Attending: Jim Cosgrove, John Georghiou, Gloria Goverman, Lauren Muffs, Sally Alderdice, Patti Haar, Josh Cohen, Tom Lawrence, Gregory Callahan, Merribeth Advocate.

Central Library Aid Guidelines were distributed to committee.

Central Book Aid (CBA) purchasing: $71,500 annually

• To improve adult print and electronic resources. Currently used for reference, microfilm, print serials, electronic databases and circulating materials.
• Issues discussed: CL support of the research community has changed dramatically in the past 10 years. Consider downsizing periodical collection. CBA funds should balance our overall collection. How to meet the demand for popular non-fiction titles; McNaughton suggested, but committee felt direct purchasing of titles would be best - may total $1000 annually.
• Databases
  • All will include open remote use for everyone.
  • Continue ProQuest, Contemporary Authors & Contemporary Literacy Criticism
  • Considering: auto repair (Chiltons), antiques or a collectable database - J. Cohen will arrange trials of both; NOVELIST - CL will get a system price for next meeting.
  • Issues discussed: How to combine access to all databases for members who purchase additional databases. MHLS will investigate this using EZ Proxy and report at next meeting.

Central Library Development Aid (CLDA): approx $200,000 annually

• Training
  • Central Library will develop curriculum and conduct a specified number of CE's (approx 15) for '06 in each of the counties. Suggested topics include: OPAC essentials, essential reference, intermediate reference, using Google, using Useful Links. Scheduling will be done by MHLS.
  • Sessions will include an evaluation component. Analysis comes back to committee after each topic, with originals as well.
  • Site specific visits will continue (approx 10-15 / year) at request of member library directors.
  • Customer service training referred to MHLS Continuing Education / Professional Development Committee. Suggestions included bringing in a big trainer; facilitated roundtable to talk about customer service - what do we need to learn more about.
• Subject Searching
  • Annual subject searches: about 100, most are from the prisons. At 30 minutes per = 50 hours of CL staff time annually.
  • Annual telephone reference from sampling zip codes: 312 from Dutchess County, 156 for other counties. Committee agreed to appropriate no central library funds for telephone reference.
• Collection Analysis
  • CL will conduct analysis of macro non-fiction collection usage throughout the system. Report to committee on where the bulk of the collection being used; holds by Dewey class and age of collection. Include alternative formats. Will create for members templates for searches; ways to look at your collection locally.
  • Goal is to make the collection deeper. Enable cooperative buying to step us into coordinated collection development.
• E-Journal
  • Goal: Communication tool to members so they know of CL services and use them.
  • CL will do an e-journal 3 times a year: fall, winter, spring/summer. Content outlined in minutes from 6/21/06 committee meeting. Issues discussed: Committee would like the info archived and organized; once it is working would like the ability to request topics. T. Lawrence will get a cost estimate from Danbury.
• Pathfinders / FAQ's / Subject Guides
  • Goal: To help staff and patrons get info faster on popular questions and hot topics like Medicare part D, Immigration Reform, Legal Questions.
  • Role of CL: Take responsible for things that are changing, and proactively create answers to FAQ's. Additionally members need to let CL know topics, so they can develop this.
• Core Competencies
  • Goal: assessment of staff to target training to improve their knowledge
  • CL will develop and administer core competency quizzes in conjunction with training
  • Issues discussed: training will need to be provided at different levels in order to advance reference abilities. Ongoing assessment is a key part of this. Each director will have a model to follow so staff can provide quality service.
• ILL
  • Funding part of the staff time MHLS uses to provide OCLC ILL to members.

New ideas for Central Library Development Aid funds:

• Electronic modules: Serials module; OPAC enhancements; Local newspaper database (see committee minutes from 5.25.04)
• Non-fiction CD or DVD.
• Educational materials; home repair; travel collections
• Professional development materials
• Reference orientation at CL

CL Survey

• Results were distributed to committee. Issues discussed: Education about central library services is important. Do members not know about CL services or do they not need them? Re-survey in a year.

Actions

1. J. Cohen will arrange for trials of auto repair and antiques databases.
2. CL will get a system price for NOVELIST for the next meeting.
3. MHLS staff will investigate combining database search pages for members with more than HomeAccess and report at next meeting.
4. Continuing Education / Professional Development Advisory Committee will discuss members needs for Customer Service training at their next meeting.
5. T. Lawrence will get a cost estimate from Danbury for E-Journal production.
6. Members will be re-surveyed about CL services in a year.

Next meeting Sept. 14, 2006

Report to DA: The plan and goals for CL services.

Merribeth Advocate