All Directors Meeting Minutes
March 18, 2021 10:00 a.m.
WPLC Magazines : M. Van Pelt noted magazines became live in the WPLC statewide collection on February 5, 2021. This is a cooperative purchase that has been extended to all WPLC members and will be available for one year. WPLC has informed OverDrive that it is extremely important that they get pricing for 2022 as soon as possible. A question was asked if Time Warner titles will be made available in the future and will there be an option to add those titles. It is unknown at this time.
Marathon County: M. Van Pelt provided a recap. The Marathon County Library (MCPL) Board of Trustees voted 4 to 3 to withdraw from the Wisconsin Valley Library Service and join SCLS. In February, the MCPL Board of Trustees discussed how to deal with the misinformation that the public is receiving regarding the possible move to SCLS. For example, patrons will have to get new library cards, staff will be laid off, etc. DPI staff were invited to their March meeting to receive information about the impact of switching systems upon the Wisconsin Valley Library Service and local libraries, as well as answer any questions. Shannon Schultz provided a history of counties switching systems. In 1995 the move of Wood, Portage and Adams Counties joined SCLS from WVLS. In 2000, Fond du Lac County left Mid-Wisconsin System to join Winnefox. This is similar to MCPL because the Fond du Lac Library was the Mid-Wisconsin System’s Resource Library and headquarters. There was no discussion afterwards.
The
next step will be a public hearing by the Marathon County Board of Supervisors
Extension, Education and Economic Development committee. The Marathon County Board
of Supervisors will vote on the question of withdrawal sometime after the
hearing and prior to June 30th in order for MCPL to join SCLS January
2022. The Marathon County Library Board of Trustees could also postpone the
hearing until after July 1st and wait another year to join SCLS.
New money: DPI has informed SCLS that in the next several
months, new money will be coming into Wisconsin to support libraries. The
American Rescue Plan for 2021 (COVID relief bill) was signed March 11th
and $3,270,854 will come to Wisconsin in the next 60 days for libraries and
schools. DPI will be handling the funds and we have 2 years to spend it.
The Build America’s Libraries Act will provide $5 billion of federal funds for
the whole nation and DPI will handle the funds. This act was introduced in the
House and is aimed for passage around July.
DPI is working on a strategy
to sort the various funding sources into appropriate categories so it can be a
multiplier of money. The funds will target large one time projects, not
on-going projects. The projects will need to fall in line with the LSTA 5 year
plan as being collaborative and strategic.
Expanded E-rate is receiving more funding with the focus of helping internet
connectivity to folks at home. Millions will be added to the plan with
reimbursement at 100%. This is to be used mainly for hot spots and connective
devices. This will require CIPA compliance and libraries will have to apply
directly for the e-rate funding.
Beanstack for Wisconsin public libraries has been extended through April 2023.
County Funding: M. Ibach provided a summary of the 2021 County Reimbursement spreadsheet and the Adjacent County reimbursement spreadsheet. The documents may be found online. All of the adjacent county reimbursement forms are prepared and ready to go and he is waiting for the authorization forms from the member libraries. Counties have received the in-county library reimbursement forms. If anyone has questions, please contact Mark Ibach.
Building Needs Assessment Work
Group: K. Goeden provided a summary
of the BNAW history and the current status of the new building site search.
Next steps for the next year will be to purchase a site, draw up plans,
bidding, and plan construction for next spring. The goal is to move in 2 years
from now.
Delivery Sorter: C. Baumann discussed investigating the validity of
installing an automation sorter at the Delivery facility. In early stages,
solicitations were sent and a couple of work groups were formed to investigate the
data to collect. There are a couple of vendors that have provided
presentations and we are looking at how the effort to RFID tag materials will
work in the system and how to coordinate it into a sorter system in delivery as
well as use that technology to improve the service provided. All of these
things will be taken into account and we will be looking at what delivery is
doing and how efficient we are in sorting with the staff available and the current
volume. Delivery is very productive in hand sorting and post-its are working
well but there may be an accuracy component expected. We are investigating how
to improve safety processes and limit lifting. Another work group will
investigate how to assist in technology and the removal of the yellow post-its
which involves the time, cost, effort and the investment of those components.
The RFID systems are modular so pieces can be added later. Also, we can do
some things locally as a delivery network that links up the existing system
sorters which could be an efficiency bonus if we coordinate deliveries with
other sorting libraries in the system.
BRD – is the cost to RFID tag items included in cost estimates? No – this is
only for the equipment, not tags.
V. Teal Lovely noted SCLS is encouraging libraries to do RFID tagging, but it
is not a requirement. SCLS received a CARES act last summer that assisted
libraries in purchasing tags and a RFID station. T. Miller from WYO was hired to
work with libraries in assisting with start up for RFID tags. SCLS will continue
to look for grant opportunities and offer support.
PCPL - what are the tagging concerns? Location of tags on items, desire for
libraries to be on the same page with standards and guidelines lending
restrictions, etc.
E-rate is receiving funding to
support mobile hotspots and laptops that can be lent to patrons. The caveat is
that libraries need to filter and follow CIPA guidelines. SCLS is looking into
updating the filtering system since our equipment is getting past its life
cycle. Currently 24 libraries are getting E-rate and the upgrade will allow
additional libraries to filter more easily.
MCF – how does the filtering apply if a patron checks out a laptop or hotspot
and take it out of the library? Technological support would be difficult.
Transition away from
Firefox to Chrome for Bibliovation:
V. Teal Lovely shared a PowerPoint of
security vs. functionality for moving from Firefox to Chrome. You may view the
power point in the documents online. This is an issue of security and keep in
mind that all of our solutions are in the beginning stages. There is much work
to be done before Chrome is a viable options. Keep an eye out for emails from
SCLS about this. Firefox will be upgraded and available for use, but not
recommended for the problem issues. Libraries may continue to use Firefox for
non-Bibliovation items.
Any update on the mobile app? VTL noted it’s in testing and set up and problems have been identified. A fix will be provided and the rollout date should be May 1st.
2022 Service Considerations divided into 15 minute break-out sessions
· Technology
· ILS
· Delivery
· Consulting
Members will share their priorities. The SCLS facilitator and notetaker will report out at the end of the four breakout sessions.
Each topic session will repeat 4 times so members can get to all topics.
Report out on Service Considerations
Meeting adjourned: 12:30 p.m.