Board Minutes

Meeting No. 2
July 24, 1998
Nashville, TN

Present: Rosa Burnett, Paula Kaufman, Murle Kenerson (for Yildiz Binkley), Sue Loper, Les Pourciau, Winston Walden

Absent: Sheila Delacroix

1. Update on THEC and TEL

Paula and Les reminded the group about their recent meeting with Dr. Rhoda. Although he did not, in the end, schedule a presentation about our need for state funding for shared databases, he reiterated his enthusiasm for the idea and his intention to include a request for funding in THEC's September budget request.

Sue Loper reported the Rep. Bobby Sands is drafting legislation to fund the Tennessee Electronic Library proposal. TNII is doing an RFP in integrate the state's three networks and the TEL proposal has been mentioned as an option for delivery. K-12 has done a database trial and evaluated the results.

In the light of all this activity, the Board discussed the urgency of submitting a proposal to THEC. Board members are reviewing a proposal drafted by Les and Paula; comments are due July 29, 1998 and the proposal will be submitted the week of August 3, 1998.

2. TBR Support

Winston reported that TBR has still not formally supported TALC; the issue has not yet been presented to the appropriated TBR Council by TBR staff. He will work with staff to see that the issue is put on an upcoming agenda.

3. Universal Borrowing

The Board accepted the recommendations of the Universal Borrowers Card Task Force. It added a requirement for an annual evaluation process. The Board expressed its gratitude to Deborah Thomas and all members of the Task Force. Implementation will be fall of 19999. Q copy of the report will be posted to the TALC website.

4. Joint Purchasing Task Force

Annelle Huggins submitted an inventory of electronic databases subscribed to by 16 institutional respondents to her survey. The Board accepted her recommendation that it establish a standing committee to pursue opportunities for joint purchasing and the chair will invite Annelle to chair the group.

5. Training

More than $9,000 has been deposited with SOLINET to support training opportunities for staff in TALC institutions. Rosa is leading this effort. She will ask TALC members for representatives to work with her to determine training topics and dates for offering the sessions. Sessions will be offered in each of the state's grand divisions.

6. Binding

Winston has contacted a number of binders to inquire about their willingness to vid on a TALC-wide contract in which each instititution can have its own specificationns. Heckman, National, Southern, and Tuscaloosa have responded positiviely. He hasn't heard from Mid-Atlantic and will contact them again.

7. Next Meeting
October 2, 1998