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Public Library Advisory Committee (PLAC)
Minutes

Thursday, February 1, 2007
SCLS Administration

Present:          Bosben, Calef, Davis, Dimick, Haas, Hedrick, Jensen, Morrill, Stack, Wright

Handouts:       Proposal for Pilot Project to improve ILL using SCILL money

CALL TO ORDER:  D. Calef called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m.   

CHANGES/ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: None

Introduction of new PLAC members:  Susan Hedrick and Wendy Haas were introduced.

MINUTES: B. Stack moved approval of the January 4, 2007 minutes.  H. Jensen seconded.  Motion carried.

SYSTEM DIRECTOR’S REPORT:

Phyllis noted LSTA funds are frozen at 2006 levels, although we were looking for an increase.  This won’t affect grants for this year.

There will be another round of Gates Foundation funding, which will direct its hardware upgrade grants to public libraries that serve communities where 10 percent or more of the population lives in poverty and are vulnerable to having their computer and Internet services become obsolete.  Wisconsin should be in the 2008 round of grants and it is reported that some type of local match will be required.

Tony Earl has agreed to serve on the SCLS Foundation honor board.  The McFarland Friends have opened an account and Bob Blitzke will be doing a needs assessment survey.  Phyllis and Bob will be speaking to the LaValle and Plain library boards.

There was an incident with a delivery van where the cargo box fell off.  Luckily no one was injured.  It was an age and rust issue and similar trucks are being inspected and “beefed” up to prevent this from happening again.

The Emporium will begin taking new high value items February 14th.

Libraries requesting items through Minitex with OCLC can use regular delivery.

Phyllis reported on her visit to the Seattle Library and their “high tech” material handling.  At the Mid-Winter Conference the ALA Council, on which Phyllis serves, passed resolutions on service to immigrants, minimum entry salary recommendation of $40,000, and EPA libraries.

Stef noted she has been reappointed for 2006 to LITAC, which is the DPI committee about library technology.  The next meeting is 2/9/07 and they will be discussing what issues the committee will cover for this year as well as Badgerlink issues.

The Gates Foundation provided funding for a “Greener Pastures Rural Sustainability” workshop, which focuses on the “energies” needed for sustaining computing (training, funding, outreach, advocacy, and helping libraries develop action plans in specific areas).  It is designed for directors of libraries with service populations under 25,000, which makes all libraries in South Central eligible, with the exception of Madison Public.  This workshop will be held February 22nd and all expenses, including travel, meals, lodging, and substitute wages are covered by DPI through the Gates funds…and if you attend, you have the opportunity to win a trip to ALA!!

Launching of the OverDrive video has been delayed, indefinitely.  Issues, including selection concerns and decisions about loan periods need to be determined.  WPLC does not have a selection policy in place, but will create one to deal with possible future issues.  An announcement will be sent when more information is available.

Jean Anderson, CE/Multitype Consultant, began her first day of work with SCLS on February 1.  We are very happy to have her here!  Amy Gannaway has also been hired in Automation as the PAC/CAT Specialist.  Her first day will be February 12.

An ad for the revised job description for the “Library Electronic Resources Support Specialist” was sent with a deadline of 2/17/07. 

Final Novelist training took place and the database has been very well received by member libraries that are using it.

The Counting Opinions project is moving along.  There was an issue with language in the privacy statement, but it has been resolved and publicity material is being developed for the rollout on March 1.  Nichole Fromm will be contacting people to schedule an OPAL session for discussion.

The annual meeting has been scheduled for May 11 at Devil’s Lake State Park.  The committee met and began discussing the agenda.  The survey of member libraries will be a little different this year – we will ask for feedback about the system - but we will also be asking for topics of discussion for the meeting.  Ideas for topics will be included in the survey, but other suggestions are welcome.

COLAND, Council on Library and Network Development, has developed a report on the condition and progress of library services in the state and recommendations on how library services in the state may be improved.  The report is required by state statute and can be found at http://dpi.wi.gov/coland/pdf/COLAND_Biennial_Progress_Report_2006-07.pdf

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
 

1. Joint Technology Committee:  Met January 9 and had a “show and tell” of the new Sony reader and discussed libraries adding themselves to Wikipedia.  IM reference was also discussed.  There are three libraries interested in offering IM services.  Plain is up and running and Stoughton will have the service available 2/14/07.  You can find the minutes from this meeting at http://www.scls.info/about/committees/jtc/minutes.html

1. Interlibrary Loan Committee: Met January 17.  The minutes from this meeting are available at http://www.scls.info/committees/scls/ILL/illmin.html

1. Reference Committee: Meet in March.  There will be two trials of test prep products, LearningExpress and Gale Testing and Education Reference Center, in February.  Demos will be available via WisLine Web 2/6/07.

1. Multitype: Met January 9th.  It was Shawn and Cheryl’s last meeting, since Jean has been hired.  The committee would like SCLS to do a survey this year regarding what activities MALC should offer.  They are still trying to get enough libraries to launch the job shadowing program. 

1. Youth Services:  The SLP Craft Workshop took place in WI Dells 2/1/07.

1. Outreach: No report.

1. PR Committee:  Did not meet.

1. Delivery Advisory Committee:  Did not meet.

OTHER BUSINESS:

1. Membership Agreement:  A few changes need to be made to the agreement to reflect changes in state statues.  These changes will be made, and then the agreement will be sent to all libraries to be signed again.

2. SCIL project update:  B. Dimick provided a handout describing the proposal of how ILL staff will use SCILL money to directly purchase items that meet set criteria, instead of paying to borrow those materials.  The object is to give patrons what they want more quickly without additional cost and to use SCILL money for the direct purpose of providing those items that would otherwise need to be obtained through ILL.  If approved, this project will last six months and will be evaluated thereafter.  The process and criteria for selection were addressed in the handout.

3. DVD clean and check:  It was suggested that a study be conducted to collect information about the cost of outsourcing or purchasing a DVD cleaner. 

DISCUSSION TOPIC:

Meeting adjourned at 11:44 a.m.                             

The next meeting will be March 1, 2007

Heidi Moe, Recorder

For more information about the Public Library Advisory Committee, contact Heidi Moe.

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