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Summary of NMRLS Executive Board Meeting
March 15, 2007
By Greg Pronevitz

Financial Report
The Executive Board approved the monthly financial report and discussed major factors that will affect services in the next fiscal year including renewal of online databases, delivery services, a statewide project to analyze delivery routing with the assistance of a paid expert consultant, and the level of funding from the state. At current funding levels, it is possible that NMRLS will not be able to renew all database licenses in fy2008.

A discussion ensued about the desired outcome of hiring the delivery consultant. Greg explained that, recently, the Northeast, Metrowest, and Southeast regions have submitted a large grant proposal to begin a pilot project to automate the sortation process for delivery services. The objective is to improve turnaround time and accuracy while simultaneously reducing labor in member libraries. The grant would begin with the automation of Metrowest. Other regions could be added after evaluation and additional start-up funding.

Quarterly Strategic Plan Implementation Update
Greg Pronevitz summarized the Implementation Plan for Year One – FY 2007. The Board was presented with a document that included the original text from the Implementation Plan, updates/status on activities, staff assignments, and suggestions to hold of on some activities, e.g., collaborative collection project. See: http://www.nmrls.org/strategicplan/. Greg asked the Board for feedback. At the May meeting, the Board will review Committee priorities for Year Two. In June, the Board will review and act on a Year Two Implementation Plan.

Discussion Item: Member Satisfaction/Importance Survey
Greg provided an overview of the survey that will be announced in April specifically to the Director or Head Librarian at each NMRLS member library. In addition to questions about are current programs and services, the survey contains questions related to the Strategic Plan and potential fee-based services, e.g., training for school staff, end-users, focus group facilitation, home delivery.

CE Committee Findings/E-Learning Surveys (per Strategic Plan)
Nadine Mitchell, CE Committee Chair, and Scott Kehoe summarized the Committee’s findings regarding e-learning. They received 25 responses out of 40 individual invited to participate in the survey. Members are, overall, pleased with WebJunction, the company that NMRLS uses to provide these opportunities.

WebJunction distance education workshops are self-paced, with testing and review built in to most workshops; there is a one-year time-limit for completion, one does not need to install additional software to take these workshops, and they offer an extensive list of online workshops that cover both technology and advocacy issues. Some examples of courses offered are: Troubleshooting Computer Problems, Microsoft Office suite (Access, Excel, Word, etc.), Microsoft FrontPage, Dreamweaver MX, Photoshop, HTML, XML, Linux Networking Essentials, Client/Server Essentials.

One draw-back cited by member is that they do not receive academic credit and/or professional development points after taking an online course.

Report on Graduation Summit
Susan Babb attended the Graduation Rate Summit - "The Power of Community Partnerships" that was held on Monday, March 5, at the DCU in Worcester. Approximately 500 superintendents, principals, guidance councilors, DOE, adult learning coordinators, community college presidents, Workforce Investment Board coordinators, DYS directors, DSS directors, and other job or school representatives attended. Susan was invited by Chris Shannon at the Merrimac Valley Workforce Investment Board.

The goals of the Summit were (as written in the welcoming letter in the binder given to every participant):

  • To acknowledge that the graduation rate is an issue for the entire state and the solutions include collaborations with state partners, not just schools
  • To showcase replicable practices from the organizations, partnerships, and schools that are doing an impressive job to assist students in staying in school; and
  • To provide an opportunity for structured inter-agency regional discussions on improving the number of students who graduate from high school.

For more information, please see Susan’s newsletter article at http://www.nmrls.org/news/mar07/graduation.shtml

Upcoming Meetings

Thursday, April 26, 2007
Stevens Memorial Library, North Andover
2:30 - 4:30 PM