Maine Library Commission Minutes, February 2, 2009

Present: Charles Campo, Inese Gruber, Barbara Harness, Moorhead Kennedy, Molly Larson, Barbara McDade, Elizabeth Moran, Steve Nichols, Jamie Ritter and Joyce Rumery.

Absent: Karl Aromaa, Gretchen Asam and Steve Podgajny.

Also Present: Dean Corner, Shirley Helfrich, Linda Lord, Valerie Osborne, Susan Preece, James J. Sanborn and Stephanie Zurinski.

The Commission meeting was called to order at 1:02 pm.

Minutes:

On a motion by Steve Nichols, seconded by Elizabeth Moran, the minutes of the January 5, 2009 meeting were unanimously approved.

Commission Chair:

Jamie Ritter announced that member Charles Cawley resigned effective February 2, 2009.

In a general discussion about term limits, Moran thought that two five-year terms should be the maximum. She herself has served for two terms and will retire from the Commission when a replacement is appointed. Gruber also thought that two terms were adequate. New members and new thinking need to refresh the Commission. Kennedy inquired about exceptions to the by-laws if someone was especially worthy of reappointment or there were exceptional circumstances.

The Commission will be reviewing and analyzing where MSL resources are directed and what impact they have. Three committees (state agencies, libraries and citizens) have been formed to gather information. Feedback from libraries will be enhanced by the meetings of the chairs and co-chairs (chaired by Susan Preece) of each of the three Library Districts.

Ritter referred to the distributed document “Maine State Library Structure and Services” that was prepared by Linda Lord and staff that describes each MSL program, the number of staff and the job duties under each program.

Charles Campo wanted to know how each of the programs served state agencies. Gruber and Moran wanted to know the number of people served by each program along with circulation and reference statistics.

This information will be provided for the committees at the next Commission meeting. The first hour of the March 2 meeting will be devoted to committee and staff work sessions. A newly scheduled meeting on April 6 will be solely devoted to committee meetings. The first hour of the May 4 meeting will be devoted to committee work, also.

Nominating Committee:

There are currently five Commission vacancies including the seats held by Moran (public library representative) and Karl Aromaa (CMLD representative). The other three seats include two at-large and one representing the “handicapped” communities. On January 30, 2009, Governor John Baldacci appointed Beth Edmonds, Director of the Freeport Public Library, to serve at-large on the Commission. The Commission greeted this news with great pleasure.

State Librarian’s Report:

The Fairpoint contract to renew MSLN services has been signed by the State and Fairpoint and has been forwarded to the Department of Purchases for approval.

The UNET contract has been sent to the University of Maine system for signing.

The ATM contract has not yet been signed by Fairpoint.

Our contract with the Public Utilities Commission for MTEAF (Maine’s Telecommunication Education Access Fund) funding will allow 35 more libraries to upgrade to a T1 line. There will also be $50,000 more for databases. Joyce Rumery thought that the bulk of this increase could be used for new database subscriptions.

Gary’s employment contract for specified special projects has been approved.

LD 2, granting the MLC rulemaking authority, has not yet been scheduled by the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee for a work session. The hearing on this bill was held on January 26, 2009.

LD 19, mandating toilet seat covers, was unanimously voted ought not to pass out of committee. Linda surveyed MELIBS and 118 libraries responded. These libraries would have spent $25,000 for toilet seat cover dispensers and covers if the legislation passed. No one reported being in favor of this bill.

Linda prepared a memorandum to DAFS (Department of Administration and Financial Affairs) regarding the potential use of federal stimulus funding. Broadband connectivity and public library renovation and construction were the two areas that MSL highlighted as the most important targets for stimulus money.

Budget cuts in our state general fund will necessitate cuts in hours open to the public. These service hour cuts have not yet been determined. Budget cuts in our expenses for newspapers, magazines and reference standing orders are deep. The magazine and major daily newspaper collections will be drastically reduced. Other areas of the Library will also be affected.

Representative Sutherland, co-chair of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, is asking us for the amount of budget cuts to public libraries around the state in the current or next fiscal year. Responses have been received from 122 libraries. She also is asking for a brief monthly statistical report from the cultural agencies about their activities. Her interest and that of her co-chair Senator Alfond are noted and deeply appreciated.

Linda will be meeting with the state librarians from Vermont, New Hampshire and Rhode Island on February 20 to discuss any possible resource sharing or cooperative ventures. Staff from each state who works on WebJunction will also attend this meeting.

Consultants’ Reports:

Valerie Osborne (NMLD) reported that online training webinars have been well-received by library staff that don’t have to travel long distances or cannot afford to do so.

A new listserv has been created that will be solely devoted to reader’s advisory.

Stephanie Zurinski (CMLD) is offering a question and answer webinar for public libraries on filling out their annual reports that MSL uses for reports to IMLS (Institute for Museum and Library Services).

Shirley Helfrich (SMLD) is working on the new SCOOP contract that allows libraries to purchase library materials, furniture, equipment and supplies at a discount. Vendors interested in participating can fill out online forms. The spring SMLD Council meeting will be a technology fair including downloadable audio books, the Amazon Kindle and other new services and equipment of interest to libraries

A joint Consultants’ project will feature a new series of library makeovers that will begin in May and continue through September. Small school (under 200 students) libraries are eligible to apply for the first time. There will be a series of 9-10 workshops throughout the state for library trustees on evaluating the library director and self-evaluating the board itself. .

Other Business:

Linda reported that she and Dean Corner, Janet McKenney and Peggy O’Kane will be attending a morning-long ethics training session on February 3.

Delivery Contract RFP:

Dean reported that the contract has gone to Purchases for review.

Maine InfoNet:

James Sanborn reported that InfoNet is working very short-handed with the recent resignation of Deborah Hensler in addition to the vacancy of the Library Automation Manager position. There is no dedicated support for two consortia – SOLAR and Minerva. The remaining InfoNet staff is handling some of Deborah’s work. Some work will remain unperformed. Some work will be completed by Minerva libraries themselves. MSL will file an exemption to hiring freeze statement for the Automation Manager position.

The Downloadable Audio Book project has attracted 131 libraries. Five training sessions will be provided throughout the state. The go-live date for the project is now February 23 and there will be approximately 1,000 titles to choose from.

InfoNet is participating in ICOLC (International Coalition of Library Consortia). The organization has issued a statement to vendors asking for flexibility and considerations during the global economic crisis.

The Triple I (Innovative Interfaces Inc.) contract for integrated library services is being reviewed by Purchases.

On a motion by Nichols, seconded by Rumery, the meeting adjourned at 2:57 pm.

Next meeting of the Commission is Monday, March 2 at 1:00 pm at the Maine State Library.

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