The Steering Committee met at BAR on October 19, 2000. Meeting was convened at 1:30 by Chairperson Deborah Barchi. In attendance were: Deborah Barchi, BAR; Peter Bennett, PRO; Judy Bell, JAM; Carol Brouwer, NSM; John Carney, EPL; Donna DiMichele, OLIS; Heather Fields, ASH; Joan Hackett, HAR; Paul Holliday, CRA; De Johnson, JOH; Leslie McDonough, SCI; Ginny Moses, CLAN; Rick Payette, CLAN; Doug Pearce, WAR; Susan Reed, PAW; Cindy St. Amour, PRO.
Previous minutes were accepted as written.
Ginny Moses reported:
- World Book prices have been faxed and sent in hard copy to all libraries
- The annual audit is continuing and will hopefully be completed before Nov. 15, the filing deadline. Otherwise an extension will be filed by CLAN’s CPA.
- Elaine Clark has been hired as CLAN’s new Administrative Assistant. She starts 10/30.
Peter Bennett reported:
- New problems constantly surfacing with phone companies - optimism dwindling
- If we can get past line speed problems we should be okay
- Some problems due to Verizon—install dated are now 2-3 months out
- He asks them about WES, GVL, NSM, JAM every day but they are not forthcoming with FOC’s - Firm order commitment dates
Mary Ellen raised the subject of the voice on Telecirc being awful and wants to suggest that they change it.
Peter said DYNIX is aware there is a great deal of dissatisfaction with the voice and the next Release is supposed to fix it, but there has been no date set yet for that release.
Discussion ensued, with committee members citing many complaints.
- A motion was made by Joan Hackett to have Ginny write a letter to the CEO of DYNIX expressing our dissatisfaction and requesting a definite agenda for changing the voice - including dates - and telling her we are making her name, address, etc. known to all our members.
- Seconded by De Johnson
- Passed unanimously
Rick Payette reported:
- The latest PC order went in last Tuesday
- Expect shipment early next week
- We had good price--$1073 rather than $1200.
- Call Rick for help with installation
Leslie McDonough presented the preliminary budget:
- Membership fees increase less than 1%
- Decrease in DYNIX maintenance and subtracting last year’s Administrative Assistant held it down considerably
- Fees could even be lower if we get e-rate rebates
Donna DiMichele said that OLIS’s NELINET costs were quadrupled from last year’s so watch for higher rate
Peter informed her we have already seen our increase and we have addressed it in the budget figures
Sheila is available at OLIS to help with e-rate questions - she took several days of training in D.C.
Anecdotal discussion of problematic e-rate/SLD experiences ensued.
- The PRO salary figures were estimated at 7% as per Dan Austin’s advice, since salaries of tech personnel there may increase due to a study
- Joan H. asked what % increase the CLAN staff figures represent - that figure will be available at the CLAN meeting in Nov.
- Judy Bell moved that the Steering Committee approve the budget for presentation to the membership at the Nov. meeting
- Seconded by Heather Fields
- Passes unanimously
Mary Ellen Hardiman said she has received a records retention schedule from the Archives Division of the Secretary of State’s office - did CLAN have any input to the report?
CLAN keeps patron records 3 years
Judy Bell said she thought the record of a lost and paid item stays on the patron record.
Peter said no—the PURF’s are cleared out regularly.
Sue Reed asked if Peter and/or Rick would have ideas on webivore-type products. She asked if all of CLAN would have to agree on specific parameters. Discussion ensued, regarding ideas of what does and does not belong in CLAN’s catalog.
Then a discussion of web sites being included in the catalog began, with information about the 856 tag in the MARC records being discussed. It means online subscriptions could actually have links in the catalog.
Debbie Barchi asked why any library would not want links to web sites in its catalog.
Rick Payette asked if there is really a need for an additional tool between the user and the resource. Is it really effective to do that?
Mary Ellen Hardiman thought that patrons seeking hard copies of materials through the catalog might find it a problem to find other formats in there.
Rick Payette replied that the idea of specific formats is becoming blurred
Judy Bell suggested that some terminals should be kept for use as catalogs only - without web searching ability so that they will not be monopolized by web searchers.
It was decided that the discussion of this matter needs to be researched and refined before it is presented to the membership.
Donna DiMichele, with the help of the CLAN catalogers, will look into the 856 tag question and prepare a presentation for the membership.
Karen asked that further circ training be provided members who would like it - Ginny will arrange it.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:45.
Next meeting of the Steering Committee is scheduled for Jan. 18, 2001 at WAR.
