REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR

Winnefox Library System

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

WINNEFOX DIRECTORSHIP
A continuation of the discussion of whether it is in the best interests of Winnefox to continue contracting with Oshkosh Public Library for the services of a System director. Exhibit A contains copies of any correspondence received since the special meeting on the subject. Exhibit B contains an attempt at simplified financial implication sheets for the position of director and some type of assistant. Discussion. Action Requested: decide whether to retain the joint director position as presently included in the Contractual Services Agreement.

PROPOSED CHANGE TO OCLC INTER-LIBRARY LOAN (ILL) SYSTEM
Exhibit C contains a memo from Mark and our Interlibrary Loan staff with a recommendation to change from the WISCAT ILL to the OCLC ILL system. The reasons are explained well in the memo. The South Central Library System (SCLS) and Lakeshores Library System (LLS) have already taken this action and several others are considering it (actually awaiting our decision). In general, this change will improve our operational efficiency, provide access to a much larger resource base of materials and do it for approximately the same amount we now spend. Discussion. Action Requested: approve recommendation to switch to OCLC ILL services as described in Exhibit C.

WINNEFOX 2005 BUDGET

Exhibit D contains the annual letter from Rick Grobschmidt accompanying our second System Aids check. It represents $209,428 for a total of $837,711 for 2005 that is the same amount as we received in 2003 and 2004. There is no need for any adjustments to the budget at this time since we knew the amount we would be receiving. It is important to note that instead of making any progress toward the statutory level of 13%, the amount of System Aids has now dropped to 7.9% of the amount spent on local library service in the State – the lowest level in the history of systems. This will make it increasingly difficult to keep up with the growing need for library services support from our member libraries. Discussion. Action Requested: none.

WPLC OVERDRIVE DIGITAL AUDIO BOOK DEMONSTRATION
Winnefox has been a founding partner of the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium since its inception with a collaborative collection of NetLibrary e-books. Mark’s memo in Exhibit E describes the next venture which more systems and libraries are excited about. We will begin developing a collection of downloadable audio books from the Overdrive company. Working through the consortium allows us to develop new, innovative collections like this in a much more cost-effective manner. This is really one of the next key areas need to get involved with in order to better accommodate people’s interest in audio books and in multiple downloadable formats. Discussion. Action Requested: approve Winnefox participation in the WPLC Overdrive audio book demonstration as described in Exhibit E.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Mark’s report is included as Exhibit F. It addresses a number of items which we may discuss further at the meeting. Action Requested: none.

MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS

· Omro/Winneconne Non-Reciprocal Payments – since Theo Knigge, Omro Director, has sent you all an email concerning the issue of Omro/Winneconne non-reciprocal payments to Oshkosh Public Library, I thought I should share with all of you the background materials I prepared and sent to her, Edie Phillips, Winneconne Director; the administrators of each municipality and Deb Clark of the System Board (Exhibit G). That will help everyone have the same information background.

CORRESPONDENCE/ARTICLES
I’ve enclosed an article and editorial from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel about a renewed effort to eliminate the maintenance of effort provisions in Chap. 43, Wisc. Stats. (Exhibit H)

Respectfully submitted,

John V. Nichols

Director