Minutes November 5th, 2009

WESTCHESTER LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting
November 5, 2009
White Plains Public Library 
 

Present: Diane Batemarco, Aurora Cruz, Ann-Marie Cutul, Karyn DeLuca,
Ed Falcone, Maxine Grandison, Harriet Huang, John Monahan, Cathy Paulsen, Srivalli Rao, Carolyn Reznick, Sharon Rothman, and Susan Thaler

Excused: Tim Baird, Zahra M. Baird, Francene Costello, Kate Colquitt, Michelle Halpern, Jodie Hopkins, James Leftwich, and  Opal B. Lindsay

The meeting came to order 10:15. Motion (Thaler/Reznick) to accept the Minutes from September 10, 2009, passed. Cutul inquired whether members read the Minutes when they are posted, and Rothman urged Board members to read the Minutes and forward any corrections and changes to Cutul before the meeting.

President’s Report:
·    Rothman suggested to the Board that a committee be formed to investigate special collections in libraries. Rao pointed out that the WLA Directory has a section for Special Libraries and also lists persons in charge of special collections in public and academic libraries. She suggested Rothman ask Directory Co-Chair Pamela Thornton to create an alphabetic listing or keyword index with this information in the 2010 Directory.

Treasurer’s Report:
·    Falcone reported that as of October 30, 2009, WLA had $9,097.98 in the Checking Account and $30,006.83 in the Savings Account with a combined total of $39, 104.81.

Membership Report:
·    Rao reported that the change of mailing address for the membership form will be posted this Monday, November 9. She is now working at the Dobbs Ferry Campus of Mercy College.
·    She has received a request to talk about WLA membership from the Palmer School of Library and Information Science.

Reference Committee:
·    Paulsen reported that she attended an excellent workshop on Advocacy at the Mount Kisco Library. She recommended the speaker Pat Wagner for the Annual Conference.
·    Paulsen also announced that she and Zahra M. Baird will arrange for a book/film event for National Library week in April at Jacob Burns instead of the annual Bowling Event.

College Section:
·    Batemarco reported that she will get together with Mannino and Ransom to plan two workshops for the Annual Conference.
·    Batemarco will pass on any pertinent WLA information to Dorothy Davidson who will forward it the WALDO Board. Batemarco will also join the WALDO listserv.

Youth Services Section:
·    Rothman has received information that Marybeth Kendrick, Co-Chair of the Youth Services Committee, has resigned.

Support Staff Section:
·    Grandison reported that she has a chiropractor in mind for a health workshop at the Annual Conference, Dr. David La Rocco. She asked the Board if he could have a vendor’s table, but the consensus was no. Reznick will investigate any other potential legal issues.

Legislation Committee:
·    President Rothman pointed out that the list of Westchester legislators has changed since Election Day.

Professional Development Committee:
·    Rothman announced that Zielinski has resigned from the Chair position. Melissa Iamonico from the Chappaqua Public Library will take her place.

February Author Event:
·    DeLuca reported that Marilyn Johnson will speak February 3, 2010, at the White Plains Public Library. Johnson’s new book is This Book is Overdue: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All. Program will be between 7 and 9 p.m., and refreshments will be served. The Pleasantville Village Bookstore will be at hand selling copies of Johnson’s book.

March Social Event:
·    WLA’s annual Social Event will take place March 4, 2010, at O’Malley’s Bar and Restaurant. There will be a $15 charge for WLA members and $25 for non-members.
·    Reznick will contact James Mahoney at  Nyack Public Library about the recipient of the Trudell Scholarship.

Annual Conference:
Theme:
·    Board members discussed various conference themes suggested by Zahra M. Baird. Most members preferred a theme emphasizing the words evolve, enrich and empower. Thaler will discuss the theme further with the Conference Committee for a final decision.

Speakers:
Rothman reported on behalf of Zahra M. Baird who was excused.

Confirmed speakers:
·    Jack Martin, Assistant Director for Young Adult Programs at the New York Public Library who can speak about the topic “By Teens, for Teens: out of the Box Programming.”
·    Carrie Mason-Draffen, can speak on the topic “151 Quick Ideas to Deal with Difficult People.”

Contacted Speakers:
·    Adriana Trigiani, a well known and popular author, either as a Luncheon speaker or teen session speaker with a book signing.

·    Chrissie Morrison, Teen Librarian at East Greenbush Public Library, can speak about how to mobilize teens at your library working for and with you. 

Rothman reported that Zahra M. Baird also suggested a program on the “Multiplatform Novel from Print to Web to Social Network” or a workshop with the title “Can you hear me now?” This would explore the untapped potential of sound bytes in the library world.

Discussion followed about section interest versus across the board appeal of programming. The current membership format was also called into question where members indicate section interest. It was concluded that it was too late to change the membership form this year, and it was decided to postpone any revision till next year.

Institutional or Organizational memberships:
Board members discussed whether to add this new membership category. Monahan and Cruz volunteered to form a committee to investigate this further and report back to the Board.

The meeting was adjourned (Monahan/ Paulsen) at 12 Noon.

                        Respectfully submitted by Ann-Marie Cutul

Upcoming Meeting:
Tuesday, December 1, 2009, at the White Plains Public Library 10 A.M – 12 Noon