CONNECTICUT LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

Executive Board Meeting

September 4, 2008 - Wallingford Public Library

 

 

I.                   Call to Order: President Kathy Leeds called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.

 

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

 

III.             Public Comments/Notes from CLA Office: Pam Najarian informed the Board that listings of individuals interested in working on/with specific committees and sections are available to all chairs.  Kathy Leeds encouraged Board members to contact her with any items they would like included in next month’s agenda.

 

IV.             Additions to the Agenda/Action Items:

 

a.       CCALD (Connecticut Coalition of Academic Library Directors) Randi Ashton Pritting proposed inviting a member of CCALD to serve as a non-voting liaison on the CLA Board.  See Votes Taken.

 

b.      Lobbyist Contract: Carl Antonucci proposed the renewal of Atty. Robert Shea’s contract as CLA lobbyist. CLA has $12,000 budgeted for this expense, the contract is for $9,000. See Votes Taken.

 

c.       Grants Committee Report Approval:  Chris Bradley presented the grant applications submitted to her committee. Approved requests include:

 

1.      Five hundred dollars ($500) to UConn Children’s Book Festival

See Votes Taken.

2.      Two hundred dollars ($200) for co-sponsorship of First

               Amendment Rock Off.  See Votes Taken.

3.      One thousand dollars ($1,000) to Emerging Leaders Scholarship    awarded to Jaime Hammond ($2,000 is budgeted for 2

scholarships this year). See Votes Taken.

4.      Connecticut Human Rights Commission: regarding the request for support of the Commission’s 60th anniversary celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the grants committee agreed to support the effort with publicity in the CLA newsletter and on the website, but that no financial donation would be made.

 

d.      CapWiz: Jay Johnston reported back to the Board regarding concerns expressed at last month’s meeting of opt-out options with this electronic advocacy program. He informed the Board that subscribers can choose to be removed at any time.

 

e.       The proposal (non-financial portion) to co-sponsor and support the events of the CT Chapter of the ACLU during Banned Books Week were again presented for approval. See Votes Taken.

 

V.                Votes Taken: Mary Etter moved to accept the Minutes of August 7, 2008. Two typographical corrections were made: under CLASS, MLA should

                  read MLS; under Editorial,  Treasurer’s column should read Treasures.

      Siobhan Grogan seconded.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

      Randi Ashton-Pritting moved to have a representative from CCALD on the Board as a non-voting member. Jay Johnston seconded.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

      Carl Antonucci moved to renew Atty. Robert Shea’s lobbyist contract for 2008-2009.  Peter Ciparelli seconded.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

      Chris Bradley moved to contribute $500 to the Children’s Book Festival.  Janet Woycik seconded.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

      Peter Chase moved to donate $200 to co-sponsor the band for the First Amendment Rock Off event during Banned Books Week. Jan Vaill Day seconded.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

      Peter Chase moved that CLA, in addition to the financial donation of $200,  support and sponsor the events and activities of Banned Books Week including a 4th Congressional Debate on Civil Liberties, an author presentation at RJ Julia’s on the banning of comic books during the 1950s and 60s. Peter Ciparelli seconded.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

      Kathy Leeds moved to award Jaime Hammond a $1,000 Scholarship to participate in the ALA’s Emerging Leaders Program.  Mary Etter seconded.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

      Peter Ciparelli moved to accept the resignation of Children’s co-chair, Gail Zeiba (see President’s Report) effective October 1, 2008. Peter Chase seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 

 

VI. President’s Report: Kathy Leeds read with regret a letter of resignation from Children’s Chair Gail Zeiba, who is moving to England. Beth Crowley of Groton Public Library will replace Gail serving as co-chair with Caitlin Augusta effective October 1, 2008. Kathy read a letter from Heritage Preservation that informs libraries, museums, cultural institutions, etc. that a guide is available to assist with obtaining funding to recover from major disaster. Information is available on its website.

 

 

         VII.    Treasurer’s Report: Alison Wang distributed the July-August report which

        includes income and expenses from Conference 08.  She pointed out     

        that presently dues are only at 1/3 the amount budgeted.  The need to  

        increase CLA membership was discussed.

 

VIII.       Past President’s Report: no report.

 

IX.             VP/President Elect: Randi Ashton Pritting reported that she and Kathy Leeds met with Gayle Bogel and David Blimes of CASL August 22 to discuss a joint annual conference with CLA in 2010.

 

X.                Committee/Section/Roundtable Reports:

 

CASL: Gayle Bogel reported that CASL is enthusiastic about pursuing a joint conference with CLA.  Their 2008 annual conference is scheduled  November 10th at the Raddison Hotel in Cromwell with a pre-conference the night before.

 

ACLB: Stan Siegel distributed a flyer mailed to all library directors on the upcoming leadership conference scheduled 10/31.

 

Membership: co-chair Stan Siegel reported that since last month an additional 75 individuals have joined or renewed their dues with CLA. He reiterated the need to increase membership to achieve the budgetary goals set forth. His committee will spearhead a membership drive that will include promoting membership with testimonials in the newsletter beginning in Oct.

 

Conference 2009: Alice Knapp and Janet Woycik presented an update on plans for the conference, including the theme, “Menu for Success.” They said the conference programs will be set up in tracks with the goal of avoiding dual efforts.  Tracks will include:  Youth, Technology, Management, Public Services.  Committee and section chairs were invited to stay after the meeting for information and documents pertaining to program planning.  A conference steering committee will meet Thursday, September 11.

 

LTA: Karen DeLoatch reported that Capital Community College presently has 2 LTA programs in session.

 

Friends: Carl Nawrocki reported that Friend’s has launched its annual membership campaign and distributed application forms to members present.

 

YA: Christine Tkaczyk reported that her committee has confirmed plans for two conference programs: one with author Susan Beth Pfeffer another on planning  budget-friendly teen programs.

 

College & University:  John Leonetti distributed a copy of the program announcement for “Podcasts and Videos…” scheduled October 24, 2008.

 

Editorial: Kathy Leeds reported on behalf of David Kapp.  CLA is under contract with a graphic designer to update the look of Connecticut Libraries. The new look may debut in the (50th anniversary) November edition of the publication.  She reported ALA has asked for permission to mount two recent articles from CL on their website - the renovated Rowayton Library and an article about the historic Dunham Hall Library that was part of the American Thread Mills in Willimantic.  David Kapp is looking for people willing to appear in the membership testimonial ads.

 

Pam Najarian reported that Angie’s Printing and Mailing, the company that distributes the newsletter, is going out of business effective October 1st.  She will be talking with Associated Resources, the printer of the newsletter, for recommendations of another mail house.

 

NELA: Mary Etter reported that the newsletter featured 3 articles on individuals who attended NELLS.  She reminded the Board of the NELA Conference October 19-21 in Manchester, NH.  She is looking for contributions of items to include in a basket representative of Connecticut for the conference.

 

Region 5: Maribeth Breen announced the Westbrook Public Library is moving into their renovated facility and will be open to the public Sept. 16;

Guilford Free Library will open Sept. 5 with a grand opening celebration Oct. 25; Russell Library is hosting a Film Noir series this fall and the Henry

Carter Hull Library is hosting “From Behind the Lens,” a series of professional photographs.

 

Region 4: Kathy Leeds reported for Cynde Lahey on the Danbury Public Library and Western CT State University partnership of “One Book, One Community.”  The book will be The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri.  Cyrenius H. Booth Library in Newtown reported on the success of its summer book sale that earned over $100,000. A fall program will feature a series of programs for children with special needs and their parents. Westport Public announced the Rabbit Hill Festival of Literature October 23-25, and the Wilton Library Association is holding their 9th Annual Ladies’ Soiree fundraiser on Sept. 21.

 

Region 3: Siobhan Grogan announced Hispanic Heritage Week at Cragin Memorial Library, featuring Peruvian cooking demonstrations and a concert.

Cragin Memorial will have a 3-week, 30 panel display with cartoons, titles, etc. for Banned Books Week. The ECSU library, Ledyard Public and the Public Library of New London were all recipients of “Connecting to Collections” grants. 

 

Region 6: Theresa Conley reported on the book launch at Lyme Public Library, Blood Alone, named Book Page’s Mystery of the Month. She reported that the Jonathan Trumbull Library in Lebanon had a successful Read, Rock & Rhyme program for children birth to 2 and their caregivers.

 

Region 1: Jay Johnston reported for Hal Bright on the grand opening of the new marine aquarium at the Farmington Library.

 

CLASS: John Cayer distributed an information sheet outlining the Class Annual Conference program.  There was brief discussion about possibly producing a brochure to encourage membership in CLASS.

 

Public Libraries: Mary Engels distributed an information sheet to solicit nominations for the Excellence in Public Library Service Award.  Deadline for nominations is Oct. 31.

 

Intellectual Freedom: Peter Chase clarified the announcement on listserv regarding the blocking of You Tube which pertains to schools, only.

IF is considering a conference program on religion and libraries. It would include existing case laws as well as covering ecumenical, regional, political and legal issues. The board was in favor of this idea. He encouraged participation in Banned Books week, and in the events sponsored by ACLU and CLA. Peter noted that he was at the Manhattan Court of Appeals as an observer in the case of the Mystery New York John Doe.

 

Children’s: Gail Zeiba announced 40 registered participants for the Children’s Joint Roundtable September 17.

 

Career Recruitment/Mentoring: Debbie Herman reported on the committee’s planning retreat and member recruitment.  The committee is looking at various  events including a “speed mentoring” event at Buley Library at SCSU.

 

CSL: Sharon Brettschneider distributed her report highlighting Mother Goose on the Loose research-based program for babies and toddlers; WebJunction’s new look and new on-line course catalog; the State data coordinator’s position has been filled; and an episode of History Detectives was filmed recently at the State Library.

 

CLC: Chris Bradley announced that CLC will offer downloadables through Overdrive.  They are looking for funding from DPUC.  CLC’s Management Conference is scheduled September 16 at the New Haven Lawn Club; on September 30 and October 1, CLC will kickoff the OCLC training with “Google Advanced Tool.”

 

XI.             Old Business: none.

 

XII.          New Business: none

 

XIII.       Adjournment:  Meeting adjourned at 12 noon.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Pamela Najarian

Recording Secretary

 

 

Attendees: Siobhan Grogan, Mary Etter, BettyAnne Reiter, Gail Zeiba, Mary Engels, Peter Chase, Chris Bradley, Jacqueline Toce, Karen DeLoatch, Sharon Brettschneider, Jaime Hammond, Maura Deedy, Gerald Seagrave, Linda Avellar, Theresa Conley, Gayle Bogel, Stan Siegel, Christine Tkaczyk, Debbie Herman, Randi Ashton Pritting, Maribeth Breen, Peter Ciparelli, Jan Day, Carl Nawrocki, Caitlin Augusta, Alice Knapp, Janet Woycik, John Leonetti, Carl Antonucci, Alison Wang, Kathy Leeds, Sandy Brooks, Jay Johnston, John Cayer.