Meeting Minutes for 04/14/2020

E-Content Committee Meeting
04/14/2020
Minutes

Reciprocal Lending Agreement (RLA) - Abbey Patton, OverDrive
Demo Recording

• We would need another library or consortium of libraries to agree to do this with us.
• Here is an example of libraries using RLA - https://clamsnet.overdrive.com/.  
  • They have a Partner libraries dropdown that links to the other libraries who participate.  
  • You can click on any of the library's links, and borrow from any of these libraries.
• This is OverDrive’s attempt to mimic an interlibrary loan.
• A patron would go to the reciprocal library to check out a title using their Marmot library card.
• The configuration would be for the entire collection and not by individual libraries, so the consortium would need to agree to the configuration settings.
• The reciprocal lending libraries can have different lending agreements than the Marmot consortium.
• You will not be able to track your patron’s checkouts for other reciprocal library titles, so Abbey will run monthly statistic reports that she would send out to all the libraries.  
• Users are not allowed to borrow Simultaneous Use, Cost per Circ, Metered Access by checkout, Metered Access: earlier of x checkouts or y time.
• RLA is a free feature
• The group decided not to move forward with this feature at this time.

Dispensation for the Macmillan shared fund - Liz

• Liz suggested that the funding continued to be used by Alysa to buy down holds
• Alysa agreed with Liz’s suggestion but wondered if Macmillan is going to return to their stance with the embargo.
• Alysa suggested keeping the money until the end of the year and shop later. She would just hate to spend all the money and find out we need it again.
• Jo agreed to hold on to the money until we find out that Macmillan is not going back to their original embargo, and if we have money at the end of the year we spend it.
• Everyone voted by chat to hold on to the money until the end of the year, and wait to find out if Macmillan will go back to their original embargo.

New York Times (NYT) Update - Adam

• Adam reported that most of the public libraries have filled out the form for their configuration.
• Marmot has notified the New York Times to go ahead and start the configuration for anyone who has filled out the configuration form.
• In terms of pricing, several public libraries volunteered to commit funding above the price of their library.  The additionally committed amount of money was distributed across the board to help out other public libraries having trouble affording the cost. Marmot tried not to use all of the extra funding to not take advantage of the generosity. Marmot has pricing that is still low for all public libraries. Marmot will start working on sending out the billing. The pricing is locked in for the public libraries for three years.
• Adam would like to help members with the language for a press release for anyone who needs it.  
• Marmot tried to get a consortium wide deal for the NYTs. The population size was a factor for the pricing. The larger libraries and schools had the highest pricing. Marmot asked the NYT people to look at pricing by library type. The public libraries were the first ones that Marmot was able to get a deal that worked for them. The suggested pricing for academics and schools was high, especially for the schools. Marmot would like to revisit the pricing for both types of libraries with the NYT people.
• Action Item: Marmot will get in touch with the public libraries who have not filled out the form yet to find out if they need any help.
• Action Item: Marmot will contact the NYT people to talk about better pricing for academics.
• Action Item: Tammy will check on any help links or documentation that members can share with their staff and patrons.

RBdigital eAudiobooks Collection – Adam

• Adam wanted to talk with the group about the best time to discuss pricing for the RBdigital eAudiobooks unlimited collection as well as the eComics. People had mentioned their interest in those models, but not in the current fiscal year. This topic was to be revisited as libraries begin planning for the next fiscal year.  
• Adam wanted to check in to see if planning for these products in the next fiscal year was still a consensus.
• Libraries chatted that some of them start working on their budget now. Others chatted that their budget process begins June, July, and October. Others mentioned that they may have to make cuts to their budget. 
• This information will give Adam a timeframe to bring up the pricing with RBdigital.
• Adam mentioned that Marmot is working on its budget for 2021. He is aware no one is going to know the financial impact of our current circumstances. Marmot wanted to be proactive about the budget.

Cost Per Circ (CPC) OverDrive Titles – Alysa

• Alysa asked the group if any of them are using the Cost Per Circ or pay per use model for OverDrive purchasing.
• Eagle, Buena Vista, Grand County have purchased a few titles. One issue is that the collection is limited, but the choices have gotten a little better lately.
• Alysa wondering if having a CPC title for a book club made sense.
• Diane mentioned that the CPC is simultaneous use (SU) that is limited to just your library’s patrons.
• Maura mentioned that the cost of buying additional copies for book clubs was the reason they looked SU options, like the Duke Classics.
• Here is information about the different lending models.

Next meeting is on May 12th at 1 p.m.