Minutes of the NPLN Board of Directors Meeting
Marywood University
January 11, 2001

Members Present:
Cathy Schappert, NLPN Director, Marywood University; Narda Tafuri, NPLN President, University of Scranton; Michelle Sitko, Marywood University; Mia Bassham, Luzerne County Community College; Sister Mary Sharon Gallagher, College Misericordia, Linda Sturgeon, Osterhout; Diane Suffren, Osterhout; Jon Lindgren, Wilkes University; Tom Ruddy, King's College; Jack Finnerty, Scranton Public; Sister Elizabeth Brandreth, Mercy Hospital; Terry Mech, King's College; Betsey Moylan, University of Scranton; Charles Kratz, University of Scranton; David Schappert, East Stroudsburg Uniiversity; Mary Jo Devereaux, C.M.C. Hospital; Mari Flynn, Keystone State College.
The meeting was called to order by Narda Tafuri, NPLN President at 10:15 a.m.

Executive Director's Report:
The balance in the treasury is currently $12,201.50, not including Union List payments. There is a balance of $10,114.15 left in the PALINET account. The money may be used for OCLC customization or other expenditures.
Scott Thomas will work on an LSTA grant to automate our Union List of Serials. The grant is due on March 9th.
The cost of web hosting is paid through September 5, 2002 but we need to examine ways to fund ongoing expenses. Terry Mech will write the LSTA grant with input about what is needed. One possibility is Database Builder software that will allow us to create a separate database on our current web site for the Union List as well as give us the ability to add medical library records. Narda will check on cost.
Betsy Moylan has a list of electronic databases each library subscribes to and the board may want to think about writing a grant to buy databases for the consortia. An electronic resources committee should be formed to look into the possibilities.

President's Report:
The new website for the online catalog is up and running. The board has paid $1200.00 to a web site designer. Board members need to make suggestions for page additions. There is also the problem of handling ongoing maintenance of the web site. Suggestions for web site enhancements and links should be sent to Narda. Kevin and Maio have done an excellent job with the catalog. Each library should appoint someone to examine the functionality of their own catalogs. A liaison should be appointed to work with Kevin to make sure that everything is working properly after Site Search upgrades.
There is a problem with the virtual catalog in that the catalogs of the Lackawanna and Luzerne County Library Systems are listed as Scranton Public and Osterhout Free Libraries respectively. There would have to be a change to the by-laws and a problem of dues to make the 2 systems part of the NPLN. The dues structure needs to be examined. $200.00 for individual libraries is not going to be sufficient with all the additional technology costs. The Board did agree to change the virtual catalog to say Lackawanna and Luzerne County Library systems until the issues with the by-laws and dues structure is determined.

Committee Reports:
Continuing Education:
The committee sponsored fall sessions (October 5th and 6th) to introduce the virtual catalog. An Internet usage session took place at Scranton Public on October 24th as well as a November session on electronic publishing. Potential programs for spring include digital library issues and ownership of intellectual property.

Automation Technology Committee:
Mary Kovalcin was not present. The committee is working to help maintain the website.

By-Laws:
David Schappert distributed the old by-laws, last revised in 1992. The committee is examining what is not currently included in the by-laws, such as the functions of NPLN, the treasurer's job description, policy implementations and committee structures.
A nominating committee of 3 was named to appoint a new slate of officers. Agreeing to serve on the committee were Diane Suffren, chair, Charles Kratz, and Terry Mech.

New Business:
Cathy Schappert stated that the NPLN has many more expenses now and that financial information should be distributed on a more regular basis. Quicken has been purchased which will allow the sending of attachments of financial reports.
Continuing Education events will be posted to e-mail by Mary Jo Devereaux.
If libraries want bound copies of the Union List of Serials e-mail Cathy Schappert. They are due for the bindery by the end of January.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:30.