Sage Library System Council
Minutes of the Meeting held on the 24th of July 2007
Attendance: Karen Clay, Beth Longwell, Louise Weeks, Marsha Richmond, Jackie Redinger, Perry Stokes, Bob Jones; via video: Pat Patla, Ken Reading, Kathy Davis, Marie Baldo, Jean Rudd, Darlyne Johnson.
Council Chair Marsha Richmond called meeting to order at 9:18 A.M. Attendance was established by asking who was at each site as there were a limited number of visible screens with numerous sites attached.
- Agenda Review – delete 8 until next meeting, “Out of District Library card fees,” as Jo Cowling not in attendance
- Committee Reports
- Circulation Committee –No meeting held.
- Catalog Committee – No meeting held.
Beth did sent out requests for volunteers to review website, in particular, the catalog web pages, to consider possible design changes. Heidi has volunteered and Perry Stokes also told Beth today that he would help.
Old Business
- Self – Checkout – progress report—Marie reported that it was a rough initial start with equipment and ordering problems, but there seems to be no more problems now. It was also noted that the younger the patron, the more they liked it. They are working on the interface with the computer, touch screen, and scanners. For now they using the mouse and keyboard until the bugs can be worked out. The touch screen is having problems and Heidi thinks it is just the computer they are using. Kathy reported that Pendleton has not started using it just yet.
- Downloadable audio books through Overdrive – progress report—Marie reported that they are as ready as they are going to be. Thanks to Beth and Noel for helping with the interface between Innovative and Overdrive. They got it working. The bill has been submitted for payment to Overdrive for one year of service. Heidi is still working on the web pages. They have applied for a grant to purchase the patron interface for LEO Listens. The audio books will only download to an outside [of the library] or home computer.
New Business
- State Library statistics (Beth)—compiled numbers last year in the Sage System. Shall Beth compile again this year? An overwhelming YES. Does anyone have a deadline date besides the one the State requires? No. So Beth will double check the State report for any changes that might appear and start getting the numbers put together for Sage libraries.
- Creation of material type scopes (Beth)—with several libraries leaving (seven), there are openings in the scope table. If she deletes a numbered item, it sequentially re-numbers and then Beth has to go into the system and fix those pages that relate to those numbers. Right now these are all location scopes. Do we want to start using material scopes? One suggested format was videos such as DVD and VHS. But some sites do not separate DVD from VHS. Perhaps now is the time to consider doing that for all sites. Beth can start working with the libraries to divide media. Possibly use audio books. Discussed the possibility of frustrating the patrons if we list items in the scope—they can see but cannot borrow an item from another library. (Media is not usually ILL assessable.) It was suggested to try one. After much discussion it was decided to replace the seven slots with six material types: VHS & DVD videos; cassette & CD audio books; serials and music. Then Beth would only have to adjust a few pages at the end of the list that get re-numbered. She can also put these material types at the end of the list. Discussed the possibility of using equipment as the seventh. Again there are several sites that don’t have or use that location type. Beth will set up and send out an e-mail to preview on the test server.
- Patron return of borrowed item(s) throughout Sage (Marsha)—if patron is allowed to checkout anywhere, they should be allowed to return materials anywhere also. The State is subsidizing our courier so we should be able to return materials to lending library without a problem, and allow our patrons to return materials at any of the participating libraries. Beth will send out a separate e-mail reminding libraries of this.
- Out of district Library card fees (Marsha)—tabled until next meeting
- UCSLD Loan Standardization (Ken/Dea) —In their district they have city and board chairs who come to a training three times a year. Ruth Metz was helping them. These folks wanted to see loan standardization throughout the district. At June board meetings, the standardization was adopted, with a two-month implementation. You can see the document on their webpage under the “about ucsld” link [http://www.ucsld.org/standardloanrules.pdf] There will be an official review at first of the year, with the twelve libraries in Umatilla County. There was quite a variation of rules. Many compromises were established and lots of give and take was done. Milton-Freewater’s, Hermiston’s and Pendleton’s city councils have already given approval. All of UCSLD libraries should be online within two years. Milton-Freewater will be creating a handout explaining the new overdue fines. It will include fines for NOT picking up an ILL book with one warning, considering the time it takes with staff and courier to send out. Beth will get all the loan rules changed for these libraries by August 1st.
Meeting adjourned at 10:10 am.
Next meeting will be on September 18, 2007.