Present:  Marilyn Joyce, Edna Comstock, Barbara Hammond, Kelley McDaniel, Teri Caouette, Peg Becksvoort, Eileen Burdet, Francis Aley, Sylvia K. Norton, Donna Chale, Sue Leiter, Jeff Small, Joyce Lucas.

The meeting was called to order at 9:15. 

President’s welcome and thanks.

Agenda additions:

                        -Intellectual Freedom

Secretary’s Report : Accepted as presented.

-- Teri announced Susan Allison’s resignation.  The board discussed a possible life membership. By June, Edna hopes to have a list of those who should be considered for life memberships. It was agreed that the board would discuss Susan’s role  at the summer retreat.

-- Discussed MASL memberships and whether a PR position is needed to work on increasing the numbers. Teri asked if we should look at all positions and roles this summer. It was suggested that an incentive be offered to join and that we should think about our image and how we can reach out. It was decided to post in the Spring Fling flyer that a half-year would be free to those joining.

Treasurer’s Report:

-- Teri read the treasurer’s report in Pam’s absence.  Marilyn expressed thanks for funding her San Antonia trip. Discussed legislative day in Washington. She will contact them to let them know that there will be 2 people next year.  The treasurer’s report was accepted as read.

Affiliate Council by Marilyn Joyce:

-- Marilyn pointed out Carol Sander’s article in the Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy regarding the role of librarians and the  Portland Press Herald article about Kelly.

-- She handed out NEEMA suggestions and asked the board what they would like AASL to do in regards to standards. Comments and suggestions were:

•  Keep Information Power and the standards separate. AECT has partial ownership and there are some problems regarding revision. 
• Revise Information Power. Work should be done to review the standards for common language and currency.
• Send a letter of concern that updates or revisions be done.
• There is a need to look at the purpose of Information Power. 
• Needs to be non-library personnel friendly, i. e parents, etc. 
•  Standards lack specificity and are too wordy. Information Power is too broad and philosophical. Need a one page document that gives what students should be able to do, something that will relate to the content areas.
• No jargon. 
• Compatible with what is happening in other areas.  Flexible document that can be updated when languages changes in other areas, i.e. reading teachers, computer people, etc. 
• Librarian as a connector/integrator. 
• Needs to clearly define our role in the big picture.  Make sure that we are members of the school/learning community and are partnerships with library community. 

New Orleans Donation  Teri will take on New Orleans donation. Will email choices.

Scholarship by Barbara Hammond. 

 -- Pam wrote that there are funds to support one more scholarship. 

Spring Conference Report

-- Spring Fling registration forms went out to members and non-members.  It was noted that MASL has 210 members.  Edna reported that 10 had registered for Spring Fling.

-- Edna brought up a question regarding bulk mailing and whether MASL does enough mailings to make it worthwhile since the cost is $160.00 for a permit.  We have to mail 1200 before start to save money. Only save us about 10 cents apiece. 

-- Discussed Learning Results and workshops at the May conference. Do presenters pay to attend conference?  We still need to know what they will attend. There will be a vegetarian choice? Will talk about process.  Give sense of how they work.  Kelly  asked for moment to promote MASL grants. 

State Board Report by Peggy Becksvoort

-- Handout by Peggy. Pointed out School Size and how MASL can help all sized schools.  Mentioned wanting to get statistics so that we can correlate own data. 

Standards Work Update:

-- All seven are on the website now.  Will be reporting at spring conference.  School  librarians need to look at it now and pull out the information components.  Website:  www.maine.gov

Retreat Discussion:              

-- Sue offered Sunday River as a location for the retreat and gave possible dates.  A tentative date was set for July 31, Aug. 1 &2.  The agenda for  retreat will be on the agenda for the June meeting.

Support for non-professionals in libraries:

-- Teri read an email from a concerned educational technician who was looking for guidance. The board discussed whether and how we should provide guidance to ed. techs. who do not have an LMS in the district.  Suggestions were:

•  point them to the job description that Nancy is working on. 
• a statement about LMS evaluation of technician appear first in the document. 
• need an Ed. Tech. on the board.
• Essential Services and programs discussion.  Business meeting at Spring Fling will discuss how to go about getting concerns  out. 

Sylvia’s Corner:

-- Interpretation of Chapter 125. Sylvia wants a clear statement. 

-- Sylvia’s survey is getting a good response.                       

-- She noted a write-up in MEA on librarians.

-- Request from ACTEM to do a session on MARVEL (invisible web). 

-- Found someone to do student I-team session. 

-- April 19 hearing on facilities document, Sylvia sent letter to MASL on March 28 and explained the history of the facilities document. Square footage on today’s library should not be based on the number of students, rather it should reflect all essential areas.

Other:

-- Kelly read a letter that had been sent to Peggy’s assistant principal around last month’s IF issue.  She also shared a copy of the agenda of "Law for Libraries" which she attended.  She noted that out of 70 people from around the state, she was the only LMS, and there were only 6 youth services librarians.  She mentioned in her evaluation of the workshop that school library was an add on. She discussed the possibility of a post-conference workshop on the topic, as she became aware of First amendment rights in schools. Kelly defined the term "Harmful to minors" as harmful to the oldest possible minor (age 17). 

 Material in the library cannot be deemed harmful to minor legally.  She would like to offer to send information out to all of  Maine in addition to conference.  “Do Youth have first amendment rights?” as part of Beg, Borrow or Steal. Peggy suggested  sending out "nuggets" periodically on Intellectual Freedom issues.  Kelly was  asked to write up something on Intellectual Freedom. 

-- Jeff and Edna gave a fashion show of MASL shirts.  Peggy made a motion that money from MASL go to pay for shirts for board members.

 --  Francis seconded the motion and the motion carried.

-- Sylvia did a drawing for bookmarks and Inspiration.

-- Marilyn will be eating lunch with Laura Bush and asked for any message(s) about Maine libraries.

 Meeting adjourned at 12:25
Respectfully submitted,
Joyce Lucas