NOLA BOARD OF TRUSTEES
REGULAR MEETING
MARCH 20, 2001

NOLA Conference and Training Center                                                                Warren, Ohio

I a.       Roll Call

            President Currie called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

Present:  Mary Frances Burns, Phyllis Cettomai, Diana Fritz, Lilith Kunkel, Ellen Leavitt, Ruth Mizik, Paul Rohrbaugh, Cristina Pope, Donna Wall, and Lois Wynkoop.  Ted Allison arrived a few minutes after roll call.

  Also in Attendance:  Interim Director Paul Pormen, Clerk-Treasurer Anne Hoerig, Continuing Education Coordinator Melissa Lattanzi, and Technology Coordinator Brad Stephens.

I b.       Introduction of Guests

Rose Ann Lubert, the new Director at Girard Free Library was introduced by Diane Fritz and welcomed by President Currie and the other Board Members.

II a.      Approval of the Agenda

Phyllis Cettomai moved and Paul Rohrbaugh seconded that discussion of a new hire be added under New Business.  Motion carried by voice vote.

II b.      Approval of the Minutes

It was indicated that Dave Kucsma’s name was misspelled in the Minutes for February 20, 2001.  Donna Wall moved and Lilith Kunkel seconded that the minutes be accepted as corrected.  Motion carried by voice vote.  Burns will get a clean copy to Anne Hoerig by e-mail for printing.

III.        Correspondence

A news release was received from the State Auditor’s Office commending NOLA for a “clean” audit.  President Currie thanked Anne Hoerig and the NOLA Staff for running the Office in an efficient and legally pleasing manner.

IV a.    Clerk-Treasurer’s Report – Anne Hoerig

Clerk-Treasurer Hoerig presented the Financial Reports for the month of February 2001.  Paul Rohrbaugh moved and Ruth Mizik seconded that the reports be accepted as presented.  Motion carried by roll call vote.

 Clerk-Treasurer Hoerig requested that the Board consider a budget transfer request.  Cristina Pope moved and Ruth Mizik seconded that $2,900 be moved from 202.3290 (Other Printing) to 202.5510 (Furniture and Equipment) to purchase server racks to help aid in ventilation.  Motion carried by roll call vote.

IV b.     Interim Director’s Report – Paul Pormen:

Several legislative items were presented in Interim Director Pormen’s report.  He discussed a letter that was mailed to Ohio Legislators in NOLA’s service area who were not able to attend the breakfast at Youngstown State that discusses the impending budget cuts and how they will affect libraries.  Pormen mentioned several letters he had received complimenting NOLA on the breakfast.  He distributed copies of a legislative directory that has local office phone numbers.  Pormen also urged NOLA’s members to attend the Legislative Breakfast that will be held at the Geauga County Library Administration Center on April 16 at 8:00 a.m.

Pormen brought those present up-to-date on the status of the State Wide Resource Sharing Project. He also talked about the meeting that will be held on April 12 to discuss stop-gap measures between when the Access Ohio contract expires and NOLA Members become part of the project.  Fortunately SEO will step in to bridge the gap.  The delay in implementation also affects our U.S. Cargo delivery service.  U.S. Cargo will honor the current contract rate for one to three months.  NOLA will send out a letter of intent to members who use this service.

Pormen also informed the Board that Sue McLeaf Nespeca’s current contract is up and that it will be renewed for another 3-month period.  

IV c.    Technology Coordinator’s Report – Brad Stephens

Technology Coordinator Brad Stephens informed the Board that there are libraries interested in participating in the “Kiosk Project.”  The current estimate for expenses is around $40,000.  While this is expensive, this project has the potential for being funded by a grant.  The possibility of tying a UPS delivery run into the project is under investigation.

AskUsQuestions continues to grow.  There are now 16 libraries participating and others have expressed an interest in the project.  Both Geneva and Morley have had local publicity on the project to their local students.

NOLA has finalized a group purchase price for the Facts.com reference suite for member libraries that will result in significant savings to all who participate.  Stephens thanked Rose-Marie Pecchio and Anne Hoerig for their help with this project.

NOLA is conducting an evaluation to measure members’ interest in the web-based training program that has been discussed at previous meetings.  If sufficient interest exists, this could be implemented as early as this summer.

In closing, Stephens revealed that the technical implementation of the filtering grant has been completed, so that the services associated with the grant will begin within the next few weeks.  Please let Stephens know if you are interested in participating in being a “beta-testing” site before it goes statewide.

IV d.    Continuing Education Coordinator’s Report – Melissa Lattanzi

Continuing Education Coordinator Melissa Lattanzi reported that she will be attending the overview of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Library Grant Process Class in Seattle, Washington in order to supportive to the Libraries who receive the grant.  The class will focus on how the computers will affect daily activities in libraries and include such issues such as training and system maintenance.

Lattanzi reported that she has received the results of the statewide continuing education survey and will be implementing future programs based on the information in it.  She will be presenting information about the Belmont College Technical Training  program to NOLA directors at the Directors’ Round Table at Kinsman Library on April 26.

The PERS seminar had 110 attendees.  It will be offered again next year in June.  Lattanzi will also plan some “spin-off” programs on topics such as deferred compensation and estate planning.  She thanked Elaine Casterline with all her assistance with the program.

IV e.    Board Officers’ Reports

President Nancy Currie reported on the Statewide Resource Sharing Project Meeting that she attended.  She said that the philosophy hasn’t changed much since the project was conceived and is based on “keep it simple.”  The goal is to have a 48-hour turnover on materials when possible.  The publicity name for this project will be “MORE” as in Multiplying Ohio Resources for Everyone.     

Dave Kucsma will be meeting with the Board as follow-up to the January planning retreat at the April meeting.  President Currie asked the Board’s pleasure in terms of when he should come.  In the course of that discussion it was decided that the April Board meeting will be held at the NOLA Office and Training Center in order to allow Staff attendance at his presentation, that lunch will be ordered, and that Kucsma will meet with us early afternoon.

IV f.     State Library of Ohio Report  - None Presented.

 V.       Current Business – None Presented.

VI.       New Business

Pormen and Stephens gave an update on the search for the new Technology Assistant search.  Pormen thanked Brad for placing ads in the right place to generate a highly qualified pool of applicants.  The position has been offered to Phil Shirley, who is currently employed as the Head of Technology at Rocky River and who has previous experience at GEAC as a trainer and systems implementation person.  Clerk-Treasurer Hoerig updated the Board on the financial implications of this hire.  Shirley will begin his duties on April 30^th.

VII a.   Items Too Late for the Agenda:

Stephens reported that he had met with the Trumbull County Librarians who would like to develop a “one-card” library card project and is exploring various options on this.  He will keep the Board posted as it could become a “contract” situation for NOLA.

Cristina Pope asked Board members to mark their calendars as NEOUCOM will be sponsoring presentations on personal digital systems (Palm Pilots�, etc.) on October 11, 2001.  There will be food and giveaways besides good information.

VII b.   Comments by Visitors – None Presented.

VIII.     Next Meeting

The next meeting will be on April 17 at the NOLA Conference and Training Center (this is a location change).  The meeting will be followed by a light lunch, then a follow-up session with Dave Kucsma.

IX.        Adjournment

Mary Frances Burns moved and Lilith seconded that the meeting be brought to a close at 10:40 a.m.  Motion carried by voice vote.

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Mary Frances Burns, Secretary                                                                                    Date

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Nancy Currie, President                                                                                             Date