Present were: Jim Giles, NSH; Becky Turnbaugh, Elizabeth Rodrigues, Connie Lachowicz, SKI; Joyce Brothers, NAR; Carol H. Brouwer, NSM; Sandra Mundy, BUR; Peter Bennett, Bev Klyberg, Debbie Lynden, PRO; Leslie Page, WNS; Celeste Dyer, CUM; Sandy Mackenzie, CHA; Joan Hackett, HAR; Eileen Socha, John Carney, EPR; Susan Millard, WIL; Jeanne Warren, TIV; Frances Farrell-Bergeron, Jill Sperlak, Tim Heigh, WWA; Leslie McDonough, SCI; Robert Balliott, MID; Jenny LaPerriere, FOS/TYL; Joan Prescott, BRI; Judith Bell, JAM; Pat DiBella, WGR; Joan Schaefer, Doug Swiszc, BAR; Donna Dufault, NKI; Margaret Victoria, WES; Paul Holliday, CRA; Dee Johnson, JOH; Holly Albanese, HPE; Maria Baxter, LIN; Ginny Taken, Rick Payette, Cynthia St. Amour, CLAN; Tom Shannahan, CFA; Dorothy Frechette, OLIS; Sharon Fredette, WAR; Karen Taylor, EGR; Edna Wells, Anne Toll, NPT; Mary Ellen Hardiman, NPR; Sarah Weed, WRR.
The meeting was called to order at the Central Falls Library by Tom Shannahan, Chair.
A motion to accept the previous meeting's minutes was seconded and approved in a vote.
Joan Hackett and Karen Taylor of the Nominating Committee proposed the slate of new officers: Connie Lachowicz: Vice Chair and Sarah Weed: Secretary. The slate was elected in a vote.
A short break was taken so that the regional representatives to the Steering Committee could be chosen. The new representatives are: Island: Robert Balliott, Northern: John Carney, Southern: Jim Giles, Western: Karen Taylor.
Phyllis Harnick and Tom Chase of the RI Office of Higher Education of the RI Department of Education gave a presentation about the scholarship and college choice information available on their website:
www.uri.edu/ribog/col_prep.htm.
Executive Director's Report
Ginny Taken reported that the 999 conversion is going well. Since February 5,000 records have been handled. The PCs that were ordered in a group have arrived. A second session of the "What to ask for from Champlin" workshop is scheduled for May 27th at WAR. Most of the surveys that were distributed asking about group purchases have been returned, but please submit any that are not yet filled out. Any library that paid for the Health Reference Center can get a refund through Ginny. Everyone should have received a memo from Peter Bennett about the Y2K compliance of CLAN. Ginny received another letter of protest about the name of CLAN and she has responded to it. Rick Payette now has a pager (with a nonpublished number), so he is reachable through the CLAN office even when he is on the road. Rick has redesigned the CLAN website and it has received 1,200 hits per month. Ginny will represent CLAN on the Blue Ribbon Committee to implement the COLA report.
Ginny introduced Susan Millard, the new librarian from Willett Library. They will soon be joining CLAN. Exeter thinks they will be joining, depending on the funding level agreed to at their Town Meeting on May 18th.
Ginny reported that the Steering Committee recommends a new 800 number for the CLAN office. Installation would be free, there is a monthly $10 fee and calls cost 15 cents a minute. It was moved and seconded that we get the 800 number. Discussion ensued. The motion passed in a vote.
Technical Support Specialists' Reports
Rick Payette reported that the PCs bought with a group purchase have all been delivered to the libraries involved and bills will be sent out by the CLAN office. Set up should be "easier than a VCR." He may make a CDROM of all the discs necessary for installation. All of the computers have Windows 98 and Fortres 101 version 4. The automatic opener on the Dell Optiplex model can be luggage locked in the rear. He is considering a group purchase more than once a year, and would renegotiate with Dell every time.
Some 486 workstations have been donated that are suitable for telnet and to replace dumb terminals. They can run Windows 95 and the older version of Netscape. Y2K may be a problem with these older models, but any library may request one from Rick and, if demand warrants, he will have a lottery.
Older equipment including PCs, fax machines, monitors and phones may be recycled through Metech in Mapleville, RI. The service is free (except for freight charges) to nonprofits.
Robert Balliott stated he has found Gateway to be cheaper than Dell and that libraries can get software cheaper through the statewide purchasing plan. Dorothy Frechette reported that a meeting about purchasing ASAP software would be held at the Reagan Conference Center close to the ACI on Monday, May 17 from 9-11 am.
Cindy St. Amour reported that NKI has turned in all of its dumb terminals to CLAN. Most are WYSE 60s. A handout will be distributed regarding Telxon model 710 Y2K compliance. A number of Telxons are still at DYNIX undergoing repair.
Anne Toll asked about software that would replace the use of Telxons. Peter Bennett replied that the PC Reliance 2.0 coming out in June and Release 180 may obviate the need for Telxons.
Robert Balliott asked how long the Galenet Homework Helpers on the PPL site will be available. We will all have access until at least December 1999.
System and Network Administrator's Report
Peter Bennett reported that the complete overhaul of the telecommunications servers systems have left us in the "least unhappy" status when it comes to memory and processing power. However, lack of bandwidth is holding us back. Prices are coming down and one vendor predicts SDSL will be available statewide. At a meeting last week, Champlin was supportive of the idea. Peter needs to know the total number of PCs each library will have as of January 2000 to determine our future bandwidth needs. In January he would like to see a high speed Internet connection in every public library.
Paul Holliday stated CRA is considering going to a single router rather than two. Peter responded there were some advantages to that plan. Maria Baxter asked how the connections compared to a T1 line. Peter replied that a 780 is half of a T1 line.
Treasurer's Report
Leslie McDonough reported our funds are looking good. The fee schedule for next year has been sent through the delivery.
OLIS Representative
Dorothy Frechette reported that OLIS is spending more time on library construction projects. If a library has construction plans, a preliminary application should be submitted as soon as possible. Application forms are available on the OLIS website or in hard copy from Dorothy. The information in the construction notebook is also available on the web. COLA is waiting for the final hard copy of the Leslie Burger report and then it will be distributed to all RHILINET libraries. In the Burger report there is no longer a mandate for private libraries to become town departments.
Robert Balliott asked how a library consultant for building projects gets approved. Dorothy replied that each project must have a library consultant and an architectural firm. The architect does not count as the consultant. The individual library may choose how often and much the library consultant is used.
Anne Toll reported on the funding progress of the Newport Library project.
Committee Reports
Database Management: Jenny Laperriere reported that she and Kristen Smith from LIN will be the new co-chairs. The museum passes now have MARC records. Jenny handed out a list of museum pass holdings listed by museum. Every library should work on entering the holdings records of periodicals. Central Falls has deleted some of the back years.
Susan Millard asked if newspaper holdings are entered--for now it is only magazines. Sharon Fredette wondered how many patrons need the holdings list when there are so many full text periodicals on line. Mary Ellen Hardiman asked for a show of hands and a majority of those present thought it was necessary.
Circulation Heads: The next meeting will be held Thursday, May 20 at 9:30 AM at WAR.
Ginny Taken asked what should be done with any surplus VIP equipment. Dorothy Frechette will pursue an answer.
The dates and locations of next year's meetings are: September 9 at NKI, November 18 at LIN, February 10 at WAR and May 11 at WES.
The next Library Director's meeting will be May 28 at CRA, and RILA will be held at Johnson and Wales Library from June 4 to 5.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 am.
Respectfully submitted,
Sarah Weed
Secretary
