Conant House

Present: Nancy Grant, Gerry Crocker, Sylvia Norton, Edna Comstock, Donna Chale, Fran Haines,Teri Caouette, Suzan Nelson, Tamara Blesh, Gretchen Asam, Margaret McNamee.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT: Nancy provided post-its for board members to jot down ideas to be discussed at a joint MASL/MLA meeting on May 4 (buffet luncheon to be provided). Suggestions included: what do we think about a proposal to combine MASL/MLA;

• what PR will work for all Maine libraries (regional consultants New Century grant);
• what message can we send to ALA/AASL about our needs;
• what joint ventures could we undertake, what is working; what needs to be improved or repaired?

Nancy Grant, Sue Leiter, and Fran Haines met at Conant House to begin organizing and sorting archive material. Date and time for another meeting will be posted on e-mail. Gretchen reported that the executive board handbook is being re-done, due to a complete computer crash. The board congratulated Sylvia Norton on her new position of Learning Technology/Library/Media and Information Services Specialist, Maine Department of Education!

SECRETARY’S REPORT: The secretary’s report was accepted.

TREASURER'S REPORT: The treasurer’s report was accepted. Donna Chale reported on scholarship funds and other issues as outlined in the printed balance sheet.

1st VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT: Nancy reported that Spring Conference planning is going well. The registration forms were mailed. MASL labels included a notation of membership renewal dates. A notice regarding registration by PO will be posted to ME-LIBS. MMA will send an invoice within one week of receipt of registration to meet the early April deadline. People who help stuff packets will receive a free meal on Saturday evening. Overnight lodgings can be provided at Conant House. Pam Goucher will host the next conference meeting on April 6 following the MASL meeting at Conant House.

OLD BUSINESS: The following MASL project and funding ideas were
reviewed:

1. Development of local assessment systems Information Literacy model.
2. Accessible Information about Information Literacy skills. Index Springboard.
3. Connect to “those in charge.”
4. Display Board and Banner. Suzan Nelson will design the board. Teri Caouette will reproduce a new, crisp copy of the MASL logo.
5. Financial support for the AASL director ($200 to be channeled thru NEEMA).
6. Orientation for new librarians ($500) in conjuction with the Maine Board of Education: August 20, Hutchinson Center in Belfast. A flyer to be put in Spring Conference packets with a request for MASL members to pass the notice to superintendents.
7. Standards committee ($4000 for printing of drafts and final version after approval by State Board of Education).
8. Maine Entry-type publication ($2000, possibly a resource binder for MASL members with annual updates, similar to new librarian binders).
9. Maine Libraries Fund - (“Valerie’s fund”) seed money for library grants ($500 this year and $500 next year).
10. Grant writing workshop focused on Reed Amendment ($5000).
11. Financial support to send MASL president to ALA.
12. Conant Farm needs - photocopier.

A motion had been previously passed at the February meeting to support ($500) the regional consultants’ New Century grant, if the grant was approved, with a request to include school libraries in PR spots.

A motion was passed to support as regular budget items the regional AASL director ($200 annually) and the Maine Library Foundation ($200 annually, to be reviewed each year).

After much discussion, a motion was passed to approve numbers one (comprehensive assessment system model) and ten (grant writing workshop) as first priorities with more discussion to follow.

A motion was passed to approve number six (new librarian orientation) and eight (Maine entry type publication) together as one item.

A motion was passed to allocate as a regular budget item $300 annually to cover the cost of web management (to take effect immediately).

A motion was passed to support expenses up to $1000 to send two members (President, First VP or others) to ALA/AASL conference in June.

A motion was passed to fund up to $2000 to establish a traveling display with adjunct materials (number 4).

It was decided to keep Springboard web-based until there is money to republish it.

Wednesday, June 5 and Tuesday, June 11 were approved as dates for the grant writing workshop with Heidi McGinley. Details were discussed at length. Sylvia will keep the board informed by e-mail.

The Scholarship Committee is working on details through e-mail. Information will be posted on the MASL website.

Sylvia commented on Chapter 125/127 which were conditionally approved. Efforts to improve the wording made a difference.

CEUs from Fall Conference are still to be sent out.

NEW BUSINESS:
Ralph Conant will be back in Maine by the middle of March. Nancy, Gail and Sherri will meet with him to discuss issues regarding the future of Conant House.

Edna will convene an ATM meeting on March 7, from 3-5 discussing the future of Maine Entry.

Media Specialists’ involvement in the Governor’s laptop proposal were discussed. Nancy Grant, Pam Goucher and Gerry Crocker will consult on a supportive letter to Duke Albanese and Governor King about our Information Literacy concerns and SLMS input.

NEXT MEETING: The next meeting will be April 6 at Conant House.

Respectfully submitted,
Margaret McNamee,
Secretary