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Members Present:
Members Present: Chair Mark McKenney, Alice Barrows, Donna Good, Deborah Barchi, Mary Cummings, Tovah Reis, William Allen, Peter Deekle, Phyllis Harnick, Donald Deignan, Leslie McDonough, Rose Ellen Reynolds

Members Absent:
Cristina Amedeo, Jay Litman, Joshua Teverow, Joan Ankner

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

Observers:
Joan Ress Reeves; Kathy Ellen Bullard, Providence Public Library; Dee Johnson, Rhode Island Library Association

The meeting was convened at 4:35 p.m.

I. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the October 20, 2003 meeting were unanimously approved.

II. REPORT OF ADMINISTRATION

As a follow-up to the November 11, 2003 Futures Program, “The Experience Economy and The Future of Rhode Island Libraries” with guest lecturer, James Gilmore, and as a precursor to a new study of the future of Rhode Island libraries, the LORI Committee is planning a day-long “Futures” conference for May 7, 2004 with speakers and panel discussions. Funding is being sought from library associations and vendors. Ms. DiMichele is working with the committee and more information will be forthcoming.

OLIS Library Services has applied for a Gates Foundation Training Program Grant of $7,950 for training public library staff throughout the state in topics related to public access computing. One part of the grant would train a single group of staff from libraries with Gates computers in the use and promotion of the Spanish language profile in the context of general services to the Hispanic/Latino population. The second track would train library staff throughout the state in technology and in the provision of public access computing. Funds would be expended in calendar year 2004, and notification of grant awards will take place in December. The next and final phase of the Foundation program is the Staying connected grant due in August 2004.

The American Library Association requests supporters to contact their Congressional representatives to request that they sign on to a letter supporting the Otter and Sanders Amendments to legislation to the USA Patriot Act. Representative Otter opposes Section 213, the so-called “sneak and peek” provision, which allows the government to search a person’s home or office without notifying them until afterwards. Representative Sanders opposes Section 215, which allows the government to access the articles checked out of a library or purchased at a bookstore.

The Rochambeau Branch of the Providence Public Library has scheduled its reopening for Sunday, November 23. Construction at Middletown Public Library is a little behind schedule, but has tentative plans for an opening ceremony in December. Ms. Parent spoke at the opening of the new children’s room at Hope Library in Scituate. The old children’s room has been converted to a young adult area.

The Governor’s Fiscal Fitness team presented its recommendations that will be sent to the Governor to agency directors. Chief Information Officer Collins was on hand for all the presentations and will stop in at this meeting to relay the four recommendations for OLIS Library Services.

Donna Good of the Library Board and Holly Barton, President of RIEMA, have informed Ms. Parent that they will be sending letters to the Governor with regard to the rumors that they have heard about Fiscal Fitness recommendations about OLIS Library Services. Ms. Good read her letter to the Board; and Ms. Parent read the letter from Ms. Barton.

III. CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT

Chair McKenney attended the Futures Conference on November 11, 2003. 108 attended the morning session, and 46 attended the afternoon session. The general discussion in the afternoon focused on support for OLIS Library Services in the library community, especially in keeping OLIS Library Services intact. Discussion followed.

IV. COMMITTEE REPORTS

Committee on Public Relations
Talking Points: Top Reasons Keeping OLIS Intact is Vital to the State of RI was distributed. These items may be used in support letters for OLIS Library Services.

Committee on Legislation
No report.

Committee on Planning and Budget
No report.

Ad Hoc Committee on Bylaws
Ms. Reeves has sent revisions and comments via email to Chair McKenney, Ms. Good, Mr. Deignan and Ms. Parent. Comments by Ms. Parent will be reviewed.

V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None.

VI. NEW BUSINESS

Ms. Parent initiated the discussion of the Providence School Board’s approval of a reduction in the number of school librarians in each Providence high school to one librarian instead of two to two and a half librarians as mandated. Ms. Johnson, President of RILA, made a presentation at the Providence School Board meeting, and has written to Commissioner McWalters, Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, asking that he reject extension of the waiver that would permit this practice to continue. Ms. Parent has prepared a packet of information if any Library Board member would like further information.

The motion was made, seconded and unanimously approved that the Library Board of Rhode Island send a letter to Commissioner McWalters, R.I. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education expressing concern about the approval by the Providence School Board of the reduction to only one librarian in each Providence high school rather than the mandated 2 to 2.5 per school, and to request denial of the extension of the waiver to continue the practice.

Chair McKenney welcomed Chief Information Officer Thomas Collins. CIO Collins offered to share the four Fiscal Fitness recommendations for Library Services with the Library Board. The recommendations are to relocate Talking Books Plus into the Dept. of Human Services’ Office of Rehabilitative Services; transfer the professional library collection to the University of Rhode Island; transfer Media Services to Central Management (Central Services of the DOA);and transfer the remaining Library Services’ staff to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Relocating Library Services would free the space in the Department of Administration for other groups. Chair McKenney thanked CIO Collins, and upon departure, CIO Collins wished the Library Board a joyful Thanksgiving.

Discussion followed.

It was moved, seconded and unanimously approved that the Library Board send a letter to Governor Carcieri expressing disagreement with the Fiscal Fitness recommendations put forth for Library Services, and supporting its continuation as a united entity under the administration of the Chief Information Officer.

VII. PUBLIC COMMENT

In response to a question about any loss in federal funding, Ms. Parent responded that Library Services might need to rewrite their Plan of Service with new proposals and redirection of funds. It would then be submitted to IMLS for approval. For example, not every state has a professional library collection or a Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. State library agencies are under various forms of governance throughout the country. For example, some are independent agencies, some are under the Dept of Education, others in the Secretary of State’s office, and others fall in various places in other departments such as those for Cultural Affairs.

VIII. AGENDA FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

The next meeting of the Library Board is scheduled on Monday, December 15, 2003 at 4:30 p.m., and may be cancelled if there are no pressing items.

Tuesday, January 20, 2004 is the next scheduled meeting after December 15.

The meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.