Present: Leslie Schoenherr (Past President), Cathy Lee (Treasurer), Paul Polk (Assistant Treasurer/Treasurer Elect), Bobbie Myles (Clerk), Jeff Cramer, Cynthia English, Paul Kissman (MBLC Liaison), Sunny Vandermark (MMRLS)
Meeting called to order: 2:30 pm
The revised bottom line for the FY2008 budget (and basis for FY2009 budget) is $1,370,966. This is a reduction of $7,968. The Budget Committee met to determine how to eliminate $7,968 from the FY2008 budget. In June 2007 the board decided to transfer remaining funds in the database line item to MassCat. Some of these funds ($12,000) will be transferred to the computer hardware and software line item for new lab equipment. If the equipment costs less than $12,000, then the remaining funds will be returned to MassCat. Another $15,000 will be spent on a Tier One Strategic Goal to help develop a marketing/PR plan. The original FY2008 delivery line was $555,996 but is reduced to $518,529 due to a negotiated 2% increase and an agreement with BPL and MBLC to divide BPL’s $65,000 line for providing a cross state delivery service among the regional library systems. Metrowest’s share is $9,727, which is less than one week’s delivery payment.
Motion to approve the FY 2008 budget revision Paula Polk /Jeff Cramer.
Sunny explained that Metrowest performs the same services over time. The Plan of Service contains seven service areas that are determined by the MBLC and are the same for all of the regions. The service areas are: delivery services, supplemental reference services, interlibrary loan, continuing education and training, advisory and technical assistance, supplemental services, and regional coordination/ administration. There are only two changes in the FY2009 Plan of Service from the FY2008 Plan of Service. These changes are (1) delivery services: finalize the LSTA funded Business plan and (2) interlibrary loan: continue implementation of Open Source (LibLime) vendor migration for MassCat. The board will vote on the FY2009 Plan of Service at its October meeting.
Although optimistic about potential new funds for FY2009, the regional budget must be developed on a level funded budget for FY2009. This will cause a deficit in the delivery line item. Perhaps Metrowest may need to use interest money that has accumulated over the years for delivery or other costs. The Personnel Committee needs to meet to set the salaries for FY2009. The board will vote on the FY2009 budget at its October meeting.
The full time librarian was moved from the high school to an elementary school. The high school now has a part time librarian, which does not meet the requirements for membership in Metrowest. Norwood has also left the Mass Cat program. The board will vote at its next meeting to remove Norwood High School from membership in Metrowest.
The Director of the Framingham Public Library, Mark Contois, has agreed to join the board. Leslie still has board openings to fill for 2008.
Sarah has been on the job for a month. She is doing well. Waste Management Corporation supported the summer reading program by donating $40,000 towards printing. Rita is very busy helping school librarians change IP addresses. She is also working with public library web masters. They are planning to start a wiki to share information.
Staff from Proquest, Thomson Gale, and EBSCO will be giving training around the state on the state sponsored databases. Paul told us that the list of dates, times, and locations of these training sessions will be emailed to library directors by the MBLC. At the MBLC Board meeting there was discussion of the FY2009 legislative agenda. For FY2009 the MBLC will ask for the full statutory funding for FY09 regional budget. The overall budget package is a 30% increase over the FY2008 budget. State Aid to Public Libraries line for FY2009 does not include the new plan that was released in June for state aid. Lt. Governor Tim Murray met with MBLC staff, Rob Maier and Maureen Killoran about budget issues. Governor Deval Patrick is developing a five year capital development plan. This plan will include about $100 million in library construction grants. An inflation factor was approved to allow the amount requested in applications for construction funding to increase depending on how long they have been on the waiting list.
Paul announced the September 29 Friends sharing with Friends conference and the Friends and Trustees joint conference in November. The MBLC has mailed information about these conferences to public libraries.
Meeting adjourned at 3:40 Cathy Lee /Paula Polk
Submitted,
B. Myles, Clerk