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New Business | Future Meetings

Members Present: 
Chair Mark McKenney, Ann Crawford, Deborah Barchi, Donna Good, Cristina Amedeo, Alice Barrows, Donald Deignan, Phyllis Harnick, Jay Litman

Members Absent:
Joanne Aspri, Dennis Cheek, Mary Cummings, Joan Ankner, Rose Ellen Reynolds, Joshua Teverow

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

Observers:
Joan Ress Reeves, Peter Deekle, David Macksam, Dale Thompson, Tovah Reis

The meeting convened at 4:40 p.m. Chair McKenney introduced Tovah Reis, who the Governor has appointed (pending Senate approval)* as a member of the Library Board representing corporate or special librarians. Introductions were made.

I. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the March 18, 2002 meeting were approved.

II. REPORT OF ADMINISTRATION

April 16 of National Library Week has been named by the American Library Association as Library Thank You Day, a day to thank the Congressional delegation of each state for their support of library issues. Information to contact Senator Reed was distributed.

Ms. Perry gave a brief overview of the demographics of Rhode Island, which will be incorporated into the new LSTA Five Year Long Range Plan as part of the Environmental Scan/Needs Assessment. Investing in Our Communities in Rhode Island, An Evaluation of Rhode Island’s Five-Year LSTA Plan FY 1998-2002 was distributed. This consultant report on how effectively LSTA funds have been used for the past five years will be made available on the LORI website.

On April 10, David Macksam, President of RILA and Director of Cranston Public Library, testified at the Senate Hearing in Congress on reauthorization of LSTA. Copies of his testimony were distributed and will be made available on the LORI website.

*At the time of this meeting it was assumed that Senate approval of the Governor’s appointments would be needed. It has since then been determined that such approval is not necessary.

Anne Parent, Joan Ress Reeves, Rose Ellen Reynolds, Ednor Larson, Dale Thompson, Carol Brouwer, and David Macksam, will attend the American Library Association’s National Library Legislative Day in Washington, D.C., May 6 and 7, 2002. OLIS will be working with the Town of Johnston on their library construction plans. Ms. Barchi commended Karen Mellor of OLIS for her consultation work with regard to future space planning for the Barrington Public Library.

An editorial written by Betty Cotter for the South County Independent in praise of the statewide library delivery system was distributed.

The House Finance Committee will hold a hearing at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday on H 7732 on An Act Making Appropriations for the Support of the State for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2003; of specific interest to the LBRI is Article 7 in re: library funding.

III. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Letters written by David Macksam, President of RILA and by Mark McKenney, Chair of the Library Board, to the Governor and Dr. Carl, Director of the Department of Administration, concerning the Chief Information Officer position, and the responding letters from Dr. Carl were distributed. Discussion followed. Mr. Macksam and Mr. McKenney will meet with Dr. Carl on Thursday, April 25. Observer Thompson stated that the restoration of cabinet status would be more of an election issue than one for discussion at this point. The state has a considerable investment in libraries and the issue should be one of policy. Ms. Barrows requested information on the position of the state library agency in other states. COLA will be preparing a series of questions for the gubernatorial candidates. This issue will be placed on the agenda for next time. An Ad Hoc Committee may be formed to review the status of OLIS in state government.

IV. CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT

The Governor has appointed William J. Allen to the Library Board.

V. COMMITTEE REPORTS

Committee on Planning and Budget
No meeting was held.

Committee on Legislation
No meeting was held.

Committee on Public Relations
No meeting was held.

VI. NEW BUSINESS

David Macksam, Chair of RILA, and Dale Thompson, Co-chair of RILA’s Legislative Action Committee discussed the status of RILA’s legislative initiative and the resulting bills, H7039 and S2523 (an appropriation of $500,000 to fund the interlibrary delivery system as administered by OLIS). Information on contacting legislators was distributed. The postcard campaign is doing well. Ms. Parent estimated that $265,000 is needed to maintain the delivery service in 2003. This legislation would establish delivery service as a line item in the OLIS budget. The Request for Proposal for the delivery vendor has been submitted to the Division of Purchasing. The current contract for the delivery system expires on June 30, 2002. Delivery is an ongoing service and is an essential part of library services. RILA’s pertinent flyer, Talking Points, was distributed. RILA has had some indications that a hearing will be held the last week of April.

Ms. Parent distributed the change in language to 29-6-2. Public library services in H 7732 An Act Making Appropriations for the Support of the State for Fiscal year Ending June 30, 2003. Background Information on “25% Rule”, Information on the state grant-in-aid was also distributed. It was noted that the hearing on Wednesday would be the appropriate time for the library community to protest this language. Discussion followed.

The motion was made, seconded and unanimously approved that the Library Board oppose the following language: “The amount of the grant payable to each municipality in any year in accordance with this section shall be reduced proportionately in the event that the total of those grants in any year exceeds the amount appropriated that year for the purposes of this section”, and to support its removal, and to request an increase in funding that is at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount appropriated and expended in the second preceding fiscal year by the city or town from local tax revenues (i.e. an increase that holds harmless those libraries currently receiving more than 25% while increasing the amount for those libraries receiving less than 25% to 25%.

Chair McKenney will write a letter to House Finance Committee Chair Gordon Fox to convey this action, and will present the letter as testimony at the hearing on this bill scheduled for Wednesday, April 17, 2002 at 2:00 p.m.

VII. PUBLIC COMMENT

Observer Reeves stated that there should be a hard discussion about the cabinet-level status of library services, and what alternatives there may be.

Mr. Deignan gave kudos to Karen Mellor at OLIS for the Web Design Continuing Education class.

VII. AGENDA FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

The meeting adjourned at 6:12 P.M.