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Chair McKenney welcomed all members to the Library Board meeting and thanked them for their service to the public. Introductions were made.
The minutes of the May 21, 2001 meeting were approved.
Ms. Parent reported that there is much library construction activity underway in RI, and that libraries are grateful for the lifting of the $2.5 million cap by the RI General Assembly. Ms. Parent has attended the openings at Newport Public Library and Woonsocket Harris Public Library. Photographs of construction projects can be found on the LORI website.
OLIS Library Programs Continuing Education Workshops, September- December 2001 was distributed. Twenty-one programs were developed by the Local Library Development (LLD) Team in Library Programs at low-cost or no cost for the benefit of the library community. The LLD Team of OLIS Library Programs is in the process of planning for the next series of continuing education programs from January through June 2002.
The Newsline for the Blind service is a 24/7 telephone dial-up system which provides a synthetic speech service for newspapers in the United States and Canada. IMLS is providing $60,000 to fund for one year of this service. Other funding sources will need to be found after February 2003. A meeting of RI representatives to this project is scheduled October 22, 3:00-4:30 p.m.
Despite some difficulties with its initial inception, it is hoped that this year’s reporting structure for the grant-in-aid program (via an Access program on compact disk) will ultimately provide greater flexibility in the management of data. A committee will be formed to review this year’s process and make suggestions for improved data gathering next year. E-rate discounts have been posted on the LORI Website.
An amendment to the Open Meetings Law in the 1980’s provides for confidentiality of library records. Patron library records are confidential. Confidentiality with use of computers in libraries has come into question in some states. Information regarding the RI General Laws on this topic, as well as useful links regarding safety and security issues, can be found on the LORI Website. A statement regarding the terrorist attacks from Barbara Weaver as RI’s Chief Information Officer has also been mounted. Ms. Parent urged visiting the LORI Website often for information; the LORI Website has taken the place of the OLIS newsletter, at least for the immediate future.
Beth Perry distributed two handouts: Bioterrorism Preparedness Program and Web-Based Resources to help with understanding and dealing with the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack.. Library Programs Home Page and Five Year Plan, taken from the LORI Website, were also distributed. Glossary of Library Terms (updated October 15, 2001) was distributed. Ms. Perry reported that rules and regulations must be filed with the Office of the Secretary of State in PDF format. She has been working on the web portal project for the State of Rhode Island. The Glossary of Library Terms can be found on the LORI website. The anti-terrorism bill being considered in Washington, D.C. may supersede state laws on confidentiality of library records. The American Library Association Washington Office Newsline (ALAWON) sends updates about federal legislation to subscribers. Information is available on the American Library Association website www.ala.org
Donna Longo DiMichele reported that the LORI Committee plans to host a program this fall with presentations by Ken Wiggin of Connecticut and Keith Fiels of Massachusetts on the development of statewide programs for libraries, which include statewide database licenses.
Robert Martin, the new Director of IMLS, will be the keynote speaker at the New England Archivist meeting in Newport, RI, March 23, 2002. A bookmark celebrating New England Archives Week! October 20-27, 2001 was distributed. A LORI email account will be set up for Library Board members if desired.
None.
Chair McKenney reported that the Orientation Session held on September 24, was informative, imparted a sense of the role of the Library Board and provided a brief history of the Library Board. Chair McKenney thanked OLIS staff, Joan Ress Reeves and Rose Ellen Reynolds for the presentations.
Chair McKenney presented outgoing Chair Joan Ress Reeves with a certificate of appreciation for her many years of dedication, and untiring efforts in support of library services to the people of Rhode Island. Ms. Parent read a proclamation, and Ms. Reynolds presented a gift to Ms. Reeves.
The Committee on Planning and Budget submitted its recommendation to the Library Board that no action be taken on any changes to the budget until it is known what the LSTA appropriation will be for the federal fiscal year 2002 budget and it is known what the LSTA evaluation will cost. If any funds become available, grant programs would be a top priority.
The recommendation was moved, seconded and unanimously approved by the Library Board.
The Committee on Planning and Budget had recommended that Chair McKenney send a letter to Representative Gordon Fox, Chair of the House Finance Committee, expressing disappointment that the Link Rhode Island Libraries Project did not go forward. Chair McKenney requested consensus from the Library Board. The letter was distributed and read.
It was moved, seconded and unanimously approved by the Library Board that the letter be sent to Representative Fox.
Committee on Legislation
Rose Ellen Reynolds will remain Chair of the committee.
No meeting was held.
Committee on Public Relations
No meeting was held.
Rhode Island’s Plan for Evaluation of the LSTA 5-Year Plan 1998-2002 and LSTA Evaluation Focus Groups was distributed. An overview of the evaluation process was given, and the Board was invited to attend any evaluation sessions with the consultant in the ensuing week.
As an agenda item in the future, Mr. Deignan requested that the issue of literacy grants be addressed by the Library Board as to whether there are any remedial actions in the Federal (LSTA) budget that can be taken to prevent harm to the overall literacy program.
It was noted that the budget is developed long before the actual funding level is known, and that once the budget appropriations are known and when the cost of the LSTA evaluations is known, the issue of literacy grants will be revisited by the Library Board.
“Public Comment” will be an agenda item in the future, after New Business. Ms. Parent quoted the existing Policy on Public Participation that can be found in the Library Board loose-leaf binder, noting in particular that “In order to assure the orderly conduct of all meetings, only Board members, the Director, and those persons reporting as part of the official meeting agendas will ordinarily speak during the formal meeting. A general comment period will be set aside before the adjournment of each meeting, during which members of the public may address the Board. Limitations on time, number of items brought up, and the like, may be set by the Chairperson of the Board …” Ms. Parent noted that the policy also addresses the manner in which formal requests by members of the public who wish to be heard by the Board on a specific issue may be submitted.
A different location may be considered for some of the meetings. It was requested that meeting information be sent at least two weeks in advance. Dates for future meetings were scheduled for:
Monday, November 19, 2001
Monday, December 17, 2001
Tuesday, January 22, 2002
Tuesday, February 19, 2002
Monday, March 18, 2002
Monday, April 15, 2002
Monday, May 20, 2002
Monday, June 17, 2002.
Meetings will be held from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
The Committee on Legislation will meet prior to the next Library Board meeting. It was relayed that Library Board members serve until the Senate has confirmed their replacement. Chair McKenney will ask members whose terms expire December 31, 2001, about their interest in reappointment, and the resulting information will be conveyed to the Governor’s office.
Ms. Thompson reported the Providence Public Library was the recipient of the IMLS National Award for Library Service and that this award was a reflection of all libraries in the state.
The meeting adjourned at 6:30 P.M.Office of Library and Information Services, One Capitol Hill, Providence RI 02908-5803, (401)574-9300; Fax: (401)574-9320
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