COSLA
2011 Fall Meeting
The Inn & Spa at Loretto
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
General Meeting Minutes
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Members Present:
Aldrich, Stacey (CA)Ashcraft, Carolyn (AR)
Bivens, Hulen (ND)
Boksenbaum, Howard (RI)
Boone, Mary (NC)
Boughton, Lesley (WY)
Brooker, Roberta (IN)
Budler, Jo (KS)
Burns, Richard (HI)
Conroy, Margaret (MO)
DeLeon, Daphne (NV)
Fisher, Janet (AZ)
Goble, David (SC)
Goff, Karen (WV)
Hainer, Gene (CO)
Hamilton, Rebecca (LA)
Joslin, Ann (ID)
Kiefer, Kurt (WI)
Lord, Linda (ME)
Maier, Rob (MA)
McVey, Susan (OK)
Mitchell, Rebecca (AL)
Morris, Donna Jones (UT)
Norman, Annie (DE)
Onkst, Wayne (KY)
Padilla, Irene (MD)
Reid, Marty (VT)
Ring, Judi (FL)
Rudd, Peggy (TX)
Scheppke, Jim (OR)
Sherrill, Chuck (TN)
Simmons, Rand (WA)
Smith, Sharman (MS)
Thibodeau, Linda (AK)
Treadway, Sandy (VA)
Veatch, Lamar (GA)
Wagner, Rod (NE)
Wakashige, Ben (NM)
Walton, Nancy (MN)
Wiggin, Ken (CT)
York, Michael (NH)
Zales, Mary Clare (PA)
Member(s) attending electronically:
Robertson, Nancy (MI)
Member Designates:
Desch, Carol for Bernard Margolis (NY)
Moeller-Peiffer, Kathleen for Norma Blake (NJ)
Stapp, Jennie (MT)
Guests Present:
Baish, Mary Alice (GPO)
Bolt, Nancy (ALA)
Brooks, Laurie (IMLS)
Chute, Mary (IMLS)
Fiels, Keith Michael (ALA)
Hildreth, Susan (IMLS)
Poole, Joy (NM)
Scovill, Ruth (NLS)
Sheketoff, Emily (ALA-WO)
Skeele, Devon (NM)
Staff Present:
Kirchner, Joy (AMR)
Singler-Adams, Laura (AMR)
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Call to Order/Welcome
PresidentLamar Veatch called the meeting to order at 9:09am MDT. Gene Hainer performed a flute solo for the COSLA membership to begin the meeting. A quorum was established. Veatch welcomed new COSLA member attendees and delegates attending their first annual COSLA meeting including Jennie Stapp (MT), Ben Wakashige (NM), Joy Poole (NM), Devon Skeele (NM), Janet Fisher (AZ), Karen Goff (WV) and Hulen Bivins (ND).
President’s Report – Lamar Veatch, GA
President Veatch updated the membership on the outcomes from the Fall Board of Directors Meeting. Through the June planning session with OCLC it was suggested that COSLA establish a task force to work with OCLC to explore how COSLA and OCLC can work more together. Veatch reported that the COSLA OCLC Partnership Task Force will be chaired by Jo Budler. Members of the Task Force include Linda Thibodeau,Stacey Aldrich, Annie Norman, Ken Wiggin, PeggyRudd,and David Goble. The OCLC Partnership Task Force will work closely with OCLC’s Cathy De Rosa and George Needham. Margaret Conroy will assume the role of lead Liaison for the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) due to Mary Boone’s forthcoming retirement. Sharman Smith will serve as the liaison to the Pew Library Internet Research Series Advisory Group.
The Board approved the recommendation to move forward with the supplemental grant proposals to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Gates Foundation) for $115,000 in additional support for the Public Access Technology grant.
The American Library Association E-Rate Task Force proposed that Linda Schatz be engaged by COSLA as an independent contractor to monitor the state coordinator email list, respond to questions and flag questions that have implications for possible policy positions for ALA. The Gates Foundation grant providing monetary support for travel and training for the e-rate coordinators has ended. The proposal is under review by the COSLA Board. The Board is considering a one year commitment to the proposal.
The Board reviewed and approved the publication of the press release and survey results from the Downloadable Media Survey, provided the survey results include data from all the states. The Board approved an amendment to the 2012 budget to include an ongoing annual $500.00 expense for membership dues for COSLA in the Schools, Health, & Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB Coalition). The Board approved a recommendation brought forth by the Networking Committee to move forward with the online Ning community for COSLA members and to move toward discontinuing the use of the COSLA listserv in February 2012 in an effort to fully utilize Ning. More targeted training for Ning will be provided to the COSLA membership.
Veatch announced that COSLA will host a leadership retreat, which will be held Thursday, January 19th prior to COSLA’s Midwinter Meeting scheduled for Friday, January 20th in Dallas, TX. The Leadership Retreat will include COSLA Board members, Committee and Task Force Chairs and others as invited.
Ann Joslin announced the selection of Savannah, Georgia as the 2013 Fall Meeting host city.The 2013 Fall Meeting will mark the 40th anniversary of COSLA.
Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC)– Nancy Bolt, Nancy Bolt & Associates
The Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) is for anyone who works in a library that has not obtained their Masters of Library Science (MLS) degree. To be eligible for the LSSC, candidates must have a high school degree or its equivalent and must have worked or volunteered in a library for one year within the last five years. To obtain the LSSC, candidates must successfully complete six of ten competency sets. Three are required and three are elective. Candidates have four years to complete the six competency sets and must renew their certification within four years of its receipt. The LSSC Program does not offer any courses; instead the program approves courses from providers of library education. Additionally, candidates may submit a portfolio to show achievement of the competency sets in the place of completing courses. Currently, there are 174 candidates and six graduates of the certification program.
LSSC Registration Assistance Awards are offered by the Library Support Staff Interests Round Table (LSSIRT) and seven states including the Colorado Library Consortium, the Idaho Commission for Libraries, the State Library of Louisiana, the Mississippi State Library, the Washington State Library, the Wyoming State Library and the Alaska State Library. The Assistance Awards provide half registration scholarships or $175 to candidates who apply for it. Recipients of the LSSIRT award are chosen at random. State level scholarships are available to support staff within the respective state. Four hundred scholarships will be awarded over three years, with the next round occurring in spring 2012. Wyoming and California offer a scholarship that covers both registration fees and program costs.
The American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) is inviting colleges that offer Library Technical Assistant (LTA) degrees or certificates to participate in a project which may allow their graduates to receive Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) without having to further demonstrate their skills and knowledge. Agreements are in place with five colleges so far. June 30, 2013 marks the end of the grant for the program. The goal is to have 20 colleges commit to the program allowing graduates with LTA degrees to be eligible for the LSSC. Bolt encouraged the COSLA members to publicize the LSSC in their newsletters and through their state and public library listservs.
Report from the Secretary –Margaret Conroy, MO
Secretary Margaret Conroy called for approval of the May 11, 2011SpringMembership Meeting minutes as provided in the meeting materials. Susan McVey made a motion for approval of the minutes. Carolyn Ashcraft seconded the motion. The Spring Membership Meeting Minutes from May 11, 2011were approved unanimously by the COSLA membership.
Report from the Treasurer – David Goble, SC
Treasurer David Goble presented the September 2011 financial report, which was provided to the members in the meeting materials. Goble thanked Laura Singler-Adams and AMR Management Services for their management support. Industry standard dictates that 50% -100% of operating expenses be maintained in reserve. COSLA has approximately 150% in reserve and is in good standing. Goble noted that COSLA is behind on membership dues; two states have not yet paid dues for 2011. COSLA is expectedto end the year under budget for 2011 due to unspent funds allocated to the E-Book Task Force.
Goble presented the 2012 Budget and reviewed changes from the 2011 Budget. The legal and accounting budgeted expense increased because COSLA will have an audit instead of a review performed on the 2011 financials in 2012. COSLA financials are audited every other year, with a review performed in the off years. The member travel budgeted expenses are higher due to the hotel rate secured for the 2012 Fall Meeting. A $500.00 membership dues expense was added to the 2012 budget for COSLA membership in the Schools, Health, & Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB Coalition). The 2012 budget can be amended at a later date should the Board approve the proposal presented by the American Library Association E-Rate Task Force. McVey made a motion to accept the 2012 COSLA Budget. Jo Budler seconded the motion. The 2012 COSLA budget was approved unanimously by the COSLA membership.
Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Report from the Director – Susan Hildreth, IMLS
Susan Hildreth thanked COSLA members for their attendance at the IMLS Board Meeting held Monday afternoon. The IMLS Board visited tribal libraries on Tuesday and noted that IMLS funds are being put to good use in the tribal libraries.
Hildreth reported that 10 maintenance of effort (MOE) waivers were submitted in 2011. All waivers submitted were approved. There is a sense that there will be more waivers submitted in 2012. IMLS is working to make the process simpler by providing a template with information needed to complete the waiver. Waivers are awarded one year at a time.
IMLS is trying to streamline the grant programs and is trying to show the impact of the grants. IMLS is also working on partnerships to leverage funding. IMLS is working with the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, which is a 10 year program focusing on the promotion of third grade reading proficiency. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy is the administrative agency behind the U.S. Ignite initiative. The Initiative, aimed at developing the next version of the internet beyond Internet2, is interested in working with libraries and museums. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is working on the health IT initiative, which allows that everyone has a right to their medical records. Hildreth noted that libraries could play an important role in this initiative by bring awareness to library patrons.
The funder’s registry, which came out of a Department of Education Innovation Grant, is a registry that allows funders to register and have access to proposals that the federal government has received but are unable to fund.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) introduced the Digital Literacy Initiative two weeks prior to the COSLA Fall Meeting. The Connect to Compete initiative includes non-profit and private partners. IMLS is involved and is providing information to the FCC. The FCC is interested in creating formal library digital literacy training. The initiative is in a very formative stage and it has not yet been determined what it will look like. The non-profit group One Economy will serve as project managers.
Peggy Rudd represented COSLA at a recent Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) meeting. The DPLA has a grand vision of how digital content can be connected and provided to everyone for free.
The library winners of the 2011 National Medals for Museum and Library Services included San Jose Public Library, Alachua County Library District, Weippe Public Library, Hill Museum and Manuscript Library and the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
Hildreth thanked COSLA for its support. Annie Norman inquired about the Learning Lab Grants. Thirty Learning Lab Grants will be provided. One hundred applications were received for the grants. IMLS is funding 10 Learning Lab Grants this round. The announcement of those funded should be made in mid-November 2011. IMLS hopes to fund the remaining 20 in spring 2012. Veatch thanked Hildreth for the report, noting that COSLA considers IMLS a key partner as well.
ALA Presidential Task Force on Equitable Access to Electronic Content (EQUACC) – Rob Maier, MA
Rob Maier reported that the EQUACC Task Force has completed its work and made its final report to the American Library Association (ALA) Council. The report included recommendations that an environmental scan and an economic analysis be performed. ALA has formed the Digital Content and Libraries Working Group (DCLWG) to move forward with the recommendations. The newly formed Working Group includes some members from the EQUACC Task Force, OITP representatives and some industry representation. Maier will serve as COSLA’s liaison to the DCLWG. The DCLWG has a broad based charge available online, but will look at whole issues on electronic content in libraries. Co-chairs of the working group are Sari Feldman and Robert Wolven. Maier expects a variety of subcommittees will be formed that can include state library staff.
E-BookTask Force – Jim Scheppke, OR
Jim Scheppke thanked the members of the E-Book Task Force for their work. Jo Budler, Stacey Aldrich and Rob Maier served on the Task Force. The E-Book Task Force recently completed a survey of the state librarians which will provide a snapshot of where the state stand with downloadable media services in the United States. The biggest finding of the survey was that 85% of the U.S. population is served by a library that offers downloadable media services. A negative finding was that 60% of libraries offer downloadable media services, which means that 40% of libraries currently do not. COSLA shares a vision that all libraries will have downloadable media services in the near future.
Scheppke reviewed the short term action plan provided to COSLA members for review in their meeting materials. The first point of the action plan outlines the need to form an alliance with Internet Archive to develop and promote its Open Library In-Library Lending project in US Libraries as well as other projects that would make more free e-content available in US Libraries. Internet Archive has a plan to digitize copyrighted books published between 1923 and 2000 that are not current and popular, and the Internet Archive has identified that it needs COSLA’s help to get the project started. The second point identifies a need to work with COSLA’s partners to research the connections between library use and book buying. A research project has been developed to test the theory that libraries are friends to publishers. The University of Washington Information School (iSchool) is working to find funders for the research project. There is interest in the Pew Library Internet Research Group, funded by the Gates Foundation, as it may have some overlap with the iSchool research project. The third point identifies a need to continue to provide liaisons to the DPLA, the ALA DCLWG and other similar initiatives to continue to promote COSLA’s interests. The fourth point identifies a need to consult with experts and monitor proposed changes to copyright laws that may be needed to achieve COSLA’s vision for e-content.
Scheppke presented the cooperative agreement drafted for COSLA and the Internet Archive. The agreement was drafted to support the development and promotion of the Open Library. The Internet Archive would like to see COSLA members encourage their public libraries to submit books for the Open Library. The cost for the Internet Archive to convert one book to an eBook is approximately $40 per book. There is no cost to the public libraries donating the books. Public libraries that donate books get access for their users to the Open Library in return. The Open Library has a list of books available online for those checking to see what printed books have already been converted to eBooks.
Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) – Peggy Rudd, TX
The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) Steering Committee met recently. As a member of the Steering Committee, Peggy Rudd was in attendance. The Steering Committee discussed the name DPLA and the resolution passed by COSLA recommending that the name be reconsidered. The general consensus was that it was too late in the process to reconsider the DPLA name. A plenary session was held on Friday, October 21st. The plenary session, held at the National Archives, featured a panel session including Susan Hildreth who stated a case for leadership at the federal level for libraries. The primary activities of the DPLA will take place under six workstreams including Audience & Participation, Content & Scope, Financial/Business Models, Governance, Legal Issues and Technical Aspects. The DPLA held an open call for code and concepts defining how the DPLA should operate through the Beta Sprint in mid-2011. Approximately 40 submissions were received and 9 were selected to present in the afternoon of the plenary session.