May 23, 2006

The State Library Board met May 23, 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 1:04 p.m., Tuesday, May 23, 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; Doug Evans, Ohio Library Council; Stephen Hedges and Don Yarman, OPLIN; Bonnie Chandler and Russ Pollitt, Columbus Metropolitan Library; Theresa Fredericka and Cynthia Duchane, INFOhio; Paul Pormen, Kristen Pool, and Brad Stephens, NOLA Regional Library System; Madeline Brookshire and Tracy Strobel, Cuyahoga County Public Library; Bob Carterette and Brian Leszcz, Cleveland Public Library; Bruce Hawkins, MCOE; Chris Bowser, Ohio Department of Education; Tom Sanville, OhioLINK.

State Library staff members present were: Pete Bates, Ashlee Clark, Diane Fink, Sean Hughes, Missy Lodge, Bill Morris, Catherine Kolbash, Gretchen Persohn, Roger Verny, Jim Buchman, Lisa Hickle, and Larry Walls.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Dr. Paulson moved (M-24-06) approval of the April 25, 2006 Board meeting minutes. Mr. Miller seconded the motion. The minutes were approved by common consent.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

There were no requests for public participation.

LSTA REPORT

Libraries Connect Ohio Grant
Mr. Roger Verny, Deputy State Librarian, introduced Mr. Stephen Hedges, Executive Director of OPLIN. Mr. Hedges, on behalf of the three partners, OhioLINK, OPLIN and INFOhio, requested LSTA funding for the fourth year of the five year funding of the Libraries Connect Ohio databases. Mr. Hedges introduced Ms. Theresa Fredericka, Executive Director of INFOhio, to speak on behalf of school library use of the Libraries Connect Ohio databases. Ms. Fredericka thanked the State Library Board on behalf of the INFOhio Board for their commitment to the Ohio library community. Ms. Fredericka then addressed the efforts INFOhio has made in educating students and parents about the online databases. INFOhio received a grant from the Reinberger Foundation through which they created an INFOhio toolkit and a four minute video to increase outreach to parents. Both were shared with the Board.

Mr. Miller suggested that the partners work with State Library staff to develop an RFP for marketing the literature collection since a lot of money was spent on the content and usage is low. Mr. Miller also indicated that he is interested in a good study of Newsbank. Ms. Baines asked the partners their assessment of LearningExpress Library. Ms. Fredericka stated that INFOhio is pleased with the K-12 usage and it seems to be what Ohio is looking for.

Ms. Hastings moved (M-25-06) that a Library Services and Technology (LSTA) grant in the amount of $250,000 from FFY 2005 funds be awarded to Wright State University for the Libraries Connect of Ohio (OhioLINK, OPLIN, INFOhio) Statewide Core Electronic Information Collection project for the period of July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007 and that $80,000 from FFY 2005 funds and $994,374 from FFY 2006 funds be awarded for the period of July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007 contingent upon release of SFY 2007 federal appropriations within ALI 350-601.

Ms. O’Brien seconded the motion. The motion passed with all members voting “yes”.

KnowItNow Grant
Mr. Verny then introduced Tracy Strobel, Deputy Director of Cuyahoga County Public Library. Ms. Strobel, on behalf of the managing partners, Cleveland Public Library, Cuyahoga County Public Library, and the Northeast Ohio Regional Library System, thanked the Board for the past two years of support of KnowItNow. Ms. Strobel noted that KnowItNow is the busiest and best service of its type in the world with a 14% increase in business in the past year and over 17,000 questions answered online in March 2006. Ms. Strobel introduced Brian Leszcz of Cleveland Public Library, who gave an informational presentation on year two statistics. Kristen Pool, KnowItNow AfterDark Coordinator, then updated the Board on recruitment efforts, staffing, training, and upcoming projects. Madeline Brookshire, Cuyahoga County Public Library, updated the Board on the marketing efforts for KnowItNow. In addition to continued marketing to the major audiences of school children and the general public, the partners identified three target audiences in which to increase awareness: Hispanic-speaking populations, small business operators, and nighttime users.

Dr. Paulson moved (M-26-06) that a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant in the amount of $1,104,909  from FFY06 funds be awarded to Cuyahoga County Public Library for the KnowItNow 24/7 Virtual Reference Service for the period of July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, contingent upon the release of SFY 2007 federal appropriations within ALI 350-601.

Mr. Miller seconded the motion. The motion passed with all members voting “yes”.

Continuing Education Grants
Mr. Verny informed the board that despite major revisions in the Continuing Education grants programs, only two responses were received after the last RFP was released. Mr. Verny then presented one grant for recommendation at a reduced funding amount of $5,000 to OELMA for conference speakers at the OELMA 2006 Annual Conference.

Mr. Miller stated that 4-6 months ago the Board agreed not to fund speakers through grants. The State Librarian can award up to $5,000 without Board approval. Mr. Miller expects that in the future no one will apply for conference speakers through the grant process.

Ms. O’Brien moved (M-27-06) that a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Continuing Education grant in the amount of $5,000 from FFY06 funds be awarded to Ohio Educational Library Media Association  for the 2006 OELMA Annual Conference for the period of July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, contingent upon the release of SFY 2007 federal appropriations within ALI 350-601. 

Dr. Paulson seconded the motion. The motion passed with all members voting “yes”.

STATE LIBRARIAN'S REPORT

Legislative Day Update
Ms. Jo Budler, State Librarian, introduced Mr. Bill Morris, Executive Assistant to the State Librarian, to report on ALA National Library Legislative Day 2006. On Tuesday, May 2nd, in Washington DC, 17 Ohio library advocates joined 525 colleagues from 47 states to inform Ohio members of Congress about the current state of affairs in Ohio libraries. One of the highlights of the trip was the opportunity the delegation had to meet with Senator DeWine right after seeing him vote on the Senate floor on CSPAN. In addition to telling the Ohio story, the participants also focused on several issues of importance to libraries at the national level, including asking to fund the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) at the President’s recommended level of $220.8 million for FY 2007.

Genealogy Memorandum of Understanding/Communication Plan
Ms. Budler referred the board to the Memorandum of Understanding/Communication Plan and timeline included in the board packets. Ms. Budler indicated that the documents are a work in progress and informed the board that Ms. Bonnie Chandler and Mr. Russ Pollitt, of the Columbus Metropolitan Library Biography, History and Travel Division, were in attendance if the Board had any questions. Ms. Baines indicated that the Board would be happy to meet with the Columbus Metropolitan Library Board if it would be useful.

New Employee Introduction
Ms. Budler introduced Catherine (Cate) Kolbash, the new State Library Head of Employee Relations.

NEW BUSINESS

OPLIN Board Appointments
Mr. Stephen Hedges presented the State Library Board with qualified names selected by the OPLIN Nominating Committee and Board. After seeking nominations from the library community, the recommended appointees were selected by a number of factors including the geographic location and size of the library each director represented.

Ms. Hastings moved (M-28-06) that the following persons be appointed to the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) Board of Trustees for the terms outlined below:

Ms. O’Brien seconded the motion. The motion passed with all members voting “yes”. Ms. Baines thanked the previous members for their dedication and welcomed the new members.

Board Meeting Schedule
Ms. Hastings moved (M-29-06) adoption of the following Board Meeting schedule for fiscal year 2007:

Ms. O’Brien seconded the motion. The motion passed with all members voting “yes”.

Retirement Resolution
Dr. Paulson moved (M-30-06) adoption of the following resolution honoring Dorothy Drake upon her retirement from the State Library of Ohio:

WHEREAS, Dorothy Drake has generously provided the State Library of Ohio with over thirty years of exemplary service; and

WHEREAS, Dorothy Drake has worked in several departments at the State Library including Library Programs & Development, Word Processing and Fiscal Services; and

WHEREAS, Dorothy Drake has graciously provided assistance and excellent service to library staff, co-workers and customers through positions she has held at the State Library; and

WHEREAS, Dorothy Drake has shown incredible dedication to the State Library of Ohio and libraries across Ohio during her time here;

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 Dorothy Drake for her tireless and exemplary efforts, gratefully appreciates her many significant contributions to the services and programs of the State Library of Ohio and wishes her the best in the future.

Ms. Hastings seconded the motion. The motion passed with all members voting “yes”.

Executive Session
Ms. Hastings moved (M-31-06) at 2:45pm that the State Library Board enter into Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter. Mr. Miller seconded the motion. The motion passed with all members voting “yes”.

Mr. Miller moved (M-32-06) at 3:15pm that the State Library Board come out of Executive Session. Ms. O’Brien seconded the motion. The motion passed with all members voting “yes”.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further items for discussion, Dr. Paulson moved (M-33-06) to adjourn. Ms. Hastings seconded the motion. The Board adjourned by common consent at 3:18pm, Tuesday, May 23, 2006.

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