Connecticut Library Association

Executive Board Meeting

March 2, 2006

Connecticut Police AcademyMeriden

 

I.                    The meeting was called to order at 10:00 am.

 

II.                 Board Introductions: Members of the board introduced themselves.

 

III.               Public Comments/Notes from CLA Office: President A. Knapp read a Thank You note from UConn for CLA’s $1,000 to the 14th Annual Connecticut Children’s Book Fair in November.

 

IV.              Additions to Agenda/Action Items: see votes taken

 

V.                 Votes Taken: P. Ciparelli moved to accept the minutes of the February 2, 2006 CLA Executive Board Meeting.  D. Higginson seconded.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

VI.              President’s Report:  A. Knapp reported that she met with President Elect T. Geoffino, Treasurer J. Fisher, Barbara Bailey, and CLC Executive Director C. Bradley to discuss expanding CLC role to include contract administration for CLA. CLC would be responsible for advertising and interviewing CLA contractors and performing quarterly reviews.  C. Bradley noted that CLA’s Administrative Assistant and bookkeeper are already under CLC contract. B. Bray stated the need for the CLA Board to continue to have input regarding the hiring and performance of contractors.  Further discussion included the concern that committees and section would continue to discuss and determine specific needs before hiring and reviewing contractors/contracts, and that any change in personnel must be approved by the Board. 

 

The officers also discussed moving the CLA office from Willimantic to the CLC offices in Middletown.  A. Knapp spoke of the advantages of such a movie including the ability for CLC staff to fill in as needed with mailings, answering phones in the absence of CLA Administrative Assistant. She discussed how this move would create a greater presence for CLA by providing an office and a small conference room on the top floor, along side of CLC at 234 Court Street.  C. Bradley indicated the cost would be the charge of the additional square footage, approximately $2,000.00 yearly, plus the actual moving costs.  Presently CLA does not pay rent.

 

            M. Simpson questioned whether housing the 2 organizations together would 

Further blur the lines of division between CLA and CLC. C. Bradley will prepare                          a contract proposal for the next Board meeting. Members asked that a copy be distributed in advance for preview.

 

A.Knapp reminded the board that the vote on the Patriot Act would take place         today (3/2/06).

 

VII.     Treasurer’s Report:  J. Fisher distributed her report showing a checking balance of                                                

            $24,920.17 and investments totaling $116,204.93.

 

VIII.    Past President’s Report:  C. Bradley presented the 2006-2007 slate of CLA                                      

            Executive Officers as follows:  Barbara Bailey, VP/President Elect; Jan Fisher,                                                                                         

Treasurer; Jay Johnston ALA (full term),; Regional Representatives: Betsy Bray, Region 2; Siobhan   Grogan, Region 3;  Theresa Conley, Region 6 . The slate will be published in the April edition of CT Libraries.                       

 

IX.              Vice President’s Report: Katie Blint of the CT Convention Center in Hartford gave a tour of the facility to Tom Geoffino, Chris Bradley, and 2007 Conference co-chairs Cynde Leahy and Carol Ronald.  Tom indicated the group was pleased with the facility, its location, parking accommodations, and impressed with the  number of conference set up and layout options.

 

X.                 Conference 2006: B. Bray and A. Barney distributed a copy of the conference registration form and information packet that will be posted on-line for individual registration.  Post cards will be mailed to CLA members, Presidents of Boards of Trustees, Presidents of Friends Groups, public libraries, and academic libraries informing them that registration and conference information is on the CLA web site.

 

A. Knapp informed the Board that scheduled luncheon speaker Frederick Bush died suddenly last week.  A memorial service is scheduled March 29 in NYC.  MaryAnn Rupert and the committee are seeking a replacement speaker. She also discussed inviting SCSU students to work at the conference as volunteers in exchange for attending the conference seminars free of charge. It was suggested that this opportunity be made available to LTA students at Greater Hartford and Three Rivers as well.

 

            ADA:  M. Engels distributed flyers on the April 5 and July 15th workshop “Nothing About Me Without Me” Planning for Library Services to People with Disabilities.  This is sponsored by the CT State Library and CLA’s ADA committee.

 

  ALA:   J. Johnston read his report that included the APA’s (Allied Professional

  Association) adoption of the term “library worker” to define library employees;    

  the ALA-APA rewards exceptional Librarians and Library Workers who have

  advanced the cause of better salaries and status.  James Fish of Baltimore County

  Public Library was the recipient of this year’s award, with honorable mention 

  going to Eileen Muller of Boston Library Guild.  On April 4th the designation of 

  Library workers recognition is established at www.ala:apa.org.  It is on this site 

where public and staff can acknowledge their favorite library worker. A. Knapp read an email from ALA that stated the organization is directing ALA School Libraries Task Force and ALA Executive Director to write to all US legislators regarding the “vital importance” of including Instructional Staff Support Services with Instruction Expenditures in determining the percentage spent on “classroom instruction” of the 65-Percent Solution legislation.

 

CLC: C. Bradley reported that the CLC Board of Directors voted to have an Ex-Officio representative from CLA.  It was decided that the CLA VP/President Elect assume this role.

 

Awards: R. Harten reminded the Board that March 31st is the deadline for submissions and encouraged members to participate.

 

BEDS: M. Foyt distributed an announcement on this section’s seminar “Mining the Web for Business Information and Tools” with well-known information expert, Barbie Keiser.  The event will take place at the Russell Library, Thursday, April 6 from 1-4 pm.

 

Career Recruitment: S. Brooks clarified that because Career Recruitment is a task force, not a standing committee or section, they are not governed by by-laws, rather the President will assign them their charge.

 

CEMA: F. Nadeau announced the CEMA workshop “Copyright and Digital Material” with Carrie Russell Saturday, April 29th, 8 – 1 at Cheshire High School.

 

CSL: S. Brettschneider’s report included a listing of March and April training session for the Historic Hartford Courant; the proceeds ($5,319.41) from the Barnes and Noble promotion in December will be contributed to this project.  CSL received 22 eligible applications for Library Service and Technology grants.  They are presently being reviewed.

 

The Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge Award has been created by the CT State Library and the State Department of Education.  Its purpose is to honor an outstanding public library-school summer reading partnership for the summer of 2005.  The winner will be honored at a ceremony with Gov. Rell in April.

 

Workshop dates for the Spanish Language Outreach Program were distributed and include Friday, march 10th at New Haven Free Public Library and Thursday, march 30th at CT State Library vanBlock facility meeting room in Hartford.

 

S. Brettschneider encouraged Board members and staff to attend the ADA plan workshop described above (under ADA).

 

Editorial: B. Bailey informed the Board that Miranda Associates has gone back to the drawing board with the CLA logo.  She reminded the Board that deadline for CT Libraries April edition is March 10, 2006.

 

Friends: M. Engels reported the Annual Friends of CT Libraries Awards that recognizes outstanding local Friends organizations, groups and individuals is accepting applications.  Forms are in the Friends newsletter, FOCL. Deadline is April 14th.  Awards will be presented at the Friends Annual Meeting, June 3rd at the Hamden Public Library.  She reminded the Board that April is “Friends Month”.  Packets of information including the governor’s proclamation have been mailed to all library directors.

 

Intellectual Freedom:  A. Knapp reported for P. Chase.  CLA is co-sponsoring “Are We Safer in the Dark” a program to be held at the Hartford Public Library Monday, March 13, 2006 at 12:30 pm.  A panel of experts from around the country will discuss open government and secrecy and if the government is telling the public enough to enable us to keep our families safe.   The program is free, participants may bring a bag lunch.  This is part of “Sunshine Week” a national dialogue on open government and secrecy.

 

Legislative Committee: P. Ciparelli thanked S. Maryeski for her work on the Legislative Breakfast.  He read his report that stated Senator Mary Ann Handley expressed her willingness to introduce a bill for increased funding for CT Card;   Senators John Kissel, Andrea Stillman, and Representative Betsy Ritter have all introduced legislation to increase funding for CT Card and he encouraged each library to send a letter to its local legislator requesting support.

 

Membership: CLA office reported 954 current members.

 

Procedures: S. Brooks distributed copies of her report with suggested by-law changes.  She welcomes Board input. A copy of her report with details of all proposed changes are on file in the CLA office and available upon request. Additionally, CT Libraries will publish her report. Members will vote on the changes at the annual meeting in May.              

 

Publicity:  C. Bradley and Board members once again praised Betty Anne Reiter for her work on the Connecticard Marketing Campaign materials.

 

Technical Services: G. Hurley announced that she returned to work from maternity leave last week.

 

YA: D. Higginson and committee met with Ann Marie Naples and Katie Bunn, incoming YA co-chairs, to discuss “passing the torch.”

 

Meeting adjourned at 11:25 a.m.

 

Attendance: Alice Knapp, Chris Bradley, Jay Johnston, Mary Etter, Janet Woycik, Martha Simpson, Judy Rabin, Sandy Brooks, Katie Bunn, Ann Marie Naples, Dawn Higginson, Marie Spratlin Hasskarl, Frances Nadeau, Gerald Seagrave, Ramona Harten, Barbara Bailey, Michelle Foyt, Anita Barney, Betsy Bray, Mary Ann Rupert, Mary Engels, Gail Hurley, Sharon Brettschneider, Ted Wilmot, Peter Ciparelli, Tom Geoffino, Jan Fisher.

 

 

                                                               Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                               Pamela Najarian, Recording Secretary