Warsaw Middle School
Following Susan Ballard’s  “Making the Case:
Program Advocacy and Plan Development”

 Barb Rehmeyer speaking for the Maine Student Book Award, announced that the MSBA voting was completed April 2, 2005 by 5:00 pm.  The winner was Tales of Despereaux; runners-up were Inkheart and Kensuke’s Kingdom.

 It was announced that Tracy Hobbs is the recipient of Walter J. Taranko scholarship.

 NEW BUSINESS

Gretchen announced that part of the business of the day was to update the MASL constitution.  The changes involved:

Article I: changing some of the language from MASL to Maine Association of School Libraries;    

Article 5 section D: changing the appointment of the nominating committee from at least 60 days instead of 30;

Changing the language of conference from Spring to annual;

Article 6 section A: adding the phrase "and the standing committee chairpersons" to the Executive Board. 

Adding the Executive Secretary to the Executive Board "without the right to vote."

Article 6 section E: adding the phrase "and the professional interests of Maine’s library personnel."

Article 7 section A; changing webmaster to "Web Weaver."

Article 7 section D:  adding "A Member-at-Large shall be appointed to represent the interests of Maine’s library media community."

Eliminating the position of editor, since Maine Entry is no longer being published;

Article 8: changing the conference to an annual conference, rather than a Spring conference;

A suggestion was made from the floor that the appointment of the Member-at-Large should be made by the president.  Since there were no objections, that change will be added as an amendment.

(Please see attached proposal for further details). 

A motion was made to accept the changes as amended.  The motion was seconded and passed.

Sylvia discussed AASL.  Sylvia's term as Director ends in June.  She talked about AASL strategic planning.  AASL seeks input about Information Power.  Is it dated?  Should it be revised?  Scholarships are available for the upcoming AASL meeting in Pittsburg.  Marilyn Joyce is running for AASL director elect; Sylvia Norton is running for ALA council.  School libraries need to be represented so AASL members are encouraged to vote for our Maine candidates!

Because of ALA, Title 5 funds were saved from elimination.

Comments have been made that the MASL workshop leaders have made a positive impact with teachers at the MLTI content meetings featuring information literacy.

 Sylvia was invited to the March SLJ summit of 200 educators in NYC.  Literacy and twenty-first century skills were discussed.  It is significant because people outside of libraries attended and listened. 

 Teri Caouette, Co-Chair of the Maine Libraries Conference, spoke about the need for  school library programs.  She encouraged everyone to please think about presenting workshops.  E-mail Teri with your workshop possibilities.

Pam Goucher distributed the financial report hand-out.  She reminded attendees that MASL membership dollars support scholarships.

The meeting was declared adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Margaret McNamee, secretary