April 25, 2006
The State Library Board met April 25, 2006 in the Lucas Conference Room of the State Library, 274 East First Avenue, Columbus, Ohio.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 1:05 p.m., Tuesday, April 25, 2006. State Library Board members present were: Ms. Ann Baines, President; Ms. Lucille Hastings, Vice-President; Mr. David Miller, Dr. George W. Paulson , Ms. Jackie O'Brien and Ms. Jo Budler, Secretary.
Visitors present were: Barry McKew, Assistant Attorney General; Carol Verny, OHIONET; Doug Evans, Ohio Library Council; Stephen Hedges, OPLIN.
State Library staff members present were: Pete Bates, Ashlee Clark, Diane Fink, Sean Hughes, Missy Lodge, Bill Morris, Gretchen Persohn, Roger Verny, Kitty Zerger, Rick Zerger, Chris Tucker, Cheryl Lubow, Jim Buchman, Nicole Merriman, Jay Burton, John Bittel, and Larry Walls.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Miller moved (M-20-06) approval of the March 30, 2006 Board meeting. Ms. O’Brien seconded the motion. The motion passed with all members voting “yes”.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
There were no requests for public participation.
STATE LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
Business Plan Update
Ms. Joanne Budler, State Librarian, discussed the current status of the State Library business plan. Ms. Budler indicated that the business plan scorecard, or spreadsheet tracking the progress of the plan, is a communication tool for staff, and was adapted from a similar tool by OAKS. Ms. Budler touched on the three objectives that were overdue and gave a brief update on them. She also indicated that the State Library of Ohio staff is currently in the process of refining the targets for the next business plan.
Budget Update
Ms. Diane Fink, Head of Fiscal Services, updated the Board on the current status of the State Library budget. The Board received a memorandum from the Office of Budget and Management regarding the FY 2008-2009 Operating Budget process and tentative timeline. The budget requests are due to OBM on October 2, 2006 regardless of the size of the agency. OBM staff will review the budget requests, request further information from agencies if necessary, and then wait until after the gubernatorial election in November. The State Library will submit one agency request that may include two funding levels for each program: one for 100% flat funding based on FY 2007 and one for an additional 3%. The request for 3% will allow the next administration to look at scenarios for each agency. The program structure for the State Library between FY 2006-2007 and FY 2008-2009 was changed to better reflect the agency’s customer groups. A technology plan must be submitted in conjunction with the budget request, and appropriate staff is working on the development of the plan. The capital budget request submitted last fall is being held until after the gubernatorial election.
SWRS Update
Ms. Budler updated the Board regarding statewide resource sharing. In April, State Library staff visited OCLC for a presentation regarding a pilot for developing a product for statewide resource sharing. OCLC is interested in working with the State Library and is coming up with a proposal, which will be shared with the board. Mr. Pete Bates, Deputy Director for Information Systems and Technology, discussed the existing statewide resource sharing system, MORE. Currently there are a few shortcomings of the MORE system that require staff to do more work behind the scenes. One way to remedy this is to use NCIP, a standard protocol allowing two separate library systems to talk to each other. The State Library is currently conducting testing with several different automation systems.
Ms. Chris Tucker, Head of SEO Library Center, presented an overview of SEO, including the history and services provided. The SEO Automation Consortium recently added another library system, Findlay-Hancock County Public Library, and has received proposals from two other libraries to join.
Upcoming Board Agendas
Mr. Roger Verny, Deputy State Librarian, updated the Board on upcoming agendas. In May, the Board will be voting on the fourth year of LCO databases, including the addition of LearningExpress Library. The third year of the Know It Now proposal is also up for review, as well as the Continuing Education grants. The Board will make OPLIN Board appointments and be updated on the Memorandum of Understanding and Communication Plan with Columbus Metropolitan Library. In June, the board will be asked to take actions on four requests to dissolve regional charters (SOLO, MOLO, NOLA, CAMLS), one new regional charter (NERLS), and two revised regional charters (NW and SE). The Board will receive an informational update on one interstate library compact (SW). The Board will also approve the budget of the four new Regional Library Systems at $252,610.25 each. The Talking Book Program funding, both state and federal, will also be up for approval. In July, the board will review automation grants.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Patron Conduct Policy
Gretchen Persohn, Head of Research Services, then presented the proposed Patron Conduct Policy for adoption. The policy was presented at a previous Board meeting and reviewed by the Attorney General’s office and revised accordingly.
Dr. Paulson moved (M-21-06) adoption of the following Patron Conduct Policy.
Rules of Conduct for State Library Customers
The State Library of Ohio strives to make available a facility that is clean and comfortable to support the varied research needs of our customers. To ensure a pleasant environment that is conducive to the needs of all library users, the State Library Board has adopted the following Rules of Conduct. These rules apply to all library customers while on library property.
Customers in violation of these rules will be asked to discontinue the prohibited activity. If the customer continues engaging in inappropriate behavior after being warned, they will be asked to leave the facility. The Columbus Police will be contacted to deal with customers who refuse to leave the facility, or are suspected of engaging in criminal behavior.
Customers who intentionally and/or repeatedly violate the Rules of Conduct may be suspended from returning to the library. Such suspensions shall be progressive in nature—with the first suspension for one week; second suspension for one month; third suspension for one year. Suspensions may be appealed to the State Library Board through the State Librarian.
Rules of Conduct
1. Use of obscene, abusive, threatening or insulting language or intimidating or harassing customers or staff in the library is prohibited.
2. Conduct which disrupts, or in any way interferes with normal operations of the library or with the use and enjoyment of the library by other customers is prohibited.
3. Bathing, washing clothes and shaving in the restrooms or bodily hygiene that could be considered offensive is prohibited.
4. Begging, selling or soliciting on library property is prohibited.
5. The State Library of Ohio is a smoke free, alcohol free, drug free and weapons free facility.
6. Eating and drinking are permitted only in designated areas.
7. Animals, with the exception of certified service animals, are prohibited.
8. Removing without checking out, damaging or destroying library materials or property is prohibited.
9. Children must be supervised by an adult (See State Library of Ohio’s Policy on Unattended Children, adopted Sep 26, 2002).
Ms. O’Brien seconded the motion. The motion passed with all members voting “yes”.
NEW BUSINESS
Talking Book Resolution
Dr. Paulson moved (M-22-06) adoption of the following resolution honoring Senior General Electric Volunteers:
Whereas, the Senior General Electric Volunteers Talking Book Reconditioning Project has been in operation for 16 continuous years; and
Whereas, these dedicated General Electric retirees have contributed in excess of 202,000 volunteer hours to the program resulting in an estimated savings to the National Library Service of 2.7 million dollars; and
Whereas, the generous efforts of these volunteers are vital in providing reliably functioning listening machines that allow Ohio’s blind and physically handicapped population easy access to information of all types; and
Whereas, the Senior General Electric Volunteers will be celebrating shipping their 50,000th reconditioned talking book machine on May 2nd, 2006;
Therefore be it resolved, that the State Library Board of Ohio commends, recognizes and celebrates the significant contribution the Senior General Electric Volunteers have made to Ohio’s Talking Book Program and looks forward to many more years of success and collaboration.
Ms. Hastings seconded the motion. The motion passed with all members voting “yes”.
Retirement Resolution
Ms. O’Brien moved (M-23-06) adoption of the following resolution honoring Kitty Zerger upon her retirement from the State Library of Ohio:
Whereas, Kitty Zerger loyally served the State Library of Ohio for 29 years; and
Whereas, Kitty Zerger provided excellent service throughout southeastern Ohio while working on the SEO bookmobiles; and
Whereas, Kitty Zerger continued to serve all Ohio residents by providing materials through SEO’s interlibrary loan service;
Therefore, be it resolved that upon her retirement the State Library Board, on behalf of the State Library of Ohio and Ohio's library community, hereby thanks Kitty Zerger for her tireless and exemplary efforts, gratefully appreciates her many significant contributions to the Library's services and programs and wishes her the best in the future.
Ms. Hastings seconded the motion. The motion passed with all members voting "yes".
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further items for discussion, the Board adjourned by common consent at 2:25 p.m., Tuesday, April 25, 2006.