1. Financial Report: The financial report presented by Berg was approved (Bernardo/Kessler)

2. Training Fees: Jo Ellen was directed to get a list of InfoPeople workshops and discuss holding at least one or more in the Fresno/Visalia area. An amount of $1300 was discussed as a cost for holding them in this area. The attendance fees would still be relevant. Heartland is willing to pay for this out of their current budget. PowerPoint was discussed as a workshop that would be of interest. Those in attendance indicated that an online workshop would be acceptable, especially if that workshop was not available locally.

3. Preservation Workshop: will be May 15 at the Sarah McCardle room. Jo Ellen was directed to find out the number of attendees to be considered since the Sarah McCardle room will hold many more than a computer lab. A motion was made and carried to move ahead with these directives (Bernardo/Brown).

4. Plan of Service: much discussion on the Plan of Service took place with Helmick providing input from the state perspective. Last year’s and the template for this year’s Plan of Service had been mailed to all board members. Some issues brought forth by Helmick: Include ILL in the Plan and develop/list milestones, not standards of measures. It was decided that all board members should provide input and suggestions to Misakian ASAP.

   The budget is part of the Plan of Service. Tyckoson will rework the figures for the sections contracted to SJVLS by Heartland. The deletion of all but $10,000 in the secretarial position, the full amount of benefits and the amount budgeted for software would bring the budget into compliance with the projected state shortfall of $40,315.This shortfall is not set in stone. The governor’s budget will probably not be finalized until August and only then will we know the funding amount.

   The budget amount is tied into number of members. Discussion continued from the last couple of meetings on "service to new members." Helmick stated that she had researched this issue and the code does not allow for any shortfall of services to new members. Any library that qualifies for membership and asks to join Heartland must be afforded all services relevant to existing members. New membership applications must be accepted at any meeting of Heartland with presentation for acceptance at the next LoC meeting. Additional funding for those new members will take place with the next allocation of state funding.

   FirstSearch is not an ongoing service and there fore does not have to be provided to members that join after the contract with FirstSearch was finalized.

   Helmick provided a "map" of services to help Misakian with Heartland’s Plan.

   There is also supposed to be a "long-range Plan of Service" which also goes to LoC. Misakian is going to locate this document.

5. Computer Distribution: there are six Dell computers waiting for a home. The computers were originally intended for the public libraries taking part in the RSS program. Six of those libraries had already purchased computers and did not need another. It was decided that a drawing will be held at the annual Council meeting in March. Four of the computers will go to school members, the other two to special library members. The computers will be placed on loan to the winners with the stipulation that they are to be used in the winning LIBRARY. They are not to be shifted into other departments of the member library. If ultimately they are not used in the library, they are to be returned to Heartland. Winners will sign an acknowledgement of this stipulation before they receive their computer. They will be delivered to the winning libraries by delivery services. Winners must be present at the time of the drawing.

6. New Members: none were presented at this meeting.

7. March Council Plans: It was decided that a drawing card is needed to encourage members to attend this annual meeting; one will be the drawing for the new computers. Tyckoson will get together with Misakian to work up a training/workshop session. Soft drinks, cookies and fruit will be provided. The council meeting is scheduled to begin at 2:00 P.M The board meeting will commence at 10:00 A.M

   The board will have ready for approval by the council the 2002/2003 Plan of Service. It is understood that the Plan and Budget may need to be revised following the signing of the final state budget.

   The main emphasis for the council meeting, in addition to the Plan of Service will be the ratification of new board members for the coming year. Those members will consist of one each from: special, school, academic, public, and one user each from school and special libraries. These do not necessarily have to librarians, but users of those facilities. They are normally the link between the public and the library. A new council chair will also be elected and that person will also become a member of the board for 2002/2003.

1. Chair - Kay Anthony
   Anthony mentioned that the Q&A Café had contacted Heartland to ask if we were interested in participating. Helmick explained that the Q&A Café is in San Jose and the 24/7 is in Los Angeles. Both are virtual reference centers. 24/7 has been around longer and "possibly" would be the more experienced of the two, if we were interested. Also the Q&A is only open until 9:00 P.M. The general idea of both is that the public can contact them direct when the library is closes. There will be experts on hand to take questions. There is a kind of a chat between the librarian and the patron. Some questions can be answered during this contact period and some may need additional searching before the patron gets an answer. After much discussion, it was decided that we were not interested at this time.

   When the bridge between the office and the Tulare County Library will be in place was discussed. It will definitely be this fiscal year. This will provide high-speed Internet service to the office.

   The need for many more Z39.50 installations was discussed. It was determined that there is a need to move money not expended this fiscal year into an account that would allow for the purchase of this software. This will be an action item on the March agenda. Helmick explained the LoC does not track regional money by accounts, only by lump sums which would allow Heartland to make this financial move. Tyckoson will look into the cost.

2. Regional Meeting - Anne Bernardo
   Bernardo and Misakian attended the Regional Representatives Library Network meeting in Oakland. The main emphasis at this meeting was the upcoming budget. It was noted that "at this time" a $40,315 cut can be expected in Heartland’s budget. This is not a final figure, it could be more. The next LoC meeting will be held Feb. 20, 21, 22. Preparations and priorities for the Plan of Service were also discussed.

3. Staff
   Two academic members, four school district members, with six participating libraries, applications were faxed to Diana Paque for approval at the February state board meeting.

   Faxed to Helmick were the missing Kern County Office of Education application and corrected membership chart. As of 12.01: 45 members and 172 participating libraries. Anticipated membership for 2002/2003: 58 members and 192 participating libraries.

   Chad McCully has developed a great electronic newsletter for Heartland. It can be found at http://www.sjvls.org/NC/index.html.

4. State Library: Cathie Helmick
   Most of the input from Helmick has been sprinkled though out the meeting and can be found in various sections of these minutes.

5. SJVLS: Mary Ellen Tyckoson
   Tyckoson has asked Misakian to do a survey on number of libraries with Z39.50 and to ascertain how many have the equipment necessary to make use of the software.

   RSS is finally working. Tyckoson will begin testing it. It will have to be taken down when IPac is added. However, there should be a very short downtime.

   Other information provided by Tyckoson is scattered though out these minutes as her input was needed in many areas.

Kessler shared the concern of the school library community about the intention of the governor to combine school library materials and textbook materials into one fund. School library people are adamantly opposed to this proposition as it will eventually lead to the school library money vanishing.

1. Move money in budget to purchase Z39.50 software for Heartland members. Amount to be determined at time of shift. Some money will also be needed to pay commitments until funding from the state arrives, sometime in September.

2. Finalize Plan of Service/Budget to present to council in afternoon of March 5.

3. Finalize long Range Plan.

4. InfoPeople local workshops