The statewide resource sharing RFP Evaluation Committee recommended that the Board accept Fretwell-Downing, Inc.'s proposal and proceed to negotiate a contract. Mr. Bates said that by January 2001 there should be a pilot program in several test libraries. By July 2001 a large group of libraries should be participating. Mr. Bates said that for the library community to move forward standards must be adopted, such as Z39-50 and the circulation protocol. He added that this would be one of the biggest resource sharing projects in the country.
Maintenance includes automatic upgrades, software support and training.
Estimated costs include the need for trainers and field support. Ann Baines said that policy issues need to be decided. Roger Verny, Deputy State Librarian and part of the project Steering Committee, said that the Steering Committee's goal is to keep policies as simple, as few as possible, and as streamlined as possible. Currently, it is recommended that the borrowing library's policies guide loans of materials. The Board approved the motion to begin contract negotiations with Fretwell-Downing.