Maine State Library 

Present: Gretchen Asam, Edna Comstock, Sylvia Norton, Teri Caouette, Nancy Grant, Jeff Small, Barbara Hammond, Kelley McDaniel, Toni Buzzeo, Francie Aley, Pam Goucher, Margaret McNamee.

PRESIDENT: Gretchen Asam called the meeting to order asking for additions to the agenda.  Discussion of MASL scholarships, a possible donation to the hurricane relief efforts, and the Oklahoma City Library Commission decision were added.

SECRETARY'S REPORT: The minutes from the June meeting and the July retreat were reviewed.

TREASURER'S REPORT: The balance sheet/financial report handout was discussed.  MASL is in good shape and should be thinking of priorities for the coming year.  A motion was made, seconded and passed to accept the report.

CONFERENCE

Emails have been flying in and out. Saturday night, on behalf of both MLA and MASL Beth Edmunds will introduce ALA President Michael Gorman at the dinner in the atrium. The programs and meals are all set.  The meals will be a little different this year. There will be some bag lunches with extras like salad.  For various reasons, vendor receipts are down considerably.

A conference meeting will follow the MASL meeting to finalize information still needed from program chairs. 

Peter Milbury accepted the contract for post conference.   Participants for the post conference workshop will need to bring a computer.  They will also need a specific version of Netscape.  FMI, see his webpage.  Francie Aley volunteered to be the point person for Milbury. 

It was noted that it is essential for the MASL Board to make decisions in January and February to prevent summer communication problems.  The Massachusetts Library Conference is being held the same day.    

The early flyer mailing included a general membership form.  There were some issues around what to send, and how to send the membership information to current and non-renewed members.  There is a need for a membership table at the conference for participants to verify their MASL memberships.  The board will send generic emails with personalization to every SLMS in the state, inviting them to join. 

A motion was made, seconded and passed that MASL will provide the financial support for the purchase of Lucinda pins.  MASL's outlay for the pins will be reimbursed after the conference.  The remainder of the profit will go to conference scholarships.  Leftover pins could be used at other MASL conferences and workshops.  MASL will order 60 pins: 40 (READ pins) and 20 (women pins) at our cost of $8.05 for each pin.  The table will be manned by the scholarship committee.  Teri will negotiate the financial split with the scholarship committee.  

Lodging was discussed.  It was noted that the scholarship committee is looking for auction items. 

 SYLVIA'S CORNER

Beverly Goldberg at www.americanlibraries.org made an action request for articles (300 words) on the topic of "Why school libraries won't be left behind." There is a need for more articles about school libraries to balance the news about public libraries. 

Banned books week information was mailed last week. 

MASL needs a representative to NEEMA.  The next meeting is next Saturday.  Marilyn Joyce will be there as incoming director elect. 

SAU REVIEWS

Sylvia's emailed informational letter #13 to MELIBS about school administrative unit reviews.  40 Department of Education teams will go out to do reviews between October and January.  There will be state training for a day for the review process.  There are five pilot sites.  Four member teams will meet with selected SAU personnel from 8:00 – 4:00 to gather information.  No judgments will be made.  Surveys will be sent to all principals and teachers; the responses will focus on specific schools, not the district as a whole.  The teams will have confidential conversations about results.  School systems will have to collect evidence in nine standards (the focus will be on first three).  Some of the standards are student focus; content and instruction; and accountability through assessment, reflection, and action.  There will be a continuum with an accompanying rubric. 

FMI see www.state.me.us/education/lres/saureviews/doc/self-assement_tool.pdf

School librarians are encouraged to give input to the evidence that will be gathered for this document.  Our message is that libraries are integral to students successfully meeting learning results.  The evidence that supports that message could include instruction in using MARVEL and other individual databases purchased through media centers, facilitation of student decision making; technology integration, interdisciplinary learning, instruction responsive to learners, curriculum and unit collaboration.  Try to be clear and concise. 

Gretchen will email MELIBS with the indicators and examples to begin discussion of what we can offer our schools as essential evidence.  She will also talk about what MASL has been doing in these areas. 

Sylvia will email MELIBS to alert SLMS that evidence will be requested and that the teams will be coming for the reviews starting after Oct. 17.

The question was raised whether the MASL standards rubric should be a three level continuum (to match the DOE SAU review project) rather than the present four level rubric.  The levels would be Maintaining, Evolving, and Transforming.  For comparison, Sylvia suggested that MASL review the California standards document that has three levels.  The July retreat work will require additional changes, and changing the rubric should fit easily. 

There is much interest in NetSmarts.  Districts have been asked to send IT personnel for training. 

CONSTITUTION DAY

Constitution Day offers another opportunity for MASL members to provide their principals and social studies departments with reading lists and activities. 

HURRICANE RELIEF DONATION

It was decided to take this issues to the membership at conference for a vote.

MEETINGS

Due to rising gas prices, a suggestion was made to consider teleconferenced meetings, especially in the winter months.  MASL will have to find out which ATM studios are accessible on Saturdays.  It is possible to pilot an ATM meeting in Bangor, Presque Isle, Portland, and Augusta.

There will not be a MASL board meeting the first Saturday in October due to the conference.  The next MASL board meeting will be November 5.  The first conference meeting is scheduled for November 18 in Waterville Public Library at 12:30.

A conference meeting will follow the MASL board meeting December 3, the place to be determined. 

MAINE LIBRARY COMMISSION

Gretchen will be able to attend the upcoming Maine Library Commission in person.

AWARDS

A motion was made, seconded and passed that the MASL board accept the committee's nomination for Administrator of the Year award

Another motion was made, seconded and passed to accept the committee's nomination for the Walter J. Taranko's School Library Media Specialist of the Year award.  Announcements will be made at the conference.

MEMBERSHIP

Susan Allison, membership chair asked which membership list should be given to MMA for conference registration?  The 2004-5 list or the 2005-6 list?  It was decided that for this year we should send names from both lists.  A future membership campaign needs to be well organized before conference registration.

The slate for the upcoming business meeting is as follows:

President:  Teri Caouette
1^st vice president: Jeff Small
2^nd Vice President: Open
Treasurer: Pam Goucher
Secretary: Open

OKLAHOMA CITY LIBRARY COMMISSION DECISION

The Oklahoma Legislature voted 10 -7 to have a committee (possibly made up only of parents) to decide whether homosexuality themed children's books should be moved to adults only section according to community standards as the only criteria.  The Oklahoma House of Representatives overwhelmingly agreed.  This decision would override professional selection and board approved policies.

MASL needs to remind members what professional standards we support and defend.

Gretchen will send information about scholarship issues.  Pam Goucher, Barb Hammond, Sylvia , and Sue Leiter are the contact people for scholarship information.

The meeting was adjourned

Respectfully submitted,
Margaret McNamee, Secretary