Board Meeting Minutes, August 11, 2004: Wisconsin Public Library Consortium

WPLC Board Meeting Minutes: August 11, 2004
Location: South Central Library System

Present: Tom Hennen (WCFLS), Inese Christman (WVLS), Kathy Schneider (WiLS), Stef Morrill (SCLS), Mark Arend (WLS), Kristen Anderson (WRLS), Peggy Shaffer (LLS), Steve Platteter (MWFLS), Peter Hamon (SCLS), Phyllis Davis (SCLS), Evan Bend (OWLS), and Linda Miller, Project Manager.

1. Reports from the Partners

The WCFLS capital budget was not approved by the county board after a radio campaign was waged against it. The CAFE consortium is expanding to 14 members.

SCLS loaded records from Serials Solutions into the LINK database and enabled access to periodicals through the catalog. SCLS is seriously considering using OCLC for ILL rather than WISCAT. The Call Center made $550 from a project that Josh Morrill did for Madison PL.

MWFLS is moving toward a systemwide shared automation system and is introducing virtual reference service in September.

OWLS is in the initial stages of investigation of integrated library systems. The library system provides a calendar for its member libraries and wondered if anyone offers this service. SCLS and WLS are considering, and Stef reported that Milwaukee had just signed an agreement with a scheduling vendor.

Linda shared an article from Library Administration & Management that supported WPLC's shared approach to introducing new technologies.

2. Membership Update

MCFLS has completed the membership process. Manitowoc-Calumet indicated that it will wait until the end of 2004 to join.

3. netLibrary/E-book Services

Linda gave an update from several programs on e-books that she attended at the annual American Library Association conference, including a program presented by netLibrary.

Kathy reported that WPLC's netLibrary collection includes the Spanish collection, which includes 125 titles. netLibrary's surcharge for shared collections has increased by 15%. Kathy is waiting for more details from netLibrary. WiLS is pursuing the IT collection, but in partnership with MINITEX. However, there are issues with consortium access to Microsoft titles which must first be resolved. Kathy is waiting to hear from netLibrary on the report on page view statistics and for the report on total uses statewide.

WiLS is converting the training to Desire to Learn. A session cost $650 and can accommodate up to 40 persons. A face-to-face session will be held either at the beginning or the end of the course. WiLS intends to offer two per year. WPLC members need to decide if they want to purchase any training.

Kathy will review the weeding policy with the Selection Committee with a goal of weeding the netLibrary collection.

E-book services from OverDrive were discussed. Kathy had discussed a partnership with the Michigan consortium, which did not seem too interested. Linda had discussed the idea with OverDrive, which would consider the partner approach but only for an introductory period. Kristen had interviewed the Ohio consortium, which went live in May 2004 and reported that the service was very successful and a big hit. OverDrive had provided excellent training. The only real issue is the cost. Inese had interviewed a Michigan consortium which also liked the OverDrive service and reported that the company was excellent to work with and was good about customizing the web site for the library, but they want more PR materials and more current titles. The consortium also has netLibrary titles. They are looking forward to getting audible books.

Peter suggested that an interested group apply to WPLC for a subsidy to offset the cost to implement OverDrive. The WPLC dues structure could be used as a model to share the remaining costs. Library systems and individual libraries who are interested should be identified. Kathy will pursue getting cost information for library systems to share with member libraries.

Stef reported that she will have a report on the ListenUp project at the next meeting.

4. Current Projects

Electronic Database Subscription The first draft of the list of subscriptions for electronic databases was distributed. WiLS will add information on which subscriptions are available through it, and libraries will be asked to review and update their information.

Virtual Reference Review Stef distributed a Preliminary Report: Responses to Questions about Virtual Reference. Responses were received from two out-of-state services and from the two Wisconsin services, AskAway and AskWisconsin. OCLC and 24/7 are merging their virtual reference services, and so the issues are changing. The Board thanked Stef for her work. The issue will be addressed again as necessary, but no action was necessary at this time.

5. Project Proposals/New Projects

OCLC Cataloging Group Price SCLS staff discussed its investigation of a group catalog in OCLC's WorldCat. SCLS is interested in a group price for cataloging using OCLC. In some other states, which have contracted for unlimited cataloging using OCLC, the cost has not been greater than the individual libraries were paying previously for limited use. In Illinois, the cost was only 5% higher for unlimited statewide cataloging compared to what individual libraries had been paying. WiLS is getting a quote for the academic library group, which is just in the initial stages of investigation. WiLS is also investigating what libraries are currently paying. Kathy stated that OCLC packages the WorldCat group catalog and cataloging together. Kathy will continue her investigation and report later.

6. Budget for 2005

Phyllis presented a proposed budget for 2005. Membership fees for 2005 are proposed to continue at the 2004 rate schedule. The 2004 budget includes $10,000 which is could be used yet for new services this year. The 2005 was unanimously accepted.

7. Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, November 11, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. at the SCLS offices.

The meeting adjourned at 12:15 p.m.


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Members Bylaws Committees Meetings Discussion List Statistics Current Projects Proposals for Future Services Reports Links Home Contact Us		WPLC Board Meeting Minutes: August 11, 2004 Location: South Central Library System Present: Tom Hennen (WCFLS), Inese Christman (WVLS), Kathy Schneider (WiLS), Stef Morrill (SCLS), Mark Arend (WLS), Kristen Anderson (WRLS), Peggy Shaffer (LLS), Steve Platteter (MWFLS), Peter Hamon (SCLS), Phyllis Davis (SCLS), Evan Bend (OWLS), and Linda Miller, Project Manager. 1. Reports from the Partners The WCFLS capital budget was not approved by the county board after a radio campaign was waged against it. The CAFE consortium is expanding to 14 members. SCLS loaded records from Serials Solutions into the LINK database and enabled access to periodicals through the catalog. SCLS is seriously considering using OCLC for ILL rather than WISCAT. The Call Center made $550 from a project that Josh Morrill did for Madison PL. MWFLS is moving toward a systemwide shared automation system and is introducing virtual reference service in September. OWLS is in the initial stages of investigation of integrated library systems. The library system provides a calendar for its member libraries and wondered if anyone offers this service. SCLS and WLS are considering, and Stef reported that Milwaukee had just signed an agreement with a scheduling vendor. Linda shared an article from Library Administration & Management that supported WPLC's shared approach to introducing new technologies. 2. Membership Update MCFLS has completed the membership process. Manitowoc-Calumet indicated that it will wait until the end of 2004 to join. 3. netLibrary/E-book Services Linda gave an update from several programs on e-books that she attended at the annual American Library Association conference, including a program presented by netLibrary. Kathy reported that WPLC's netLibrary collection includes the Spanish collection, which includes 125 titles. netLibrary's surcharge for shared collections has increased by 15%. Kathy is waiting for more details from netLibrary. WiLS is pursuing the IT collection, but in partnership with MINITEX. However, there are issues with consortium access to Microsoft titles which must first be resolved. Kathy is waiting to hear from netLibrary on the report on page view statistics and for the report on total uses statewide. WiLS is converting the training to Desire to Learn. A session cost $650 and can accommodate up to 40 persons. A face-to-face session will be held either at the beginning or the end of the course. WiLS intends to offer two per year. WPLC members need to decide if they want to purchase any training. Kathy will review the weeding policy with the Selection Committee with a goal of weeding the netLibrary collection. E-book services from OverDrive were discussed. Kathy had discussed a partnership with the Michigan consortium, which did not seem too interested. Linda had discussed the idea with OverDrive, which would consider the partner approach but only for an introductory period. Kristen had interviewed the Ohio consortium, which went live in May 2004 and reported that the service was very successful and a big hit. OverDrive had provided excellent training. The only real issue is the cost. Inese had interviewed a Michigan consortium which also liked the OverDrive service and reported that the company was excellent to work with and was good about customizing the web site for the library, but they want more PR materials and more current titles. The consortium also has netLibrary titles. They are looking forward to getting audible books. Peter suggested that an interested group apply to WPLC for a subsidy to offset the cost to implement OverDrive. The WPLC dues structure could be used as a model to share the remaining costs. Library systems and individual libraries who are interested should be identified. Kathy will pursue getting cost information for library systems to share with member libraries. Stef reported that she will have a report on the ListenUp project at the next meeting. 4. Current Projects Electronic Database Subscription The first draft of the list of subscriptions for electronic databases was distributed. WiLS will add information on which subscriptions are available through it, and libraries will be asked to review and update their information. Virtual Reference Review Stef distributed a Preliminary Report: Responses to Questions about Virtual Reference. Responses were received from two out-of-state services and from the two Wisconsin services, AskAway and AskWisconsin. OCLC and 24/7 are merging their virtual reference services, and so the issues are changing. The Board thanked Stef for her work. The issue will be addressed again as necessary, but no action was necessary at this time. 5. Project Proposals/New Projects OCLC Cataloging Group Price SCLS staff discussed its investigation of a group catalog in OCLC's WorldCat. SCLS is interested in a group price for cataloging using OCLC. In some other states, which have contracted for unlimited cataloging using OCLC, the cost has not been greater than the individual libraries were paying previously for limited use. In Illinois, the cost was only 5% higher for unlimited statewide cataloging compared to what individual libraries had been paying. WiLS is getting a quote for the academic library group, which is just in the initial stages of investigation. WiLS is also investigating what libraries are currently paying. Kathy stated that OCLC packages the WorldCat group catalog and cataloging together. Kathy will continue her investigation and report later. 6. Budget for 2005 Phyllis presented a proposed budget for 2005. Membership fees for 2005 are proposed to continue at the 2004 rate schedule. The 2004 budget includes $10,000 which is could be used yet for new services this year. The 2005 was unanimously accepted. 7. Next Meeting The next meeting will be held on Thursday, November 11, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. at the SCLS offices. The meeting adjourned at 12:15 p.m.

		Updated January 31, 2005