Maine State Library

Those present were: Gretchen Asam, Sylvia Norton, Edna Comstock, Teri Caouette, Eileen Broderick, Jeff Small, Kelly McDaniel, Suzan Nelson, Mary Simpson, Susan Allison, Margaret McNamee and guests Leslie Trainer, and Barb Hammond.

President Gretchen Asam called the meeting to order with introductions.
Gretchen asked for additions to the agenda. Teri Caouette wanted to speak about conference programs. Kelly mentioned her idea about proposing a grant opportunity for librarian and teacher partners to do collaborative projects as an extension of the EBP workshop.

An announcement was made that a Conference Committee meeting would follow this board meeting.

SECRETARY'S REPORT
A motion was passed to accept March minutes.

TREASURER'S REPORT
The treasurer’s report was tabled until the next meeting

COMMITTEE REPORTS

CERTIFICATION

Jeff Small reported on the hearing regarding Maine LMS certification. The State Board has corrected the oversight that would have changed the certification requirement for a master’s degree. Testimony was not taken at the hearing, although submitted statements were added to the record.

Jeff also attended a workshop on March 19 regarding HOUSSE (High Objective Uniform State Standard of Evaluation). He says that the present expectation is that librarians would be exempt, as we are do not teach a core subject. Things may change statewide and/or at the local level. In addition, Jeff noted that 100 points are needed to meet HOUSSE criteria. 50 points are earned for being a librarian for 5 years, points are earned for being on the MASL board, and points are awarded for library science courses.

Sylvia suggested that the certification committee might look at our LMS job description for possible review or update.

INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM
Kelly McDaniel spoke about nominations for the SIRS intellectual freedom award. (A nominee does not have to be a librarian).

The State IF committee (funded jointly by MLA and MASL) will send Matt Pollack to the ALA Lawyers for Libraries workshop May 5 in Boston. There was discussion about sponsoring another attendee who might have more of a focus on school library related issues. The board authorize Kelly to make inquiry phone calls to Drummond & Woodsome and to the MCLU, and to summarize responses for the board for a possible email vote.

Formal and informal book challenges were discussed. It was agreed that historically the IF committee does not get involved unless assistance is requested; the local process must go through first; and classroom issues are different than requests to take books off library shelves.

This is the 20th year anniversary of the hate crime murder of Charlie Howard, the young gay man from Bangor. Kelly spoke about the exhibit and the discussion guide which will be offered by the Attorney General’s office to schools, public libraries, churches, mosques, and synagogues.

MAINE LIBRARIES CONFERENCE
October 17/18, 2004
Thirty seven programs have been submitted to date. Although many may be of interest to school librarians, only four are specifically focused on school libraries. Teri and Nancy Grant will do a workshop on laptops and libraries. Ross Todd will speak at lunch and will do a workshop on Sunday afternoon.
Other suggestions included:

• Librarians' assessment work
• School book groups (possible panel?)
• School library and construction projects (possible panel?)
• Grant opportunities
• Meeting an IF challenge proactively by preparing a book rationale
• Media production in school systems (iMovie, et al)
• School Library web page design
• PR thru school/public library webpages
• Professional development opportunities for collaborating with teachers to design better research ideas that include critical thinking.
• Working with student aides/volunteers
• NEASC self study (possible panel?)
• Reporting to and working with school boards

Teri will post responses to the board and highlight what still needs to be covered.

Edna went to a vendor meeting where they discussed cost issues including the possibilities of vendors placing ads in the conference program and/or having demo opportunities.
She also announced that documentary filmmaker Mark Moscovitz, director of Stone Reader, and Nancy Kranick former ALA president will be speakers at the conference.

OLD BUSINESS
Support Staff Workshop
The mailing went out for the Support Staff Workshop, May 8. Five people have registered already. No scholarship requests have been received yet.
The mailing was sent one per building, not specifically to MASL members. Because of the proposed constitutional changes, we need to notify the membership that an official MASL meeting will be opened at the workshop and tabled until October to meet the constitutional requirements for a vote change. An e-mail notice will be posted to ME-LIBS and to the MASL webpage. It was decided not to send postcards to members.

ROSS TODD WORKSHOP
Money is still coming in. Invoices are being sent for some attendees.
Ross was pleased with the evaluations. Copies were sent to the board. Sylvia noted that people appreciated having a national speaker come to Maine and were thrilled to have workshops with teachers!

HIGH SCHOOL SUMMIT
We have not received any response to the letter to the governor regarding a library representative to the regional meeting for the High School Summit meeting in Boston.

NEW BUSINESS
Gretchen announced that Emily Graham has had to withdraw from a board position for the time being due to personal reasons.

NEEMA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Sylvia and Mary Moore went to the NEEMA Leadership conference
Ferdie Serim, author of Information Technology for Learning : No School Left Behind
ISBN 0-9725391-0-7, was the keynote speaker. FMI, see www.oii.org the online internet institute.

AASL
Please remember to vote online (Sylvia is running).
She has agreed to chair programs for AASL in Pittsburgh, Oct, 2005 and is looking for input on workshop topics. We will encourage people to go to Pittsburg. (Scholarship help is available).

MEA
The Maine DOE is inviting nominations for people to be on the MEA Content Development Committees charged with the development of assessment items for use in the MEA content area tests. Nominations are due April 7. Eileen Broderick will consider the opportunity.

HIGH SCHOOL LAPTOPS
The Education Committee is holding a hearing April 5, Monday at 1pm regarding the continuation of laptops into the high schools. We need support for this issue.
The Commissioner confirmed that LMSs would be included in laptop distributions.

ALA
Gretchen, Teri, and Suzan have expressed interest in going to Florida June 25 – 27.

AWARDS
Please send nominations for LMS and Administrator of the year, to Nancy Grant.

NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be May 1, 2004
The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Margaret McNamee, Secretary