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Home > About MSL > Library Commission > Minutes Jan 10, 2007

Maine Library Commission Minutes, January 10, 2007

The Maine Library Commission met at the Maine State Library on Wednesday, January 10, 2007 at 1:14 p.m.

Members present:  Gretchen Asam (ATM), Charles Campo, Suzanne Finn, Inese Gruber, Barbara Harness, Barbara McDade, Steve Nichols, Jamie Ritter.

Members absent:  Karl Aromaa, Moorehead Kennedy, Elizabeth Moran, Glenna Nowell, Steve Podgajny, Joyce Rumery.

Also in attendance:  Karl Beiser, Dean Corner, Bonnie Dwyer, Linda Lord, Gary Nichols.

  1. Approval of November 1, 2006 minutes.  Moved by Finn, Seconded by Gruber.  Approved unanimously.
  2. Announcements
    1. Carpet Project (Dean):  installation during the November 9-13 time period went successfully.  Final punch list and inspection occurred January 10, 2007.
    2. Blaine House Conference (Barbara McDade): A committee consisting of Barbara McDade, Gary, Linda and Steve Podgajny met.  Conference to be held in November or December 2007. The theme of the Conference will be the exploration and discussion of demographic and economic trends in Maine and their affect on libraries.  The framework of the Conference will be like a political convention. Each of the three library districts will have 20 delegates with five alternates. 
      The need to develop the next generation of library leaders in the state was also recognized. A leadership institute will be a component of the Conference.
    3. MLA Standards (Linda): The final revision to the Standards was approved at the January 5, 2007 MLA Board meeting when the salary standards were updated. Standards are scheduled to be printed soon and copies will be sent to each library director and each library board chair.
    4. Maine Libraries Fund (Gary): $5,000 had been set aside by MLA and MASL as seed money for a foundation to support Maine libraries.  The fund has now grown to approximately $7,000. MLA is seeking volunteers from the Maine Library Commission to help decide how and for what purposes the money should be used and, also, how to increase the principal of the Foundation. Gretchen Asam and Jamie Ritter volunteered to participate on behalf of the MLC.
    5. Benita Davis (Linda): Benita Davis, consultant for the Northern Maine Library District, retired as of December 29, 2006. There will be a reception for her at the Bangor Public Library on January 12 from 3-5 p.m.
  3. Legislature
    1. Joint Library Legislative Committee (Dean):  The final draft of the legislation was approved by the Committee on November 9, 2006.  It includes $2.7 million funding for each year of the biennium for public library collection development, statewide van delivery, expanded access to electronic databases, digital preservation of unique state resources, and support for area reference and resource centers (Bangor and Portland). The mechanism to allocate funding for collection development to public libraries was explained.  Eligible libraries must meet the MLA Standards definition of a public library, must use the funding for materials and not electronic databases or equipment, and must agree to share resources with other libraries. Funding will be allocated at an equal rate based on the legal service area populations.  The legislation has been designated as LR 0490.
      An additional appropriation will be added to our legislation to fund staff support (a trainer and a cataloger) for the Minerva system.  During a meeting with the Minerva executive committee, Gary, and Karl, it was determined that for Minerva to have greater autonomy in its direction and development the consortium needs to have staff solely devoted to those objectives.
      Gary will be submitting a list of potential Republican and Democrat sponsors from the House and Senate for Beth Edmonds, Senate President, to choose from.
    2. MSL Budget (Gary): Although we will receive a flat funded budget, we will be exempt, as an educational agency, from a 5% cut that some agencies will experience.
    3. Cultural Affairs Council (Gary): The CAC has proposed a $5 million bond issue for the New Century Grants program.  There is intense competition for bonding and the CAC is seeking a larger agency or partner so that it can attach its request to a larger bond issue.
  4. Maine State Cultural Building Task Force (Gary): Six options have been formulated.  Option 3, to renovate and expand the building, received the most votes.  Cost is approximated at $112 million. The State Library would have a brand new wing as an addition to the building.  The Museum would expand its operation into the part of the building currently occupied by the Library.
    Option 5, to build a new Cultural Building on the current site of the Department of Transportation building on Capital Street, received nearly as many votes as Option 3.  The Task Force is divided between those members having a vision of a totally new building and those who advocate for a more practical compromise of renovation and expansion.
    The Task Force has decided to recommend a continuance of the committee for renewed study of the options and to ask for funding to hire   experts familiar with these types of projects who could develop more accurate costs for the options.
  5. LSTA (Linda):  MSL received $1,123,275 million in 2005.  A new five-year plan for LSTA expenditures is being developed.  The LSTA report summary for 2005 was introduced and explained.  Outreach conducted patron surveys to determine customer satisfaction of its books-by-mail and large print programs.  Project outputs and outcomes for all programs were detailed.
  6. Maine InfoNet/Minerva (Karl):  Full staffing of InfoNet has been achieved with the hiring of Jon Forest as Library Automation Manager.  Working on a simpler and smarter interface to all electronic resources.  Working with Google to produce Google search results that are specific to Maine libraries.
    Minerva – Gary and Karl met with members of the executive committee of Minerva to discuss changes in the relationship between MSL and the Minerva consortium. Minerva has for some time expressed the wish for more autonomy in its governance. It has grown from 20 libraries to 65 and has evolved into a consortial organization as well as an integrated library system. Minerva feels that it should have a larger role and greater authority in how its member libraries participate in the consortium.
    Minerva is concerned that rapid growth may not be in its best interest and that certain expectations should be made very clear to libraries interested in participating in Minerva.  The growth moratorium that has been in place for the past year will be extended another six months.
    The Minerva group will devise a membership application process that will detail what is expected from libraries and their staffs and will devise an implementation plan for their membership.  
  7. MSLN Restructuring (Linda):  The job description for the MSLN project manager was presented.  This position will manage the Maine School and Libraries Network and coordinate the e-rate program.  Candidate interviews will be held this week.
  8. Consultant’s Report (Bonnie):  The Central Maine Library District has been focusing on continuing education including weeding workshops. There have been two meetings of the CMLD reference librarian’s group. Maine Libraries Week, January 7-13, will hold a kick-off and press conference at the State House on Thursday, January 12. The new Maine Libraries mascot will be debuted and a naming contest will be promoted.  March 1 is the deadline for submitting name suggestions.

Next meeting is on Wednesday, March 7 at 1:00 p.m. at MSL.

Meeting adjourned on a motion by Finn, second by Gruber at 3:20.