Maine Library Commission Minutes, June 22, 2009

The Maine Library Commission met at the Maine State Library on Monday, June 22, 2009 at 1:07 pm.

Members present: Debe Averill, Charlie Campo, Beth Edmonds, Inese Gruber, Mike Kennedy, Steve Nichols, Steve Podgajny, and Jamie Ritter.

Members absent: Barbara Harness, Molly Larson, Barbara McDade, and Joyce Rumery.

Also present: Dean Corner, Shirley Helfrich, James Jackson Sanborn, Linda Lord, Peggy O’Kane, Valerie Osborne, Susan Preece, Alisia Revitt, Elaine Stanley, Ellen Wood, and Stephanie Zurinski.

Minutes:

On a motion by Steve Nichols and a second by Beth Edmonds, the minutes from the May 4, 2009 meeting were approved.

Steve Nichols commended Dean Corner for his patience and good humor dealing with the recent statewide delivery crisis.

Special Collections:

Ellen Wood and Peggy O’Kane demonstrated a beta version of the new web-based MSL special collections directory look-up. The development of this application followed on the Collection Development Summit held at UMO on June 15. Libraries will be able to submit information about their special collections; the directory will be searchable by collections as well as by libraries.

MentorMe:

Ellen and Valerie Osborne demonstrated the new mentoring database on the MSL District Consultants’ web page. This directory will link those in the library community who have particular backgrounds and strengths with other libraries that need coaching.

Acting State Librarian’s Report:

Budget - Linda Lord reported that there have been no further reductions to our 2009-10 FY budget. The State’s financial condition may alter that this fall.

Cultural Affairs Council – The 2007 audit of the cultural agencies mandated a report from the CAC to the Legislature. A continuing source of concern from the Legislature is that there is no formal connection between the CAC and the Governor’s cabinet. This will change with the permission granted by the Governor that the chair of the CAC, John Rohman, will be able to sit in on cabinet meetings in the future.

Larger Libraries Group – Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin will begin contributing funds to the MARVEL databases. Their joint contribution for this FY will be $54,000. This is news that is much appreciated.

OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) – State librarians from around the U.S. met with representatives of OCLC to find out how the two bodies could work together to improve the links between interlibrary loan delivery and the OCLC union list (WorldCat) and to increase publicity about joint efforts.

Friends of the Maine State Library – Initial steps have been taken to explore the creation of a Friends’ group with the Attorney General’s office.

New Century grants – this program has been dropped from the Governor’s bond package because of reductions to the total bond amount.

Delivery:

Dean Corner reported that the transition period between NCS and Velocity has started. NCS will be making some “relief” pick-ups to libraries that had been without service or had experienced spotty service.

Debe Averill asked how many schools were members of the delivery (six, with the departure of South Portland schools). James Jackson Sanborn asked when business as usual would begin (June 29).

Consultants’ Reports:

Stephanie Zurinski stated that there have been nine trustee forums, with approximately 100 attendees, held throughout the state.

The Director’s Institute was held in Auburn on June 9 and featured a session on branding libraries.

Three libraries (Ellsworth, Southwest Harbor, and Norway) have had makeover sessions.

All three districts have held their spring council meetings and district board retreats either have been held or will be in the next month.

Steve Nichols commended the consultants for increasing trustees’ involvement in their libraries.

Maine InfoNet:

James Jackson Sanborn introduced Alisia Revitt as the new Maine InfoNet system training and support librarian.

A collection development summit was held on June 15 with 112 attendees from 83 libraries. Breakout sessions by library type addressed common concerns.

MARVEL funding is stable. With an increase from the Maine Telecommunications Education Access Fund, we have been able to add Novelist Plus and Novelist Plus K-8 to the menu.

InfoNet is looking at federated search tools that could search across databases in MARVEL. A product from Serial Solutions, Summons, shows promise. The PUC has authorized providing $95,000 from MTEAF to be used in the 09-10 FY.

The Downloadable Audio Project is progressing well. At any one time, about 50-70% of the titles are in circulation. There are 1,300 titles available now to the 131 libraries that are members of this service.

Maine Library Commission Committees:

Mike Kennedy provided a draft report of the Committee on Libraries which includes Valerie Osborne and Susan Preece, as well as Mike.

The report stresses standards for libraries and directors. The development of enforceable library standards must be addressed. Standards for directors must include provision of professional training so that libraries can achieve benchmarks to improve. MSL should provide this training for directors and other library staff.

The Regional Library System should be reviewed. Is this the best way to provide outreach?

Susan Preece presented a draft report from the District Liaison Committee. The Committee surveyed Presidents and/or leaders of stakeholder groups (libraries and library-related associations) to determine the state of Maine libraries in 2009. The top five areas of concern from these leaders are: advocacy, funding, communication, mentoring, and long-range strategic planning.

Inese Gruber presented some observations about the public service sector of the MSL as chair of the Citizens’ Committee. She thought that there seemed to be too many staff (5.5) in the Circulation department for the amount of actual circulation (42,000). This led to some spirited discussion on the interpretation of these figures with Dean.

Steve Podgajny stated that the big question was what does the Maine Library Commission and the State Library want to do?

The next meeting of the Commission will be Tuesday, July 14 at 1:00 pm at the State Library.

The meeting adjourned at 3:15 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Dean Corner

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