Resolution: The Midlands Conference Members resolve to thank Kathi Kappel and the staff of the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for their efforts as the host site for the 2013 Tri-Regional Conference of Librarians serving the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
NLS Response: NLS concurs.
Resolution: The Midlands Conference Members resolve to thank the Wyndham Hotel management and their staff for their gracious service and wonderful accommodations.
NLS Response: NLS concurs.
Resolution: The Midlands Conference Members resolve to thank Keystone Systems, Inc. for sponsoring the lovely reception at the Phipps Conservatory.
NLS Response: NLS concurs.
Resolution: The Midlands Conference Members recommend that NLS declare C1s and other analog talking book players obsolete and that they no longer be included in machine audits.
NLS Response: NLS concurs.
Resolution: The Midlands Conference Members resolve to thank all conference presenters for providing informative, enlightening and entertaining presentations.
NLS Response: NLS concurs.
Resolution: The Midlands Conference Members resolve to thank all retired and retiring Midlands network library staff, including, but not limited to Valerie Brandon (IL-28 years) Karen Odean (IL-39+ years) and Beth Hirst (IA-34 years). Their years of dedication and contributions to this service are deeply appreciated.
NLS Response: NLS joins the Midland Conference in thanking these individuals for their years of dedication to this program and wishes them well in retirement.
Resolution: The Midlands Conference Members recommend that NLS consider allowing network libraries to take 3% of their copy allotment in blank cartridges either in full case lots or added as a percentage to each state's interlibrary quota allotment (but blank) available through the Multistate Centers. Network libraries will be required to erase all their locally-produced content and copy-protection software for any cartridge returned during a recall.
NLS Response: This is not feasible at this time.
Resolution: Midlands Conference Members recommend that network libraries be given the option to order in advance XESS cards as needed through the Multistate Centers. This will help with workflow processes.
NLS Response: The XESS process must still be followed in the disposal of federal property (i.e., recorded cassette books [RCs]). NLS pays a contractor to handle RCs that are being disposed of by network libraries. It is necessary to maintain an even flow of XESSed books to prevent exceeding the space this contractor has available for handling these books. Therefore it is not possible to let libraries send books for disposal at any time. The monthly XESS cycle has been in place for a number of years now and every library should know the timeframe for when books can be offered on XESS and, just as important, the approximate timeframe when the library will receive mailing cards for disposal. Requests for out-of-cycle participation in XESS have been and will continue to be considered and approved on a case-by-case basis.
Resolution: Midlands Conference Members once again request that NLS update the Machine Lending Manual and place it online.
NLS Response: This is in process.
Resolution: Midlands Conference members once again request the NLS to institute a reexamination of the reading disability eligibility requirements, 36 CFR 701.6(b), in light of currently accepted medical understandings and practices. The Library of Congress is the federal authority charged with promulgating eligibility regulations, see 17 U.S.C. § 121(d)(2) and 2 U.S.C. § 135a. The National Library Service/Library of Congress is the appropriate authority to undertake a review to ensure its implementing regulations are current, taking into account medical advances in understanding and diagnosing reading disabilities that have occurred since medical experts were last consulted in 1974.
NLS Response: NLS will take this under advisement.
Resolution: The Midlands Conference Members want to thank NLS for placing online a refillable version of the consultant biennial visit questionnaire.
NLS Response: You are welcome.
Resolution: The Midlands Conference Members want to thank Midlands Conference members, especially Terry Soave and the Ann Arbor District Library, for their work on developing a LBPH Network Libraries Wiki and hosting the Wiki for the network.
NLS Response: NLS concurs.
Resolution: The Midlands Conference Members want to thank NLS for their timely response to all 2012 regional resolutions.
NLS Response: You are welcome.
Resolution: The Midlands Conference Members thank NLS for allowing faxed or scanned signatures of certifying authorities in lieu of hard copy originals.
NLS Response: You are welcome.
Resolution: The Midlands Conference Members recommend that NLS implement an online adult A-to-D conversion form similar to the one implemented for the Youth collection (see: http://bit.ly/Jzp4Jc).
NLS Response: This will be considered. In the meantime, the NLS Collection Development Section (CDS) staff has established a special request e-mail address, nlscollections@loc.gov, and, as always, pays close attention to e-mail addressed to particular staff members from patrons and libraries. Network consultants are also happy to forward suggestions to CDS.
Automation staff have, however, recently presented CDS with a sparkling new automated A to D selection tool that radically expedites processing of older analog titles. Some 25,000 titles remain unconverted, but we are moving through the list as quickly as contracting and logistical capacities permit. Titles that should be prioritized may be submitted to nlscollections@loc.gov or e-mailed to Ed O’Reilly at eore@loc.gov.
Resolution: The Midlands Conference Members thank NLS for beginning a BARD pilot project for network-produced materials.
NLS Response: You are welcome. NLS is looking forward to having locally produced materials on BARD.
Resolution: The Midlands Conference Members suggest that multi-region biennial conferences continue and hope that a four region conference be seriously explored for 2015.
NLS Response: NLS awaits the decision of the regional conferences.
Resolution: The Midlands Conference Members request that NLS review the introductory message of the MOC project and reword the language to be consistent with the scheduled return policy.
NLS Response: This will be reviewed.
Resolution: The Midlands Conference Members request that NLS reconsider the loan periods for the MOC program so that they are consistent (same period for all), so patrons can more easily understand the due date.
NLS Response: The MOC program has been functioning less than a year. NLS will revisit the parameters for this program once it has stabilized.
Resolution: The Midlands Conference Members recommend that NLS declare C1s obsolete and that they no longer be included in machine audits.
NLS Response: This is not feasible at this time.
Resolution: The Midlands Conference members gratefully thank Catherine Durivage for her numerous years of professional leadership for our group.
NLS Response: NLS concurs.