State Aid Program Meeting #11
Thursday, April 26, 2007, 10:00 am-4:00 pm
By Marsha M. Morris & Associates, International
Purpose
The purpose of the state aid to public libraries program is to encourage municipalities to
support libraries that meet the evolving needs of residents: to promote resource sharing
and collaboration among libraries; and to provide equal access to appropriate public
library services for all residents of the commonwealth.
Start Ups
Marsha renewed outcomes and agenda
Presentations
•Bonnie Burnham presented the communities in need recommendations
•Bonnie made corrections to the yellow report labeled “New State Aid to Public Libraries
Program” and dated 4/26/07
•Agreement: The group would like more let more libraries in the program. The purple
sheet was changed.
•Frank Murphy presented for the local funding requirement group. John Arnold assisted
with power point. Group referred to the gray report. Ellie Chesebrough and Janice Coduri
also presented. Bernie Margolis completed the presentation.
•Agreement: Hold harmless clause for communities under 2,500 population
•Susan McAlister presented the points of service recommendations. This group has had
less time to present than the other two and made it clear discussion was needed and
welcomed.
•A number of questions were raised and a list was started “Questions to return to.” It was
decided that there are many components that remain unclear and need work. The larger
group provided assistance for a sub-group in making suggestions about an alternative
approach.
Suggested Approach for small sub-group to go back to brainstorm recommendations for
points for library service.
#1 Better materials, collections and services
#2 Better hired skilled staff
#3 Improve hours and access
#4 Commitment to planning
#5 Quality/ community to community use of the library
•Steps 3 and 4 are together → not separate
•Some reward for meeting or exceeding 2.5%
•Materials expenditure or strong component of Step 3
Final Agreements Communities in Need
Step 1
→ expend in a minimum of $10…↓
This was added to slide 2 on p.1 % Local Funding working
st
group slides and on 1 page of yellow report.
Step 2 #5
→ No changes → agreed
→ #6 No Changes
(MBLC should review this issue in its entirety when resources allow)
→ Section under Step 2 ( Requirements) that begins… Funds available for resource
sharing… (“John Arnold points system)”
→ Section under Step 2 (requirements) that begins… If not meeting: Receive
Equalization grant…↓
Change to reciprocity is not guaranteed and everything else stays the same
Questions to Return to:
→Should #12 and #13 be included?
→#18 → there are some communities that are not diverse. Should libraries have an
ethnicity requirement?↓
#’s 16-19 are more than standards → a library would need staff to
implement → these are far into the future
→ #5 Total hours including duplicated hours → this will clarify the statement
Next Steps
→ Points for library service reconstituted sub-group will do a one day retreat with MBLC
staff to make final recommendations
→ A teleconference call will be arranged to allow for comments on the sub-group’s
recommendations. Draft document will also be sent to full group for feedback.
→ Full group will come back for one last meeting Friday, June 29, 2007 10am-4pm
→ MBLC will define tem “extend privileges to registered borrowers”
→ MBLC should review the issue outlined in Step 2 (requirements) #6 when time and
resources allow
→ MBLC will assess the “John Arnold point system” and at some point will conduct a
cost study.
→ Members of reconstituted sub-group for points of service committee
→ Members of conference call for points of service
→ Members of editorial group for completion of full recommendations document
Send an email to Krista to tell her she was suggested for editorial sub-group
Process Going Forward
→ Editorial sub-group will begin to meet and work on drafting final report
→ Points of service group will schedule a retreat to draft points of service Step 3
→ As these two groups begin to get their work refined final drafts will be forwarded to
the entire group.
As drafts near an end a teleconference call will arrange for the entire group to participate
and provide feed back.
→ Final meeting will be called to bring the entire group back for a final in-person time
together to give final approval/agreement
→ Suggestion to send report and power point summary to capture attention for all types
of learners
Plus
→ Good to see big picture finally come
together
Delta
→ No candy
→ Schedule was backwards- points of
→ Having the entire group’s thoughts on
points of service
→ Two new committees that people
volunteered for
→ Great discussion and willingness to
compromise
→ Proud to be part of a group that wants to
come back and finish the task
→ Feel if part 3 is as strong as parts 1 and
2 then a good product will go forward
service should have gone first
→ Lost quite a few people today
→ Would have been great to see big
picture earlier