MINUTES OF THE GPLNE MEETING
MARCH 7, 2003
CONNECTICUT COLLEGE

The meeting was held at the Shain Library at Connecticut College in New London.  It was hosted by Jim MacDonald.

Attendees:
Kathy Berry              Boston College    
Steve Batt                 University of Connecticut
Beverly Presley        Clark University
Erhard Konerding     Wesleyan University
Linda Duffy              Trinity College
Ralph Szymczak       Brandeis University
Bette L. Siegel          State Library of Massachusetts
Mark Scott                State Library of Massachusetts
Bobbie Brooke          UMASS Medical-Worcester
Pam Hays                  Harvard University
Tim Hays                  U.S. Army Corps- New England
Betty Febo                Wellesley College
Jim Walsh                 Lexis Nexis Academic Library Solutions

After Continental Breakfast with conversation, the group adjourned to a computer lab for a presentation by Geolytics, Inc.  The focus of the presentation was the products available from Geolytics on the 2000 Census.  Included with the details of the presentation was a demo disk and instructions for the attendees.  The two presenters were able to answer the individual questions the group had.  The products focus on the 2000 Census Long Form and one is allowed to compare tracks/block levels. Anyone interested in Geolytics products is encouraged to visit their Web site http://www.geolytics.com

We then returned to the meeting room for our business meeting.

The minutes of the Dec. 6th meeting were approved as distributed.
The Treasurer’s report was as follows:
$504.29 in the current savings account
$1000 CD invested at 2% until July 8th, 2004.

Chair Betty Febo announced that she and Len Adams, the Secretary, attended a NELA Conference Planning Committee meeting.  As a result, NELA will have Ana Maria Garcia of the Census Bureau speak at the NELA Conference in October.  It will be held at the Worcester Centrum. Ana Maria will give a presentation on American Factfinder. This presentation is not being sponsored by GPLNE, but was an outreach on Len's part.

A VOLUNTEER IS NEEDED TO HELP WITH THIS PRESENTATION.

Len Adams needs help to set up the room, speaker, lights, etc. Please contact him if you can help.

There were volunteers (Ralph Szymczak and Bobbie Brooke) to serve on the Nominating Committee.  Kathy Berry volunteered to serve as an officer.  It was suggested that the Vice-Chair serve as Chair of the Nominating Committee.  The Committee will give its report at the May Meeting.  If you would like to serve as an officer for next year, please contact a member of the Nominating Committee.

It was also suggested that GPLNE/GoDIG (BLC) hold a joint meeting in the fall with a representative of GPO as the speaker.  The group felt a date should be set at once; and the representative of GPO invited now to assure their attendance.  It was also suggested that the NY Docs group be invited to this meeting.  There was agreement by all to this plan.

It was suggested that both Bill Thompson and Al Palko be “honored” at this meeting and that GPO be informed of this.

A vendor fair was discussed.  Jim Walsh has had experience with this and would be willing to give help/advice.

The rest of the meeting was a discussion of the group’s affiliation.
There were 3 options brought up:
1)    Stay as we are
2)    Become a non-profit organization; apply to the IRS and perhaps a State Dept of Revenue
3)    Affiliate with another group

The advantages of affiliating with a larger group would be creating a wider interest in Government Documents.  Others felt this would “put us” into Reference librarians’
Categories for meetings.

The “casualness” of GPLNE was discussed. The bureaucracy of a larger group affiliation was a negative to some.

After all points of view were aired, the group decided on the following:
1) Cut the ties with Nelinet   AFTER..we reorganize
2) Pursue doing our own thing:  be an independent,  non-profit corporation. Do this as simply as possible. Pam, Betty and Jim Walsh will look into this procedure.
      
Hopefully, at the May meeting, there will be a report about the progress on this.

The May 9th meeting will be at Bowdoin College in Maine.  Donna Koepp of Harvard will be asked to report on the Depository Library Council meeting in Reno as will all who have attended.  Donna will also give a presentation about the importance of maps; especially the Serial Set ones.

Everyone was encouraged to contact Donna before the GPO meeting in Nevada with any thoughts, questions, ideas they have regarding the future of GPO and the Depository Program.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:45.

Bette L. Siegel
Acting Secretary