Augusta Civic Center

PRESIDENT'S REPORT: President Suzan Nelson warmly welcomed everyone to the MASL business meeting. Copies of the minutes and financial statement were distributed.

THE SECRETARY'S REPORT: A motion was passed to accept the minutes of the November 4, 2000 Fall Conference held at Scarborough High School, with the following corrections: the heading on the minutes should have said "Fall Conference," Joyce Wheeler was the second vice president at the Fall Conference. (Fixed on web minutes)

THE TREASURER'S REPORT: A motion was passed to accept the treasurer's report. Income as of May, 2001 was $12,151.50; expenses were $3,366.00.

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT'S REPORT: Nancy Grant reported that the move of the Spring Conference to the Augusta Civic Center has been successful. Attendance has increased two years in a row. Anne Davis will be the experienced cochair of the conference next year. As we do not have a first vice president of MASL at this time, we need either a candidate for first vice president, or one or two MASL members who would be willing to serve as conference cochairs.

LIAISON TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION/WEB MASTER: Abigail Garthwait noted that news of the State Board of Education can be found in prior minutes posted on the MASL web page. Abigail asked members to contribute articles or book-related activities for the web page.

INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM REPORT: Past President Sylvia Norton recognized Abigail Garthwait's and Gretchen Asam's work regarding the censorship issues raised by a MASL member in connection with the Bangor Assessment program. The program asks school and public librarians to remove a selected list of books from their shelves to provide a "cold reading" of the material for the students to be assessed. In addition, a copy of a Jack Prelutsky poem is included in the program packet without reproduction rights. Jack Prelutsky's publisher sent an appreciative letter thanking MASL for the information.

TECHNOLOGY CHAIR: Tamara Blesh and Abigail Garthwait have been featuring "Links of the Month" and highlighting school library web pages on the MASL web page this year. Tamara will be working on technology related web pages during the summer around issues like automation planning, networking systems (wireless and other options), and other library technology issues.

CONTINUING EDUCATION CHAIR: Teri Caouette has contacted Shirley Helfrich and will be working with other organizations to compile and publicize statewide educational opportunities for library professional and support people. Abigail Garthwait announced that there will be a Technology Institute at the Hutchinson Center in Belfast the last week in June and that she will be offering a three week telecommunications course by ATM in July. These are two examples of the type of opportunities that the Continuing Ed committee will seek to communicate to everyone.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIR: Edna Comstock reported that there are now almost 250 MASL members. She has been working with MMA to create a list of membership expiration dates. Edna also asked members to email her ideas for the new direction for The Maine Entry.

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE: The Scholarship Committee was pleased to announce that scholarships have been awarded to Vicky White and Christine Reagan who are enrolled in the UMA bachelor's degree program. Scholarship applicants must have been MASL members for one year. Assistance may be requested for undergraduate, graduate or continuing education library courses.

OLD BUSINESS: Suzan Nelson reported that she attended Legislative Day in Washington, DC. She took several library issues to our representatives in Congress who not only understand library needs, but are also willing to champion them. Suzan distributed some posters providing publicity for the Maine Student Book Awards. We are looking for individuals or corporations who are willing to underwrite printing and postage of additional posters intended to be distributed in area bookstores. Suzan encouraged all MASL members to consider becoming board members. Board meetings are usually held the first Saturday of the month during the school year, often at the Maine State Library in Augusta. Being a Board member is fulfilling and energizing because it provides an opportunity to work with colleagues with common goals and interests. Because Joyce Wheeler is unable to move up to first vice president at this time, we are looking for someone to fill that spot.

NEW BUSINESS: Suzan introduced Ralph Conant, husband of MASL's beloved Audrey Conant, to announce the creation of the Audrey Conant Scholarship Fund within the Asgard Foundation (The Asgard Foundation was created and named by Audrey and Ralph in honor of the Norse home of the gods and dedicated to help those who fight for good causes). Audrey's creative and inspiring enthusiasm reached out to everyone around her, especially to budding librarians just beginning their careers. The Audrey Conant Scholarship Fund is designed to help Maine librarians in many different ways, particularly to help others carry on the work to which Audrey was so dedicated. MASL has also accepted Ralph's generous offer to hold monthly MASL meetings and/or board retreats at Conant House, their family farm in Winslow. Audrey's papers and children's books collection will be housed at Conant House. Suzan presented Ralph with a plaque which will hold the names of future winners of the Audrey Conant Scholarship Fund. She also gave Ralph a MASL lifetime membership certificate. Ralph said he would treasure the certificate and hang it next to Audrey's Lifetime Achievement Award. He said he was honored to be a MASL member and offered to sponsor a line in MASL's budget. A Celebration of Audrey's life will be held June 3, 2001 at 11:00 o'clock at Conant House in Winslow, ME. Friends and colleague's of Audrey's are invited to bring informal stories of Audrey to share at the gathering. Directions will be posted on the web page. Suzan introduced new MASL president Nancy Grant. Nancy thanked Suzan for her dedicated service to MASL and recognized Ralph for his contributions to MASL in Audrey's memory. Nancy encouraged all MASL members to find the things that we do well, to share the pieces of our own progress, to make a trail and to help others to follow it. We need to celebrate the things we do well: to write them, to speak them, to videotape them, to web them, ... to tell the Department of Education why we need school librarians! Nancy congratulated Pam Goucher for being recognized as the School Library Media Specialist of the Year 2001. Nancy thanked each member of the team who contributed to the Spring Conference and hoped that everyone would continue to enjoy the Conference.

NEXT MEETING: The next MASL business meeting will be at the Fall Conference. The meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Margaret McNamee, Secretary margaretmc@lamere.net

A celebration of Audrey's life will be held at Conant House on Sunday, June 3.

Respectfully submitted,

Margaret McNamee margaretmc@lamere.net