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Members Present:
Chair Mark McKenney, Alice Barrows, Donna Good, Deborah Barchi, Joshua Teverow, Mary Cummings,Tovah Reis, Leslie McDonough, Jay Litman, William Allen, Peter Deekle

Members Absent:
Cristina Amedeo, Donald Deignan, Phyllis Harnick, Joan Ankner, Rose Ellen Reynolds

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

Observers:
Louise Moulton, Providence Public Library; Joan Ress Reeves; Dale Thompson, Providence Public Library; David Macksam, Cranston Public Library

The meeting convened at 4:35 p.m.

I. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the April 23, 2003 meeting were unanimously approved.

II. REPORT OF ADMINISTRATION

The Senate bill (S-888) to reauthorize LSTA, introduced jointly by Republican Senator Gregg of New Hampshire and Democratic Senator Reed of Rhode Island, received wide bipartisan support thanks to the efforts of librarians at ALA Library Legislative Day. The bill was approved unanimously by the appropriate subcommittee and is en route to the full floor for a vote in the next two weeks.

American Library Association National Library Legislative Day took place May 13, 2003 in Washington, D.C with a briefing day on May 12. Representatives from the Library Board of Rhode Island were Ms. Reeves and Chair McKenney. In addition to national library issues, the Rhode Island delegation advocated for support with aides from Representative Kennedy’s office for a $200,000 grant to OLIS to offer “Live Homework Help,” from tutor.com, an electronic service that would provide academic support to all Rhode Island students via public libraries. As part of briefing day activities, Ms. Parent and Mr. Macksam presented an award on behalf of the R.I. library community to Elyse Wasch, legislative aide for Senator Reed, “in appreciation of (her) commitment to library and education issues.” A report of this event is on the LORI website. A handout with the new url for LORI was distributed. The old LORI URL www.lori.state.ri.us will no longer be functional after June 30, and users will no longer be redirected. The R.I. delegation also attended a reception at the Center for the Book headquarters at the Library of Congress, and to a ceremony marking the unveiling of WebJunction, the Gates/OCLC public access computer project. Photos were passed around.

Representatives from OLIS and RILA met with Representative Paul Sherlock, Chair of the House Finance Committee, to express support for H-6147, the library construction appropriations bill, introduced by Rep. Betsy Dennigan on April 2. RILA continues to advocate with individual Senators should the bill go to the full Senate after approval by the full House.

Legislation was introduced on June 12 by Representative Gordon Fox of Providence to amend the state grant-in-aid statute to allow the Providence Public Library’s endowment funds used to supplement their municipal appropriation to be considered in their grant-in-aid, up to six percent of the three-year market value of the endowment’s investments. When asked about the impact of the legislation, Ms. Parent responded that the proposed legislation pertained only to Providence. Ms. Parent stated that in an OLIS survey conducted in 1989 it was revealed that 22 libraries used endowment money for operating costs. Mr. Teverow said that he recalls a discussion on endowment at a meeting some years ago and he assumes that the Library Board will not take a vote on this issue. Mr. Teverow stated that in his opinion the Library Board should not take a position on the proposed legislation.

Ms. Mellor reported that construction projects at Middletown Public Library, Hope Library, and South Providence and Rochambeau branches of Providence Public Library would not be completed by the end of this fiscal year. East Greenwich began its construction project. Barrington has submitted an application and may begin construction this year. Bristol is updating its application and may begin construction in April 2004. Reimbursement payments commence in the fiscal year following completion and audit of the project. The library must furnish a Certificate of Substantial Completion to OLIS. Due to the projects not being completed this fiscal year, the state’s obligation for construction reimbursement payments in FY 2004 and will be less than anticipated. It was also noted that OLIS does not anticipate the need for more funding in FY 2005 but that could change if projects projected to begin reimbursement in 2004 move to 2005. The fiscal impact due to the changes in the completion of projects has not yet been projected for the next five years.

Library Services has been furnishing information requested from its representative on the Governor’s Fiscal Fitness Team, Albert Smith. The Fiscal Fitness Team will make recommendations on reorganization within six to nine months. Two examples of Quick Start Recommendations, prepared by Ms. Parent for the Fiscal Fitness Team, were distributed. Ms. Parent met with the newly appointed Executive Director of Operations, Jerry Williams, to discuss the history and future of Library Services. While there has been no official news regarding the search for the Chief Information Officer, it has been noted that there are three candidates being considered for the Chief Information Officer position.

Computers are now being installed at public libraries in high poverty areas of the state, courtesy of the Gates Foundation. A fully equipped training lab was awarded to Providence Public Library. The lab will be relocated to the Knight Memorial Library branch once construction there has been completed. Ms. Parent will attend the American Library Association Annual meeting and a preconference “Staying Connected”, which is sponsored by the Gates Foundation.

A new round of LORI resource-sharing grants has been posted on the LORI Website, under which up to $65,000 will be available September 1, 2003 through August 31, 2004. Priority will be given to proposals with a multi-type application, and to those involving more than one library. A LORI library should be designated as the grant recipient/administrator.

NELA has selected OLIS staff member Chaichin Chen as one of 24 participants in its first New England Library Leadership Symposium (NELLS), sponsored by NELA and the six New England state library associations. The symposium will be held July 14-18 at the Canonicus Camp and Conference Center in Exeter. Ms. Parent noted that special thanks are due to RILA for assuming the $400 cost for Ms. Chen to attend.

The OLIS contract with Capitol Records for housing and shipping of talking books will expire in September. The cost for this service is currently approximately $158,000. OLIS is in the process of reviewing bids from Capitol Records and Perkins School for the Blind, located in Massachusetts.

Seven staff members from OLIS attended the two-day RILA Annual Conference. Staff attending all commented that the quality of the programs was outstanding.

III. CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT

Chair McKenney attended the RILA Annual Conference banquet and delivered birthday greetings to celebrate100 years for RILA from the Library Board.

Chair McKenney attended National Library Legislative Day sponsored by the American Library Association, May 11-13, 2003 in Washington, D.C., and reported on the high level of commitment and cooperation on library issues by the congressional delegation. There is a high level of advocacy by the Rhode Island library community on the federal level.

IV. COMMITTEE REPORTS

Committee on Public Relations
No report.

Committee on Legislation
No report.

Committee on Planning and Budget
No report.

V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None.

VI. NEW BUSINESS

Louise Moulton of Providence Public Library’s Community Services gave a presentation on plans for the newly designated Center for the Book at the Providence Public Library. A retreat was held at Jamestown Philomenian Library. Ideas for the Rhode Island Center for the Book will include collaboration among groups, recognition of local authors, and activities and programs. The website will be the virtual location. OLIS will contribute staff support through its VISTA position; COLA furnished $200 for a facilitator at the retreat. Library Board members and others are invited to join the Steering Committee at its next meeting on July 25, 2003 at 9:30 a.m. at the East Providence Library. Ms. DiMichele serves as the OLIS representative on the Steering Committee.

Ms. Good reported that the Ad Hoc Committee formed at the April 21, 2003 Library Board meeting met on May 14, to study the issue of support for mandatory compliance of the new standards for school libraries. At the meeting, Mr. Deignan, Ms. DiMichele and Ms. Good drafted a letter to be sent to the Chairman of the Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education. Ms. Good presented the draft letter to RIEMA on May 30, where additions and corrections were made. Copies of the two draft letters were distributed.

It was moved and seconded to send a letter presented by the Ad Hoc Committee on School Library Standards to the Board of Regents to in support of mandatory compliance of the new standards for school libraries.

Discussion followed, yielding the following changes:

From existing Paragraph 2., first sentence:
“As you well know, the standards currently in force…”
Changed to:
“As you well know, the literacy standards currently in force…”

From fourth paragraph”
“The Library Board of RI is a statewide group composed of citizens and representatives…”
Changed to:
“The Library Board of RI is a statewide group appointed by the Governor and composed of citizens and representatives…”

The fourth paragraph will be moved to become paragraph two.

The name of the Chairman of the Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education will be checked for accuracy.

It was moved, seconded and unanimously approved that the Library Board send a letter drafted by the Ad Hoc Committee on School Library Standards, with changes by the Library Board, to the Board of Regents in support of mandatory compliance of the new standards for school libraries entitled School Library and Information Literacy Framework.

Ms. Scialabba will forward a copy to Library Board members.

It was moved and seconded that the Library Board send a letter to Robert J. Higgins, Director of Department of Administration and a copy to Governor Carcieri to lend the assistance of the Library Board in the evaluation of candidates for the Chief Information Officer position. Discussion followed.

The question was asked as to what would happen if a Chief Information Officer were appointed prior to the letter being sent. The response was that a briefing or orientation would be requested.

It was moved and seconded and unanimously approved that the Library Board send a letter to Robert J. Higgins, Director of Department of Administration and a copy to Governor Carcieri to lend the assistance of the Library Board in the evaluation of candidates for the Chief Information Officer position.

Ms. Scialabba will forward a copy to Library Board members.

VII. PUBLIC COMMENT

Ms. Reeves commented that the award to Elyse Wasch by Ms. Parent and Mr. Macksam was presented in front of a national audience.

VIII. AGENDA FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

Ms. Reis reminded the Library Board of the 50th anniversary celebration of ARISHL on June 18, and thanked Library Board members for responding to the invitation.

The next meeting of the Library Board is scheduled on Monday, September 15, 2003.
Board members were asked to review their calendars for the third Monday of every month September 2003 through June 2004 for possible conflict. A meeting schedule will be set at the September meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m.