Mbuttachusetts Board of Library Commissioners

Library Municipality Request Award

Clapp Memorial Library Belchertown $10,000 $10,000

Bridgewater Public Library Bridgewater $10,000 $10,000

Chicopee Public Library Chicopee $10,000 $10,000

West Falmouth Library, Inc. Falmouth $10,000 $10,000

Franklin Public Library Franklin $10,000 $8,500

Plymouth Public Library Plymouth $10,000 $10,000

West Springfield Public Library West Springfield $10,000 $10,000

J.V. Fletcher Library Westford $10,000 $10,000

Total Amount Awarded $78,500

The Board voted approval.

Network Connections Targeted Program

The purpose of this program is to offset a portion of the costs for maintaining and upgrading telecommunications and server-related hardware and software for the nine automated resource sharing networks. Activities covered include: replacing aging core telecommunications hardware for network central sites and remote library locations to prevent telecommunications failures for mission-critical library operations; upgrading member capacity; increasing security; maximizing bandwidth efficiency; allowing new wireless services to be deployed within the library; and replacing aging system servers or adding to server capacity where network growth-load warrants

Types of equipment to be purchased include central site routers including backbone routers, remote site routers and switches, DSU�s, firewalls, VPN (virtual private network) equipment, packet prioritization and compression equipment, and related equipment.

Commissioner Dibble moved and Commissioner Bertorelli seconded that the Mbuttachusetts Board of Library Commissioners approve the following six Network Connections and Servers Targeted Grants totaling $365,084 to start no earlier than October 1, 2006, with the award to CLAMS made upon the condition that an approved technology plan must be on file with the Board of Library Commissioners.

The Board voted approval.

Network Connections and Servers

Library Municipality Request Award

Merrimack Valley Library Consortium Andover $25,366 $25,366

Old Colony Library Network (OCLN) Braintree $88,111 $77,856

Cape Libraries Automated Materials Hyannis $107,636 $88,982

Sharing (CLAMS)

SAILS, Inc. Middleborough $157,153 $134,785

Minuteman Library Network (MLN) Natick $25,605 $25,605

Central-Western MA Automated Worcester $28,936 $12,490

Resource Sharing, Inc. (C-W MARS)

Total Amount Recommended: $365,084

The Board voted approval.

�On the Same Page� Community Reading Campaign Mini-Grant Program

This mini-grant program provides funds to purchase books (in both print and audio formats) to be available through the public and school libraries for extended check-out, in order to promote community-wide discussion of a shared breastle over a period of weeks. Libraries will develop public relations strategies; provide reader�s advisory support tools and book-related links to promote the project on the library�s webpage. Readers will receive and be asked to wear an �On the Same Page� button during the weeks when book discussions take place, to demonstrate participation in the project and to promote spontaneous conversations. This program will promote a culture of reading, and encourage closer ties among community members through the shared experience of reading and discussing the same book. The program also supports the broad intent of increasing literacy in the Commonwealth.

Commissioner Bertorelli moved and Commissioner Dibble seconded that the Mbuttachusetts Board of Library Commissioners approve the following seven �On the Same Page� Mini-Grants totaling $48,803 to start no earlier than October 1, 2006.

On the Same Page

Library Municipality Request Award

Chelmsford Public Library Chelmsford $7,500 $7,500

Hamilton-Wenham Public Library Hamilton $7,500 $7,500

Hudson Public Library Hudson $7,500 $7,500

Abbot Public Library Marblehead $7,500 $7,500

Melrose Public Library Melrose $7,500 $7,500

Stoneham Public Library Stoneham $3,803 $3,803

Sunderland Public Library Sunderland $7,500 $7,500

Total Amount Recommended: $48,803

The Board voted approval.

Open Projects

This Open category is offered to allow librarians to satisfy needs that are not now being met by a current program. The Open program allows applicants to apply new methods to solve problems, build programs, and best carry out their library�s mission and plan. These projects must meet the needs of a specific target audience. The Open grants allow applicants to adapt programs that have been offered in the past and are proven models such as Early Childhood, Discovery Kits, Connecting Cultures, and Health and Science Reference. Finally, the Open program offers libraries an opportunity to exercise maximum creativity to implement unique services in a flexible and collaborative grant-making environment. It encourages creative program development and rewards those librarians willing to engage in a higher level of effort and to take those risks. The awards are presented in three parts as Open Projects were reviewed and ranked within different subcommittees.

Commissioner Comeau moved and Commissioner Knowles seconded that the Mbuttachusetts Board of Library Commissioners approve the following six Open Grants totaling $109,340 to start no earlier than October 1, 2006.

Open Projects

Library Municipality Request Award

Education Subcommittee A

Northeast MA Regional Danvers $25,000 $12,060

Library System

Swampscott Public Library Swampscott $10,450 $10,450

C-W MARS, Inc. Worcester $50,000 $50,000

Education Subcommittee B

Danvers Public Elementary Danvers $7,500 $7,500

School Libraries

Special Services Subcommittee

Framingham Public Library Framingham $11,530 $11,530

Central MA Regional Shrewsbury $17,800 $17,800

Library System

Total Amount Recommended for all Open Projects: $109,340

The Board voted approval.

Preservation Survey Mini-Grant Program

Libraries will contract with an outside consultant to conduct a preservation survey of their collections and buildings. The purpose is to determine individual item conservation requirements and needs for proper storage, care and handling, this survey will result in a description of the problems observed and recommendation on how to rectify them and how to proceed to develop a long-range preservation plan to extend the life of their holdings. Each library will then develop an action program based on the survey�s recommendations that will address these issues.

Commissioner Knowles moved and Commissioner Comeau seconded that the Mbuttachusetts Board of Library Commissioners approve the following six Preservation Survey Mini-Grants totaling $15,000 to start no earlier than October 1, 2006.

Preservation Survey

Library Name Municipality Request Award

USS Consbreastution Museum Boston $2,500 $2,500

Boxford Town Library Boxford $2,500 $2,500

Thayer Public Library Lancaster $2,500 $2,500

McQuade Library, Merrimack College North Andover $2,500 $2,500

Whitinsville Social Library Northbridge $2,500 $2,500

Ely Library, Westfield State College Westfield $2,500 $2,500

Total Amount Recommended: $15,000

The Board voted approval.

Reader�s Advisory Mini-Grant Program

While the library community has spent the past decade or longer wrestling with issues of new technology, many traditional services, such as reader�s advisory services, have gone by the board. Moreover, many library staffs do not feel confident in their abilities to match a person with the right book. While new databases such as �Novelist� and �What Do I Read Next?� are now available, many staffs have not received training in their use, nor do they feel secure in their ability to help a patron use these new electronic tools.

This project will provide funds for training staff in the use of electronic and print reader�s advisory tools. It will enable libraries to purchase popular reading collections in multiple formats. To enhance staff members� ability to match the appropriate book with the reader, libraries receiving funding will be requested to study a selected genre during the course of the project year.

Commissioner Dibble moved and Commissioner Bertorelli seconded that the Mbuttachusetts Board of Library Commissioners approve the following six Reader�s Advisory Mini-Grants totaling $60,000 to start no earlier than October 1, 2006.

Reader�s Advisory

Library Name Municipality Request Award

Bellingham Public Library Bellingham $10,000 $10,000

Dover Town Library Dover $10,000 $10,000

Fitchburg Public Library Fitchburg $10,000 $10,000

Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library Manchester $10,000 $10,000

Ventress Memorial Library Marshfield $10,000 $10,000

Lucius Beebe Memorial Library Wakefield $10,000 $10,000

Total Amount Recommended: $60,000

The Board voted approval.

School Library Incentive Mini-Grant Program

School libraries or school districts that have completed a school library long-range plan will carry out one or more of the objectives in their approved Long-Range Plan. This one-time grant of $5,000 will be directed towards implementing activities outlined in their plan. The programs vary in focus, but all include a component of cooperation with a local public library.

Commissioner Bertorelli moved and Commissioner Knowles seconded that the Mbuttachusetts Board of Library Commissioners approve the following four School Library Incentive Mini-Grants totaling $20,000 to start no earlier than October 1, 2006.

School Library Incentive

Library Name Municipality Request Award

Memorial Middle School Hull $5,000 $5,000

Greenfield High School Greenfield $5,000 $5,000

Rockport Public Schools Rockport $5,000 $5,000

Bridgewater-Raynham Bridgewater $5,000 $5,000

Regional High School

Total Amount Recommended: $20,000

The Board voted approval.

Serving �Tweens and Teens Targeted Program

Across Mbuttachusetts eager and hopeful teens enter the library each afternoon, looking for a place to be with their friends, to relax and to work on homework. They may also be seeking a place to expand their world, to volunteer in the community, and to pursue new projects. The need for programs and services for middle school and senior high school age students is apparent. The average school day ends between two and three in the afternoon and almost every teenager in America must find somewhere to go and something to do after school. At-risk, underserved youth need programs that intervene before these adolescents get into trouble. The purpose of this LSTA program is to help public libraries develop innovative programs and strategies to serve their �tweens and teens.�

Commissioner Comeau moved and Commissioner Knowles seconded that the Mbuttachusetts Board of Library Commissioners approve the following eleven Serving �Tweens and Teens Targeted Grants totaling $211,424 to start no earlier than October 1, 2006.

Serving �Tweens and Teens

Library Name Municipality Request Award

Athol Public Library Athol $20,000 $20,000

Eldredge Public Library Chatham $19,968 $19,968

Reuben Hoar Library Littleton $19,979 $19,979

Malden Public Library Malden $19,981 $19,981

motherord Town Library motherord $20,000 $20,000

Millis Public Library Millis $16,496 $16,496

Newton Free Library Newton $20,000 $20,000

Memorial Hall Library Andover $20,000 $20,000

Oxford Free Public Library Oxford $20,000 $20,000

Peabody Insbreastute Library Peabody $20,000 $20,000

West Bridgewater Public Library West $20,000 $15,000

Bridgewater

Total Amount Recommended: $211,424

The Board voted approval.

Small Libraries in Networks Targeted Program

Under the Public Library Initiative (PLI) the Board of Library Commissioners proposed to support the costs for all public libraries serving populations of under 10,000 (and certain others), to affiliate with or join an automated resource sharing network. This program was to provide ongoing services and support for 139 public libraries for 3 levels of network service: Online Internet, Online Affiliate Membership, and Full Circulating Membership (including C-W MARS Mininet). For each level of service the program intended to provide:

Partial offset of new member charges

* All necessary telecommunications equipment * An offset of the annual network service fee * The annual cost of a telecommunications circuit to connect the library on a full time, always on (not dial up) basis

In fiscal years 2002 and 2003, the Board offered support for the Small Libraries in Networks program using funds provided in a state supplemental budget for library technology. Beginning in fiscal year 2004, a maintenance level of support began that is now provided to a total of 63 libraries in two networks. The purpose of this grant program is to continue to provide for the cost of ongoing membership at the levels anticipated under the Small Libraries in Networks program for those libraries that affiliated with a network through the program in FY2002 and FY2003. This grant offering does not support the cost of new libraries joining networks or existing members increasing their level of membership.

Commissioner Knowles moved and Commissioner Bertorelli seconded that the Mbuttachusetts Board of Library Commissioners approve the following two Small Libraries in Networks Grants totaling $126,68 plus 16 to start no earlier than October 1, 2006.

Small Libraries in Networks

Network Municipality Award

C-W MARS Worcester $114,196

Merrimack Valley Library Consortium Andover $12,500

Total Recommended: $126,68 plus 16

The Board voted approval.

Statewide Database Promotion and Training Mini-grant Program

The Statewide Database Promotion and Training Targeted Program provides an opportunity for libraries to motivate their patrons to explore the licensed, authoritative, information-rich and user-friendly databases provided for personal and professional use. Topic choices abound, including, but not limited to, health information, career or business, personal finance, travel, consumer purchasing, author information, and book and reviews.

Under this grant program, a library will design a project promoting the use of and instruction in some or all of the following Gale databases: Biography Resource Center, Contemporary Literary Criticism Select, Expanded Academic ASAP, General BusinessFile ASAP, Business and Company ASAP, General Reference Center Gold, Health Reference Center Academic, InfoTrac Junior Edition, InfoTrac Student Edition, Kids InfoBits, and Professional Collection. Rather than develop their own training materials, the library will use the materials already developed by Gale: Gale�s Bibliographic Instruction Program as well the MBLC Gale database brochure

The libraries selected will receive grants of up to $10,000 each over a one-year period to plan and implement a project for school-aged children andor adults.

Commissioner Dibble moved and Commissioner Bertorelli seconded that the Mbuttachusetts Board of Library Commissioners approve the following three Statewide Database Promotion and Training Targeted Grants totaling $25,870 to start no earlier than October 1, 2006.

Statewide Database Promotion and Training

Library Name Municipality Amount Requested Amount Awarded

Robbins Library Arlington $8,870 $8,870

Monson Free Library and Monson $7,000 $7,000

Reading Room buttociation

Reading Public Library Reading $10,000 $10,000

Total Amount Recommended: $25,870

The Board voted approval.

Chairman Arnold and Vice Chairman Knowles thanked the member of SACL for their time and efforts in reviewing the grants.

CONSIDERATION OF THE APPROVAL OF APPOINTMENTS TO THE STATE AID REVIEW COMMITTEE

Dianne L. Carty, Head of State Aid and Data Coordination, reminded the Commissioners that at the June 1, 2006 Board meeting they approved the charge, time-line and composition of the State Aid Review committee. She presented the names of proposed committee appointees according to the previously approved composition for the Commissioners

Commissioner Comeau moved and Commissioners Knowles seconded that the Mbuttachusetts Board of Library Commissioners approve the following proposed appointees to the State Aid Review Committee.

Public Library Directors (15) Emily    Bader    Director    Springfield         Ellie    Cheseborough    Director    Sturbridge         Janice    Coduri    Director    Wellesley         Diane    Giarrusso    Director    Boxford         Penny    Johnson    Director    Worcester         BWS    Johnson    Director    Hinsdale         Patricia    Lambert    Director    Dedham         Joanne    Lamothe    Director    Weymouth         Denis    Lesieur    Director    Lenox         Bernie    Margolis    Director    Boston         Krista    McLeod    Director    Metheun         Joseph    Mule    Director    Lancaster         Nancy    Rea    Director    Haverhill         Suzanne    Teuteberg    Director    Brewster         Elaine    Winquist    Director    Duxbury        

Public Library Trustees (5) Bonnie    Burnham    Trustee    Northampton         Andre    Mayer    Trustee    Cambridge         Frank    Murphy    Trustee    Arlington         James    Matarazzo    Trustee    Winthrop        

Regional and Network Administrators (2) Susan    McAlister    MLN Executive Director John    Ramsay    WMRLS Administrator

Public Library Friends and Advocates (up to 2) Vivian    Spiro    Chair, Bd of Directors of the buttociates of BPL    Boston

MBLC Commissioners (3) John    Arnold    MBLC Ed    Bertorelli    MBLC Em Claire    Knowles    Chair, MBLC

MBLC Staff (3) Dianne    Carty    MBLC--staff James    Lonergan    MBLC--staff Robert    Maier    MBLC--staff Director

The Board voted approval.

REPORT ON LIBRARIES THAT HAVE FACED CLOSURE

Director Maier reported on three libraries that had been threatened with closure. The threats to the North Andover Public Library have dissipated, he said, and the library will be able to meet its Municipal Appropriation Requirement.

He reported that after meeting with the trustees of the White privatesinson Memorial Library in Whately, an override was scheduled that if pbutted would keep the library open.

He stated that the Medway Public Library had received lots of media attention following the defeat of an override vote in Medway. At a subsequent Town Meeting, residents voted to approve a greatly reduced library budget that will keep the library open for at least 20 hours. He said that the trustees were still working with the town to see if additional funding could be found to increase its hours beginning in September so that its certification would not become in jeopardy.

On a positive note, as was previously announced, the Hampden Public Library did reopen on July 1, 2006, following a 12-month closure, to great fanfare and celebration and that it was also going to become a mini-net member of CW-Mars.

Commissioner Bertorelli then suggested that the Board and MBLC staff reach out to financially struggling libraries to see if a meeting with town officials would be beneficial in helping directors and library trustees in presenting the consequences of their financial decisions.

UPDATE ON PRIVATE FUNDRAISING MATCHING FUNDS UNDER THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED LINE ITEM 7000-9507

A brief update on the proposed matching funds for private fundraising under the newly established line item 7000-9507 was made by Dianne Carty and Director Maier. Since this would be a new program and it would be difficult to look back, for the first year fundraising figures would be used from July 1 to December 31, 2006. Ms Carty reviewed proposed Administrative Policy Items, Application Process, Timetable and an Award Calculation Formula.

She relayed that preliminary information would be mailed in September2006, an application form and mailing would go out in December 2006, and awards would be made in March of 2007.

PRESENTATION OF �LIBRARIES FOR LIFE: INFORMATION COMPETENCY BENCHMARKS�

Carolyn Noah, Administrator, Central Mbuttachusetts Regional Library System, distributed copies of the poster �Benchmarks for Information Literacy.� She relayed that the poster was developed by a group of CMRLS academic, public and school librarians working collaboratively. The goal of this group was to identify the information literacy milestones that students should meet as they grow and learn and to represent them in a graphic format that is accessible to all library staff.

Ms Noah relayed that the task force examined a wide range of information literacy matrices, from very local to national. That information as well as insight to Mbuttachusetts curriculum informed the chart.

STANDING COMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS

PR Committee

Commissioner Knowles reported that Chairman Arnold, former Commissioner Marnik and she, along with more than 60 other participants, attended the PR Summit on Thursday, June 15, 2006 at the Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston.

She noted that the purpose of the Summit was to review some of the Board�s past efforts, hear from an outside expert on the role of marketing, public relations & advertising, other states library marketing efforts and begin to think about some future promotional efforts.

She stated that the PR Committee would be meeting after the Board meeting to look at next steps.

Construction

Director Maier announced that a calendar for a new Planning and Design Grant Round would come to the Board for approval at the August meeting.

COMMISSIONERS� ACTIVITIES

Commissioners Knowles and Bertorelli relayed that they attended the recent ALA conference in New Orleans at which they attended a conference reception to honor Dr. Robert D. Stueart with a lifetime achievement award. Dr. Stueart is a former Dean of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at Simmons College and also a past Commissioner and Chairman of the Board of Library Commissioners.

PUBLIC COMMENT

There was no public comment.

OLD BUSINESS

There was no old business.

NEW BUSINESS

There was no new business.

ELECTION OF BOARD OFFICERS FOR FY2007

Chairman Arnold requested nominations for Board officers for FY2007.

Commissioner Knowles nominated Commissioner Dibble for the office of Secretary and Commissioner Bertorelli seconded the nomination.

Commissioner Bertorelli nominated Commissioner Comeau for the office of Vice Chairman and Commissioner Knowles seconded the nomination.

Commissioner Comeau nominated Commissioner Knowles for the office of Chairman and Commissioner Dibble seconded the nomination.

Since there were no further nominations and hearing no opposition, Commissioner Comeau stated �The secretary casts one vote in favor of the slate of officers nominated by the Board of Library Commissioners for FY2007.�

The new officers were greeted with a round of applause from Commissioners and attendees.

Former Chairman Arnold thanked all the Commissioners for their help and support during his chairmanship, noting the leadership of former chairmen.

Chairman Arnold pbutted the gavel to newly-elected Chairman Knowles who thanked him for his leadership as chairman.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Chairman Knowles adjourned the July 13, 2006 monthly business meeting of the Board of Library Commissioners at 12:22 P.M.

Katherine K. Dibble