Maine General Medical Center

Present: Nancy Grant, Gerry Crocker, Sylvia Norton, Edna Comstock, Donna Chale, Pam Goucher, Margaret McNamee.

Librarian Barbara Harness hosted the meeting at the Maine General Medical Center with a tour of her lovely library. Our meeting was held in their comfortable conference room.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT: Nancy spoke about the three district consultants application for a New Century grant in the amount of $24,000 "to plan and launch a statewide PR campaign to raise the level of awareness of library services among non-library users in the general public." A motion was passed to donate $500 to the PR program.

The laptop proposal was also discussed. The consensus was that middle school librarians need to be involved in laptop training and selecting of resources. If middle school librarians are not designated as the lead laptop trainers, it is important that they stay in close contact with the people who are chosen. The DOE has already signed a contract to promote the use of Marco Polo with the laptops. Librarians can explain that Marco Polo is just one of many links to good links and that filters are not perfect or foolproof. Nancy asked that Board members contribute information about Marco Polo.

SECRETARY’S REPORT: The secretary pro tem's report was not available.

TREASURER'S REPORT: Donna Chale reported that more dues money has been received (now over 200+members). Among the expenses listed on the balance sheet were chairs and tables for Conant House; the annual stamping fee; and food for Fall Conference. There is more than $900 in Walt's scholarship fund. Overall, MASL is in very good shape.

1st VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT: Pam Goucher reported that the program brochure is looking good. The menus have been chosen (Sunday lunch - cold deli buffet; Monday lunch - hot deli buffet; Sunday dinner - choice of chicken, beef, vegetarian; Monday continental breakfast in silent auction room; hospitality from 5-6 with the exhibitors). It was noted that early registrations will be accepted by postmarked dates. It is hoped that Apple will have a presence with the exhibitors this year, and that a MASL representative will participate in the coordination of the exhibitors.

NEW BUSINESS: Sylvia spoke briefly about the school instructional and facilities Chapter 125/127 changes. One of the biggest changes from the old wording is that elementary schools will now require a facility for a school library. A request was made that our web page post a background piece telling what the old wording said, what the new wording proposes, and what does it all mean for school librarians. When the bills go to committee, we may need to do some lobbying. People with questions may contact Sylvia Norton.

Sylvia also announced that David Anderson has been appointed to the Maine Library Commission as an at-large member. The commission is made up of fifteen members representing different library constituencies: public libraries, special libraries, academic libraries, school libraries, citizens/trustees, disabilities-related advocates, the three district consultants, etc. The committee advises and appoints the State Librarian, and receives and allocates federal funds. A suggestion was made that a conference display on the history and hierarchy of the state library structure would be helpful for many MASL members, especially librarians new to the state.

The Washington office made a presentation concerning The Patriot Act at the ALA midwinter meeting. It was announced that the new AASL President Nancy Zimmerman is a professor at USC. National emphasis is on recruiting new people to the library profession. Initial teacher certification and the Praxis Test were discussed. In the implementation of Information Power it is important for us to understand our role. It was announced that Maine AASL members will have a chance to support our own Sylvia Norton who is running for AASL director-elect!

MASL goals and projects to promote the goals were discussed.

Two MASL goals:

1. Focus on providing relevant and accessible information about Information Literacy' connection to Maine Learning Results and the development of local assessment systems.

2. Connect to the "those in charge" - principals, superintendents, School Boards, DOE, NEASC.

Suggested projects matched with above two goals

1. Goal #1 - development of local assessment systems

Team of 5 MASL members - paid $100 per day, three days each person.

Team to develop product by December 30, 2002

Product = Assessment tools for use with district local assessment systems

Tools to use for assessing Research Skills (Information Literacy Process)

At least three checkpoints to coordinate with 9-12, 5-8, and PreK-4 Maine's Learning Results. $2-3000.

2. Goal #1 - Accessible information about Information Literacy Skills
Index for Springboard, updating, republishing, and advertised as a "Resource for teaching Research Skills". $3000

3. Goal #3 Connection to "those in charge." Grant support for library PR from New Century Grant - $500

4. Goal #2 - Connect with "those in charge"
Display Board to use at "those in charge" conferences/meetings, handouts about Research assessment tools, paid time/travel/housing for MASL members to be at conferences for next two years. $2000

5. Goal #2 - Connect with those in charge
Fund $200 for AASL Director, channelled through NEEMA (see Sylvia Norton for more info on this)

6. Goal #1 & 2
Orientation for new school librarians - $500. Support for what Edna and Sylvia did in Belfast last summer - mostly notebook/supply costs.

7. Goal #2
Publish Maine School Library Standards, with a professional look, after approval by State Board of Education. $4000.

8. Goal #1
Publish a yearly resource notebook (updates for existing MASL members, whole new one for new MSL members) "Everything I need to know to run my Maine library right" $2000 first time?

9. Maine Library Foundation - "Valerie's fund". We said we would contribute when we had money. $500 now $500 next year.

10. Goal #2
Grant writing workshops. ESEA will have money for local school libraries, if the librarian can write a grant between late May and early July. MASL pays for grantwriting authority, mileage for librarians traveling to workshop, food, stipend. Possible collaboration with reading teachers for literacy aspect. (Sylvia working on this information). $5000

OLD BUSINESS: Nancy reported on the success of our presence at the MEA“Joy of Teaching and Learning” conference. Participants who stopped by the MASL table and filled out a survey got a chance to win a gift certificate from Borders. Nancy shared the survey results. The Board will discuss how to follow up the survey at the next meeting.

There will be an " Archive filing" meeting Tuesday, February 19 (snow date Feb 21) at Conant Farm. The next Board meeting will be March 2 at the Conant Farm. Each member is urged to bring a MASL member and their "best idea" if they haven't yet done so.

Respectfully submitted,
Margaret McNamee,
Secretary