Present: Alfred Hopkins (Chair), Alan Benkert, Cheryl Beturne, David Bretthauer, Samuel Brown, LuAnn Cogliser, Betty Goyette, Edward Murray, Jim Smith, Jonas Zdanys Others: Lynette Baisden, Anita Barney, Sharon Brettschneider, Stephen Cauffman, Bill Sullivan, Kendall Wiggin Absent: Anita Barney, Alana Meloni, Jenifer O'Connor

1. Call to Order

Alfred Hopkins called the meeting was called to order at 1:07 p.m.

2. Approval of Minutes

The minutes were approved as presented. VOTED unanimously.

3. Approval of Agenda

The agenda was approved as presented. VOTED unanimously.

4. Public Comment

There was none.

5. State Library Report - Kendall Wiggin

Kendall Wiggin gave an update on the Commission. The commission is working to get the physical network in place and get the schools connected this summer. The legislation moved the bulk of the money to bonding. Most of the schools and library surveys are done. The committee has taken a look at video transferring over the network. They would like to show real activity on the network. The schools would be able to make use of that. The Senate came out with a budget last week. ICONN lost $107,000 from the governor proposed funding. The House didn't amend the Senate budget. It would have cut us back from the proposed budget. The Governor vetoed the budget, so we are now back to propose a budget. Ken will meet with legislators and the Appropriations Committee. Ken said that the library community has done well in contacting their legislators and that it is important for them to continue to call. We have surplus funds that we are trying to spend quickly. Ken met with the Office of Public Management. They will not allow any surplus funds to be carried forward. We will have to spend what we have well. Sharon Brettschneider added that if we get $618,000, our budget will be okay for next year. If we only get $510,000, we'll have to cut $107,000 in databases.

b. Database Selection Committee - Sharon Brettschneider

Sharon Brettschneider reported that the database selection committee met on March 21. The committee, which consists of Edward Murray, David Bretthauer and Jenifer O'Connor, voted to replace the Washington Post with the Los Angeles Times and the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Gale lost the publishing rights for the Washington Post. The committee decided that a paper survey and also focus groups will be conducted to aid in selecting databases for the next year. The committee will meet again on May 16.

c. Public Awareness Committee

William Sullivan reported the Public Awareness Committee met on April 3. Alana Meloni, Betty Goyette, Cheryl Beturne, Anita Barney, Gail Hurley, Jim Smith and Mr. Sullivan met to discuss public awareness ideas for iCONN. Some of their ideas were to come up with a catchy message or phrase to use for advertising, to try and obtain sources of additional revenue such as corporate sponsors; and to break up their ideas into ones that cost money versus ones that don't.

d. Digital Library Progress Report - William Sullivan

William Sullivan reported that he had a telecommunications meeting with Gale and Autographics to discuss linking Gail databases and reQuest. We are also exploring links between Gale Health and Wellness databases and the GreatKidsCT site. We are working with Autographics on a project called The Asia which searches library catalogs. This could be a successor to ReQeust. We would like to get iCONN in that environment. We are working with Linda Braun to make improvements to the iCONN homepage.

7. Old Business

a. Unfilled positions on Board

Sharon Brettschneider reported that there is still a vacancy for student representation. Jonas Zdanys stated that it is difficult to get a student to commit. Sharon said she would send him suggestions as they arise.

8. New Business

a. Forming a Nominations Committee - Sharon Brettschneider

Sharon Brettschneider reported that half of the Board has a term of one year that will expire in January 2003. So as to allow enough time, we should have names to vote on by the Summer or Fall. The nominations committee members are Jonas Zdanys, Alana Meloni, Jim Smith and Sam Brown.

b. iCONN & Information Literacy (Discussion Draft) - INFO ITEM - CDLAB DOC 02-03-William Sullivan

William Sullivan reported on and discussed the iCONN & Information Literacy. This initiative would provide an opportunity to enhance digital library service for traditional library service. Bill's proposal is that whenever a patron encounters difficulty in the search for information, a live professional librarian will be available at the press of a button to assist. Alan Benkert thought that the project was duplicating what Bill Edge does at LION and asked if it was the market place for this and if there were any other avenues. Bill replied that there are different avenues to helping patrons use tools to answer their questions, but they are not closely coupled to information services. Bill envisions this service would assist for a better user of iCONN.

c. Demo of reQuest Institutional Database - Stephen Cauffman

Stephen Cauffman gave a demonstration on the reQuest database for the Board focusing on more of the technical pieces.

d. Purchase of Databases in FY 2002 for FY 2003 - CDLAB DOC 02-04 - Sharon Brettschneider

Sharon Brettschneider reported that they had processed the Gale invoices. They have not purchased anything for the current year. Tier 1 includes all the InfoTrac databases, Expanded Academic ASAP, General Reference Center Gold, Informe, Professional Collection Online, Business & Company Resource Center, Health & Wellness Resource Center and What Do I Read Next which are available to all 3 audiences. After clearing that from the account and $150,000 that will be spent on Tier 2 public and school databases (The New York Times and Discovering Collection), there would be approximately $322,000 left in this year's funds to was nclpurchase two academic databases. Jonas Zdanys was reluctant to vote at this time and had questions on the purchases made for Tier 1. Alan Benkert moved (2nd Betty Goyette) to purchase Lexis Nexis Academic Universe and Psych Info for a total of $325,828 from FY 2002 funds and that they would also authorize Sharon Brettschneider to spend $325,828 on these databases or another two that are discussed and agreed upon at the CCALD meeting.

9. Other Business

Sharon Brettschneider stated that she and Stephen Cauffman, Kim Farrington, Linda LoShiavo (DAS) and Rich Kingston (Conn. State Library) are in the process of checking the top vendors from the C-Car RFP evaluations. They are hoping to have a vendor by July. Current c-car drivers need to be placed according to their maintenance contract.

LuAnn Cogliser MOVED (2nd Samuel Brown) to adjourn the meeting at 2:52 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for July 3, 2002 at the Middletown Library Service Center.

Respectfully submitted,

Lynette Baisden
Connecticut State Library