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

Members Present:
Chair Mark McKenney, Joan Ankner, Ann Crawford, Alice Barrows, Rose Ellen Reynolds, Joan Ress Reeves, Joshua Teverow, Phyllis Harnick, Deborah Barchi, Mary Cummings, Donna Good

Members Absent:
Joanne Aspri, Dennis Cheek, Cristina Amedeo, Donald Deignan, Jay Litman

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

Observers:
Dale Thompson, Providence Public Library; David Macksam, Cranston Public Library

I. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the October 15, 2001 meeting were approved.

II. REPORT OF ADMINISTRATION

Executive Order 01-06, October 22, 2001, State Reduction of Expenditures, was distributed. Ms. Parent reported that state departments and agencies have been ordered to avoid encumbering or spending appropriations unless absolutely essential. A hiring freeze on personnel and contract employees has also been imposed, as well as a freeze on promotions. The position vacated by the retirement of Kathy Reilly in June may not be filled. The contract for delivery services expires on June 30, 2002. Expenditures for conferences and travel are no longer allowed. Interpretation of the Executive Order internally is a concern, especially in the expenditure of federal funds. Library Programs has been informed that no new-signed agreements for construction reimbursement will be accepted for two years. Libraries that were nearly ready to sign agreements are East Greenwich, Exeter, Middletown, and Hope Library in Scituate. Hope Library withdrew their application and will proceed with their project, removing the elevator that will provide access to the lower level, which will house the new children’s library. Other communities where plans are underway include Bristol, Burrillville, East Providence, Providence and Tiverton. Barbara Weaver has provided documentation to the State Budget Office in support of continuing the program, as construction projects provide jobs that will assist in stimulating the economy. Ms. Weaver has also provided the Budget Office with the figures that will hold harmless the libraries receiving more that 25% funding in grant-in-aid amounts as well as bring the other libraries up to the 25% funding.

A copy of the Providence Journal article of 11/14/01 “R.I. Web site to untangle bureaucracy”, and an invitation to the “RI.gov” demonstration were distributed. Library Board members were invited to visit the test Internet site for delivery of government services online at the Providence Place Mall. The demonstration was to end at 8 p.m. the day of the LBRI meeting. Barbara Weaver was presented an award for her part in connecting public libraries with the Breast Health Awareness Partnership for a series of programs. Upcoming programs are planned at Mount Pleasant Library, Monday, November 26 at 6:30 p.m., and at Ashaway Library, Monday, December 3 at 6:00 p.m. The theme for the 2002 Summer Reading Program is “Once Upon a Summertime.” The program for continuing education programs January through March 2002 will be available early December and will be sent to each Library Board member. “What’s New On the LORI Website This Month” was distributed. Emails with updates about the website will be sent out on a weekly basis.

LSTA Evaluation Focus Groups took place October 16-18, and OLIS is awaiting the report. LORI Committee plans for the coming year include sponsoring a presentation by Ken Wiggin of Connecticut and Keith Fiels of Massachusetts on the creation of networks in their states and inviting George Loftus to speak about OSHEAN.

A memo regarding Delivery Survey Week: November 26-30, 2001 that had been sent to all LORI contacts was distributed and discussed. OLIS will conduct a survey of the number of materials moved through the delivery system. This estimate will be needed if expansion of delivery service is to be promoted. The five-year delivery contract will end on June 30, 2002.

OLIS will sponsor a future program on the retention schedule for public library records with Gwenn Stearn, State Archives. “Talking Times”, the newsletter for the Talking Books Plus! Program, will be sent to Library Board members. Rules and regulations, Minimum Standards for Rhode Island Public Libraries, 1983; Minimum Standards for Rhode Island Public Libraries, 2003; and Public Library Construction Reimbursement Program, will be refiled in electronic format with the Office of the Secretary of State in December.

III. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None.

IV. CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT

Chair McKenney attended the Information Resources Management Board (IRMB) meeting. Chair McKenney thanked Ms. Reeves who will serve as his designee to the IRMB. Ms. Reeves will also serve as chair of an ad hoc committee to review the bylaws of the Library Board. Library Board members willing to serve on the ad hoc committee should speak to Ms. Reeves. Chair McKenney will contact Board members who volunteered for the Committee on Public Relations. Chair McKenney will ask members whose terms expire December 31, 2001, about their interest in reappointment.

V. COMMITTEE REPORTS

Committee on Planning and Budget
No meeting was held.

Committee on Legislation
Ms. Reynolds reported that the membership on the committee consists of four Board members, three RILA members, a RIEMA member and Ms. Reeves. CRIARL plans to do a pilot project this year seeking a grant from The Champlin Foundations or the Davis Foundation. The pilot project is a virtual catalog interface that would connect various library networks. One proposal from the RILA retreat is to seek state funding for the delivery service and expansion of the delivery service. CLAN voted unanimously to do a pilot project with database licenses for one year. Gale Research will be used, and the $200,000 cost will be added to CLAN fees. The grant-in-aid program and the construction reimbursement program are concerns of the public library community.

The committee requests that the Library Board of Rhode Island send a letter to the Governor about the concerns of the Executive Order over library programs.

It was moved, seconded and unanimously approved by the Library Board, that the Library Board of Rhode Island send a letter to the Governor about the concerns of the Executive Order over library programs.

Committee on Public Relations
No meeting was held.

VI. NEW BUSINESS

None.

VII. PUBLIC COMMENT

Ms. Reeves stated that the Talking Books Newsletter is very helpful and useful. She noted that she had just returned from an ALA Legislation Committee meeting. At the federal level, the American Library Association (ALA) is aware that many libraries are deciding not to apply for the E-rate money because of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA). ALA urges libraries to apply for E-rate money since the courts will likely reach a decision on CIPA requirements before libraries are required to install filtering technology. Libraries can always pull out if CIPA requires filtering software. A public relations strategy for funding for library programs is that libraries are purveyors to information and the public, now more that ever, needs information. Robert Martin, IMLS Director, stated that libraries serve its constituents with education, information and recreation. It is Dr. Martin’s point of view that for libraries, it is time now to go back and focus as the cornerstone of education.

VII. AGENDA FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

Ms. Good reported that RILINK now has 24 members. The server has been brought to Rhode Island and CLAN will host the server.

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 17, 2001, 4:30-6:00 p.m., Department of Administration, One Capitol Hill, Providence, Conference Room B.

The meeting adjourned at 5:55 P.M.