Finger Lakes Library System

Connecting public libraries in Cayuga, Cortland, Seneca, Tioga and Tompkins Counties

FALCONS Minutes – February 2023

FALCONS Minutes – February 16, 2023

The meeting was held on Zoom. Rex called it to order at 9:30 AM.
Minutes submitted by Mary Ann Frank – MARA

FLLS Staff Present: Eric Franks, Deborah Geier, Heidi Eckerson, Jenny Shonk, Rex Helwig, Sarah Glogowski

Member Libraries Present:  Sara Knobel (GRO), Allison Payne (DRY), Allen Tompkins (FAIR), Andrea Tillinghast (OVID), Becky Grace (WAV), Carla Jones (UNS), Cindy Park-Shields (WAT), Drew Urbanek (AUB), Erin Chapman (NEVA), Fran Miller (BERK), Gayle James (CATO), Heather Cobb (MCGR), Jen Graney (CORT), Aimee Dorward (CORT), Theresa Mekeel (CORT), Jenny Burnett (SENF), Laura Mielenhausen (TRU), Linda Quinn, Samantha Black (WEED), Lisa Semenza (POP), Marcia Enright (CAN), Martha Nettleton (CIN), Mary Ann Frank (MARA), Sandra Groth (AURO), Sue Chaffee (NEW), Suzie Gutenberger-Fitzpatrick (LAN), Tracy Savard (APAL)

Election of vice-chair and secretary

  • Jenny Burnett – vice-chair
  • Mary Ann Frank – secretary

Introductions & Announcements: 
Sarah’s Announcements

  • FLLS board of trustees voted to change their meeting time to 3 pm on the third Wednesday
  • The March 15th director’s meeting will be 1:30 – 2:30 pm so that Sarah can be at trustee meeting at 3:00 pm.  We will have to change the date for the director’s meeting, an email will be going out soon.
  • The FLLS satisfaction survey needs to be completed by March 1st.

Approval of Minutes Approval of minutes from November 17, 2022, none opposed.

Old Business

  1. Overdrive contribution – Heidi thanked 32 libraries for submitting the forms. 
    • Diana is the point person so please have the invoices paid directed to her
    • Payments are due February 23rd
    • Overdrive app is sunsetting in April.  The app has been letting users know.  Everyone needs to switch to Libby.  There are training videos for staff and patrons on the FLLS website.
    • Econtent committee meets quarterly.  Next meeting is in March 13th at 1:00 pm.  The Econtent rep will be there virtually.
    • Is anyone interested in having a training with the Econtent rep in person in early June?  Please let Heidi know.
  2.  Swank movie licensing invoices are due in March.
    • Please direct payments to Diana.
  3.  Polaris Vega
    • Rex has contacted them as their updates are not happening in a timely manner.  He has asked for:
      • Promotions (ex. Literacy hub, NY Heritage digital collection, TCPL Local Voices, TCPL Sanjay Aneja Memorial Collection, Cortland Standard, Women’s Suffrage Exhibit and others)
      • Library hours need to be linked to the library site they are on instead of all starting with Alternatives.
      • Content Carousals
      • Showcases (NY Times bestsellers, Staff created, etc.)
    • Rex talked to sales rep and expressed dissatisfaction.  Their response is to include Promote, Program and Guides for the next 5 years at no additional cost.  There is a demonstration tomorrow at 9:30 am.  Rex sent out a link to that.

New Business

  1. 2023 Bulk Computer Buy Information – Eric will launch it in May if Dell has the prices ready. We should be thinking about replacing computers that are older than 5 years.  Ball park figures are $50 over what they were last year.  Windows 8.1 computers are no longer supported by Microsoft.  Chrome devices, books and boxes will be available.
  2. Google Analytics 4 – updated code to install on your website.  These are used for tracking hits for annual reports.  The old code will stop working this spring.
  3. Patron Statistical Class – Jenny noticed that some patrons have statistical class of the county instead of the city, town and village.  Please make sure staff knows to use the smallest geo-political entity.  The more granular the better.
  4. Polaris Notifications
    • Email is free and is preferred.
    • Telephony is free, just a yearly maintenance fee.
    • Texts only use minimally.  They cost 2 cents per message.
    • Printed notices cost 11 cents per page plus postage.  Bills can be sent by email rather than printed.  Let Rex know if this is something you would like for your library.
  5.  Annual Patron Purge – all libraries are encouraged to participate in.  The form will be sent out this month.
  6.  Volume field – Do not use the volume field to put series information in.  Only use for DVD sets, periodicals and sets of books that are on the same Bibliographic record like encyclopedia’s etc.

Next meeting is May 18, 2023.

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