Executive/Budget Review Committee

2003 Spring Meeting, Chicago

Friday, March 28, 9:00 – 6:00, ALA Headquarters

Minutes

Present: Pat Ensor, President, Flo Wilson, Past President, Thomas Wilson, President-Elect, Scott Muir, Director-at-Large, Mary Taylor, Executive Director. Absent: Barbra Higginbotham, Councillor

Pat Ensor, President, called the meeting to order and invited additions to the agenda. The following items were added: Awards, Web Task Forces, Orlando no conflict proposal, LJ netConnect proposal, Appointments, Task Force on Public Libraries, Fund Raising, TER editor position. Confirmed the email action approving the Midwinter 2003 meeting minutes.

Heard report from Ensor on the 2003 National Forum Planning. Twenty seven concurrent sessions and 11 poster sessions have been accepted. Three preconferences are planned: 1) XML or Wireless, 2) OSS (off site, limited attendance), 3) Future of the Physical Library in the Digital Age. The three keynote speakers are David Lankes, Liz Bishoff, and David Seaman. The Committee and staff are working to line up sponsors.

Heard report from Tom Wilson regarding the 2004 National Forum. Committee appointments will be completed in the next few weeks.

Received and reviewed the Forum 2002 budget and attendance report. Fifty three percent of attendees work in academic libraries and 21% work in public libraries. Twenty eight percent work in administrative positions, 15% are in automation/systems, and 12% are in technical services.

Heard report from Tom Wilson about the Town Meeting. Approximately 80 people attended and engaged in good discourse about what more or less is wanted from LITA membership. More items included: a newsletter, social gatherings, balance in technical/non-technical program content, involvement of public libraries and guidance, mentoring. Tom will post the results on LITA-L.

Discussed Board Planning for Annual Conference. Tom Wilson and Scott Muir will develop and facilitate this part of the Toronto Board meeting which will focus on developing a vision statement for LITA for the next 10 to 15 years. To gain full participation, all Board members will be asked to give the Saturday morning meeting attendance priority.

Viewed a demonstration of the new CMS Web Site.

Heard Flo Wilson present a review of the LITA Fiscal Year 2003 first half report and the Fiscal Year 2004 draft budget request. The FY03 net revenues are benefitting from the Midwinter Workshop in Philadelphia. Distributed pages 1 and 6 of the FY04 Budget Notes; Flo noted that the programming (Forum, Regional Institutes (8), Midwinter Workshops (2) , Annual Conference preconferences (2)) and book publishing revenues pay for a significant proportion of the general operating expenses for the Division.

Heard report from Mary Taylor on the following: programming for this fiscal year (National Forum, six Regional Institutes (2 completed; 4 more are scheduled), the Midwinter Workshop, three Annual Conference preconfences), membership as of February 2003 is at 4,645), and publications (no new titles will be published this year).

Heard updates from Pat Ensor on the two Web Task Forces: 1) the LITA Manual conversion Task Force and 2) the Policy Task Force. Appointments have been completed. After the Web site conversion, Pat will discuss with Rob Carlson, LITA Deputy Director, and Michelle Frisque, Web Coordinating Committee Chair, establishing a place on the Web to list Task Forces, charges, rosters, and any reports.

Discussed awards in Executive Session.

Reviewed proposal from Brian Kenney regarding Library Journal’s netConnect and LITA. The proposal was distributed on site. Taylor will explore the proposal at Headquarters. Discussed the need for a news function and determined that the Executive Committee will bring this item to the full board for discussion. Possible items for consideration include: the netConnect proposal, the need for an editorial position, members-only Web site.

Reviewed and approved the TER editor job description submitted by the Publications Committee.

Reviewed the Toronto skeleton schedule and set the Executive Committee meeting for Friday, June 20, 9:30 – 11:00. The Board orientation is scheduled for noon to 1:30 on Sunday June 22.

Discussed Division Program No-Conflict Times proposal from Deidre Ross, Director of ALA Conference Services. Pat Ensor will explore this further with Pat Mullin, LITA member of the ALA 2004 Conference Coordinating Team.

Discussed the need for fund-raising for the President-elect’s program next year. Tom Wilson is planning an international theme. Sponsors will be needed to help cover expenses for overseas speakers.

Discussed the handling of Committees’and IGs’ meeting reports. These will be forwarded to the Board liaisons.

Adjourned at 6:00 pm