should not happen. He said the agenda was not too full, but someone else mentioned needing to discuss agenda items prior to Monday's board meeting. The agenda is not posted on the website, but is said to contain the following discussion items: the acquisition of the Sullivan Center, Rock River's lease, and Sunday hours.

Hope people can make it on Friday. Please mark your calendars and try to come to Monday's board meeting. When an agenda is posted, we'll get the word out on any action items of interest.

Committee Meetings this week... items of interest on the agenda!

Program Planning and Service Policy Committee meets Tuesday, March 20, 7:30 a.m., Meeting Room C, Main Library and the Financial Planning & Properties Committee meets Wednesday, March 21, 11:45 a.m., Friends Community Room, East Branch Library.  Interestingly, on the agenda for the Finance Committee is the Sullivan Center, Sunday public hours, and the Rock River lease. 

Also, the regular board meeting is a week from today-- Monday, March 26 at 5:30pm. The agenda isn't posted on the website yet (neither is the meeting notice for that matter).

If you can come to any (or all!) of the above meetings, it would be great. What is discussed in this finance committee meeting will likely end up being discussed at the meeting.

We must stay vigilant!

Board Meeting Tomorrow (Monday, February 27)

The meeting is Monday night and we need another great turnout to send the message to the board that people still care about what happens to our public library. Please try to come and/or spread the word to everyone you know. The agenda  is posted on the website. It would also be great if all 15 speaking slots were filled. Hope to see you there!

Budget Meeting

If anyone was able to make it to the budget committee meeting today, please post a comment and fill the rest of us in. Thanks!

Upcoming meetings-- Mark your calendars

From the RPL website... there are three meetings coming up in the next couple weeks. Mark your calendars.

The Program Planning and Service Policy Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, February 21 at 7:30 a.m. in Meeting Room C at the main library [use Mulberry Street entrance]. The Financial Planning and Properties Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, February 22 at 11:45 a.m. in the Friends of Rockford Public Library Community Room at the East Branch Library. The Executive Committee will meet on Monday, February 27 at 5:00 p.m. followed by the Board of Trustees meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the Friends of RPL Community Room at the East Branch Library.

We do need another large showing at the Board meeting on the 27th. If you'd like to speak, you may contact Kathy Hughes ahead of time to reserve your spot. (815-987-6603)

Also, if you missed the Rockford Register Star's article this week about the library, here is the link:
http://www.rrstar.com/news/yourtown/rockford/x720912297/Rockford-Public-Library-faceoff-is-also-about-fate-of-staff

Meeting Thursday at Bookworm

For anyone who would like to attend, we'll be meeting this Thursday (February 2) at 6pm at the Bookworm Cafe inside of the East branch library. We will discuss what our next steps should be. Sunday's paper reported the board still would like to obtain the Sullivan Center. It is concerning because the proposal for the Sullivan Center is labeled a transitional plan as a way to ultimately move to the first plan (going 95% digital). It doesn't mean this will necessarily happen as Mr. Logli continues to say it won't for a years, but the acquisition of the Sullivan Center will likely mean branch closures and possibly further emphasis of the digital library model. Regardless, it may be helpful for everyone to get together and discuss what our next steps will be. So if you're able, we'll meet Thursday at 6pm at the Bookworm Cafe.

A Word on SOL "Membership" and Meeting

One question that has come up repeatedly in interviews with the media is "how many members does SOL have?" To which the same answer is given: "Membership is loosely defined. SOL is not so much an organization as a community based initiative."
Lately people who support the efforts of SOL have also been asking, "How can I join?"
It appears it may be time to shift this initiative into more of an organization and schedule a meeting for supporters to come together and figure out what our next steps will be.
The Rockford Register Star has a lot of coverage and commentary on the library issue in today's paper. Corina Curry has a story that the board still wants to move forward with the Sullivan Center acquisition. It seems like a good time to try to get everyone together to decide what action concerned library patrons and community members should take.
We may have to try several different meeting times and days before finding one or two that will work well for most people, but let's schedule one for this Thursday evening, February 2 at 6pm. Location TBA. Check back on the blog or comment below to suggest a location. It is unclear whether we need to reserve a space or be granted permission prior to declaring a meeting at a local coffee shop. (Or perhaps we can try to serve a room at the Main branch library?) Again, feel free to comment if you have a suggestion, but please check back in the next day or two for a definite location and time. Right now though we can all plan on this Thursday at 6pm. Hopefully there will be another good turnout as there's strength in numbers.

Board Meeting Tomorrow (Monday)

Just a reminder that the board meeting is tomorrow (Monday) at 5:30pm at the East Branch library. (Please note that it is not at Main as was reported in the Rockford Register Star today. Someone did call Paul Logli to verify the location. It is at East.)

The board has been backpedaling now that the media is asking them questions about these documents. Read them again if you have doubts about the purpose of them. Novak and Logli have stated the board asked Novak to put them together to generate discussion. However, look at the 5th page of the second proposal and you'll read, "I believe this plan has great merit, otherwise I would not be putting it forward for board review and approval." Something is not adding up... which is why we need to all show up to stand against these plans.

Logli has stated the language in the plans is "inartful" but many would argue it is disrespectful and degrading to our hardworking library staff and the Rockford community. The way the plans are written is troubling as the director of our library should have more respect for RPL. Please consider coming to the meeting to help save our library!

Board Meeting- January 23

There has been some confusion about when and where the next board meeting is (and unfortunately that information is not in the yellow flyer that is being circulated). The meeting is this Monday, January 23 at 5:30pm at the East Branch Library- 6685 East State Street. Parking is likely to get tight and we may need to park in the adjacent lot over by Monkey Joe's and American, but please don't let that be a deterrent. We need to make a strong showing to send a message to the board that we care about what happens with the library and that we want to have a voice in what happens with RPL and its collection.

Some have suggested that everyone bring a book, that we are seen by board members with books in hand. You can bring a book, or pull one off a shelf... we still have them there-- let's keep it that way!