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Meeting of the Board of Regents | March 2009

Monday, March 16, 2009 - 8:30am

Cultural Education Committee Minutes

March 16, 2009

5:40 p.m. – 6:40 p.m.

Regents Room, EB

 

REGENTS COMMITTEE ON CULTURAL EDUCATION

 

Regent James C. Dawson, Chair of the Cultural Education Committee, submitted the following written report.

 

Your Committee on Cultural Education had its scheduled meeting on March 16, 2009.

In attendance were: Regents Dawson, Bowman, Brooks Hopkins, Gardner, Phillips, and Tilles.

 

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

 

Chair’s Remarks: Regent Dawson greeted everyone and opened the meeting with an update regarding legislative visits and libraries.

 

Deputy’s Report: Deputy Commissioner Jeffrey Cannell greeted everyone and talked briefly about the Deputy’s Monthly Report that had been electronically distributed to the Board on Regents prior to the March meeting.  Hard copies of monthly report were provided for meeting attendees.  In April, the Cultural Education Committee will discuss funding formula for Educational Broadcast Councils and Public Radio Stations.

 

  • CE (D) 1 - Proposed Amendments to Commissioners Regulations 90.3 for Coordinated Outreach, Adult Literacy Grants and Family Literacy Grants

Bernard Margolis, State Librarian and Assistant Commissioner for Libraries provided a brief update related to the proposed amendments to Commissioners Regulation 90.3 for the following three statutory programs in Education Law 273:

  • Coordinated Outreach Services Formula State Aid to Public Library Systems
  • Family Literacy Library Services Competitive Grants
  • Adult Literacy Library Services Competitive Grants

 

Mr. Margolis introduced Cassandra Artale, Library Development Specialist and Team Leader for the Education, Literacy and Outreach Services Team in the State Library’s Division of Library Development, who presented, in detail, information relative to the proposed amendments to CR90.3 that will conform Commissioners Regulations to 2005 amendments to Education Law Section 273 and will also update and clarify program terminology and requirements.  Ms. Artale provided additional background information and how the revisions would impact each of three statewide programs.

 

On January 13, 2009 the State Library informally shared a draft copy of the proposed amendments to CR90.3 with 1,200 members of the library community and invited comments. The revisions have been posted to the State Register with comments due to Jeffrey Cannell, Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education, by May 4, 2009.

 

These Proposed Amendments to Commissioners Regulations 90.3 for Coordinated Outreach, Adult Literacy Grants and Family Literacy Grants will come before the CE Committee in May and if approved, will have an effective date of June 11, 2009.

 

  • CE (D) 2 - Action item - Proposed Emergency Amendment of Regents Rules Section 3.27, Relating to Collections Management

Regent Dawson stated that the proposed amendment was previously discussed by our Committee and adopted by the Full Board as an emergency action in December.   Clifford Siegfried, Director and Assistant Commissioner for Museums presented, for discussion, the proposed emergency re-adoption of the December 2008 emergency regulation to the CE Committee.  This amendment clarifies restrictions on the deaccessioning of items and materials in a museum or historical society's collections, and is consistent with generally accepted professional and ethical standards within the museum and historical society communities.  The proposed emergency amendment of Regents Rules Section 3.27, Relating to Collections Management will go before the Full Board for action at the March 17 meeting.  It was noted that the emergency provisions would apply to chartered museums and historical societies authorized to own and hold collections under Rule §3.27.

 

David Palmquist and Richard Trautwein provided additional information regarding changes and impact.  It was stated that the State Education Department staff, the Museum Association of NY and museum constituents have been working with Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, chair of Corporations, Authorities and Commissions, to develop legislation for collections management applicable to all museums and collecting institutions. 

 

Because of the timing of Regents meetings, the 60-day emergency action adopted today will expire before the May Regents meeting; therefore, another emergency amendment will come before the April Regents meeting for consideration.  Once the legislative language is finalized, a proposed amendment that conforms to the legislative language will come before the CE Committee at its June meeting.

 

Motion by: Regent Tilles

Seconded by: Regents Bowman and Brook Hopkins

Action:  Motion carried unanimously

 

A brief update related to the Rochester Historical Society was also presented to the Committee.

 

Meeting Adjourned at 6:20 p.m.