NOBLE Executive Board Meeting

September 18, 2007

@ NOBLE

Attendees:

NOBLE Executive Director Ron Gagnon, Linda Hummel-Shea, Martha Holden, Doug Rendell, Karen Pangallo, Lorraine Jackson, Barbara LaChance, Pat Cirone, Elisabeth Tully, Dennis Kelley

Call to Order:

The regular meeting of the NOBLE Executive Board was called to order at 2:10 on September 18, 2007 at NOBLE by President Linda Hummel-Shea.

Approval of Minutes

A motion to approve Minutes of the August 8, 2007 Executive Board meeting was forwarded by Martha Holden, seconded by Doug Rendell, and unanimously approved.

NOBLE Salary Schedule and Cost of Living Adjustment

As of 2006, NOBLE had no policy for cost of living increases in the salary schedule. In October 2006, salary schedule was revised to a 6 step schedule with 4% increase and include cost of living adjustments. As the salary adjustment is to be done yearly, it is time to adjust for FY08. Consumer price index from BLS for July 2006 to July 2007 is 0.8%. The proposed revisions to the NOBLE FY08 budget reflects .8 % increase. Linda asked if the Executive Board change the steps once before. Ron—Yes, we changed to the 6 step salary schedule with 4% increase with the COA to be determined each year. The technical assistant position has reached a plateau. Elisabeth Tully had concerns with CPI not reflecting housing; does it compensate people fairly. Ron agreed that we could review the standard. Martha Holden moved to propose accepting the revised FY08 salary schedule with .8 % COLA adjustment; Elisabeth seconded; unanimously approved.

IV. FY2009 Budget and FY2008 Adjustments

Ron went through the FY08 budget and noted a few items that would impact adjustments to library assessments. Utilities was a surplus item (8500) primarily because the AC units were replaced. The biggest change was the end of federated searching which had $48,000 dollars allocated but in the Spring it was voted to discontinue the program. Ron proposed using money $48,000 for digital and cataloging position. This position would fulfill long range plan where it was noted the need for new technology and new services in digitization. Ron also noted that the surplus funds were carried over (ie.,Verizon surplus) into this budget. Other line items that were noted were a pilot project on authority control and records enhancement as well as the Montserrat decreased assessment.

Ron recommended a 1% increase per library—just under $400 for average library. This would give $10,800 to NOBLE.

Ron discussed some potential future costs: Encore (III) or some other Library 2.0 front end catalog. Ron described a front end catalog and its benefits—catalog, database search, links to circ system, relevancy ranking, reviews, most widely owned titles—makes the catalog more like a web tool or like Amazon and can give a more relational display of a subject area. This will change look of catalog completely for patron. There are maintenance and linkage costs which could add a 5 to 6 percent increase in operational budget. With open source, NOBLE will not committed to one vendor however if we buy Encore software and server there is still a need to link to EBSCO—subscription, maintenance, and server & software. The question was asked if other Massachusetts libraries are using open source. Ron will provide more information and links to other libraries using open source. The goal of open source is to make it all more user-friendly. Open source does not mean free. MVLC looking to do this as well and NOBLE can see what they are doing. In a year or two, NOBLE will need to consider new server. Elisabeth agreed with Ron that open source will allow us to do more of what we want and that III is not always responsive to the changes NOBLE seeks. Ron noted that open source will require more input to take on changes that libraries seek and that this type of project will take consensus between NOBLE libraries.

Barbara asked what would happen if we didn’t add the 1%? Ron noted that level funded budgets have been done in past but this budget won’t always have a surplus in the capital account. Ron warned that we could be boxing ourselves in for anything new, or lack of a surplus, and or less MBLC money. Linda asked where would 1% increase go? Ron advises that it be put into capital fund and let it rollover for unforeseen circumstances or for projects. Doug asked what is the goal of capital account money that there seems to be no target. Ron is concerned that the LSTA may shrink in the future and our goal with the capital account is to insulate us from LSTA and MBLC issues. Doug asked if we got a new system with grant money from MBLC, what is the percentage that we need to supply? Doug seems to remember it as being about 30%. Ron noted that Boston Public once looked at new system and MBLC was critical of changing systems when system wasn’t broken. MBLC gave 75% to replace NOBLE ‘s last server. Doug recommended growing capital account slowly and steadily, rather than a quick increase.

Linda was concerned that there is a chance of Saugus dropping out of NOBLE and how that loss of $34,000 would impact other NOBLE libraries costs. Ron agreed that Saugus that could withdraw from NOBLE. Linda said she would rather see 1% increase now rather than a bigger increase later if Saugus drops out. Doug noted that we won’t know until June 2008 what Saugus will do which doesn’t help with the NOBLE budget and other town library budgets. Ron added that there is some interest from Marian Court to join as an associate member for $10,000. Ron noted that it had been 3 years since there was an increase. Linda added that a little increase over time won’t be noticed as much as a large increase. Lorraine added that some other NOBLE increases were a surprise and would like to see it all in one amount. Dennis made note that he is uncomfortable with an increase with so much money in the capital account. Linda is concerned that if Saugus pulls out, it could be hurtful and greatly impact any future increase. Ron will check to see if NOBLE has received a check from Saugus for this year. Doug suggested that if Saugus pulls out, money could come out of capital for one year but what would happen after that? Ron said that the Saugus telecommunications equipment is older and it would go to NOBLE to use as spares.

Barbara Lachance motioned for a 1% increase in each library assessment for FY2009. Seconded by Doug and unanimously approved.

Elisabeth moved to accept the revisions to the FY2008 budget; seconded by Pat Cirone; unanimously approved.

Lorraine moved to accept the FY2009 budget with the changes in assessments going into capital; seconded by Dennis; unanimously approved.

PC Support, Bluesocket and EBSCO fees for 2009

Bluesocket charges ($1100), for libraries using the NOBLE supplied Bluesocket, will be adequate for the next fiscal year. Dennis asked if any library had to have any maintenance service for Bluesocket? Ron thought that Stoneham just had theirs replaced. [Actually it was Lynnfield; Stoneham had a field service visit for their unit.] Doug motioned to maintain the Bluesocket costs at $1100 per location. Martha seconded the motion; it was unanimously approved.

PC Support—Ron recommended a 5% (or $5/computer) increase for those libraries using the NOBLE provided PC Support. The increase is because personnel costs jumped because of new part-time position. The increase allows for Saugus dropping out in projected FY09. Pat Cirone motioned to increase the cost of the PC Support program by 5% (or $5.00/computer); Lorraine seconded the motion; it was unanimously approved.

EBSCO fees for FY09—In May, all NOBLE libraries voted to renew the EBSCO contract which projects a 5% increase over each year for the next 3 years. For FY2009 this amounts to $4,040. Minutes will show that EBSCO costs will be $4,040 per library for the base cost in FY09.

Lorraine discussed that she would like to have all costs (NOBLE, PC Support, EBSCO, PC Reservation, Bluesocket, etc.) rolled into one bill.

Doug would like to see something outlined with all of the costs to review just before his budget season happens and suggests letting each library know that this information is available if you need this for your budget. Ron will compile.

Adjournment:

Motion to adjourn the meeting was forwarded by Lorraine Jackson, seconded by Martha

Holden, and unanimously approved. Meeting was

adjourned at 3:50 p.m.

Minutes respectfully submitted by:

Karen Pangallo, Secretary