Minutes from the April 5, 2001 meeting were accepted with correction
(Gilda Ortego was not present)
Gloria Meraz, Texas Library Association, reported on some of the
legislation affecting libraries in the 77th Texas Legislature:
Peggy Rudd, State Librarian, reported that funding for the first
phase of the Library of Texas statewide resource sharing/virtual
library has been transferred to TSLAC. 60 databases, including remote
access (twice what was available in 2001) are the results of this
partnership. Since training is important, database vendors are presenting
sessions across the state. TSLAC is examining ways to use technology
to deliver continuing education. Using LSTA funds to match TIFB
funds and maintain 50 cents per capita is being investigated. The
RFO will go out on September 1 for vendors to make offers to create
the government information electronic archives. The government information
group worked to create this RFO. Over $11million will be available
for Phase 2 of the Library of Texas project.
TIFB funding is guaranteed for the biennium. The new TIFB working
group for libraries will focus on allocation issues, to determine
the share libraries will get.
Joe McCord reported on passage of HB3591, which opens TexShare
to certain non-profit libraries with extensive services and collections
including the fields of clinical medicine and the history of medicine.
The Board approved creation of a Task Force on TexShare Expansion
which is charged with making recommendations to the TSLAC and the
Advisory Board on the following issues:
1. What categories of libraries (library types) should be considered
for future membership in the consortium?
2. According to what timetable should these potential members be
invited to participate?
3. What responsibilities should be associated with participation
in the programs?
4. What are the funding implications of the growth of the consortium
in the manner and on the timetable recommended?
The following individuals have agreed to serve on the task force:
Barbara Bertoldo, Kathy Hoffman, Rhoda Goldberg, Kay Schlueter,
with Joe McCord and Beverley Shirley. Additional members are being
solicited.
TSLAC is seeking proposals from consulting groups to conduct a
study of Texas public libraries and the factors that influence the
future of their development. The results will assist the TSLAC to
develop public libraries for the 21st century that are deeply valued,
important community resources and that are responsive to the rapid
changes in our world, both technological and societal. The study
recommendations will focus on options for furthering positive library
development in Texas and should suggest funding opportunities and
mechanisms for that development. The study will include service
providers and stakeholders across the state. It will begin this
fall, conclude in the spring of 2002.
Working Group Reports
Card Program Working Group
Jay Clark reported that 64 public libraries have joined the program.
The Group has written to all 10 regional public library systems
asking them to consider reimbursing member libraries for losses
as does the Central Texas Library System. One issue is the loss
of funding if a library cannot charge out of city users.
The Library Resource Sharing Division will try to gather information
on distribution of participants in the card program and TExpress
by legislative districts.
Courier (TExpress) Program Working Group
Jo Anne Hawkins reported that there are now 206 libraries participating
through 173 sites. The broader TransAmigos Express program is adding
libraries in Arkansas as well.
Through May, 211,429 packages were sent and received through TExpress;
105,697 sent, and 105,732, received. Houston Public Library remains
the top user.
The Users’ Guide has been revised and updated, and is available
on the web site.
The current 60%/40% subsidy for libraries by TSLAC will continue
through 2002, and there is room for additional sites. TexShare provides
$1620 per site while libraries pay $1080 annually.
Although these costs are affordable, a site needs to send 600 packages
a year to break even. The working group will look at the possibility
of a tiered approach to charges. Many libraries may be using Ariel
for document delivery which will affect the program. Amigos is having
problems getting statistical information on the program from participating
libraries.
Tex Treasures Working Group
Kathy Hoffman reported on the FY02 grant recommendations for approval
by the Library and Archives Commission. Over 65 projects have been
funded through these grants over the last several years. Some of
the issues that came out of the review of the current grant applications
are:
Is use of funds for copyright clearance and attorney fees an appropriate
use of the funds?
Is use of funds for continuation of a funded project currently being
adequately handled in the criteria for applying for the grants and
in the scoring process?
Panel needs to know how well currently funded projects are going
so that can be used during the evaluation of the new projects from
the same institution.
Should criteria include information on how the library will get
continued funding?
Need for training libraries in preparing a good grant package.
Libraries without resources to handle fragile, local materials may
partner with such organization as the Center for American History.
This might be an opportunity for a new partnering effort for TexShare.
Other sources of funding for library projects include the private
sector which has an interest in preserving Texas history; TIFB Discovery
grants for digitization; Texas Historical Records Advisory Board
grant money for preservation (microfilming or digitizing) of newspapers;
and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Education Program (No report)
Electronic Information
Tommie Wingfield explained the process by which the group chose
the new electronic databases for TexShare, which included a survey
of member libraries. These new resources include more full text
and more images than in the past. Updated information about these
databases is on the web site. The total amount of funding for these
databases, including TIFB funds, is $10,492.201.
ILL Program
Jo Anne Hawkins reported for Sara Lowman and Nancy Paine. The workshop
in Dallas, which charged a registration fee for the first time,
was a success. The fee did not seem to affect registration, as 143
registered, as compared to 150 for the November 1999 workshop. Out-of-state
speakers included Mary Jackson from the Association of Research
Libraries, Lars Leon from the University of Kansas, and Joanne Halfren
from the University of Oregon. Other speakers included Ron Glass
from OCLC, Tim Prather from Amigos, Scott Downing from Texas A&M-Commerce,
and Kate Cordts from the San Antonio Public Library. Attendees learned
about ILL software packages, selective union listing on OCLC, Best
Practices for ILL, direct patron-to-lending library requesting,
and a look at the reasons why change is difficult and how to make
it work.
The TexShare ILL Award went to the University of Houston for consistently
being the top lender and for outstanding service. In the past Texas
A&M-Commerce and Texas Christian University have received this
award.
As of end May 2001, there have been 206,075 ILL transactions between
TexShare libraries in FY01. This is a 2% decrease from last year
at the same time. The four-year, state-supported institutions are
both the biggest lenders and the biggest borrowers. Academic libraries
as a group are net lenders. Public libraries as a group borrow more
than they lend.
Strategic Partner Reports
Amigos Library Services (Judye Glick)
Ms Glick is a new manager, and is working on practices and procedures
that will produce better statistical reports. There were 123 responses
to the TExpress service survey. Amigos will post procedures on the
web site for libraries that want to cancel the service.
The University of Texas at Austin (Sue Phillips)
Ms Phillips reported that the transition for delivery of the TexShare
databases from local tape load to vendor sites appears to be going
well.
Administrative Report (Beverley Shirley)
Adoption of the rule review of Chapter 8 will be presented at the
July 30 meeting of the Library and Archives Commission.
LRS has five vacancies; applications are being reviewed. Two new
positions, Public Information Specialist and Administrative Support
Specialist, have been filled. Two temporary, part time positions
have been assisting with several projects.
Renewal of the strategic partner contracts with University of Texas
at Austin and Amigos Library Services will be presented at the July
meeting of the Library and Archives Commission. The contract with
NetLibrary for eBooks is being amended so libraries can buy MARC
records for ebooks.
In order to provide consistency with the scholastic and fiscal
year cycles, terms of service for working group members will be
shifted from calendar year to fiscal year. Current members of the
working groups with terms due to expire in December of 2001 will
be asked to extend their terms through August 2002.
Because TSLAC’s legislative request for additional database
funding did not pass, LRS plans to maintain fees at status quo level
for the upcoming fiscal year per its posting that fees would be
dropped “depending upon the outcome of the legislative session.”
Advisory Board members felt this action is counter to decisions
made at a prior Board meeting and strongly advised a reconsideration
of this policy. Beverley Shirley reported that fee revenue was included
in the documents submitted to the Legislative Budget Board for the
upcoming year, but will find out whether these revenue projections
bind TSLAC to collecting fees or allow latitude for fees to be dropped.A
future meeting in September or October will be set by email.
Present:
TexShare Board members:
Joe McCord, University of Houston at Clear Lake
Mary Adamson, University of Texas Southwestern
J.J. Baskin, Austin Public Library Foundation
Rhoda Goldberg, Harris County Public Library
Marsha Harper, Abilene Christian University
Gilda B. OrtegoTexas A & M University at Kingsville
Eileen Shocket, St. Edward’s University
Glenda Swink, Southwest Texas Junior College
Daryl Tocker, Tocker Foundation
Texas State Library and Archives Commission:
Peggy Rudd, State Librarian
Beverley Shirley, Library Resource Sharing
Deborah Littrell, Library Resource Sharing
Bonnie Grobar, Library Resource Sharing (recorder)
Working Group Liaisons:
Jay Clark (San Jacinto Community College)
Jo Anne Hawkins (University of Texas at Austin)
Tommie Wingfield (University of Texas at Arlington)
Kathy Hoffman (University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Research
Center)
Strategic Partners:
Judye Glick (Amigos Library Services)
Sue Phillips (University of Texas at Austin)
Guests:
Gloria Meraz (Texas Library Association)
Norman Hood
