2008 ILA Update #16

NEWS RELEASE

ILA Opposes the Call for a State of Illinois Constitutional Convention (Con-Con)
At the Monday, 6 October meeting of the ILA Public Policy Committee (PPC) voted to recommend to the ILA Executive Board that the Illinois Library Association be opposed to the call for a State of Illinois Constitutional Convention.

The current Illinois constitution gives voters the right to call a constitutional convention every twenty years. On Election Day, Tuesday, 4 November 2008, the voters will again be asked the question if a constitutional convention should be called.

PPC discussed the pros and cons of the proposition.

PROS

• An abbreviated “shorthanded” list of possibilities for improving state government include: universal library service, non-partisan redistricting, proportional representation, the right of recall, a balanced budget amendment with teeth, property and sales tax relief and tax swaps, school funding reform, ballot access, and election reform; and
• The October 6 Chicago Tribune editorial urged a yes vote “because if this referendum proposal fails, you do have a guarantee: The sweet-smiling panderers who run this mismanaged state will give you 20 more years of what you have now.”

CONS

• While the committee decried the current situation in Springfield, the committee thought the current problems are one of leadership, not a constitutional crisis;
• The costs of a Con-Con range as high as $80 million to run the convention;
• Pension benefits currently protected by the Illinois state constitution could be placed at risk;
• The Illinois Constitution can be changed without opening up the entire document. Voters have passed ten amendments since 1970;
• Con-Con could force consolidation of local governments and that could change or harm some of our members’ ability to provide local service. Illinois has the most local government units in the United States, with more than 6,900; Hawaii has the fewest, with twenty; and
• The same people currently controlling state government would dominate Con-Con.

Today, the ILA Quick Response Team voted that the Illinois Library Association oppose the call for a State of Illinois Constitutional Convention and furthermore, the association will inform and encourage the ILA membership and friends to vote No on Tuesday, 4 November regarding the call for a State of Illinois Constitutional Convention.

ILA Executive Board Meeting
The next ILA Executive Board meeting will be on Friday, 21 November 2008, 10:00 a.m., at Prairie Area Library System, 405 Earl Rd., Shorewood, IL 60431-9445; phone: (815) 729-3345.

Your attendance and participation is welcomed.

iREAD Online Store
ILA is pleased to announce the launching of the new and improved iREAD online store. The store features an easy to use shopping cart that contains the supporting products for the 2009 theme: Read on the Wild Side! The product graphics enlarge when clicked, giving you a great look at the wonderful illustrations created by Patrick Girouard, for children and Gene Ha, for young adults.

You can visit the store directly here: https://iread.ila.org/ or link from the iREAD page www.ila.org.

For more than twenty-five years iREAD has developed successful summer reading programs. Our mission is to provide high quality, low cost resources and products that enable local library staff to motivate children to read. As a coordinated, self-supporting effort between Illinois librarians and the Illinois Library Association every purchase from iREAD supports library advocacy.

ILA Central Illinois Workshop – Show Me the Money! Financial Strategies for Your Library
In conjunction with the publication of the Financial Manual for Illinois Public Libraries, the Illinois Library Association and the Rolling Prairie Library System are offering this half-day workshop.

Make Your Levy and B & A Ordinances Maximize your Library’s Goals
Participants will learn tips and tricks in getting the best finance performance into place with proper application of their Levy Ordinance and their Budget & Appropriation Ordinance. Recent changes of the state statutes allow for more flexible application of library levies. Knowing the proper techniques in structuring the levy will reduce the percentage of legal challenges that cost the library money in court or negotiation settlements. Participants will learn techniques to make the B & A Ordinance become a working document to control expenditures and measure fiscal performance. Listen to a finance talk that incorporates humor, straight talk, and get-you-thinking ideas. Come listen to the people who wrote the new ILA book on library finance.

Alternate Revenue Streams: Fishing for Money Outside of the Levy
Participants will also learn about new, enhanced, and simple ideas on increasing library revenue, public relations, cost savings, and increasing public participation in the library. It is time to think beyond real estate taxes book fines, and book fees as the only revenue possibilities for the library. Learn to use the right lure in the tackle box to bring in the big catches of the day. Come listen and let your thinking lead you to new ideas to make your library better.

Speakers: Britt Isaly, Esq. and Robert Porter from Ancel, Glink, Diamond, Bush, DiCianni & Krafthefer P.C.

Monday, October 27
9:30 A.M. – NOON
Rolling Prairie Library System
345 West Eldorado Street
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 429-2586

$45 Individual Registration

Deadline for registration is October 20, 2008. Register online at www.ila.org.