Minutes – October 11, 2024
Welcome and Call to Order
The two hundred second meeting of the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) Board of Trustees was called to order at 10:03 a.m. on Friday, October 11, 2024 by Board Chair Roger Donaldson at the OPLIN office in Columbus, Ohio.
Present were Board members: Ben Bolbach, Michael Butler, Roger Donaldson, Jenny Eyink, Mohamed Ragheb, Andrea Ralston, CJ Stephens, and Meredith Wickham.
Also present were: Jessica Dooley, Christine Morris, Don Yarman, and Derek Zoladz (OPLIN); Stephanie Herriott (State Library); and Jay Smith (Ohio Library Council).
Attending virtually via Zoom: OPLIN Board members Jennifer Reynard and Shawn Walsh; Laura Solomon (OPLIN); and Jamie Pardee (State Library).
Approval of the Agenda
Michael Butler moved to approve the agenda as presented; Andrea Ralston seconded. There was no discussion, so the chair called for a vote on the motion; all aye.
Public Participation
Stephanie Herriott stated that the search for the new State Librarian is well underway. The State Library Board plans to interview its top three candidates in the next week, and hopes to make an offer in the next couple of weeks.
Jay Smith noted that the Legislature has been out since June. The OLC staff have been focused on regional meetings where they are educating library leadership with the nuances of biennium budget. OLC encourages library leadership to reach out to legislators and give them a high level of the Public Library Fund (PLF) and how public libraries are funded overall throughout the state.
Jay is happy to report that the PLF October distribution is above original estimates, but overall the PLF is down for the year.
The OLC website is under construction while the organization implements new management software.
Approval of the Minutes
Michael Butler moved to approve the minutes of the August 9, 2024 meeting as presented; Meredith Wickham seconded. There was no discussion, so the Chair called for a vote on the motion; all aye.
Acceptance of the Financial Reports
Jamie Pardee reviewed the financial reports, noting that monthly expenses are on track for this time of year; no surprises. remain in line with estimates for this time of year.
Meredith Wickham moved to accept the financial reports; CJ Stephens seconded. There was no discussion, so the Chair called for a vote on the motion; all aye.
Overview of the State Budget Process
Pardee discussed elements of the OPLIN budget in more detail with the Board, walking them through the biennial budget process for the State Library and other state agencies.
Yarman added that OPLIN's budget submission is nearly identical from two years ago, except for an additional source of revenue for managed branch connections. Managed branch connections may require increased spending authority; if that happens, or if OPLIN does receive a NTIA grant funds, increased spending authority can be requested through the Controlling Board rather than try to estimate them in advance through this budget submission.
Unfinished Business – none
New Business – none
OPLIN Staff Reports
OPLIN Director's Report
Don Yarman reported that OPLIN staff submitted an application for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) digital equity competitive grant. Grant funds will increase capacity at OPLIN's core to support Broadband Ohio's state digital opportunity goal of gigabit internet capacity at all community anchor institutions, including public library locations. Award announcements are expected to begin Winter 2024, with all funds granted by April 2025. If OPLIN's application is not successful, staff plan to approach Broadband Ohio with their plan to seek other funds.
Yarman reported that thirteen libraries are interested in having OPLIN provide them with managed connections for their branches, totaling fifty potential new connections. After the bills have been paid, and reimbursements received from E-Rate and from contracting libraries, OPLIN’s earned revenue is estimated to be over $59,000 in FY2026. Yarman expects that the revenue generated by the pilot project and these new connections will be enough to cover the salary, but not the benefits, for an additional staff person to assist with implementation and on-going support.
Digital Resources Manager’s Report
Christine Morris noted that the due date for Emergency Connectivity Fund reimbursement requests is the end of October. The ECF program is expected to be complete by the end of 2024.
Morris spent the last week attending the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB) annual AnchorNets conference and this year's E-Rate update training in Washington D.C. She discussed the ongoing legal challenges to the E-Rate program, including a case before the Supreme Court concerning the Universal Service Administrative Company's administration of the program. Morris mentioned new E-Rate funding for library hotspot lending, noting that OPLIN plans to put out a statewide call for bids on behalf of libraries.
Morris shared updates about the Ohio Web Library, including ongoing issues with Proquest and EBSCO.
Morris will be traveling to Nashville early in November for E-Rate state coordinator training.
Library Services Manager’s Report
Laura Solomon highlighted items from her written report. She discussed the influx of new libraries, mostly from NORWELD. Solomon will soon begin adding new features to all sites, including an improved alpha pager for Database listings, and the Editoria11y tool which checks site content for ADA compliance.
Solomon is reviewing OPLIN's resources to make sure they meet accessibility requirements; "Find a Library" and the Sanborn Maps sites need particular attention.
Solomon created a new communication channel for OPLIN: the "OPLIN Circuit," once a print newsletter sent out quarterly, has been resurrected as a digital subscription. Within 24 hours of sending the first edition out to the listservs, it got 140 subscribers.
Technology Projects Manager’s Report
Jessica Dooley reported that the new and replacement circuit orders for this year are complete; there are a few pending orders for library locations that are still under construction. She highlighted recent extended features that Derek Zoladz has created in OPLIN authentication, including more protections for patron privacy, and better interactions with local library software to update "last activity" dates so that patrons records aren't purged due to apparent inactivity. This new feature is currently working for SEO and CLEVNET, and soon will be available to Polaris libraries.
Chair's Report
Roger Donaldson said he had nothing to report.
Adjournment
With no other business pending, Ben Bolbach moved to adjourn; CJ Stephens seconded; all aye. The Chair adjourned the meeting at 11:09 a.m.