Ralph Szymczak welcomed the group and introduced the first speaker, Jim Walsh, CIS Representative, former Government Documents Librarian and former chair of GPLNE.  Jim gave a presentation on the new "Power Tables" feature in Statistical Universe which became available in August.  Jim explained that CIS conducted a focus group with librarians to gather information on how to improve Statistical Universe.  Librarians said that students usually want numbers and don't want to do research to find the numbers.

Power Tables brings you directly to table that has the answer in contrast to the Statistical Index and Abstracts portion of Statistical Universe which may or may not have a link to a document.  There are several different modules of Table Base.  If you currently subscribe to Statistical Universe you should have the "Basic Collection" as part of your subscription.  This includes 25,000 tables from federal, state and international sources.  It currently does not include any private sources.  The Research Collection module, coming in Spring 2001,  will eventually have 125,000 - 150,000 tables.

Some features of Power Tables are:
- Text and synonyms for the text of each table are searched
- All information for citations are included at top of results screens.
- The search date limit refers to dates in the tables not dates of the publication.
- There is a link to download many tables into Excel.
- Anything that is full text in Power Tables will also be full text in Indexes & Abstracts section
- Searches in the Indexes and Abstracts section can now be limited to ASI, SRI or IIS.

Jim had technically difficulties trying to demonstrate a new database from CIS called Congressional Indexes 1789-1972.  He told us that it would include the CIS US Serial Set Index, CIS US Congressional Committee Hearings Index, CIS Indexes to Unpublished Congressional Committee Hearings, CIS US Congressional Committee Prints Index and CIS Index to US Senate Executive Documents & Reports.  This database will be strictly an index.  Trials will be available   There will be a link to sort results by document type.  The CIS home page is www.cispubs.com.

Ralph introduced Deborah Mongeau from University of Rhode Island.  Debbie attended the Depository Library Council Meeting in Washington in October and gave an overview of the meeting.

- The GPO staff spoke about the appropriations cuts.  GPO funding was cut by 4% and FDLP by 6%. The funding is attached to a bill which Clinton may have vetoed since the DLC meeting.  The GPO staff also spoke about the acceleration of the electronic program.  According to Fran Buckeley shipments will be dramatically decreased.  He also said that the FirstGov website has no legislative approval or appropriations.  It is using GPOAccess for its information.

- Debbie attended a session on "Reconsidering Depository Status", a topic which has never before been discussed at a DLC meeting.  The panel consisted of several librarians and Sheila McGarr of the FDLP.  Over 20 libraries have dropped depository status, most of whom were public libraries with funding problems.  Sheila McGarr spoke about the process which is relatively simple.  A letter needs to be sent to the FDLP.  Shipments will be stopped within ten days after  the letter arrives at FDPL.  The regional library has the option of taking any and all documents.  Also free access to some electronic databases, such as STAT-USA, will no longer be available.  One to two new libraries are added to the program each year.  Debbie said the meeting ended on a positive note.

- Bette Siegel reported on a retrospective cataloging session she attended.  Five colleges in Ohio worked together to catalog government documents published prior to 1976. They had grant money from the Mellon Foundation which helped pay for student help.  They also had a project manager, Ellen Conrad. Each library prioritized what they wanted cataloged.  The group had permission to enrich OCLC records. The project started in 1985 and, according to Len Adams, they spent a year planning before they started cataloging.  25,000 documents from discrete collections were cataloged.  Only 1000 needed original cataloging. They estimate that it will take 4-8 years to complete the project. The group is looking for new funding as the Mellon Grant was only for three years.

-There were many agencies updates.  The one on the economic census was excellent.

- The American Factfinder will be the main source of 2000 Census materials.  Block maps will be available on CD-ROM. Some materials will be DVDs.  Only a few products will be in print.

- STAT-USA now offers two free passwords to depository libraries.  USA Trade will not be available to depository libraries at least for the next year.

- The University of Rhode Island has a list of web search engines with brief evaluations of each site.  Some search engines sell listings so that if you pay your results will appear at the top.
http://www.uri.edu/library/web_resources/internet_search_tools.html

The business meeting was called to order at 11:55AM.

The minutes from the May 2000 meeting were accepted.

Pam Hays gave the treasurer's report, but she first explained how she discovered that the bank in which the money was deposited had changed hands and the new bank was charging a monthly fee.  Pam has found a new bank  and has opened two savings accounts as the cheapest way to keep the money.  She has given  information on the new accounts to the Chair and the Secretary.  She also inquired whether the money should be put in a CD.  Pam and Ralph will investigate.

#1 Savings Account - $1,013.00
#2 Savings Account - $   842.00

Ralph is looking for a topic for the winter meeting.   The new Federal Courthouse in Boston may  host an upcoming meeting.  The next meeting, on Dec. 8, will focus on GIS, and be held at Harvard's Lamont Library.

Meeting was adjourned at 12:10.

Attendees:

Sonia Ensins, Boston College
Ralph Szymczak, Brandeis University
Jacqueline Fitzpatrick, Wellesley College
Deborah Mongeau, University of Rhode Island
Nancy Peluso, Connecticut State Library
Frank Notarianni, Rhode Island College
Len Adams, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Linda Johnson, University of New Hampshire
Meredith Ricker, University of New Hampshire
Lisa Donadio, Vermont Law School
Jan Sabean, Franklin Pierce Law Center
Goodie Corriveau, Dartmouth College
John Cocklin, Dartmouth College
Mimi Curphey, Dartmouth College
Pat Beaton, New Hampshire College
BenHood, Boston University
Kristie Randall, U.S. Court of Appeals Library
Pam Hays, Harvard University
Bette L. Siegel, State Library of Massachusetts
Robert Sargent, Nashua Public Library
Jim Walsh, CIS