NOBLE

MEMBERS OF THE CORPORATION MEETING

AT NOBLE

OCTOBER 20, 2005

 

PRESENT:  Twenty-three libraries were represented at the meeting, attendance sheet attached.

 

CALL TO ORDER: Sue Koronowski called the meeting to order at 10:10. 

 

APROVAL OF MINUTES:  John Beauregard made the motion to approve the Minutes from the September 22nd meeting.  Sharon Gilley seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT:  Mary Rose Quinn reported at a quarter way into the fiscal year budget is 24% expended.  Ron added some of line items will be adjusted from the audit to reflect expenses that were paid in FY ’06 but incurred in FY ’05.  Deborah Abraham made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report.  Ruth Urell seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

MANAGERS’ REPORT:

Ron Gagnon –

·         Our landlord, Flatley Company, has sold their property to National Development.  Ron had our attorney review some paperwork that had to be signed for the transfer.  We have 5˝ years remaining on our lease and this changeover will not effect the terms.

·         Eleven libraries ordered 37 Dell PC’s from the group purchase.  In addition NOBLE purchased 12 new PC’s for the training room.  Ron posted a message for libraries if interested in the old PC’s.  The recommended minimum PC requirements have been updated on the Staff Information System. 

·         Posted a message with quote from Atrion for wireless network.

·         Grant Update – The servers and additional software were ordered on October 3rd.  Tentative installation date for the servers is early January.  Coordinating the downtime with Innovative to be during our off hours, but since they are in California there is the time difference.  The server will come up on existing release and then install new release and additional software.

·         ISP – Our current Level 3 contract with Verizon expires in December and looking into switching to UMass.  Ron and Martha met with the rep. from UMass.  Also getting quote from Verizon for a new contract because they will no longer offer the Level 3.  Helen Freeman asked about UMass’ reliability because that was an issue before when NOBLE used them as ISP.  Ron explained there have been staff changes and upgraded their technology.  Other networks are using them and pleased with the service.  The state-funded colleges have also vouched for their reliability.

·         Continue to work with our libraries and NMRLS on downloadable audiobooks issue.

·         Continuing to work on MLA Legislative Subcommittee, Government Relations Subcommittee, looking at issue of hiring a part-time lobbyist to represent libraries.

·         MBLC is finalizing their FY 2007 legislative agenda.  Considering requesting 75% increase in funding for the networks.

·         Our FY 2005 audit is complete.  The financial statements and tax returns will be presented to Executive Board for final approval next month.

·         Due to a conflict with MLA 21st Century Literacy Conference on November 17th, NOBLE’s Members Meeting will be on November 10th.

·         Michelle Mann, MBLC Commissioner from Beverly, has resigned.

 

Elizabeth Thomsen –

·         Spoke at the LITA National Forum, participated in presentation on IUG Clearinghouse.

·         Gave a presentation on Firefox at the NELA Conference.  The presentation is on NOBLE’s web site at www.noblenet.org/firefox.  Sue inquired about its increasing use.  Elizabeth explained it’s open source software and not tied into your operating system, which makes it more secure.  Users are rewarded for finding problems in the coding and are free to develop enhancements.  Thunderbird is the email program.  A discussion ensued.  Elizabeth is looking at different ways to have Firefox training.

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October 20, 2005

 

·         Giving Create Lists presentation at the Mid-Atlantic Innovative Users Group in Delaware.

·         Someone will be doing a presentation on Michele’s Reportster program at the Northwest Innovative Users Group the same weekend, with proper credit to Michele and NOBLE.

·         Annual Circ Review sessions just completed were attended by all libraries, except one.  Policies and procedures are reviewed.  Identified some issues that will go to the working groups.

·         Reviewed upcoming training schedule: Intro to Create Lists, Keeping It All Together: Multipart Media. On February 2nd Getting Them What They Want and in the spring more advanced create lists.

·         The working groups are in place and members are posted on the Staff Information System.  The groups are: Electronic Resources & Database Working Group, Resource Sharing Working Group, and the Collection Management Team.  They are in the process of setting up meeting schedules.

·         Proposals are coming in from vendors for federated searching project.  Will be meeting with a small group to review usability studies and proposals.  The group will decide which vendors will be invited to give presentations.

·         Web Site Editing service is in place.  The charge to libraries is $50/hour.  Kevin Grocki is working with the Everett library redesigning their web site.

 

In regard to the Annual Circ Review meeting Linda Shea asked why staff from campus/branches cannot attend.  The attendees are each library’s designated circulation representative.  Elizabeth explained if multiple people were trained then no one person has the institutional responsibility.  That can create miscommunication. 

 

Martha Driscoll -

·         On October 25th Representatives from EnvisionWare will be at NOBLE demonstrating their PC Reservation and Print Cost Management Systems.  Martha sent a survey to libraries to provide to the sales rep so they put together a price quote.

·         Coordinating a group purchase of Deep Freeze.  It’s a software program that “freezes” a PC’s configuration so patrons cannot make changes.  Cost will be approximately $13/license, half the normal rate.

·         Ron and Martha met with Atrion to review Citrix/Windows terminals.  With this technology

a network’s software; i.e. Millennium, office applications, operating systems, browser, etc., are installed on a server.  Updates are done at that server.  Separate, theoretically less costly workstation terminals are purchased and the desktop comes from the server.  This technology is reviewed every few years, but the cost has yet to be cost effective.  The server is more costly to purchase as well as ongoing costs.  The terminals cost approximately $1,000, which is about the same cost as a PC.

·         Attended the Virtual Catalog Users Group meeting with Michele Morgan at C/W MARS.  The new Dynix URSA system continues to be delayed.  MVLC has upgraded their ILS system and is now compatible with the Virtual Catalog and should be coming onto it soon.

·         Delivery issue is slowly improving.  The remaining “in transit” items left on libraries lists was sent to Greg Pronevitz.  Exploring ways to send regular reports to libraries to check shelves for “in transit” and “missing” items.  There were many items equally across all libraries that were on the shelves, but not checked in.  The issue of using circulation sounds was discussed. Martha sent a message explaining the two sounds; the laser bar code sound and the Millennium sound receiving the bar code scanned.  The sounds issue is resolved in Release 2005.

Ron added he will be attending a meeting at NMRLS this afternoon and the delivery issue will be discussed.

 

FY 2007 BUDGET VOTE:

Sue Koronowski opened the floor for discussion.  Since there was none Martha Holden proceeded with the roll call vote (copy attached).  The vote was unanimous from the twenty-three libraries that were represented to approve the FY 2007 Budget.  Libraries not represented at the time of the vote were Danvers, Montserrat College, Revere, and Stoneham.

 

 

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October 20, 2005

 

FY 2007-2009 TECHNOLOGY PLAN APPROVAL:

·         Ron explained the Technology Plan is required to receive E-Rate funding and must be approved by Mass. Board of Library Commissioners.  The plan needs to be in place and approved prior to requesting FY 2007 services and funds. 

·         Ron briefly reviewed highlights from the Plan, which is on the Staff Information System.  The objectives in the document are from the Strategic Plan.  With the recent network telecommunications upgrade, overall NOBLE’s technology is in good shape.  One recommendation that is added at the end of the plan is to replace our Innovative server.  With advancements in technology coming more often Innovative recommends servers be replaced every three years. 

·         Another issue that has been identified as an area of improvement would be to have security software loaded at the local level.  This would prevent viruses from spreading rapidly throughout the network.

 

Sue Koronowski asked on the ARIS forms how libraries determine the number of users that log in.  Some libraries use their sign up sheets.  Some libraries use Web Trends report.  A discussion ensued.

 

Ruth Urell made a motion to approve the FY 2007-2009 Technology Plan.  Bonnie Strong seconded the motion.  The motion passed by unanimous vote.

 

DIRECTORS’ OPEN FORUM:

Directors discussed how their libraries handle book donations and book sales, and also the support the libraries receive from their Library Trustees and Friends Groups.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

Ruth Urell made a motion to adjourn.  Bonnie Strong seconded the motion.  The meeting adjourned at 12:00.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Martha Holden

Secretary