Suffolk County Library Association

Minutes of the Executive Board Meeting

February 15, 2002

Location:  SCLS Blue Room

Present:  M. Firestone, S. Atlas, E. Cichanowicz, B. Hoffman, K. McCoy, D. Miller, L. Tesoriero, S. Holden, S. Ketcham, R. McEneaney, D. Bucher, F. Byrne, F. Altemose, K. Baudouin, C. Guzzo, M. Fusco, S. Johnson, K. Minschke, P. Bornstein, S. Ingram, G. Pepa, J. Carhart, D. Jones, V. Antonucci, J. Clemens, J. Loughren, J. Olney, R. Dressler, E. Hayes.

J. Clemens called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.  After review and corrections, D. Bucher made a motion to accept the minutes of the previous meeting.  R. McEneaney seconded.  None were opposed.

TREASURER’S REPORT: J. Loughren reported a total fund balance of $16,843.16, $14,963.16 of which is in the general fund. The Scholarship Fund contains $1,583.60 and the Intellectual Freedom Fund contains $296.50.  S. Ketcham made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report.  J. Carhart seconded.  None were opposed.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT: 

-R. Dressler handed out flyers for the Talent Showcase sponsored by the NCLA on March 6^th. 

-Rona said that profit realized from the sale of L.I. Ducks tickets this summer would go to the SCLA Scholarship Fund. 

-She asked for an update on the winery benefit.  E. Cichanowicz reported that she had been in touch with M. Davidson of Palmer Vineyards about reserving a block of 50 “Voices on the Vines” tickets for $5 each.  She hoped to have a finalized list of featured authors by mid-March, and would submit an article for the SCLA newsletter.  After some discussion, it was agreed to charge SCLA members $10 for the tickets, and non-members would pay $15. 

-Rona announced that the date for the Walk-a-thon had been changed to April 13^th, with a rain date of April 20^th.  Angela Richards needs volunteers for registration the morning of the walk.

-Rona reported she had visited the NCLA.  She asked that if anyone had any experience with Intergenerational programs, to please contact Muriel Turk at Great Neck.

-Rona noted that there are links to SCLA off the SCLS  and SuffolkWeb web pages.  From SCLS, you must click on “For Library Staff” before you see the link.  From SuffolkWeb, you must click on “Websites by Subject” then “Library Associations” to find the SCLA link.

-Art Friedman will be doing another general legislative workshop at Elmont Public Library on March 6^th at 10 am.

-Rona reported that SCLA now has a Certificate of Liability Insurance. Coverage is general liability for each occurrence of $1,000,000 and excess liability for each occurrence of $5,000,000.  This coverage is at no cost to SCLA and it covers all divisions and committees.

-Rona noted that Past President James Olney had sent a gracious thank you note for his end-of-year gift.

-Rona thanked Alan Schelp for continuing to help with Library Legislation Day, and noted that people could register for the trip right on Sachem’s web page.

DIVISION REPORTS:

DASL:  S. Ketcham reported that the program “Full Text Journals:  Where are They Hiding?” would be held March 8^th at SUNY-Farmingdale.   This program is sponsored by DASL and the LILRC Serials Committee.  Two future workshop ideas being worked on are: Information literacy/accreditation, and “Sept. 11^th Changed Our World, has it changed out Libraries?”  Kevin McCoy has handed over responsibility for the DASL web page to two Katherine Gibbs students.  It will be updated soon.  The DASL Board voted to  donate $50 toward the cost of the Continuing Education newsletter workshop.

RASD:  J. Carhart reported that their board would meet March 5^th.  She said they worked on confirmation letter design and made tentative plans for their annual dinner in June. RASD will no longer be sending out division membership cards. The board decided to contribute $40 towards the Continuing Education program on newsletters.  They continue to work on their LILC program.  C.A.R.E. is in the final stages of producing  the career information bookmarks mentioned at the last meeting, and working on their “school to career” program for the May conference.  Health Care Concerns members are working on the topic of Autism.  L.I. History continues to work on the April 11^th Cradle of Aviation trip, and their Lighthouse program for the LILC. The Media committee is updating their list of which libraries lend media material.

 CATS:  No report.

SSSD:  F. Byrne reported that their Executive Board had met on Feb. 13^th. P. Sinram is coordinating all division activities for the LILC.  Vice President Marie Mueller plans to volunteer on the ELSA Committee this year.  The division looks forward to working with the Scholarship Committee on the new SCLA Continuing Education Award for Library Support Staff.  The “Career Opportunities in Public libraries for Support Staff” brochure that they have been asked to prepare will be ready in time for the May 4^th Career Day at Queens College.  The second Roundtable Discussion Program will be held on Wed., April 24^th at 9 a.m. at Longwood.  The division’s first annual meeting will be Thursday, June 6^th at a dinner theater in Port Jefferson.  G. Dickerman is working on networking as Membership Chair.  M. Mueller has designed a recruitment poster that will be mailed, along with a letter of introduction, to all library directors. J. Loughren is working on their new website.

YASD:  D. Jones reported that the Executive Board voted to contribute $50 to the Continuing Education Committee’s program on newsletters.  A joint meeting was held with NCLA recently to share summer reading club success stories.  YASD is preparing for the L.I. library Conference and the BEST award.  Flyers will go out soon, and everyone is encouraged to nominate volunteer teens.  A $250 stipend will accompany the BEST award. 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

ARCHIVES:  No report.

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS:  R. Dressler congratulated Mike Firestone on his recent appointment as Director of the Hampton Library in Bridgehampton.

CONTINUING EDUCATION:  K Baudouin reported that the newsletter seminar on Feb. 27th, with nearly 60 people registered, was considered closed. The committee is excited to present Vittoria Semproni as the speaker.  So far, the committee had received $140 - $180 in pledges from other divisions to help pay the speaker’s fee.   They hoped to hand out SCLA membership brochures that day. “Collaborative Digital Reference Service”, presented by an OCLC representative,  will be their program at the LILC.  The committee welcomes ideas for local trips to plan for the autumn.

ELSA:  G. Pepa reported.  ELSA has been added as a separate committee on the SCLA web page.  Gail is in the process of building the committee.  She is working on the 2002 brochure.  The amount of a $200 savings bond would be advertised in the brochure.  Gail made a motion to officially open the ability to nominate library employees for the ELSA to patrons as well as colleagues, as had been discussed at previous meetings.  F. Altemose seconded the motion.  None were opposed.  R. Dressler said she would notify PLDA about patrons being involved in the ELSA nominations.

FALL DINNER:  C. Guzzo reported that she had made up a form for polling SCLA members on their choice for the  location of the Annual Dinner.  She said the committee would be investigating the Irish Coffee Pub, as well as the Timberpoint Country Club as potential sites.

INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM:  K.McCoy reported. He is working on the DASL 9/11 workshop.  He plans on using the SCLA listserv to share information on the Patriot Act , which is changing the laws regarding law enforcement’s surveillance and investigative powers.

LDA AWARD:  P. Bornstein reported that A. Lehner had created this year’s brochure, and that NCLA’s LDA chairperson Lisa Paulo is having it printed.  The brochures should go out in early March to SCLA members, NCLA members, and to a CLASC  liaison.

LEGISLATIVE:  L. Tesoriero reported that 18 people had registered for the “Legislation 101”program on Feb. 20^th at Commack Public Library. The presentation by J. Nichols and A. Friedman would be taped and shown on the March 19^th bus trip to Albany. So far, 36 people had signed up for the Legislative bus trip to Albany.  She outlined various issues that would be on  SCLA’s agenda when they spoke with legislators that day. F. Altemose also submitted a report stating that two buses had been booked for the trip.  The Suffolk bus is a 56-passsenger bus and will cost $850.   A $200 deposit is due within two weeks.

LISTSERV:  K. McCoy  reported that there are 666 subscribers to the listserv, some of whom are not SCLA members.  J. Olney noted that it is not a moderated listserv, but asked about the posting of guidelines for its use.  Kevin asked that R. Dressler, as President, do that.

L.I. LIBRARY CONFERENCE:  R. Dressler reported that the committee had met at the Crest Hollow Country Club and begun to finalize plans.  There were approximately 38 exhibitors signed up.  She said registration packets would be sent out soon.  Rona pointed out that SCLA does make money on the conference, and encouraged everyone to register.

LONG-RANGE PLANNING:  S. Holden reported on the committee’s successful visits to Queens College on Jan. 24^th and the Palmer School on the 25^th.  She said the MLS students at both schools responded very well and asked many questions.  Volunteers are needed for attending Career Day on May 4th at Queens College.  The committee might need some money for the cost of printing brochures. The committee hopes to connect with MLS students at St. John’s and Pratt in the near future.  There was a short discussion of the level of involvement of MLS students once they become SCLA members.

MEMBERSHIP:  R. McEneaney reported that we have 654 members, including 42 “honorary” members (legislators, etc.).  She pointed out that 20-25% of SCLA members do not wish to be on the listserv.  When division heads ask for the e-mail addresses of their division members, they do not get a complete list of division members.  In response to a question from R. Dressler, Regina said postage could be saved if division heads ask her for lists of only those members who have not provided e-mail addresses (the rest can be reached via e-mail).

NEWSLETTER:  B. Hoffman reported, noting that Feb. 15th was the deadline for the upcoming March/April/May issue.  This issue will have a feature on Sister Joan and the Suffolk County Jail Library Project. She said each of the quarterly issues would feature: a President’s message, messages from division heads, information on Membership and on Talking Books Plus.  She outlined special features she was planning for future issues.  Barbara will welcome artwork and photographs.  She noted that photo releases are necessary, especially for children. 

NOMINATING:  No report.

PROFESSIONAL CONCERNS:  K. Minschke reported that the committee’s first meeting of the year would take place on March 1^st. 

PUBLIC AWARENESS/PUBLICITY:  (S. Ingram had contributed to the discussion during the Long Range Planning Committee’s report.)

SCHOLARSHIP:  R. Dressler reported that there had been one inquiry about the scholarship.  It will be publicized on the listserv.  C. Farrugia later e-mailed a report saying that the flyer about the Scholarship had been distributed to all Suffolk public libraries and to the three local library schools: Queens College, St. John’s and C.W. Post.  It is also available on the SCLA website.  Christine is working on the flyer for the new Continuing Education award.

STATISTICAL SURVEY: S. Atlas reported that Angie Lehner and Mickey Cantwell will help once again with the survey.  Cathy Ball has also volunteered to help.  The committee is deciding if there are any questions that should be added this year, and they welcome input from members.  They plan to send the survey to library directors in May.

SUFFOLK COUNTY JAILS LIBRARY SERVICE:  M. Fusco explained the program for the benefit of new board members.

WEB PAGE:  R. Dressler said there had been some discussion of posting an events calendar as a link from the SCLA website, and that she would speak to D. Zubiller about it,  She invited board members to send information on upcoming programs directly to Danielle Zubiller.  Rona hoped Danielle might be able to put the ELSA and both scholarship applications on the website as well.

LIAISON REPORTS:

CLASC:  No report.

BOCES: D. Miller reported that a web page generated by the Model Schools Conference was in the works.

LILRC:  V. Antonucci did a rundown of upcoming LILRC programs and handed out a list of them, reprinted from the March/April issue of the LILRC newsletter.  She mentioned “Pizza and Computer Management,” Monday, Feb. 25^th at the Northport Public Library, which would feature SCLA board members J. Olney and S. Ingram.  She also talked about Archives Week, to be held in October in Stony Brook.  The theme will be “Telling Our Stories” (oral history).

LVA SUFFOLK:  No report.

NCLA:  L. Tesoriero reported that the next NCLA meeting would be March 8^th.  They, too, will be doing a L.I. Ducks outing this year.  They also do a Statistical Survey, which is given to all members.  Their Annual Dinner has been set for Dec. 3^rd.

PLDA:  D. Engelhardt faxed a report:  Their Board met on Feb. 13^th.  They unanimously approved a $250 donation to the “L.I. Reads” program to be accompanied by a letter pledging PLDA’s willingness to get more involved in the program in future years.  PLDA’s Legislation Committee Chair, Kevin Verbesey, will be recommended by the PLDA Executive Board for appointment to LILRC’s Legislative Committee.  Next Board meeting is April 10^th.

SCLS:   E. Cichanowicz reported for J. Nichols.  Jerry thanked everyone who had worked on the recent Inter-Library Loan survey.  He reported on recommendations of the SCLS Resource Sharing Advisory Committee.  Three issues have emerged:  1.)  The ability of patrons to return any library material to any SCLS library is important as a significant convenience to the patron 2.)  the committee recommends that the Resource Sharing Code be amended to authorize the interlibrary loan of all library materials 3.) libraries should be free to offer any of their resources to members of other libraries when practical, in the interest of strengthening public library service county-wide.  Any changes in the code would have to be approved by two-thirds of member libraries.

SLA:  No report.

OLD BUSINESS:  R. Dressler said that copies of the SCLA handbook  should be ready by the middle or end of Spring, and will be given to all Board members.  It might be posted on the SCLA website.

J. Clemens asked for a motion to adjourn.  James Olney made a motion to adjourn at 11:30 a.m. Joe Loughren seconded it.