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Board Minutes
HEARTLAND LIBRARY COOPERATIVE BOARD MEETING
August 18, 1999
HLC Governing Board voting members present: DeSoto- Ann Ryals, Paul Erickson, Bob Avant; Hardee- Elinor Batey, Gloria Davis; Highlands – Perry Newport, Jeanne Renton, Bob Bullard; Okeechobee-Marilyn Buxton, Robbie Clarke.
Board members absent, reasons unknown: Clois Haven of Okeechobee, and Walter Olliff, Jr. of Hardee
Other attendees present: DeSoto-Elizabeth M. Kenney; Hardee-Diane Hunt; Highlands-, Mary C. Myers, Carolyn Hesselink, Merry Cresswell; Okeechobee-Ed Kilroy; State Library- Charlie Parker.
The meeting was called to order at 10 a.m. by Chairman Perry Newport. The secretary read the public notice. Additions to agenda were entertained. Bob Bullard asked that the subjecting of filtering the Internet, under New Business, be considered next on the agenda because he would be leaving the meeting early. The board consensus was to do this.
Mr. Bullard also reported on the State budget as it has impacted our rural counties. He will be one of several people working with our legislative representatives to get programs funded and learn how to work with the system.
INTERNET FILTERING
Charlie Parker began the subject of Internet filtering with hand-outs to explain how various libraries have handled censorship issues. He made the point that the State Library believes that filtering is a local issue, but we need to be aware that lawyers and courts have not yet come to a consensus on the issues. This availability of the Internet to all and the explosion of sites on the Internet has large taken places within the last three years. Mr. Parker did recommend to the board that we do consult with a lawyer on any policy draft we would pass.
Mary Myers told the board that the best product current available (WebSense) blocks sites, not specific words, and she would recommend that 2 sites specifically be blocked, Sex One and Sex Two. The Highlands County Library Advisory Board has already directed Mrs. Myers to proceed with some type of filter. The board was advised that the librarians would have unfiltered access to the Internet and, if there was a specific need for information from a blocked site, they would be able to print from anywhere on the Net. We want our county commissioners to be aware that the four-county Heartland Library Cooperative libraries are adopting an Internet filtering system based on policies adopted by many libraries statewide.
Ann Ryals moved to accept the Internet policy draft, with a review by Highlands County lawyer Ross Macbeth, effective October 1, 1999. Seconded by Robbie Clarke, and approved by voice vote.
REPORTS
The minutes of the previous meeting was moved for approval by Robbie, seconded by Elinor, passed by voice vote.
Acceptance of the Coordinator’s report, and the financial report was moved by Ann Ryals, seconded by Bob Avant, and passed by voice vote.
Mrs. Myers told the group that the Gates grants have been received by most of the counties, with all computers to be for public access. The Technology Coordinator’s report was incorporated in the Coordinator’s report. Elinor Batey moved acceptance of his report, seconded by Jeanne, passed by voice vote.
HEARTLINEWEB POLICIES
Hand-outs on the proposed policies were given to all attending. Mrs. Myers informed that the board that these policies were based one of the first FreeNet-based sites in the U.S., Charlotte’s Web. A Power Point presentation was made by Mrs. Myers to show the group the uses of this web site for both government and community-based groups. Heartland will maintain the physical site, but the community groups will maintain their web link pages. Heartland will offer training to groups for putting together their own web pages. Paul Erickson moved, Robbie Clarke seconded that the Board adopt the Heartlineweb policies.
CENTRALIZED TECHNICAL SERVICES
Diane Hunt, Hardee Librarian, reported to the board on the progress being made since the move was made to use her facilities for this system-wide service. She said “Our goal is to make the records user-friendly.” Ultimately, she hopes to have all materials shipped directly to the Hardee centralized technical services department. At this time, average turn-around time for books coming to Hardee and being return to their home library is two days. Charlie Parker commended her staff for a remarkable achievement.
NETWORK ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES CONTRACT
The board received a copy of the basic ordering agreement from Scott Morris of Computer InterConnections. We have received a verifying letter from one of his backups. This agreement is currently in review at the law office of J. Ross Macbeth. Mary reported to the board that the Heartland RFP for Professional Services was answered by three respondents: ComputerLand of Lakeland, CompAge, and Computer InterConnections. All three made presentations to the Technology Committee and their clear choice of recommendation to the board was Computer InterConnections. This contract will provide 24-hour, 7-day-a-week monitoring, plus troubleshooting, with 15 hours a week allotted to us doing what the Coordinator specifies is needed. Paul Erickson moved to accept the agreement contingent upon the approval of attorney J. Ross Macbeth, seconded by Ann Ryals, approved by voice vote.
CONTINGENCY FUND
Chairman Newport asked for an explanation of this fund. Mrs. Myers said our reason for this unbudgeted money is to have cash on hand to pay salaries and services to tide us over until we receive our State Aid early in the year. In past year we have had to borrow money from the Highlands Co. BCC and pay interest on it to be able to pay our bills because State Aid had not arrived in a timely fashion.
NEXT MEETING SET FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 10 a.m., Lake Placid Memorial Library. At this meeting we will discuss and adopt our 1999-2000 budget.
At 11:20 Ann moved for adjournment, seconded by Robbie, passed.
Submitted by,
Carolyn L. Hesselink
Administrative Secretary
