Maine State Library

Present: Gretchen Asam, Edna Comstock, Sylvia Norton, Teri Caouette, Nancy Grant, Barbara Hammond, Eileen Broderick, Donna Chale, Sue Leiter, Toni Buzzeo, Kelly McDaniel; Margaret McNamee

PRESIDENT’S REPORT
President Gretchen Asam called the meeting to order and asked for additions to the agenda.

SECRETARY’S REPORT
A motion was moved, seconded, and passed to accept the secretary’s report with one correction.

TREASURER’S REPORT
After discussing a handout from the treasurer, a motion was moved, seconded, and passed to accept the treasurer’s report.

MLTI WORKSHOPS
MASL will be providing information literacy presentations for MLTI workshops on the following dates:

• Penobscot 1/21 (Nancy),
• Kennebec 2/1,
• Midcoast 2/7,
• York 2/16,
• Washington 3/1,
• Western 3/15 ,
• Hancock 3/21,
• Cumberland 4/4 (Teri Caouette),
• Aroostook 4/8 (Gretchen).

Nancy Grant will consult with Sylvia Norton and Eileen Broderick regarding workshop content. She recommends a focus on teacher/librarian collaboration, prevention of plagiarism, and assessment as part of the research process.

The issue of professional/paraprofessional media staffing was discussed.
It was suggested that the MASL webpage should have annotated links, and additional recommended links for MLTI use. Sylvia and Nancy will consult and communicate with Gail. A recommendation will be made that the MLTI webpage should have a link to the MASL webpage.

SPRING WORKSHOP
Susan Ballard will present a Spring Workshop on April 2, similar to the one she presented at the October Maine Libraries Conference. The workshop will focus on data and evidence. Susan will demonstrate how evidence strengthens a media program’s worth, and how data makes a strong and valid budget. This workshop will take Ross Todd’s work to the next step.

Donna Chale will investigate a location (Pittsfield is a strong possibility), and will arrange for food to be catered. A PR flyer will go out soon. We will need facilitators for the afternoon breakout sessions. Fees have not yet been discussed, but it was agreed that MASL will provide lodging for Susan the night before the workshop.

READING ROUND-UP
Jan Hamilton of Prince Memorial Library contacted Gretchen asking for a MASL representative to meet with her committee at cooperative planning meetings for Reading Round-up and other Youth Services programming. The committee will meet at public libraries during the school day three to four times a year, and by e-mail. Suggestions were made of possible representatives. Gretchen will follow up with Jan.

LMS OF THE YEAR AWARD
Nancy Grant e-mailed suggested changes to the LMS of the Year application.
A suggestion was made to add the option for a nominee at the district level, such as a library coordinator. The Board gave the go ahead to make the changes.
Nancy had scheduled a presentation of the LMS of the Year award to Kathy Foss at the meeting of her school board on January 19, but is now unable to attend on that date. If a substitute can not be found, Nancy will reschedule the presentation in February.

ALAN NOVEMBER
Sylvia Norton spoke about the “Education, Technology, and the Future of Maine’s Economy” Conference on January 24 -25 in Augusta, by invitation only. Five MASL board members will attend.

STANDARDS RUBRICS
Sylvia needs feedback in print from MASL board members who have used the rubrics. She wants examples of evidence, general comments about how it is working, and anecdotes about how it was used. The Portland Media Specialists are working on it. Their feedback should be ready by the end of January.
MASL needs to start thinking about the printed document. Should it be in a spiral binder, accompanied by CD? It was suggested that MASL invest in posters of the framework (like the MARVEL posters and display easels). The idea of soliciting underwriting costs was also discussed.

ALA
Sylvia spoke about the ALA meeting October 8, 2005 in Pittsburgh. She encouraged everyone to remember the availability of MASL scholarships.

CHICKADEE AWARD
The Board discussed supporting the new Maine children’s choice for picture books award. Students will vote for their favorite books, similar to the MSBA books.
They award committee is requesting $500 from MASL for 2005-6 expenses.

EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE GRANTS
A Motion was moved, seconded, and passed that MASL will fund 3 new EBP grants ($1000 a piece) and 4 implementation grants ($500 a piece). Links will be posted on the MASL webpage with information about the grants, application, etc.
A suggestion was made that MASL should encourage grantees to create research based MAP tasks.

INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM
Kelly McDaniel spoke about the Intellectual Freedom display for January 13 in Augusta at the Hall of Flags.
Kelly has been compiling the MASL history of recorded IF challenges. There are some gaps in the records (1997-2003). She will contact people who can fill in the missing information. In 2004, 10 challenges were reported; 5 were reported in the last two months of the year, after the national election. Kelly was asked to do a summary of her concerns about restricted shelving for the next board meeting.
A suggestion was made that MASL do regular IF updates as part of our PR.

PUBLIC RELATIONS
Sue Leiter spoke about her display for the announcement of Maine Library Week and honoring of Library Award winners at the Hall of Flags. Kathy Foss and Gerry Massey will be present. Sue will display information about Kathy and Gerry, and include a
photograph of Walter Taranko, since our award is named for him. Sue will also submit an article for statewide PR about the 5 EBP grant winners.

AFFILIATE ASSEMBLY.
Sylvia spoke about issues to bring to the affiliate assembly meeting:
NCLB, textbook censorship, funding, and updating of Information Power.
It was suggested that ALA and/or AASL make a statement about putting opinions in textbooks rather than being strictly informational.
Sylvia noted that the AASL Board will work on strategic planning, and
interviewing national candidates - asking them about how to get more school library candidates involved.

NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY PLAN
The national educational technology plan was released by the U.S. Department of Education Friday afternoon. FYI see www.NationalEdTechpPlan.org Sylvia will email the Board the seven talking points.

SUPPORT STAFF
Nancy Grant gave a handout from participants in the conference support staff workshop. They are building a portfolio of jobs from the input received.

MAINE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Gretchen received a thank you note for MASL’s $500 contribution to the Maine Community Foundation.

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Edna Comstock asked that the revision of the constitution be put on the agenda for the next meeting. She will send the Board a copy to review.
There is a task force for creating the job description for a Maine Libraries Conference administrative assistant.
She spoke about potential conference speakers who had been contacted.

Kelly McDaniel recommended a “No Name Calling Week” kit from Human Resources Media for $120. She talked about teaching tolerance grants and “Maine Reads” grants (Only public libraries are eligible for “Maine Reads” grants, but they are called to collaborate with school libraries).

LMS JOB DESCRIPTION.
Donna Chale will make some edits to the LMS job description and send it out to the Board.

The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,
Margaret McNamee
Secretary