Maine State Library

Those present were: Edna Comstock, Sylvia Norton, Teri Caouette, Eileen Broderick, Nancy Grant, Jeff Small, Kelly McDaniel, Suzan Nelson, Mary Simpson, Margaret McNamee.

Teri Caouette, 1st VP, called the meeting to order.

SECRETARY’S REPORT
The minutes were accepted as writteng

TREASURER’S REPORT
Pam sent e-mail and a folder with a financial report. Details including reimbursements for “Making Them a Class Act” were discussed. Copying and sending a document (print or CD) of the projects will be sent to participants and paid for from workshop funds.

An inquiry concerning tax exempt status, changing from 501C3 status, was raised. The report was accepted unanimously.

Nominations for Media Specialists of the Year and for Principal awards were discussed. The awards will be made in October. The committee will meet and work on the decisions. The Katahdin Award will be announced at Reading Roundup in the spring, but awarded at the Fall Conference.

Edna Comstock announced that she is retiring as of March 31.

Changes to the Maine State Retirement system were discussed.

Kelly McDaniel reported for the Intellectual Freedom committee. Kelly has been contacted for advice on an informal matter.

CONTINUING EDUCATION
Committees, including Continuing Education, that need a chair will be highlighted one at a time on ME-LIBS.

FACILITIES
This committee covers comprehensive issues. It was recommended that a co-chair who has been recently involved in a new building might be added to add to the chair’s extensive experience with the existing document.

STANDARDS
The ELM collaboratory has the document from the recent Standards workshop. Sylvia is hoping to make a post to the public part of the collaboratory. Rubrics are needed. There is a possibility for paid work to be done in the summer.

LEGISLATIVE : This position is now open.

PUBLIC RELATIONS:
Suzan has the PR plan from ALA and may present a program in October. SMLD is having a PR committee meeting on March 17 which she will attend. Some people have heard some of the PSAs on the clear channels. It might be good to try to get some coverage on the Ross Todd workshop

TECHNOLOGY
Emily Graham has agreed to become involved in this committee

CERTIFICATION HEARING
A draft of a letter was sent to the Board from Gretchen as MASL president. The hearing is scheduled for Monday, March 8th at 2PM Room 214 in the Cross Building. It is important that brief written testimony be presented orally and non-combatively. We are encouraged to make proactive suggestions on our recommendations for change. It was suggested that those who testify do so “in support” of the rule making, but offer a positive amendment that the document reflect that a certified media specialist have a degree from an ALA accredited institution. The three eligibility pathways to certification were discussed. MASL e-mail is sought to the education committee. Glen Cummings (chair of the committee) and Gerry Davis (who serves on the committee), legislators from the Portland area were suggested. E-mail from those who can not possibly attend could be sent to Jeff Small for him to read, so that it would go on the record.

It is possible that the scheduled hearing might not start exactly at 2:00. Those within a half an hour of Augusta who are able to testify could call Edna before leaving to check on how the timing is proceeding. FMI see LD 1869 at http://www.mainelegislature.org

iBOOK DISTRIBUTION
All the iBooks should be distributed to professional middle school media specialists by the end of May.

ROSS TODD WORKSHOP
There was a very good overall positive response. A motion was passed to purchase a small portable printer or printer/copier for the executive secretary.
Kelly suggested that we consider offering a grant opportunity to further teacher/collaboratory work.

SUPPORT STAFF WORKSHOP
The mailing is ready to go. It will also be sent to Gail to be put on the webpage.
Edna will add a notice to MASL members that we will be opening our spring business meeting at the support staff meeting and tabling it to October to complete the proposed changes to the constitution.

NEW BUSINESS
Northeast Historic Film is working on a grant with a professor at Simmons called Open Video. “The purpose of the Open Video Project is to collect and make available a repository of digitized video content for the digital video, multimedia retrieval, digital library, and other research communities.” The “video pool” could be used for students to share and use each other’s stock footage. A motion was made that MASL become involved with this project.
FMI see http://www.open-video.org/index.php

AASL
The ALA conference is in Orlando, June 26 -29. We need representation.
A motion was made that Teri Caouette and Gretchen Asam be sent as our two representatives if they can go. The openings will be offered to Board members if they can’t go.

Nancy Grant gave a book talk, highlighting a few books from different periods of publishing. Robert Sabuda’s pop-up of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: A Commemorative Pop-up was a big hit.

Teri adjourned the meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Margaret McNamee
Secretary