In attendance: Debbie Barchi (BAR), Beth Curran (PRO), Lisa Davis (OSL), Celeste Dyer (CUM), Sharon Fredette (WAR), Joan Gillespie (OSL), Mattie Gustafson (NPT), Mary Ellen Hardiman (NPR), Julie Holden (PAW), Chris LaRoux (GVL), Susan Lepore (WAR), Rick Payette (OSL), Deb Rock (WAR), and Lynda Ross (CRA).

The meeting was held at the Ocean State Libraries (OSL) office in Warwick and was called to order by Chris La Roux at 10 a.m.

WORKSHOPS
Lisa Davis announced that an Overdrive webinar will take place on Wednesday, October 8 at the OSL office in Warwick. The purpose of the webinar is to teach library staff how to browse, locate, and download material from the OSL E-Zone, so staff can feel comfortable answering patron questions.

CIRCULATION
Mary Ellen Hardiman mentioned that she keeps track of circulation on materials that are purchased with monies from North Providence. She requested a report that would give her information of circulation by purchasing library. The current system, as established by Overdrive, consists of group purchases (or leasing) of materials and communal borrowing, with no way to track individual purchases. It doesn’t seem likely Overdrive would develop such a report.

MP3 PLAYER GRANT
Lisa mentioned that Chaichin Chen, from the Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS), announced at a LIT meeting that she obtained a technology grant and would be purchasing MP3 players. The committee discussed the possibility of being able to use some of the MP3 players to train library staff on how to download media from the OSL  E-Zone site.

OSL E-ZONE WEBSITE
Some players listed by Overdrive as compatible with their media, are not in fact compatible with both MP3 and protected files. The MP3 format is new and will work with iPods and some players that will not work with the
traditional Overdrive protected media format. Rick Payette pointed out this problem and a discussion ensued about how to make it more clear to the user which players are compatible with what is offered on the OSL E-Zone site. One suggestion was for the committee to make its own list of compatible media players. The drawback is that it would be time consuming to keep up such a list and Overdrive has paid staff doing it now. Another suggestion was to use the
Washington, DC model, which codes each title with the media format. A question arose as to why Overdrive even lists MP3 players when that format isn’t available to the E-Zone at this time.

Rick also pointed out that Overdrive PDF files are in version 7, whereas Adobe is currently publishing version 9. Version 9 will not play version 7 files, necessitating users to have both versions on their reading device. This type of incompatibility is inherent in technology, which changes rapidly. There was also a question of website ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance. Lisa Davis offered to ask Overdrive technicians if the website is
not ADA compliant to make it so.

OVERDRIVE DIGITAL BOOKMOBILE
There is an interest in having Overdrive bring its digital bookmobile to Rhode Island. It is used to advertise Overdrive’s media, and was recently in Boston. Lisa Davis is going to ask about it.

MEDIA ORDER LISTS
Media lists of desired titles were created by Mattie Gustafson, Lynda Ross, and Mary Ellen Hardiman and made available on the Content Reserve web site to assist members ordering. Chris was asked to inform members of these lists and ordering assistance at the OSL meeting on September 11 in Exeter.

OTHER
There was a request to see updated survey results. Chris will make those available. North Providence Library is planning “Drop-in” days at the library for patrons interesting in learning about Overdrive technology.
There was a request for more OSL E-Zone bookmarks. Lisa Davis will look into the cost for printing more.
Providence Public has enough Champlin Foundations grant money to pay for the current standing orders for the remainder of the fiscal year. The grant also paid for the two leased, always available, titles to extend them to the end of the fiscal year. A method for funding the two always available leased audio book titles ($6,000) will need to be found for next fiscal year. The committee discussed funding options and authorized Chris to discuss these with the
Steering Committee on October 2.

NEXT MEETING
The next meeting is scheduled for October 31 at 10 a.m. at the OSL office
in Warwick.

Respectfully submitted,
Chris La Roux