Maine State Library Conference Room

Present: Suzan Nelson, Nancy Grant, Donna Chale, Gretchen Asam, Shelly Swazy, Glenda Dow, Walter Taranko, Margaret McNamee

THE SECRETARY'S REPORT was accepted with a correction to the date of the February meeting. The minutes for each meeting will be posted on the MASL webpage.

THE TREASURER'S REPORT was accepted: $464 income for January, 2000; income year-to-date $9,504. $27.70 expenses for January, 2000; expenses year-to-date $781.53.

The approved, non-budgeted expense of $1000 towards sending Sylvia Norton to Chicago for Information Power implementation training is not shown in the regular budget.

The treasurer will move some of the money from the checking account, possibly to a CD.

Walter Taranko will renew the domain name which must be paid by credit card.

Concern was again expressed about outstanding membership dues.

OLD BUSINESS:

BOARD VACANCIES: Suzan expressed concern about non-attendance at Board meetings and crucial vacancies. Several troubleshooting measures were discussed: advertising the option of using Board membership as contact hours (up to 45) in place of course credits for recertification; using ATM equipment for virtual meetings (ready on the MSL end; connections need to be established on the remote ends); contacting administrators and principals in person and through letters educating them about the work of the Board and emphasizing the benefits to Districts from employees serving on the Board; having Board meetings on days other than Saturday; recruiting trips by Walter; indicating essential meetings on yearly calendar; e-mailing present members with the list of openings to gather nominees.

Potential members were discussed.

Edna Comstock's offer to become the membership chair was accepted enthusiastically. A mailing to members through the Maine State Library was suggested.

Dot Gregory's retirement was announced with thanks for her many contributions and best wishes for her new ventures.

E-MAIL ADDRESSES:

Suzan distributed Board member lists asking for corrections to e-mail and snail mail addresses.

2ND VP'S REPORT: Gretchen Asam announced that due to family concerns she would like to transfer from the position of second VP to another position on the Board. She will not be able to be nominated as 1ST VP at election time and will not be available for the auction in May. She is hoping that each library will donate at least one item for the auction. Gretchen is looking for the snail mail address of Abraham Schecter to contact him about book repair information.

1ST VICE PRESIDENT'S REPORT: Nancy Grant reported that programs are still needed for the Spring Conference. The draft of the conference schedule was distributed and discussed. There will be a stuffing party at the Maine Municipal Association on Saturday afternoon. Elliot Engel will present the program on "English the Mother Tongue" on Sunday night. Receptions and tours will be held Saturday.

NEW BUSINESS:

INFORMATION SKILLS COMMITTEE: Nancy Grant spoke for the Information Skills Committee which is working on research assessment at the twelfth grade level. She has not had a response from Connie Manter regarding the proposed meeting in Boothbay. The next piece of the Information Skills Committee work is to spell out the librarian's and the teacher's responsibilities in the assessment process.

CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES: Censorship challenges were discussed.

Glenda Dow will post to MELIBS sample steps to meet a challenge. It was also suggested that the Kastenmeier guidelines for off-air taping and guidelines for downloading from the Internet be posted on the MASL webpage. The federal fines and offenses for the new fad of students photocopying money were discussed. Strategies for teaching students to avoid plagiarism were also discussed.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT: Suzan spoke about Marzano's nine essential teaching strategies. She will e-mail this information to the listserve.

Suzan was asked to write a letter of support for the New Century grants. A speaker on library planning may be presented in conjunction with the Fall Conference.

Suzan highlighted the "If the World Were a Village" article by Donella Meadows.

Information was shared about High Wired Conferences 2000 and the March "Computers in Libraries" Conference.

The phone link to NEEMA did not happen. Sylvia Norton did not receive the information from them about the phone number. She was not able to be present at the Board meeting due to illness.

The Board meeting was followed by a Spring Conference Committee meeting.

NEXT MEETING: The next MASL board meeting will be March 4, 2000 at Boothbay Regional High School, Lincoln Academy or the Maine State Library.

Respectfully submitted,

Margaret McNamee margaretmc@lamere.net