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

Members Present:
Chair Mark McKenney, Ann Crawford, Donald Deignan, Rose Ellen Reynolds, Phyllis Harnick, Deborah Barchi, Mary Cummings, Donna Good

Members Absent:
Joanne Aspri, Dennis Cheek, Cristina Amedeo, Jay Litman, , Joan Ankner, Joshua Teverow, Alice Barrows

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; Joan Ress Reeves

I. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the November 19, 2001 meeting were approved.

II. REPORT OF ADMINISTRATION

Dr. Robert Carl, Director of Administration, has given his approval to move ahead with the East Greenwich Public Library construction project. A tentative letter of commitment has been sent to the library; a construction agreement will be signed after OLIS has reviewed the final plans for the project. The first payment will be due in 2004, after the project has been completed. What will happen with other plans for library construction projects is not known. Final plans for construction in Exeter are not yet completed. All funding to begin construction is in place. Without state funding through the library construction reimbursement program, the project cannot go forward.

III. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

The letter Chair McKenney wrote to the Governor regarding the impact of the Executive Order dated October 22, 2001 on library programs was distributed. No response has been received.

IV. CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT

Chair McKenney reported that he met with Anne Parent and Barbara Weaver regarding the future direction of the Library Board. Chair McKenney will meet with Dr. Carl prior to the next Library Board meeting. A letter has been sent to the Governor’s office with requests for appointments and reappointments to the Library Board.

V. COMMITTEE REPORTS

Committee on Planning and Budget
No meeting was held.

Committee on Legislation
Ms. Reynolds reported that the committee met today to discuss the Rhode Island Library Association’s Legislative Action Committee’s legislative initiative to seek state funding for the delivery service and expansion of the delivery service in the amount of $500,000. The draft legislation was distributed. Statewide Library Delivery Service in Rhode Island, an informational summary, was distributed. Proposed costs related to delivery service and expansion were distributed. State funding would be disbursed through OLIS. This would establish funding for delivery as a line item in the state budget. If the RILA proposal is approved by the General Assembly, libraries would receive an increase in the number of days of delivery service. 64 schools would have delivery service for the first time; which would mean that 25% of the schools in Rhode Island would have delivery service. The contract for delivery service will expire June 30, 2002. It is hoped that this initiative will be a small step in a multi-year library initiative. The pilot project CRIARL plans is a virtual catalog interface for CRIARL libraries and is not seeking state funding. CLAN plans to do a pilot project with database licenses for one year, with the cost added to CLAN fees.

Each library organization, network and association in Rhode Island has been asked to approve and write a letter of support to RILA for its legislative proposal to seek state funding for the delivery service and expansion of the delivery service in the amount of $500,000.

The Committee recommends that the Library Board approve the RILA Legislative Proposal and that a letter of support to RILA be written.

Discussion followed. Nonprofits will continue to be charged for using the delivery service. RILA will be contacting Representative Dennigan of East Providence and Senator Alves of West Warwick as potential sponsors for the bill. Both are members of their respective Finance Committees. Library Board members can also solicit support. If delivery were covered with state funding, this could free up federal money for statewide and competitive projects as long as state funding for Library Programs does not decrease in other areas. Mr. Deignan suggested that acquiring grassroots support from parent teacher organizations in the elementary and secondary schools would broaden the base. RILA will develop “talking points” for the proposal.

Ms. Good stated that she understands the importance of the proposed legislation and that the approach to overall legislation to support library services may take several years. However, RILINK needs support and it is not mentioned in the current approach. She urged that RILINK support not be overlooked in the future. Last year the Link RI Libraries Project included a virtual interface, RILINK, delivery and statewide databases. RILINK has 24 members currently, with five schools being added this year. The cost for school libraries to join RILINK is $1,500. A per student assessment is being discussed in RILINK.

The Library Board voted unanimously to approve the Rhode Island Library Association Legislative Proposal (seeking a $500,000 Appropriations Bill for statewide library delivery service) and agreed to write a letter of support for the proposed legislation to the Rhode Island Library Association.

The Committee will keep a watch on what happens with the public library construction reimbursement program.

Committee on Public Relations
No meeting was held.

VI. NEW BUSINESS

Ms. Harnick reported that the Office of Higher Education is promoting its website “Preparing for College: An Online Guide for Students, Families and Educators” at www.ribghe.org/col-prep.htm
The revised website is accessible to students and library patrons with disabilities.

Ms. Parent reported that no states have received federal funding yet. While information is not official, there are rumors that it has been level-funded. The bill for the LSTA evaluation has not been received from COSLINE. The Office of Library and Information Services/Library Programs will begin development of a new LSTA Five-Year Long Range Plan FY 2003-2007. OLIS LSTA Five-Year Plan FY 2003-2007 “Homework” prior to beginning discussion was distributed.

A reception for the retirement of Barbara Weaver will be held on Friday, March 1, 2002, 3:00 – 5:00 P.M., at the State House. Observer Joan Reeves raised a question about a search for a new Chief Information Officer. Observer Dale Thompson suggested that this might be an opportunity to revisit Library Programs being at the Department level again. She stated that there is no vacuum with the leadership of Anne Parent and a strong OLIS staff. Ms. Thompson continued that now may be the time to review the action of moving the former Department of State Library Services into the Department. Observer Reeves agreed that libraries deserve a separate department and it does merit discussion. A meeting with the Governor was discussed.

VII. PUBLIC COMMENT

None.

VII. AGENDA FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 19, 2002, 4:30-6:00 p.m., Department of Administration, One Capitol Hill, Providence, Conference Room B.

The COLA Annual meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 12, 2002, 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. at the State House. Chair McKenney will be a speaker. Anne Hood is the guest speaker. Alan Axelrod will receive the Sweetheart of the Year Award.

The meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m.