Present : Alan Benkert, Cheryl Beturne, David Bretthauer, Samuel Brown, Betty Goyette, Anne Maio, Alana Meloni, Deborah Salewski, Jim Smith, Jonas Zdanys, Kendall Wiggin

Others : Lynette Baisden, Sharon Brettschneider, Stephen Cauffman, Sandra Clockedile, William Sullivan

Absent: Alfred Hopkins, Jenifer O'Connor

1. Call to Order

Betty Goyette, in Al Hopkins's absence, called the meeting to order at 1:08 p.m.

2. Approval of Minutes

Jim Smith MOVED (2 nd Alan Benkert) to approve the minutes of March 5, 2003 . There was one abstention.

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 reported that the State Library has ten employees that are opting to take the early retirement initiative plan. This will not affect iCONN. In the legislative version of the budget, the CLSU's have received additional funding and funding was restored for the Commission on Educational Technology. There is to be a small amount for the executive director and office support. Ken reported that he and Commissioner Valerie Lewis met with Lt. Governor Rell to update her on iCONN and to give her background information to share with the Governor. Ken would like to have the Lt. Governor and Governor Rowland participate in public service announcements for iCONN. The Lt. Governor remains committed to iCONN as is the Office of Policy and Management. iCONN will continue to send her updates and mailings to keep her informed. Ken, Bill Sullivan and Jane Emerson met with representatives from Gale to discuss promotional ideas for iCONN. Ken reported that he would be going to Washington to discuss the reauthorization of the Library Service and Technology Act (LSTA) under which Connecticut received federal support for libraries. The President has proposed an increase in funding for LSTA. If it is enacted, Connecticut will receive another million in funding. Ken will also meet with members of Congress and present them with their own iCONN library cards.

6. Department of Higher Education Report - Jonas Zdanys

Jonas Zdanys followed up last month's report on library standards in Connecticut . Mr. Zdanys would like a representative from the Digital Library Board to assist the Department of Higher Education in redefining the standard on academic libraries. Mr. Zdanys met with representatives from the University of Phoenix , which is seeking accreditation in Connecticut . The representatives felt that online access to resources was enough - that colleges did not need to provide access to libraries with books. The Department will review library standards and the viewpoints expressed by these university representatives. There needs to be more of an affirmation of the importance of books and that they are supplemental to databases.

Sam Brown reported that the academic librarians are evaluating EBSCO's Business Source Premier database as a possible replacement for the current iCONN business resource, ProQuest's ABI Inform Complete . EBSCO and ProQuest both presented their databases at a meeting of the Council of Connecticut Academic Library Directors. They both have offered upgraded versions of their products. The academic libraries will send their preferences to Jane Emerson who will forward the vote to the Database Committee. The final decision will be made by the Department of Higher Education.

7. Other Reports

a. Database Committee - Sharon Brettschneider

Sharon Brettschneider reported that the committee had met just prior to this meeting. She distributed a statistical report compiled by Jane Emerson on iCONN usage for July 2001-March 2003. The current number of searches has increased and will exceed last year's count. If iCONN gets the amount in FY 2004 that is in the Governor's budget, the current databases will be maintained. The committee evaluated a proposal from ProQuest for a newpaper database as an alternative to 12 months of the New York Times through Gale and the Hartford Courant through NewsBank. ProQuest's Newsstand national newspapers provides six newspapers: Christian Science Monitor , Hartford Courant , Los Angeles Times , New York Times , Wall Street Journal , and the Washington Post . It would extend the backfile of the New York Times to 1999. It would also add the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post . In addition, the Newsstand can be made available to academic libraries. All this would be offered for the same price as we currently pay Gale and NewsBank. ProQuest will also offer the historical file of the New York Times to academic and large public libraries without having to individually purchase a current subscription: a huge savings for the libraries. If we decide to subscribe to ProQuest's Newsstand , it would be on the condition that iCONN receives full funding. Alan Benkert MOVED (2 nd Sam Brown) to subscribe to ProQuest's Newsstand beginning on July 1, 2003 if iCONN is fully funded. This subscription will include access for public, school and academic libraries.

b. Digital Library Progress Report - William Sullivan

Bill Sullivan reported and distributed the May issue of the iCONN Times . As noted in another handout, the number of searches on iCONN from its inception has reached nearly 9 million. Bill would like to get more testimonials from libraries describing how iCONN has made an impact on their budgets. He has been putting them on the iCONN web page. Bill stated that Quinnipiac University gave an example of how they would have to find $77,000 to continue licenses to current databases if iCONN didn't exist. Bill and Ken met with representatives from Gale. They are willing to provide support by putting the iCONN on their literature. Bill is working with Auto-Graphics to get AGent implemented. Auto-Graphics has been slow in making the links to iCONN databases operational. The CTW Consortium has agreed to provide Z39.50 profile information so that they may be included in the AGent search choices. OCLC announced that it would not increase the rate for its daily FTP service (making our projected cost for this service in FY2004 approximately $100,000), however the combined effect of previous rate increases and ongoing volume increases means that the service will still be unaffordable in FY2004 given a level-funded reQuest budget.

Steve Cauffman distributed handouts on an Interlibrary Loan seminar that he will conduct on June 12 th and 15 th . The seminar will be open to only reQuest ILL participants. It will be an introduction to policy and procedures for new supervisors. Since a question about the status of C-Car was raised Sharon Brettschneider asked if she could do her C-Car update at this point in the agenda.

d. C-Car Update - Sharon Brettschneider

Sharon Brettschneider reported that she met with representatives from BeavEx yesterday. Beginning on June 2 nd , BeavEx drivers will deliver to 81 libraries on a permanent basis and an additional 37 stops on a month-by-month basis. The C-Car staff will deliver to the remaining 105 libraries. The C-Car operation will move to the Van Block storage facility in Hartford in June. BeavEx will have a one-day turnover for pickup and delivery. The BeavEx drivers will stop by the libraries before June 1 to introduce themselves and work out a pick-up time. Sharon will send a letter to libraries informing them of the details of these changes.

c. RFP Update - William Sullivan

Bill Sullivan reported that he sent the final version of the functional requirements for the Request for Proposal (RFP) to the Department of Information Technology (DOIT) yesterday. DoIT will make one more evaluation of the document before issuing the RFP. The RFP will be issued in electronic form only. The scoring system has been documented.

d. Gates Foundation Computers - Sharon Brettschneider

Sharon Brettschneider reported that the Gates Foundation computers are beginning to be delivered to libraries. The Middletown Library Service Center has received theirs. The computers were free to libraries in specific geographical locations that had 10% of their population below the poverty level. The computers are completely loaded with Microsoft products and have tutorials on the software packages. Five towns?Hartford, New Britain , New Haven , Bridgeport and Waterbury?also will receive computer labs. Sharon attended a Gates Foundation Training workshop held in Seattle , WA . The workshops focused on the installation and technical support of the computers and training strategies for both staff and patrons.

Ken Wiggin reported that a Staying Connected grant has been submitted to the Gates Foundation. It will provide funding for the State Library to give additional training for poorer communities and will also replace computers. The Gates Foundation will unveil the new portal they developed with OCLC for support for libraries in library technology areas and public access computing.

8. Old Business

There was none to report on.

9. New Business

a. Important Resolution

Sharon Brettschneider read a resolution for Betty Goyette complimenting her on her many valuable years of service to the Board and to Connecticut libraries. Betty stated that she was honored and that it was a privilege to work with everyone on the Board and that she may surface as a library user.

b. Nominations Committee

Alan Benkert stated that they will accept the resignations (due to retirement) of Betty Goyette and Anne Maio with respect. Ken Wiggin stated that he has written to the Department of Education regarding replacing Betty's vacant position. The members of the nominations committee, Alan Benkert, Sam Brown and David Bretthauer, will meet to recommend another candidate to the Board to fill Anne Maio's vacant slot.

10. Any other Business to come before the Board

There was none.

11. Adjourn

Alan Benkert MOVED (2 nd Sam Brown) to adjourn the meeting at 2:32 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for July 2, 2003 at the Middletown Library Service Center.

Respectfully submitted,

Lynette Baisden,

Connecticut State Library