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Attendees: Jeff Cannell, Paul Hicok, Phil Ritter (notes), Lenny Zapala, Deb Canzano, Barbara Randall, Pat Nonamkaer.

Absent: Barbara Kubli

Chair Hicok called the meeting to order and noted that Kubli had called him to say that she was unable to attend. All other members were present. Ritter noted that Jo-Ann Benedetti was unable to attend because she is on vacation this week.

Hicok announced that the purpose of the meeting was to review the report from Baum regarding the UHLS/Central Library Online Databases. Ritter reviewed this information with the members, noting the results of the evaluation of the trial databases this summer. It is noted that we spent $97,480 for the online databases during 2002 and that it will cost $112,595 to maintain the same databases in 2003. Considering the increase in cost, Baum has recommended that we not add any new databases next year.

After review and discussion of this report, it was suggested that additional pricing information be obtained for the following databases:

Gale Group Literature Resource Center
Wilson Web Biography Reference Bank
Facts on File Online
ProQuest Newspaper Abstracts
Times Union OnLine (Flat Fee for all UHLS libraries)
Ebsco – Author Criticism (not Biography)
Gale – Something About the Author

We will then discuss the possibility of dropping some existing databases in favor of some of the above. It was also requested that we review the statistical usage of the existing databases during the past year.

Cannell suggested that we should use Central Library money to pay for Tutor.com since he had gotten the company to agree to provide this service to all the UHLS member libraries for the same rate that he would have to pay for the Albany Public Library. It was agreed to discuss this further at the next meeting.

It was agreed that we would meet on Thursday, October 17, at 9:00 a.m. at the APLM.