LINC DIRECTORS GROUP
MINUTES
DRAFT
March 8, 2002
MEMBERS ATTENDING: Bethany Bolduc (Tuscola Public Library), Carla Cochrane (Paris Union School District), Sally Duchow (Danville Area Community College), Rick Dulaney (Cissna Park School District), Kathy Fell (St. Joseph-Ogden School District), Lou Graham (Hoopeston Public Library District), Cynthia Helms (Champaign School District), Jan Ison (Lincoln Trail Libraries System), Leanna Morris (Marshall Public Library), Anne Newman (Paxton Carnegie Library), Barb Nolan (Danville Public Library), Vicki O'Rourke (Marshall School District), Diann Peabody (Watseka Public Library), Lynn Schmit (Mahomet Public Library), Clara Schroeder (Central Community School District), Cathy Sherwood (Martinsville School District), Janet Sutherland (Tolono Public Library District), Barb Turner (St. Joseph Community School District), Lucy Webb (Lakeview College of Nursing), Glenna White (Shiloh School District), Wilma White (ROE Schoolworks)
OTHERS ATTENDING: Pat Boze, Merdy Smith, Nancy Claypool, Debra Booth, Lisa Ruch, Katie Dailey
The meeting was called to order at 11:00 a.m. by Sally Duchow, President. Minutes from the October 26, 2001 meeting were approved.
Pat Boze reviewed policies passed at the LINC Policy Council meetings in December and February and also presented an update on LINC activities since October. These activities included implementation of email notices and self-renewal for all libraries, renewal of over 350 LINC functional passwords, two new online libraries, and a complete authority control refresh in January, besides monthly authority control updates.
Jan Ison discussed the Illinois State Library’s LLSAP Automation Study project. Dr. William Moen, University of North Texas, is the contractor for this study and is in the process of interviewing and visiting all 12 library systems to assess the local library system automation programs. Dr. Moen will be visiting LTLS on April 17-18 and will meet with the LTLS Board, the Executive Director, automation staff, and representatives from both automated and non-automated LTLS libraries. The study is examining issues related to interoperability of the LLSAP’s, costs, standards, and quality control.
Jan Ison updated the directors on the current status of LINC finances. Jan said that the state budget picture for next year’s funding is grim, and systems are in a difficult place since the state is the primary source of funding. Because the picture is presently unclear, it is difficult to determine all of the LINC Costs that may need to be passed on to members. Currently, LTLS does not charge libraries for any professional salaries or overhead for central site support but that may have to change next year.
The projected bottom line costs for next year are:
|
LINC Ongoing costs |
$214,243 |
|
Cataloging Center |
$139,266 |
|
Batchload |
- |
|
CORC |
$15,000 |
|
Authority Control |
$7,282 |
A state grant is paying for batchload costs right now, so no cost will be assessed for next year. There may also be changes in how port/telecomm funds are recouped and additional charges for libraries that use the cataloging center and do not preview their videos.
We have also not received all of the data from the LINC libraries that needs to be plugged into the cost sheet so can’t show exact shared costs at this point in time.
LTLS has learned from ISL that there will be no system automation grants for next year. A large portion of revenue for the port/telecomm fund in past years has come from these grants that allow libraries to automate and buy ports. The port/telecomm fund has been used to pay for costly upgrades and additional hardware. An alternative way to raise money for this fund also needs to be examined.
Jan suggested that an additional meeting be held in April to discuss the final cost scenario for LINC libraries. There was also some discussion about receiving costs earlier – LTLS plans to have the APS forms available beginning in April for libraries whose FY2002 ends soon.
Pat Boze distributed a FAQ sheet about the Request For Proposal (RFP) process. LINC Policy Council has agreed that an RFP is needed, for several reasons:
•the epixtech contract is up for renegotiation in November, 2002;
•Dynix has become a static product, only 1 upgrade was released in 2001 and none are planned for 2002;
•the hardware that we have is almost five years old;
•Dynix software was developed for a dumb terminal environment and all LINC libraries now have staff pc’s that can accommodate a graphical client-server product that is much more user-friendly;
•a satisfactory web product has not been developed for Dynix.
In the past ten years, there have been many changes and new directions taken by other integrated library system vendors. Technology changes quickly and it is important that we consider these new technologies and determine what new functionality is available that we currently don’t have.
The meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.