June 10, 2022

Minutes —June 10, 2022

The one hundred ninety-first meeting of the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) Board of Trustees was called to order at 10:03 a.m. on Friday, June 10, 2022 by Board Chair Tara Sidwell online at https://meet.goto.com/OPLIN/june-2022-oplin-board-meeting and at the OPLIN office in Columbus, Ohio.

Present were Board member Angela Baldree; Christine Morris and Don Yarman (OPLIN); Wendy Knapp (State Library); Michelle Francis (Ohio Library Council); Sue Schuld and Meredith Wickham (OPLIN Board appointees).

Attending virtually at https://meet.goto.com/OPLIN/june-2022-oplin-board-meeting: OPLIN Board members Travis Bautz, Ben Bolbach, Roger Donaldson, Bill Lane, Holly Richards, and Garalynn Tomas; Jessica Dooley (OPLIN); Stephanie Herriott, Eric Maynard, and Jamie Pardee (State Library); and Michael Butler (OPLIN Board appointee).

Angela Baldree moved to approve the agenda as presented; Ben Bolbach seconded. There was no
discussion, so the chair called for a vote on the motion; all aye.

The Chair called for public participation.

Wendy Knapp reported on the progress of the search for a new LSTA coordinator and the State Library’s new LSTA five year plan which is due to the Institute of Museum and Library Services at the end of the month.

Michelle Francis listed recent activities and upcoming professional development events. Francis reported that the Public Library Fund continues to perform above estimates, along with state revenues. Francis also outlined active legislation of interest to public libraries, including HB140 that changes required ballot language, and HB327, known as the “Divisive Concepts” bill. Open meetings flexibility ends June 30, but OLC continues to work to extend virtual meetings flexibility. The legislature has adjourned for their district work period, and is not expected to return to sessions until November.

Holly Richards moved to approve the minutes of the April 22, 2022 meeting as presented; Travis Bautz
seconded. There was no discussion, so the Chair called for a vote on the motion; all aye.

Don Yarman reviewed the financial reports, noting that disbursements remain in line with estimates for this time of year. About $94,000 remains in unplanned spending authority, with a projected cash balance of $2.2 million remaining at the end of this fiscal year. Yarman reported that he received the funding commitment letter from E-rate for the circuit costs in the next fiscal year.

Roger Donaldson moved to accept the financial reports; Ben Bolbach seconded. There was no discussion, so the Chair called for a vote on the motion; all aye.

Strategic Plan
Yarman discussed where the strategic plan was modified based on discussion at the April 22 Board meeting.

Bill Lane moved to approve OPLIN’s Strategic Plan through June 30, 2025; Roger Donaldson seconded. There was no discussion, so the Chair called for a vote on the motion; all aye.

Staff Raises
Stephanie Herriot explained that because OPLIN are “administrative” staff, the Board must approve their raises. These are parity raises in line with the raises negotiated by the state’s bargaining units.

Angela Baldree moved: In that the E-1 salary tables in the Ohio Revised Code 124.152 will allow for State of Ohio E-1 employees an approximate 3% salary increase effective with the first day of the pay period that includes July 1, 2022, and allows increases up to 3% for other exempt state employees, The Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) Board of Trustees, in accordance with the duties assigned by Ohio Revised Code Section 3375.66, approves adjusting the compensation of each OPLIN E-3 staff member, to one that reflects a 3% salary increase for each employee beginning with the pay period that includes July 1, 2022; Holly Richards seconded. There was no discussion, so the Chair called for a roll call vote on the motion.

Recorded vote: Angela Baldree, aye; Travis Bautz, aye; Ben Bolbach, aye; Roger Donaldson, aye; Bill Lane, aye; Holly Richards, aye; Tara Sidwell, aye; Garalyn Tomas, aye.

Yarman outlined his recent work managing routine operations, particularly with continuity of business in
preparation for the turnover in the fiscal year.

Morris highlighted the work creating the partnership with Department of Education’s Connectivity Champions and the pending rollout of the pilot program to link Connectivity Champions with libraries for in-person services to help families obtain internet connectivity. She reported that as a result of adding links from OPLIN’s Sanborn Maps interface to the corresponding higher resolution scans created by Kent State University, KSU has seen a 6% increase in traffic to their collection.

Yarman expanded on a few items from Solomon’s written report, including the uptick in libraries requesting accessibility audits, the end of the Google Analytics service, and libraries taking advantage of new visual layout options that Solomon has created.

Jessica Dooley outlined her recent attention to circuit upgrades and vendor migrations for the service year that begins July 1. She has been traveling with OIT engineer Mike Horsley to those last few libraries with legacy routers needing replacement. Beyond the items in the written report, Dooley discussed her work consulting with libraries and their vendors to help with the success of their projects locally.

Roger Donaldson asked whether OPLIN staff might be willing to speak to the SERLS Board. Yarman replied that staff are happy to do that, and in fact in the spring Yarman and Morris will be actively looking for groups like the SERLS board to talk about coming database changes.

Chair Sidwell asked Yarman about a recent message to the SEO Directors’ list concerning branch connections. Yarman explained that OPLIN had asked for two questions to be added to the State Library’s annual statistics gathering process, in order to learn more about what types of internet speeds libraries had to their branches and how much they cost. Those numbers only tell part of the story, and Yarman had invited directors to tell him their experiences and difficulties getting connectivity to branch locations. Yarman’s aim is to see if it’s possible to create a plan for library branch connectivity improvements to discuss with BroadbandOhio.

Ben Bolbach asked for clarification about the item in Dooley’s annual report regarding OIT assuming the procurement of Juniper maintenance for the OPLIN routers. Dooley explained that OPLIN purchases the routers but they are part of OIT’s inventory, and maintaining the cost and procurement of the maintenance will now become part of the services OPLIN pays OIT for. Nothing will change in how libraries interact with OPLIN, which remains the first line of support for the equipment.

Recognition
The Chair recognized Roger Donaldson to offer the following resolution:

WHEREAS ANGELA BALDREE has been a member of the Ohio Public Library Information
Network (OPLIN) Board of Trustees since July 2018; and

WHEREAS she has freely and unselfishly given of her time and efforts to ensure the success
of OPLIN by serving on the Board for four years; and

WHEREAS her experience in public and special library management, and as a trustee at the
Morley Library gave her a distinctive outlook on OPLIN and its services to libraries; and

WHEREAS the insight she developed throughout her career have always been a helpful source
of information for the Board; and

WHEREAS she has consistently contributed her valuable opinions to the OPLIN Board
deliberations; and

WHEREAS she has been a steadfast guardian of OPLIN’s interests throughout her tenure on
the Board,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, on the 10th day of June, Two Thousand and
Twenty-Two, the members of the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Public Library Information
Network recognize the significant contributions made to public libraries and library service by ANGELA BALDREE during her outstanding tenure with the Ohio Public Library Information
Network; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board extends its most sincere thanks and appreciation
to ANGELA BALDREE for her vital volunteer service as a member of this Board.

Holly Richards seconded the resolution. All aye.

The Chair recognized Holly Richards to offer the following resolution:

WHEREAS JUSTIN BUMBICO has been a member of the Ohio Public Library Information
Network (OPLIN) Board of Trustees since July 2017; and

WHEREAS he has freely and unselfishly given of his time and efforts to ensure the advance of
OPLIN by serving on the Board for over four years; and

WHEREAS his experience in technology management at the Columbus Metropolitan Library
gave him an exceptional perspective on OPLIN and its services to libraries; and

WHEREAS he has provided additional service as the Vice Chair of the OPLIN Board from
2020 through 2021, and the Chair from 2021 to 2022; and

WHEREAS his exceptional knowledge of technical issues has always been a helpful source of
information for the Board; and

WHEREAS he has consistently contributed his expert opinions to the OPLIN Board and
OPLIN Executive Committee deliberations; and

WHEREAS he has been a dedicated and active advocate for OPLIN throughout his tenure on
the Board,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, on the 10th day of June, Two Thousand and
Twenty-Two, the members of the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Public Library Information
Network recognize the significant contributions made to public libraries and library service by
JUSTIN BUMBICO during his outstanding tenure with the Ohio Public Library Information
Network; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board extends its most sincere thanks and appreciation
to JUSTIN BUMBICO for his vital volunteer service as a member of this Board.

Ben Bolbach seconded the resolution. All aye.

The Chair recognized Garalynn Tomas to offer the following resolution:

WHEREAS HILARY PRISBYLLA has been a member of the Ohio Public Library
Information Network (OPLIN) Board of Trustees since July 2019; and

WHEREAS she has freely and unselfishly given of her time and efforts to ensure the success
of OPLIN by serving on the Board for three years; and

WHEREAS her experience as director of the CLEVNET Library Consortium gave her a
unique insight into OPLIN and its services to libraries; and

WHEREAS her exceptional knowledge of technical issues and subscription library content has
always been a helpful source of information for the Board; and

WHEREAS she has consistently contributed her productive opinions to the OPLIN Board
deliberations; and

WHEREAS she has been a dedicated and active advocate for OPLIN throughout her tenure on
the Board,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, on the 10th day of June, Two Thousand and
Twenty-Two, the members of the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Public Library Information
Network recognize the significant contributions made to public libraries and library service by
HILARY PRISBYLLA during her outstanding tenure with the Ohio Public Library
Information Network; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board extends its most sincere thanks and appreciation
to HILARY PRISBYLLA for her vital volunteer service as a member of this Board.

Angela Baldree seconded the resolution. All aye.

With no other business pending, Travis Bautz moved to adjourn the meeting; Ben Bolbach seconded.
There was no discussion, so the Chair adjourned the meeting at 10:48 a.m.