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Members Present:
Chair Mark McKenney, Ann Crawford, Deborah Barchi, Donna Good, Alice Barrows, Donald Deignan, Jay Litman, Peter Deekle, Tovah Reis, Rose Ellen Reynolds

Members Absent:
Dennis Cheek, Joshua Teverow, Phyllis Harnick, Mary Cummings, Joan Ankner, Cristina Amedeo, William Allen

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

Observers:
Dale Thompson, Providence Public Library

The meeting convened at 4:35 p.m.

I. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the June 10, 2002 meeting were approved.

II. REPORT OF ADMINISTRATION

Ms. Parent reported that Senator Jack Reed has been named Library Journal's (LJ) Politician of the Year for 2002. The article posted on the LJ website (www.libraryjournal.com) was distributed. The article will appear in print in the September 15, 2002 issue. Two library organizations, CRIARL and RIEMA, have already sent congratulatory letters. RILA may organize a press conference. It was agreed by consensus that the LBRI should write a letter of congratulation also.

LORI Grants and Literacy Grants were awarded effective July 1, 2002, for funding running through June 30, 2002. $57,000 was made available in LSTA funds for LORI grant awards. Four grants were awarded totaling $49,764; PPL for NoveList database, ($28,500), $9,816 for Music Score Conversion to PPL, $10,852 to RILINK, and $2,596 to the Redwood for a reconversion project. Instead of awarding the full $57,000 the committee recommended that some funds be used to offer grant writing classes and/or a special project for indexing local newspapers. Grant proposals for $62,000 were received in the Literacy category, $57,000 from RIFLI and $5,000 from LVA- Kent County at the Coventry Public library. All of the literacy funds were awarded, with each grant awarded proportionately at approximately 92%. RIFLI received $52,000 and LVA $4,600. The summary sheet, 2002 Literacy Grants Awarded, was distributed.

Ms. Perry reported that the applications and guidelines have arrived for the Gates Foundation Library Grant Program. The deadline to return applications is September 30, 2002. Twenty-four public library buildings qualify for free computers and more are possible if they appeal and are able to prove that their users come from areas of high poverty, even if the library itself is not located in such an area. OLIS is encouraging all public libraries to apply and to appeal if the 10% poverty level is not reached. OLIS sponsored a conference call for eligible public libraries. PPL is being recommended as the site for the computer lab for computer training. The computer lab will be moved to Knight Memorial Library after construction at that library has been completed. Workshops for computers will be held in February and computers from Gateway will be installed in May. Mr. Deignan inquired if there has been any movement in attitude with the Gates Foundation concerning adaptive equipment for patrons with disabilities. Ms. Perry stated that the Gates Foundation has not made any changes for other libraries in the past and will not change the program now. Ms. Perry suggested that libraries find out what the needs are in the community and use resources such as the Lions Club for the purchase of adaptive equipment. Ms. Parent has sent a message to library directors to contact their local Lions Club with regard to adaptive equipment. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation State Partnership Program for Rhode Island 2002-2003 and Rhode Island…the final state in the U.S. Library Program were distributed.

As a budget-cutting measure, Ms. Parent reported that no print copies of OLIS Continuing Education (CE) offerings were sent out. The CE calendar is up on the LORI website. Andy Egan heads the new OLIS Library Programs CE Team. PPL is once again offering an array of computer classes. New programs include census information, a new reference roundtable, local newspaper indexing, patent and trade workshop, a two-part session on library space planning issues, accessible computer workstations and a program on using free resources from the National Library of Medicine and the Regional Medical Library.

Ms. Parent updated the Library Board on the delivery service. $100,000 of the $200,000 appropriated by the General Assembly was taken back since all state departments had to submit to overall budget cuts also mandated by the General Assembly. The initial $60,000 that had been budgeted was not taken away, so the actual state budget for delivery is now $160,000. In conjunction with the new lower-price contract and the inauguration of Delivery on Demand (DOD) service, some moderate expansion was possible, particularly to school libraries. The plan to expand service to an extra day a week for the busiest public libraries had to be put on hold.

Ms. Parent announced that funding for grant-in-aid to cities and towns has been increased by the General Assembly by approximately $314,000 in FY2003. This increase was distributed to those libraries that were at less than 25% of the appropriation/expenditure of two previous years. In FY 2003, no public library will receive less than 24% of its appropriations and expenditures by the municipality (two years previous) and only four libraries will receive less than 24.5%.

All state departments must submit budgets with an 8 percent reduction, and there is talk about layoffs. Ms. Parent said that layoffs are not an immediate threat to Library Programs' staff, since talk of layoffs has primarily centered on the closing of entire service points for some agencies. Ms. Parent stated that she is responsible for the state budget submission for Library Programs. The 8 percent reduction is not an easy target to meet, as there are basically only two elements in the state budget, personnel and operating. Operating includes delivery, a telephone bill and a very small amount for supplies.

The reauthorization of the Library Services and Technology Act that provides Federal funding to state library agencies is on hold. The leadership is being petitioned to schedule a vote on this before the end of the 107th Congress. Ms. Parent has contacted both our representatives to sign onto the petition, and, to date, Representative Langevin has responded affirmatively. It is essential that this be brought to a vote as soon as possible, to enable reforms in this reauthorization to take effect in the Federal fiscal year that begins October 1, 2002.

Karen Mellor has been on medical leave of absence and has returned to work on a limited part-time basis. Ms. Parent will establish cross training in some of the important elements of the work in Library Programs that are currently handled by one person. Cross-training will begin by Joe McGovern working with Ms. Mellor. Construction Updates for LBRI 9/17/02 was distributed.

Ms. Parent reported that she has received a letter from Dale Thompson, Director of Providence Public Library, requesting that all of their upcoming construction be treated as a whole, and reimbursed up to the full 50%. The letter also indicated examples of similar projects that exceeded the caps set by the Library Board in 1999. Ms. Parent has had discussions with Ms. Thompson, and will respond in writing. The response will state that OLIS will agree to examine each phase(s) of the construction projects as the applications for that phase(s) are completed. It will also be stated that OLIS will adhere to the regulations, caps, and priorities set by the Library Board. The Library Board sets policy. It has been the practice of the agency to follow the policy that the Board sets, and to work with individual libraries on their applications. Providence Public Library also pointed out that the Library Board set caps and priorities in 1999 that were to be reviewed biennially. Ms. Thompson has already indicated that increasing the caps would not satisfy their request. A meeting with Dr. Carl, Ms. Thompson and Ms. Parent is scheduled for September 24, 2002. (Note: this meeting was later rescheduled for October 2, 2002.)

Ms. DiMichele reported that new members of the LORI Committee are as follows: Schools, Lynne Burke; Hospital and Health Science, Mary Ann Slocomb, Special Libraries, Sarina Wyant and OLIS, Chaichin Chen. The RI State Government Information Network Policy was distributed. The courts have not overruled the Neighborhood Children's Internet Protection Act (NCIPA.) Libraries must comply in order to receive E-rate funding. It is being determined whether the Internet use policy of the Department of Administration is sufficient for the OLIS library to be in compliance. The policy is being distributed for review should there need to be further discussion at the next Library Board meeting.

III. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

It was moved, seconded and unanimously approved to ratify the email vote to approve the new Five-Year LSTA Plan for 2003-2007.

The change to Construction Reimbursement Regulation 3.10 unanimously approved by the Library Board at the last meeting may be substantive enough to go to public hearing. Ms. Parent will keep the Board posted on developments in this arena.

IV. CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT

Chair McKenney reported that he has spoken to Mr. Vigue in Congressman Kennedy's office about reauthorization of LSTA, and Congressman Kennedy is very supportive and indicated that he is "on 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

Chair McKenney reported that a number of Library Board members' terms expire at the end of this year. Chair McKenney will contact them about serving another term.

Excerpts from Construction Regulations for LBRI 9/17/02 were distributed. Chair McKenney recommends that the Committee on Planning and Budget review the following from Appendix F:

"Current caps and priorities established by the Library Board of Rhode Island. The following priorities for construction reimbursement projects and reimbursement funding were approved by the Library Board of Rhode Island on January 11, 1999."

"Allowable costs may not exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per square foot for new construction or one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) per square foot for renovation and remodeling in 1998 constant dollars. If the actual project costs exceed one or both of these costs per square foot, the state share will be based on the not-to-be-exceeded costs in 1998 constant dollars."

Chair McKenney would like the committee to make a recommendation to the full Library Board by November or at least by the end of the year. Mr. Litman suggested that the committee from 1998 be reconvened. Ms. Barrows, Chair of the Committee on Planning and Budget, confirmed that the committee would review only the one issue of allowable costs. A meeting will be set up and Mr. Litman will be invited. A list of members of the Committee on Planning and Budget will be sent to the Library Board.

Mr. Litman stated that the structural weakness of OLIS under the Department of Administration be brought to the attention of the gubernatorial candidates and that OLIS should be at the cabinet level. Ms. Reynolds stated that candidates should be asked, "Where do libraries fall in your plan?" Mr. Litman would like a commitment from the candidates. Mr. Deignan discussed that the Library Board should decide if it should take a position. The issue of the Chief Information Officer and the elimination of the Master's Degree in Library Science from the requirements for the position were also brought up.

It was moved, seconded and approved unanimously in sending a resolution letter to the gubernatorial candidates with the request for a response, and an open letter to the Providence Journal regarding placement of libraries at cabinet-level status and consideration in hiring a Chief Information Officer, as well as recommending the restoration of the Masters in Library Science degree to the requirement.

VII. PUBLIC COMMENT

None.

VIII. AGENDA FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

Proposed LBRI Meeting Days, FY 2003 was distributed and is attached hereto.

A meeting has been scheduled for Monday, October 28, 2002 at 4:30 P.M. at the Department of Administration.

A draft Library Board of Rhode Island Members - 2002 was distributed. Members are to make any corrections or changes and return to OLIS.

The meeting adjourned at 5:55 P.M.

PROPOSED LBRI MEETING DAYS, FY 2003

Monday, October 28, 2002
Monday, November 18, 2002
Monday, December 16, 2002
Tuesday, January 21, 2003
Monday, February 24, 2003
Monday, March 17, 2003
Monday, April 21, 2003
Tuesday, May 27, 2003
Monday, June 16, 2003