Suffolk County Library Association

Minutes of the Executive Board Meeting

August 23, 2002

Location: SCLS Blue Room

Present:: B. Hoffman, L. Tesoriero, C. Farrugia, E. Cichanowicz, S. Holden, S. Atlas, F. Byrne, V. Antonucci, A. Lehner, R. McEneaney, P. Bornstein, J. Carhart, D. Jones, A. Richards, C. Gray, M. Firestone, J. Loughren, J. Olney, R. Dressler, E. Hayes.

R. Dressler called the meeting to order at 10:04 a.m. After a review of the minutes from the previous meeting, J. Carhart made a motion to accept them. A. Lehner seconded the motion. None were opposed.

TREASURER’S REPORT: J. Loughren reported that N.Y. State had been wavering on their decision whether or not to grant tax exempt status to the individual SCLA divisions. Their latest stance was to allow the divisions to use the SCLA “mother” certificate. Joe is requesting a letter from the State granting that permission, which division members could show to vendors. Joe reported $693 income for July and $2,348.26 in expenses. The Scholarship Fund had received $595. The current balance of all funds is $18,002.82, which includes $2,298.50 in the Scholarship Fund and $342.50 in the Intellectual Freedom Fund. J. Olney made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report. L. Tesoriero seconded it. None were opposed.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT: 

R. Dressler reported that 170 tickets had been sold to the L.I. Ducks game and that it had been a fun outing. 

F. Altemose sent e-mail letting everyone know that the SCLA t-shirts are ready. She asked for ideas on an efficient way to ship them to members who work in academic or special libraries, since they didn’t have the use of the daily SCLS van system. Someone suggested they be sent to these members’ local public library (in the “system bag”), and have people pick them up there. 

D. Bucher sent a report on the White Elephant Sale fundraiser. She had obtained permission to participate in the Oct. 26th Antiques & Collectibles Fair, with a rain date of Oct. 27th. A sample flyer was passed around for the board members to look at. She planned to have the flyers out by Sept. 6th. 

When asked if there was anything new to report on the Writers on the Vine fundraiser, Edana C. said that all that remained was to plan for a successful repeat of the event next year.

DIVISION REPORTS: 

DASL: S. Ketcham e-mailed her report. DASL’s next meeting will take place immediately following the Sept. 20th Legislative Breakfast at Sachem Public Library. Anyone interested in running for a DASL office needs to contact Sue as soon as possible. The webpage continues to be a work in progress. Details on both the Oct. and Dec. workshops continue to be solidified. Flyers for the Oct. workshop will go out soon. CEU credits will be available for both.

RASD: J. Carhart reported that RASD had not met since the last SCLA Board meeting. RASD’s tax exempt application was rejected by the State Department of Taxation and Finance. The L.I. Reads 2003 Committee met at the Nassau Library System. The committee hopes to select the book for 2003 at their next meeting, on August 27th. RASD has established a Nominating Committee, and they are working on a slate of candidates.

CATS: No report.

SSSD: F. Byrne reported that their Executive Board met on August 13th. They continue to work on ways to attract new members to the division. On Tuesday, Oct. 1st at Sachem, Edana Cichanowicz will present a program aimed at support staff entitled “Searching the Internet More Effectively.” Fran B. thanked Fran Altemose and the Sachem staff for allowing the division to hold the program there. Other programs being considered are ones on safety, cleaning and stain removal, and preparation for civil service exams. In regards to the new Continuing Education award, Fran said the division would like the SCLA Board to consider lowering the 5 year continuous service requirement. F. Byrne also mentioned that the SSSD Board is examining the terms of office for its officers. Their Board is unanimous in their opinion that the extra “S” in the name of their division is unnecessary, and that “Support Staff Division” is sufficient. These last two points would require further revision of the division’s Bylaws.

YASD: D. Jones reported that they had not met since the last SCLA Board meeting. Dave announced that the division’s Annual Luncheon would be held Sept. 19th at the N.Y. Culinary Institute. Reservations can be made through Jennifer Quirk at Patchogue-Medford . The cost is $12.50 for YASD members and $15.12 for non-members. Dave reported on the Battle of the Books contest. There were 28 teams this year. The Northern Suffolk Regional finalists were Harborfields Public Library, South Huntington Public Library and Half Hollow Hills Community Library. Half Hollow Hills was the Northern Suffolk Champion. The Southern Suffolk Regional Champion was Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library, with Longwood Public Library in second place. The Half Hollow Hills team won the final, 2002 Suffolk County Championship. South Huntington won a sportsmanship award and the Emma S. Clark team won an award for team spirit. D. Jones reported that their Board was losing their Secretary, Alison McDermott, to a School Media job. 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

ARCHIVES: No report.

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS: M. Firestone pointed out that Members at Large did not have term limits, and thought perhaps they should be limited to two, 2-year terms. 

CONTINUING EDUCATION: No report.

ELSA: G. Pepa e-mailed her report, which said committee members were in the process of evaluating the nominations and would meet on Sept. 12th at Smithtown Library to make their final choice. All nominees, and those who nominated them, had been notified by mail.

FALL DINNER: No report.

INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM: No report.

LDA AWARD: No report.

LEGISLATIVE: L. Tesoriero reported that LILRC had sent out flyers publicizing the Legislative Breakfasts. A committee meeting is planned for Oct. 3rd for the purpose of evaluating both the Nassau and Suffolk breakfasts. 

LISTSERV: No report.

L.I. LIBRARY CONFERENCE: R. Dressler said that the L.I. Library Conference Treasurer, Regina Mascia, planned to attend the next SCLA Board meeting and present the Board with a check for proceeds. Rona mentioned that the committee still needed members to work on next year’s conference. (B. Hoffman volunteered.) 

LONG-RANGE PLANNING: S. Holden reported that the committee would visit local library schools’ orientation programs. Queens College was having an evening meeting Aug. 29th, and Palmer planned a daytime meeting Sept. 6th. Sue asked for volunteers to attend these sessions and talk to the students about librarianship and SCLA. Stephen Ingram is trying to arrange future visits to Pratt and St. John’s University.

MEMBERSHIP: R. McEneaney reported that we had 603 members for 2002. Renewal flyers should go out to members in October and reflect the new dues structure. 

NEWSLETTER: B. Hoffman reported that the newsletter was almost ready. She had a proof copy with her, and she invited those present to check it before they left the meeting. The newsletter will go out in early September. The deadline for the Dec./Jan./Feb. issue is Nov. 1st. Barbara added that the current issue would feature the first “Director’s Corner.” 

NOMINATING: No report.

PROFESSIONAL CONCERNS: No report.

PUBLIC AWARENESS/PUBLICITY: No report.

SCHOLARSHIP: C. Farrugia reported that three people had applied so far for the SSSD award. A discussion of the 5 years continuous service stipulation took place. It was suggested that the Board re-evaluate that stipulation after it saw how this first year went. Christine said the committee would meet Sept. 12th to select the scholarship winner(s). She said they had received $215 more for the Fund, and $25 in memory of Elaine Etkin.

STATISTICAL SURVEY: S. Atlas reported that sending out the surveys earlier had worked well. All but four of the libraries in Suffolk responded. (Center Moriches, Comsewogue, John Jermain and Quogue had not). Some libraries who had not responded in earlier years, sent them in this year (Baiting Hollow, Shelter Island, Fisher’s Island and Hauppauge). Sandra thanked Angie Lehner for her help. Once the N.Y. State report information has been compiled, the survey results will be ready to be printed. Suggestions were made to publicize the survey in the SCLA newsletter, and to sell them at the Annual Dinner.

SUFFOLK COUNTY JAILS LIBRARY SERVICE: No report. 

WEB PAGE: No report.

LIAISON REPORTS:

CLASC: No report.

BOCES: No report

LILRC: V. Antonucci reported that Archives Week would feature speakers from the L.I. Museum of Art, History and Carriages, and the producer of the News 12 show on L.I. lighthouses. Virginia also mentioned the LILRC Annual meeting on Nov. 21st and a program on Nov. 1st entitled “e-Government: Trends & Issues,” to be held at SUNY Farmingdale. She mentioned that she is on the committee for the Town of Brookhaven’s 350th anniversary celebration, and pointed out that Huntington Town would be celebrating an anniversary in 2003.

LVA SUFFOLK: Issues of the LVA newsletter were handed out.

NCLA: L. Tesoriero said the next NCLA meeting would be Friday, Sept. 13th.

PLDA: No report.

SCLS: No report.

SLA: J. Olney reported that he is the elected Vice President/President Elect of SLA He said that the association was working on plans for a “Pub Trivia Night” in November, and he hoped that he could publicize it through SCLA.

OLD BUSINESS: There was a short discussion of the timing of SCLA membership renewals.

NEW BUSINESS: None.

L. Tesoriero made a motion to adjourn. J. Olney seconded it. The meeting was adjourned at 11:20 a.m.