February 16-17, 2006
February 16, 2006
The State Library Board met February 16 - 17, 2006 at the offices of OHIONET, 1500 West Lane Avenue, Columbus, Ohio to conduct their annual retreat.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, February 16, 2006. State Library Board members present were: Ms. Ann Baines, President; Ms. Lucille Hastings, Vice President; Mr. David Miller, Ms. Jacquelyn O'Brien, Dr. George W. Paulson and Ms. Jo Budler, Secretary.
Visitors present were: Amy Crowe, Ohio Genealogical Society; Doug Evans, Ohio Library Council.
State Library staff members present were: Pete Bates, Diane Fink, Sean Hughes, Paul Immel, Missy Lodge, Bill Morris, Ashlee Clark, Chris Tucker, and Roger Verny.
GENEALOGY TOUR AT COLUMBUS METROPOLITAN LIBRARY
The meeting began at the Columbus Metropolitan Library, 96 S. Grant Avenue, Columbus. Ms. Bonnie Chandler, Manager of the Columbus Metropolitan Library Biography, History and Travel Division, presented information about the Library’s genealogy services and conducted a tour of the facility for the Board.
GENEALOGY DISCUSSION
After touring the Columbus Metropolitan Library the Board traveled to OHIONET to continue the retreat with a discussion of options for improving Genealogy services to the end user. Roger Verny, Deputy State Librarian, led the group in an exercise to explore the pros and cons of the option of moving the Genealogy collection to the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
There was discussion about the need to involve the genealogical community in the transition including the possibility of partnering with the Ohio Genealogical society in the future using LSTA funds on a genealogy project of statewide significance.
Ms. Hastings moved (M-03-06) that the State library Board authorizes the State Librarian to develop with the Columbus Metropolitan Library a draft agreement to be approved by the State Library Board and the Board of Trustees of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, for the transfer of genealogy materials to the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
The agreement, by the State Library Board’s May meeting, shall include, but is not limited to:
A plan of transfer that protects the integrity of the collection and the quality of service;
A communications /marketing plan in partnership with representatives of the genealogy community;
A timeline for implementation;
A memo of understanding that specifies expectations and long-term commitment of both parties.
Ms. O’Brien seconded the motion. The motion passed with all members voting “yes”.
OATH OF OFFICE
Ms. Baines administered the oath of office to Dr. George W. Paulson. Dr. Paulson was appointed to a second five-year term on the State Library Board by the State Board of Education at their December meeting.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The January 10, 2006 minutes were approved by common consent.
Business Plan Update
Jo Budler, State Librarian, gave a brief update on the progress being made on the State Library Business Plan. She shared some usage statistics and noted that a record breaking number of new library cards were issued in the month of January. She commented that the plan is a working document and continues to change. Ms. Baines asked how progress on the plan was being tracked. Ms. Budler replied that a spreadsheet document was being used to track progress of the plan and would be shared with the Board.
Sean Hughes, Public Relations Manager, provided a brief update on the Marketing and Communications plan he has proposed. He noted that some pieces of the plan need to take place before some aspects of the business plan can be accomplished. He will be building a toolkit for the State Library to do better marketing in the future.
Union Contract Negotiations
Diane Fink, Head, Fiscal Services, provided an overview of the latest contract negotiations with the OSCEA/AFCSME employees union. The negotiations were held at the State Library’s facilities. Details of the contract are expected to become public after the contract is voted on by union members later in the month. Ms. Hastings asked what percentage of employees are covered by collective bargaining. Ms. Fink responded that approximately 20% of the State Libraries are exempt from Collective Bargaining.
Regional Library Systems update
Ms. Budler provided an update on the progress being made towards a proposed new plan of Regional Library service in the state. She noted that things are moving along. In the Southeast region of the state there was some discussion about the possibility of closing the OVAL office in Wellston. Ms. Budler explained that the State Library offered to provide a small amount of office space for the Regionals at the State Library facility and that was misinterpreted as an offer to have the SE regional use Columbus as a central office. That is not the intention since the State library would be unable to provide the kind of support necessary for a full office. This miscommunication has been corrected.
The Northeast region of the state continues to meet to try and develop a new regional. The meetings have involved MOLO, CAMLS, NOLA and the state library at times, along with facilitation by Russ Crabtree of Holy Cow! Consulting. Discussion ensued about the potential fallout in the library community if the current regional systems fail to work out their differences and come to a solution that fits within the proposed plan. The State Library Board reiterated its support for the proposed plan to form 4 regional systems which geographically cover the entire state.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Ms. Hastings moved (M-04-06) at 5:30 p.m. 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”.
Ms. O’Brien moved (M-05-06) at 7:45 p.m. that the State Library Board reconvene from Executive Session. Ms. Hastings seconded the motion. The motion passed with all members voting “yes”.
February 17, 2006
LSTA Five Year Plan
Roger Verny, Deputy State Librarian, began a discussion about the development of the next Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) five year plan. Looking back over the past five year plan he noted the following general highlights:
A continued /expanded support of Statewide Initiatives
Uninspired competitive grants
Success of KnowItNow and the LCO databases
A need to look into digitization projects
Ms. Baines noted that we should not lose sight of Innovative Technology projects.
LSTA funds to extend KIN subscription and LCO databases
Mr. Verny noted that funding for the KnowItNow service and the Libraries Connect Ohio core databases will be running out in the next two years. Discussion followed about the usage of products like KnowItNow and LearningExpress Library by the school community and the need to engage that community through the school administrators. There was also discussion about pursuing a partnership with the Department of Education to secure future funding for these projects.
Mr. Verny noted that the third year of funding for the KIN project will come before the Board in May. To plan for future funding the State Library will approach the Department of Education about possibly providing 50% of the funding.
Discussion followed regarding the LCO databases and the need to evaluate which databases should be continue to be provided in the future.
Political Environment
Ms. Budler began a discussion on the possibility of passage of a Tax and Expenditure Limitation/Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TEL/TABOR) constitutional amendment which will be on the November ballot. The passage of such an amendment would have serious consequences to funding for public libraries as well as state government. Bill Morris, Executive Assistant to the State Librarian, provided a brief update on the Local Government and Library Revenue Distribution Task Force, a joint legislative committee to study the future of funding for libraries and local governments. The committee has so far heard presentations from the Ohio Department of Taxation on the history of funding to local governments and libraries. Plans call for recommendations to be made at the end of 2006 with those recommendations being implemented in the next budget cycle.
Regional Library Systems
The Board followed up on its discussion from the previous day regarding the Regional Library Systems.
Ms. Hastings moved (M-06-06) that the State Library Board reaffirms its support for the proposed Regional library system plan to fund four regions which was accepted by the current regional systems in October.
Ms. O’Brien seconded the motion. The motion passed with all members voting “yes”.
Statewide Resource Sharing (status and use of LSTA as seed money)
Pete Bates, Deputy Director for Information Systems and Technology, gave a brief update on the status of the MORE project and plans for the next generation of Statewide Resource Sharing. Ms. Budler asked the State Library Board to consider use of LSTA to fund SWRS pilot projects. The State Library Board agreed to evaluate proposals for pilot state Statewide Resource Sharing projects in the future. At that time funding with LSTA dollars will be an option.
Purchase of SOLO Building
Dr. Paulson moved (M-07-06) that the State Library Board authorizes State Library staff to proceed with the acquisition of the building, land and assets associated with the SOLO Regional Library System in accordance with State of Ohio processes and through a memorandum of understanding.
Ms. Hastings seconded the motion. The motion passed with all members voting “yes”.
Board Meeting Date Changes
Dr. Paulson moved (M-08-06) that the following changes be made to the Board meeting schedule for the rest of fiscal year 2006:
Thursday, April 27, 2006 is moved to Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Thursday, May 25, 2006 is moved to Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Thursday, June 29, 2006 is moved to Thursday, June 22, 2006
And that Thursday July 20, 2006 is added to the schedule of Board Meetings.
Ms. O’Brien seconded the motion. The motion passed with all members voting “yes”.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further items for discussion, Mr. Miller moved (M-09-06) adjournment. Ms. Baines seconded the motion. The motion passed with all members voting "yes". The Board adjourned at 3:10 p.m. Friday, February 17, 2006.