Editor's Note: We are commencing this new column to share brief reports from NMRLS committees. We hope it will help members keep up to date on regional happenings!

Reference (March 20, NMRLS, Danvers): The committee discussed the three online encyclopedias which had been on trial. Due to budget cuts, it appears that NMRLS will not be able to renew three of its current contracts. The committee discussed these databases and prioritized them. The group discussed how losing certain resources would impact the different library types in the region. An announcement to the membership will be made when negotiations are finalized. The next meeting is scheduled for May 12th, 2:30 pm, at NMRLS, Danvers.

Interlibrary Loan (March 27, 2003, Memorial Hall Library, Andover): The committee discussed a number of possibilities for a new chairperson and also discussed increasing its membership. Also noted: there will be a small survey of member libraries to record request-to-received turnaround time for both articles and book requests; ideas were discussed on how best to use a monetary gift to NMRLS from the Essex County Cooperative Libraries (ideas will be forwarded to the NMRLS Executive Board); MassCat membership updates with 3 new members this winter bringing MassCat membership to 20 in the region, 131 state-wide with over 1 million holdings. The committee's next meeting is scheduled for July 16th, 2:30 pm, place to be determined.

Digital Library (March 28, 2003, NMRLS, Danvers): The committee heard updates on digital initiatives at MVLC, NOBLE, NELINET and NMRLS. Of note, MVLC had recently approved standards for their members and NMRLS has applied for two LSTA grants to help fund digital projects. LSTA grants will be awarded this summer. Scott Kehoe, NMRLS Continuing Education Coordinator, discussed upcoming plans to support digitization through CE. Scott reported that since June 2001, 297 members have attended workshops dealing with some facet of digitization, and that we currently offer 5 workshops per quarter on digital issues ranging form Paint Shop Pro, Burning' CD's to a NMRLS Scan Lab Open House. The committee ended the meeting by brainstorming on criteria to evaluate NMRLS' digitization efforts over the next year. The committee's next meeting is scheduled for May 16th, 2:30 pm, at NRMLS, Danvers.

Youth Services (March 31, 2003, NMRLS, Danvers): The committee reviewed updates on Summer Reading, Continuing Education, YSLead Massachusetts, and the pilot intern program. Currently there are 2 interns placed in 2 libraries: Beverly and Danvers. Another intern is going to be placed this summer in Peabody. The committee brainstormed ideas for creating a series of workshops for next year with the goal of ---"How can we best help colleagues with YS excitement in light of grim budgets?" Advocacy, marketing, collection development, and programming were some of the ideas put on the table. The committee's next meeting is scheduled for May 19th, 3:00 pm, at NMRLS, Danvers.

Supplemental Services Deposit Collection (April 1, 2003, Memorial Hall Library, Andover): The committee heard reports from NMRLS and budget and circulation reports on the collection by John Baron. The budget for this FY is almost all expended. Discussion focused upon the cuts for FY04 and how to best cope with a reduction in administrative help. The committee's next meeting will be held just before the membership meeting on June 3rd, beginning at 9:30 am, at Memorial Hall Library, Andover.