The NMRLS Executive Board met at Stevens Memorial Library, North Andover on Thursday, May 19, 2005.

Strategic Planning Draft Goals and Objectives - Becky Herrmann & Greg Pronevitz
Becky Herrmann reported on how the NMRLS Strategic Planning process has been a positive experience for her and recommended similar participation in it to her colleagues. She was impressed by how the group came together to formulate the Draft Strategic Goals and Objectives. A discussion ensued about the document. Board members expressed how impressed they were with how concise, challenging, and thorough the Goals and Objectives are. The plan will be posted on the Web in August for member comment. It goes to the Board for comment in September and approval in October. The membership will have opportunity for discussion at the annual meeting in November. The Board also discussed reviewing the plan on a quarterly basis to assure that we stay on track.

FY2007 Budget Planning - Greg Pronevitz
Nancy George and Greg Pronevitz will be scheduling a Budget Committee meeting in July to discuss the FY2007 budget. Greg invited members to join the Committee if they are interested. Staff have been identifying costs that might arise in FY2007, i.e., new photocopier, distance education, Summer Reading Programs for schools, outsourcing the Summer Reading Program, the elimination of ILL postage fees (if new funding is gained), and possibly restoring some regional ILL Net Lender reimbursement. Becky Herrmann suggested that we might need to purchase distance education software to assist in implementing the key competencies suggested in the Strategic Plan.

NMRLS Web Site Update -Susan Grabski
Susan Grabski informed the group that the Board, Committee Chairs, and a number of different members, with positive response, had previewed the overall design of the new web site. The NMRLS staff team is reviewing the directory structure and reorganizing things so that we will be able to capture better statistics. The new directory structure will be tied to our program areas, as is our budget. We will likely be launching the new site sometime over the summer.

Delivery Update -Susan Grabski
Both NMRLS Interlibrary Loan Centers, NOBLE and Memorial Hall Library in Andover, hosted their own ILL Center Open House & Delivery Spring Meetings. NMRLS staff presented an overview of the NMRLS Online Guide to Delivery Services and introduced the idea of presorting library materials. For the last several months, six libraries in the region have participated in an experiment by presorting library materials for their biggest partners. Members were asked to start thinking about other libraries they might have at least one full bin for on a daily basis. NMRLS staff discussed the possibility of forming a Delivery Committee made up of frontline staff, library directors, and network representatives, as well as other ideas to improve delivery efficiency. These potential changes are the result of ideas coming out of our own strategic planning process and of conversations NMRLS has had with CD&L, our current contractor. The goal is to increase efficiency and keep costs down.

The Board discussed and approved the formation of a Delivery Committee.

Recertification of Specials and Academic Library Members - Mary Behrle
Mary Behrle explained that, last fall, NMRLS requested that academic and special library members return recertification forms so that we may verify their eligibility for membership. We used the same process as we did when recertifying schools over a year ago. There are still 10 libraries that we have not heard from and we have been trying to contact each by phone.

The Board agreed that the libraries that we have not heard from should receive a letter stating that the Board would be taking action to remove their library from NMRLS membership roles at the September 15, 2005 meeting if we do receive a response from them.

The Board also discussed two eligibility requirements that had raised questions from special libraries during the recertification process - one that a library should have a paid librarian in charge and, two, that the library be willing to lend materials. The Board felt that, given the type of libraries, that as long as the volunteers at these libraries are paid something, they would meet the requirement for membership. There are no Massachusetts standards for certification of special librarians.

Bylaws Discussion - Mary Behrle
Mary suggested to the Board that we look at how our bylaws address the removal of a board member, both Directors and Officers. Additionally, NMRLS should look at Section 5.8, "Action Without a Meeting." It currently requires that all members must vote, as opposed to just a quorum.

The Board Development Committee will review the bylaws and make a recommendation to the Board at their September meeting. Bylaw changes must be approved by the membership at its annual meeting in November.

Action Item: Freeze MassCat Membership: Greg Pronevitz reminded the Board of a discussion that took place at their March meeting about freezing MassCat membership due to budgetary constraints. While the Board agreed that this freezing membership would be a good idea, they did not vote on the issue.

Since then, NMRLS has received a request from 5 elementary schools in the same town to join MassCat. Greg asked the Board to freeze membership as of May 31, 2005, thus allowing these schools to join MassCat. The Board approved a freeze on MassCat membership effective May 31, 2005.

Upcoming Meetings

Date	Location	Time
Thursday, September 15, 2005	Location TBA	2:30 PM 4:30 PM

Membership Update by Susan Grabski

Current membership: 330 Libraries Academic: 13, Public: 53; School: 225; Special: 39)
Membership as of 7/1/2004: 312 Libraries (Academic: 13, Public: 53; School: 205; Special: 41)