Director's Report | Chairperson's Report | Committee Reports |
New Business | Future Meetings

Members Present:
Chair Joan Ress Reeves, Mark McKenney, Ann Crawford, Rose Ellen Reynolds,
Joshua Teverow

Members Absent:
Donald Deignan, William Shuey, Deborah Barchi, Donna Good, Joanne Aspri,
Mary Cummings, Artemis Kirk, Anne Kayarian, Madelyn Rumowicz, Jay Litman,
Dennis Cheek, Phyllis Harnick

Present from the Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS):
Barbara Weaver, Anne Parent, Beth Perry, Donna Longo DiMichele, Laurie Scialabba

Observers:
Shirley Long, Providence Public Library

Chair Reeves welcomed Anne Parent to OLIS.

I. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes will stand as circulated with minor corrections.

II. DIRECTOR'S REPORT

Ms. Weaver welcomed Anne Parent to OLIS.

Dorothy Frechette will be named as GSLIS Alumna of the Year at the Annual Gathering at URI on Saturday April 21. Chair Reeves will send a letter of congratulations to Ms. Frechette.

American Library Association Library Legislative Day is scheduled for April 30
and May 1, 2001 in Washington, D.C. Barbara Weaver, Joan Ress Reeves, Rose Ellen Reynolds, Anne Parent, Ednor Larson, Dale Thompson, Holly Albanese and David Macksam will attend from Rhode Island.

The Library of Rhode Island (LORI) website has been redesigned, and is now "Bobby" approved which denotes handicapped accessibility. Karen Mellor, Chaichin Chen, Sheila Carlson, Alicia Waters, and Debbie Cullerton, Library Programs staff, were recognized for their hard work on the website.

Ms. DiMichele reported that the LORI databases working group is developing a web-based survey to determine what resources and subject areas are needed to serve the public. URI GSLIS is providing assistance with the development of the survey. The LORI Committee will present a program at the Rhode Island Library Association (RILA) Annual Meeting, June 7-8, 2001. Two officers from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) will attend the RILA Annual Meeting to discuss outcome-based evaluation.

III. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None.

IV. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT

Chair Reeves received a letter from Dale Thompson, Providence Public Library, about the Library Board vote to reduce the Literacy grant by $16,000. Ms. Thompson will address the Library Board at the May 21, 2001 meeting.

Chair Reeves also received a copy of a letter written by Joan Prescott, Librarian at the Rogers Free Library, to her state legislators requesting the elimination of Article 4 from the Governor's budget.

Chair Reeves reported that a subcommittee of the Advocacy Task Force is working on strategies for the Library Linx Project. OLIS staff member, Kathy Reilly, was recognized for designing the brochure for the program. Samples were reviewed. The Coalition of Library Advocates (COLA) may pay for printing the brochure. David Macksam, Director of the Cranston Public Library, is promoting the purchasing of database licenses and access to the databases from libraries and home in the Cranston Public Library's Newsletter.

V. COMMITTEE REPORTS

There were no committee meetings.

VI. NEW BUSINESS

None.

VII. AGENDA FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

The next meeting of the Library Board is scheduled for Monday, May 21, 2001 at Tech Access, 110 Jefferson Blvd, Warwick, at 4:30 P.M.

The next meeting of the Advocacy Task Force is scheduled for Wednesday, April 25, 2001, 4:00 - 6:00 P.M., Department of Administration. Library Board members are invited to attend.

An all-day retreat is scheduled for Friday, October 12, 2001, at the Whispering Pines Conference Center, Alton Jones Campus. Please reserve the date.

The meeting adjourned at 5:20 P.M.