Maine Library Commission Minutes, September 8, 2008

The Maine Library Commission met at the Maine State Library on Monday, September 8, 2008 at 1:12 pm.

Members present: Karl Aromaa, Gretchen Asam (ATM), Charles Campo, Inese Gruber, Barbara Harness, Moorehead Kennedy, Molly Larson, Barbara McDade, Elizabeth Moran, Steve Nichols, Steve Podgajny, Jamie Ritter, and Joyce Rumery.

Members absent: Charles Cawley.

Also present: Chris Boynton, Dean Corner, Shirley Helfrich, Deb Hensler, Linda Lord, Gary Nichols, Sylvia Norton, David Nutty, Valerie Osborne, John Rohman, James Jackson Sanborn, Earle Shettleworth, Gail Waddell, Ellen Wood, and Stephanie Zurinski.

Minutes

On a motion by Gruber and a second by Harness, the minutes of May 5, 2008 were unanimously approved.

New Commission Member

Molly Larson, director of the Rockport Public Library, was introduced as the new member of the Commission representing the Northeastern Maine Library District.

Budget

Gail Waddell reported that MSL staff is beginning to prepare for the 2010-11 budget. There will be money for personnel but no additional funds. We will be requesting more funds for computers, however.

The State may also require further cuts in the 2009-10 budget in addition to those we’ve already made.

New Century

A summary of grant award winners was distributed. Linda stated that the MSL web site includes a list of the total number of grant requests and the amount that was actually funded.

Over $600,000 for library renovation or expansion was requested; $496, 577 was granted to libraries.

Barbara McDade mentioned that a New Century grant for downloadable audio books was among the winning requests. A DAB committee has been formed and includes the three district consultants, James Sanborn, and Barbara McDade.

Any library in Maine may opt into this service for an annual fee ranging from $100 to $1,500 based on that library’s service population.

At this time, John Rohman (chair of Maine Cultural Affairs Council) and Earle Shettleworth (Director, Maine Historic Preservation Commission) were introduced and read an appreciation in honor of Gary Nichols’s long tenure as State Librarian and their appreciation of him as a colleague and cultural agency head. Gary will be retiring on October 24, 2008.

E-rate

The MSL E-rate program was audited throughout the summer months. The Commission must soon approve a definition of a public library so that Maine public libraries will be eligible for LSTA and E-rate funds in the future.

Consultants

Stephanie Zurinski was introduced as the new CMLD consultant. She formerly worked for a Texas regional library system which included many rural libraries.

Valerie Osborne (NMLD) reported that as part of the $13,000 New Century grant awarded for joint consultant’s project, Joan Frye Williams will be the featured speaker at the joint fall council meeting. Frye Williams is a futurist and a very engaging speaker.

Trustee forums were held in all parts of the stat. Over 100 trustees attended. The MARVEL databases were promoted using the newly created DVD with Molly Larson and Tim Sample.

Shirley Helfrich (SMLD) noted that the Maine literary map was published in the Maine Sunday Telegram.

Library makeover awards were given to five libraries that worked hard to change the faces of their libraries.

The Bare Bones reference resources (print and electronic) bibliography was revised for the first time in twenty years and is posted on the SMLD web page.

Mainelibraries.com is promoting island libraries throughout 2008-09.

There will be a Maine Regional Library System exhibit at the Maine Municipal Association conference in early October.

Working on public service announcements on radio and possibly television to promote libraries.

Maine InfoNet

Gary thanked Barbara McDade and David Nutty for carrying on the work of MIN during the transition between executive directors.

David introduced the new director, James Jackson Sanborn.

David stated that MIN goals will include dealing with the varying levels of cataloging expertise in the consortium; a shrinking budget in terms of costs; how to enhance revenues; a clearer mission and vision; last copy center in the state, especially for serials; the future of the integrated library system for Maine, considering the costs associated with Innovative Interfaces Inc., and the use of open source software instead, which is more flexible for libraries in Maine. It may be time for the Maine library community to push for a statewide library bond for this last purpose.

David thanked Gary for his active role in the creation of Maine InfoNet.

MSL Web Site

Ellen Wood stated that MSL now has a mobile web services link. We are only the second state agency with a mobile presence.

For the past four years, MSL has been a totally accessible web site. We were also the first state agency to caption a video – the MARVEL demonstration DVD.

Digital Talking Books

Chris Boynton discussed the new digital talking books machine which will debut in early 2009. Like the standard talking books machine, it will be able to forward and reverse books. Advanced features include setting book marks and navigating through books. The new digital books will be on one cartridge rather than multiple cassettes. There will also be an option to download books onto a USB stick to be played on the digital readers.

The recent LSTA budget cuts to the large print books budget will mean that libraries receiving deposit collections will not be able to receive as many new titles as before.

The Books by Mail program to Maine residents without libraries or with libraries open only a minimum number of hours has suffered a 50% decrease in circulation. Budget cuts to that service forced patrons to pay for return postage whereas in the past it had been free.

Other Business

Gary Nichols recommended appointing Linda Lord as acting State Librarian as of October 27, 2008. On a motion by Moran and a second by Rumery, this recommendation was unanimously approved.

Barbara McDade stated that the search committee has created a draft job description for State Librarian. A draft job ad was distributed to the Commission members. The search committee plans to advertise the job opening in October, interview in November and December, and make a selection in January with appointment in March.

A new slate of Commission officers must be voted upon for the next two-year term. Podgajny, McDade and Kennedy volunteered to form a nominating committee for this purpose.

On a motion by Moran and second by Kennedy, the meeting was adjourned at 3:13 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Dean Corner

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