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

Members Present:
Chair Mark McKenney, Tovah Reis, Donna Good, Deborah Barchi, Rose Ellen Reynolds, Phyllis Harnick, Alice Barrows, Cristina Amedeo, Peter Deekle, Joan Ress Reeves

Members Absent: 
William Allen, Peter Deekle, Joan Ankner, Joshua Teverow, Donald Deignan, Jay Litman, Mary Cummings, Leslie McDonough

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

Observers: 
Dale Thompson, Providence Public Library; David Macksam, RILA

Reporting: 
Laurie Scialabba

The meeting was convened at 4:29 p.m.

Materials Distributed:
S 0242, An Act Relating to Libraries – State Aid to Libraries
H 5170, An Act Relating to Libraries – State Aid to Libraries

I. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the March 21, 2005 meeting were unavailable for consideration and approval.

II. REPORT OF ADMINISTRATION

After months of negotiation, OLIS received permission to post the Reader's Advisor position in the Talking Books Plus section. The position is expected to be 100% federally funded. The Dept of Administration has a finite number of FTEs available, and a future vacant position must be returned. The blind and physically handicapped clientele will again be served by a librarian. Ms. Parent thanked Andy Egan and Beth Perry for their service.

Plans to relocate the OLIS Library from the ground floor to the 4th floor have been realized. In addition to the 4th floor library, OLIS will have an office and storage area adjacent to the library. Board members are invited to a tour of the space at the conclusion of the meeting. The collection has been weeded to fit the space, and the stacks were constructed according to guidelines established by the engineers who built the original Powers building. OLIS staff has been assured that the stacks, erected according to the engineer plans, will not be in load-bearing jeopardy.

Attending next week’s American Library Association’s National Library Legislative Day will be: Anne Parent representing OLIS; David Macksam representing RILA; Joan Ress Reeves representing the Library Board; William Allen representing COLA and Kathryn Hopkins representing Providence Public Library. ARIHSL, CLAN and RIEMA have decided not to send representatives this year. Congress is not in session next week; Senator Chafee and his education/library aide will also be away.

The Legislative Commission meeting on the future of Rhode Island libraries was scheduled to meet this week, but has been postponed. Three representatives of the LibFutures Committee, Dale Thompson, David Macksam and Anne Parent, met with Senator Roberts last week to plan for the first session. Three working groups established to work on the three priorities identified at the December town meeting plan to conclude their work in early July. The priorities are: 1) one catalog for all; 2) statewide databases; and 3) lifelong learning. It is hoped that the groups can make preliminary reports at the first meeting of the Legislative Commission.

CLAN has put on hold the migration from the Horizon system to the Innovative System. On May 12, CLAN will hold its quarterly membership meeting and a vote will be taken on whether or not to approach The Champlin Foundations for funding.

OLIS Staff member Karen Mellor will serve as a panelist to review applications for Massachusetts’ library construction projects. The grant process in Massachusetts is highly competitive. In response to the letter that Chair McKenney received from Dale Thompson, the Committee on Planning & Budget will be reviewing its caps on per square foot construction costs.

Julia Iacono, library director at Central Fall Free Public Library, has announced her resignation.

RILA President Derryl (De) Johnson died on March 26, 2005. De was a strong advocate for all types of libraries and worked tirelessly for the library community. RILA has established a scholarship fund in her memory.

It was moved, seconded and unanimously approved that the Library Board of Rhode Island send a letter of condolence to Rolf Johnson, De’s husband.

III. CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT

Chair McKenney reported that the congratulatory letter to Elyse Wasch, newly appointed Legislative Director for Senator Reed’s Washington Office, will go out. Chair McKenney introduced newly appointed Chief Information Officer, Tracy Emerton Williams.

IV. COMMITTEE REPORTS

Committee on Planning and Budget
Ms. Barrows announced a meeting is tentatively scheduled for May 23, at 3:00 p.m., one hour prior to the Library Board meeting to discuss the letter and information provided by Mary Olenn of the Providence Public Library Board of Directors.

Committee on Legislation
Ms. Reynolds reported that a committee meeting was held earlier today. Copies of H-5170 and S-0242 were distributed. The effective date is different on the House and Senate versions. There was a hearing the bill. Those testifying were Linda Kushner, a representative of Providence Public Library, Ms. Parent on behalf of OLIS and Mr. Macksam, on behalf of RILA. The RILA Legislative Board had taken a vote and recommended to the RILA Board that the bill be supported. The RILA Board supports H-5170. Kathryn Hopkins will send amendments to Representative Fox for review.

The Committee on Legislation voted (5 to 1) to pass the recommendation that the Library Board of Rhode Island support H-5170 and S-242 with the provision to review the amendments.

It was moved and unanimously approved that the Library Board of Rhode Island support H-5170 and S-242 and will consider additional amendments as proposed.

Committee on Public Relations
Facts About Rhode Island Libraries has been published on the LORI website. Tovah Reis thanked OLIS staff members Debbie Cullerton and Donna DiMichele. A printed version is being considered for distribution. Debbie Cullerton is planning a tri-fold brochure, and is awaiting feedback.

The committee has been asked to promote the Ask a Librarian program. The committee has put this request for consideration on hold.

V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Hearings were held on S-0759 legislation establishing the Office of Library and Information Services headed by a Chief of Library Services. Chair McKenney and Ms. Parent testified. This legislation is not a partisan bill.

VI. NEW BUSINESS

None.

VII. PUBLIC COMMENT

Cristina Amedeo announced that the library opened at Crossroads Rhode Island, and thanked Ms. DiMichele for donating the remaining CD’s from the library swap. Ms. Amedeo also reported that libraries have received the direct human services update request, and she asked that they be sent back to her. The direct human service database was paid for by the Library Board of Rhode Island in 1994 and will soon be on the web.

VIII. AGENDA FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

The next meeting is scheduled for May 23, 2005 at the Department of Administration.

The meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m.