The Steering Committee met at WAR. Meeting was convened by Vice-Chair Becky Boragine at 9:45 AM. Those in attendance were:

Peter Bennett, PRO; Becky Boragine, LIN; John Carney, EPL; Sharon Fredette, WAR; Joan Hackett, HAR; Paul Holliday, CRA; David Macksam, CRA; Ginny Moses, CLAN; Elsie Oltedale, WGR; Anne Parent, OLIS; Richard Payette, CLAN; Doug Pearce, WAR.

Executive Director Ginny Moses:

CLAN is seeking a representative for Library Legislative Day in Washington, D.C. David Macksam expressed the idea that Ginny Moses should be CLAN's rep.

Each library organization in RI is being asked to write a letter supporting H 7039 seeking increased (and continued) funding for the delivery system. Letters to go to David.

Ginny has discussed database licensing with Dorothy Frechette to see if RILINK libraries are interested in subscribing with CLAN. Thus far there appears to be no funding, but RILINK libraries may join at a later date.

PAS is going online on February 4.

No interest has been expressed in contracting for purchase of ''Images of RI.''

Systems and Network Administrator Peter Bennett:

WebSense is to be available centrally through PRO. We are looking into this because of CIPA compliance requirements.
PRO needs a proxy server to run WebSense. It will cost about $15K for all of CLAN to be included in WS and share out the costs.

Both NPR and WAR, which have been running WS at a cost of about $8k each will now do it through PRO.

Joan: would we need to buy any equipment to participate?
Peter: no.

Libraries can block by profile at each library.

Rick: how do we prevent patrons' bypassing WS?
Peter: desk tops would be locked so no one could change settings.

We will go with Aegis or Atrion.

NPR and WAR use Aegis. Price wise there is no difference.

If CIPA does not go into effect, those who still want to have WS can continue. The costs will still be lower than if you did it alone. We will divide costs based on how many libraries participate.

TelecircII update: we have a task assigned at epixtech to look into it-we'll let you know when we know anything. The beta testers say the voice of Perfect Paul is better.

I Pac-will replace JAVA webpac and HTML webpac.
It went into general release on 1/1/02.

It is controversial because the upgrade is free BUT licenses and maintenance are going up perhaps 400%. Our is going from $1k to $5k.

The license price is based on total number of DYNIX users. CLAN is in the top tier (top price range)

We have bought ''enriched content'' (includes photos, etc.) at December bargain price.

PB wants iPac to have its own server. It doesn't have to, but PB really wants unique server to avoid problems, plus it will be easier to implement, test, etc.

He'll do 1 iteration first, then open up to 73 iterations.

Rick: what about putting it on a domain name?
Peter: I'm considering it, but I'm not sure…
Rick: we already have registered ''RICLAN.org.''

Loading looks okay. Our time frame is March 02.
It is supposed to work much better than JAVA webPac

Equipment for OSHEAN should be here soon-including Firewall and Packeteer.

Doug: how many libraries have no security on their PC's?
Peter: most have it

Horizon:

PB doesn't want to start before Version 8 is released because it hasn't yet gotten the functionality of DYNIX. It is slated for early 2003.

Epixtech is committed to supporting DYNIX for 10 years. We will go to Horizon no sooner than mid 2003, maybe later.
Let's wait and see where it goes…

Technical Support Specialist Rick Payette reported:

Good news: last year 27 libraries bought NAV 7.5. ASAP said upgrades would cost $10 each. Semantec says 7.6 is free!
Rick is making disks and will distribute them on 2/14 at the CLAN meeting.
It's not mandatory to do, but good to have on staff PC's that do internet email.

Some of the new Dell small form factor PC's are DOA. Rick STRONGLY urges people to start new PC's up within 30 days of receipt. If there's something wrong within the first 30 days Dell will replace them. After that they will fix and fix and fix, but seldom replace.
Dell pays shipping to return PC's that are DOA.
For repairs Dell will send a tech repair person during the duration of the 3 year warrantee.

Doug: are we getting rid of CLAN email soon?
Rick: within about 90 days. Aegis and Atrion will be asked to bid on installation.

The new server will allow us to do other things besides email, too. It also offers real internet email with nice addresses. Rick's would be rp@riclan.org.

Sharon: what about CLAN email accounts like ''WARCIRC?'' Will we still have those?
Rick: I am looking into it.
Sharon: WAR would like each branch to have one email address.
Anne P.: will this replace LORI email?
Rick: no, not to replace LORI.

OLIS representative Anne Parent reported:

The evaluation of LSTA (5 years) is coming along.
A survey came to 50 random libraries regarding LSTA over the last 5 years.

New LSTA plan is due by the end of 7/02. There will be forums and focus groups to discuss it.

OLIS is struggling with the annual report. Thanks to Rick and many others who are helping to correct problems. Anne Piascik is disgusted with the vendor who created the program. There are missed deadlines and other problems.

Exeter and EGR will receive construction reimbursement. Maybe MID, too.

A representative from Brown's medical library has received a grant and will offer training to reference librarians in searching consumer health databases, claims 50% of reference questions are health-related.

March 1 from 3 to 5 there is a reception for Barbara Weaver at the State House.
Dr. Carl says grant in aid funds should be okay this year.

RILA President David Macksam reported:

There is a House Bill for support and increased funding for the delivery-H 7039. It asks the legislature for $500k . This would allow more stops to be added and cover possible increase in costs when old contract expires.
Each stop now costs $7.63, but it could go way up. Delivery is now funded at $187k.

We need a Senate sponsor. Fran Farrell-Bergeron has lined up a Senate Finance Committee member to introduce the bill.
It will be a hard sell and may go nowhere, but we have to make a start.

We'll know more by 2/14.

Paul Holliday reported for the Database Management Committee:

CLAN needs a purge of old ''lost'' and/or ''missing/trace'' items from the database. DBM recommends we purge from 1992 through 1994.

A list would be produced each quarter.

Peter: ''upon request'' is a better idea.
Sharon: we found such a list to be useless.
Rick: could we print to a file?
Peter: we could put it into an Excel text file, then libraries could choose whether they want to print it or not.
Paul: CRA needs a printout for inventory purposes.
Becky: we don't want the items taken off patron records.
Peter: the patron records will still be charged and show purfs even if items are purged.
Anne: how many items are OCLC?
Peter: 75%

DBM will recommend it be done.

Other:

David: RILA needs formal letter from CLAN supporting H7039.
Peter: move that Ginny write such a letter.
John: second
Discussion: none
Unanimously passed.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:45.

Next meeting to be held on April 25, 2002 at CFA.