Present: Leslie Schoenherr, President, Cathy Lee, Treasurer; Dee Magnoni, Assistant Treasurer; Bobbie Myles, Clerk; Kim Charlson, Tom Jewell, Tom Viti. Also in attendance, Sunny Vandermark, Regional Administrator; Paul Kissman, MBLC; Beth Gallaway, Metrowest.
Meeting called to order at 2:40 P.M.
Leslie Schoenherr welcomed the new and returning Executive Board members. She introduced herself and gave an overview of expectations for Executive Board members. She also gave an overview of upcoming work for the Executive Board. This work includes: delivery, reviewing the regional ILL contract, and a new strategic plan that will take effect beginning FY 2007.
The consent agenda was approved. (Viti/Magnoni)
Beth Gallaway is an ALA mover and shaker for this year. The March 15 issue of Library Journal will contain an article about this year’s movers and shakers. The Executive Board congratulated Beth on her accomplishment. Kim Charlton was an ALA mover and shaker last year.
Sunny Vandermark reported that it is likely that some funds will be added to the House 1 MBLC’s budget for delivery. If the MBLC receives funds, there is some chance that more money will be added to the Metrowest budget. If Metrowest receives additional money, the Budget Committee will revise the budget. If the revision is either $50,000 or 10% of the program item, then the revision must be approved by MBLC.>
Sunny reported that more volunteers are needed for the budget committee. Ideally, the new volunteers would come from the general membership, not the Executive Board. Volunteers are also needed more for Personnel Committee.
Sunny announced that this year’s Legislative Breakfasts are scheduled for Friday, March 3. Two Metrowest libraries will host Legislative Breakfasts, one library is Ashland and the other is Newton. Sunny suggested that members of the Executive Board volunteer to help with these Legislative Breakfasts.
Sunny reported that the Metrowest/MLN Delivery Committee will meet with Eastern Connection (EC) to negotiate an addendum to the delivery contract. The addendum will include an increase in charge for deliveries from $16.25 per stop to $38.05 per stop. Metrowest is already paying EC $38.05 per stop. One of the negotiating points concerns local practices that can reduce delivery volume or make sorting easier for EC. Tom Jewell suggested that the Negotiating Committee meet before meeting with EC to develop an agenda and the negotiating parameters. The Executive Board agreed and Sunny will set up this meeting. Tom also explained that there are three groups involved in negotiations: Metrowest, Minuteman Library Network, and EC. The current contract ends 6/30/2006 and EC wants to extend it through 6/30/07.
Paul Kissman announced that the revised regulations for regional library systems, including reference centers and membership eligibility, are on the MBLC’s web site. The changes approved by the Board were to add “24/7, chat or similar web-based on-demand service” to the list of services a regional library system may contract for and to update the terminology for a school librarian to “library teacher.”
There were 150 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) direct grant program letters of intent submitted, with total requests of $2,708,860. The federal LSTA grant program received a $5 million increase over last year but it is not yet clear whether this would mean an increase for Massachusetts. Rita Gavalis submitted a letter of intent for Metrowest.
The MBLC has received a $79,050 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to provide training programs in how libraries can sustain their investment in public access computing. These training programs will be offered in coordination with the regional library systems and will begin in the fall. The Gates Foundation’s goal is to make it possible for librarians from all public libraries serving communities of under 25,000 population to attend. However, all public libraries will be invited to participate.
Sunny explained that she is authorized to sign checks for amounts up to $5,000. Now that the cost per delivery stop has increased, she requested authorization to sign delivery checks up to $10,000. Motion: Sunny Vandermark can sign checks up to $5,000 for everything except delivery. For delivery invoices, Sunny can sign checks for up to $10,000. (Dee/Viti) Approved.
Sunny reported that Verizon Wireless is giving $5,000 grants to four Metrowest libraries: Cambridge, Framingham, Holliston, and Natick for literacy projects. Metrowest also received a $2,500 from Verizon Wireless as fiscal agent and Sunny suggested that it be spent on improving the book collection at Metrowest.
Motion: Metrowest is authorized to spend this $2,500 from Verizon Wireless on Metrowest book collection. (Viti/Jewel) Approved.
Meeting adjourned at 4:00 P.M.
Respectfully submitted
Bobbie Myles, Clerk
Based on information from the professional development/continuing education committee we have developed an online survey for member input into our professional development. The draft survey will be sent to committee members for a beta test. The survey will be implemented the end of January. This is the first CE survey we have designed in over a year.
The Reference Committee is meeting this afternoon. We will be talking about database use, training needs, and regional reference.
When our accounting software was upgraded last May the special we had done years ago ceased to work. I asked the consultant who did the original work on the accounting software that allows me to easily organize the monthly MBLC expenditure reports to came in on January 4th to fix the problem. Unfortunately the problem is a major one that the accounting software company must fix. The consultant spoke to the appropriate person and was told that a fix is in beta test. Hopefully the reporting glitch will be fixed shortly. It is much more time consuming to do the required reports. Please note that there are four expenditure reports included in the consent agenda: revised July & August reports (required because SUI is now reported in a different way so I needed to update the information) and the September & October expenditure reports.
Rita and Beth ordered and received their new laptops and the necessary software. The flat screen monitor for Judy was ordered and delivered just now. Rita will set it up before she leaves on vacation.
We have had some success with delivery—and some problems. The Metrowest/Minuteman Committee has developed some good suggestions for Eastern. We are still trying to drive home the need for consist delivery times.
With consultation with Leslie I have changed the date of the Legislative Breakfasts. When talking to a school member I realized the breakfasts were scheduled during school vacation. The New Date is March 3rd. We will be talking about the Breakfasts at the Board Meeting.
The MBLC approved the FY 2007 Plan of Service and Budget at their January 5th Board Meeting.
Please try to attend the MLA WAYS AND MEANS on February 1st.
See you all on Wednesday the 11th at 2:30 pm.