Executive Board Meeting: May 19, 2022

4:00-6:00pm, Virtual on Zoom

In attendance:
​Michael Caligiuri
Liz Cammilleri
Maria D’Orsi
Deeth Ellis
Barb Fecteau
Michelle Fontaine
Debbie Froggatt
Michael Caligiuri
Liz Cammilleri

Maria D’Orsi
Deeth Ellis
Barb Fecteau
Michelle Fontaine
Debbie Froggatt
Wendy Garland
Morgan Keohane
Emma Kwon
Laura Luker

Ingrid Mayyasi
Donna Phillips
Elena Schuck
Ella Stocker
Luke Steere
Reba Tierney
Jen Varney
Alix Woznick
Trent Bordok (starts July 1st)

1. Welcome, check in, call to order, approve minutes of April meeting --- Jen: Call to order 4:05pm, motion Maria, second Barb, motion carried April minutes are approved.
​2. Housekeeping items --- Jen

• Send web updates to webmaster@maschoolibraries.org and work to keep your own web pages fresh and updated (no but really). Remaining meetings are on the dashboard.
• Please add regional events to the calendar on the MSLA website. (Important for when we try to schedule events!) Please consider hosting in-person regional meetings if at all possible.

3. Updates

• Treasurer --- Michelle Fontaine: Status quo, a couple of Paradis Fund donations came in, $100,579.59 total net worth
• MLS liaison update --- Christi Farrar emailed updates to Jen: https://www.healthyyouthact.org/
  1. MLS has an updated Intellectual Freedom guide to help support libraries that may be facing challenges: https://guides.masslibsystem.org/intellectualfreedom 
  2. The MA Policy Collection is also updated with more policies and reconsideration forms/processes: https://guides.masslibsystem.org/mapolicycollection 
  3. And there's a newly posted webinar on Intellectual Freedom with Dr. Martin Garnar (of Amherst College) on June 7 at 11am: https://calendar.masslibsystem.org/event/9205588 
  4. MLS Consultants are back on the road! If you would like a visit from one of us, to either get help with a project or to show off your library, just reach out. https://guides.masslibsystem.org/cats 
• Advocacy --- notes from Georgina to Jen: Email from DESE today Katherine Tarka meet to develop info lit standards for MA, Georgina and Claudia at MTA Outreach - Debbie: Recently gave the attached annual report to the MLA Board. Digital Equity Act rep approached MSLA, Deb and Jen to meet with a group from Senator Markey’s office about funding for digital equity. Deb going to MA Library Association meeting next week. Thanks to Greg for his mentorship. Full report in folder. Jen reiterates they are meeting with Senator Markey’s office next week. 
• Office --- Emily Kristofek – Emily is beginning to contact locations for 2023 in-person conference, and the major project coming up this month is the transition to Wild Apricot from Cvent.: Via Jen: looking for in-person venue for conference. Goal is June 13 to switch from Cvent to Wild Apricot. 
• Forum/Podcast ---Luke Steere  — Spring Issue is up— thanks everyone! Pastycast Podcast: Patsy ep up (finally!); Colleen S. next; then Morgan K.; MTCBA eps peppered in, Ella meeting with them later today. 
• Better Together - Announcement: Fall back to school co-hosted by MSLA, MassCue, MASCD, GBH - August 25, 2022 Mosesian Center for the Arts, Watertown 4-6 pm. 

4. Proposed FY2023 budget - 1st vote - Michelle Fontaine: Process is budget is reviewed and voted on twice, any changes accommodated so once approved we are set for the year. Based on last year's budget and expenses. Judy Paradis grant is a separate fund, balance is $5000+. Contest line item is a large amount because we’ve previously had in person celebrations. Spring conference numbers based on pre-covid budget. Jen commented that an in-person conference makes a lot of money for MSLA. Consider phasing out Listserv as Wild Apricot has that capability, and Wild Apricot has a messaging function. Potentially reduce Zoom accounts from 3 to 1 if we move back to in-person conferences. General agreement to move some of the Digital Commonwealth line item funds to support EveryLibrary (organization that builds voter support for libraries). Motion to approve by Michelle, second by Deeth, motion carried. Jen noted thank you very much to Michelle.

5. Ad Hoc Awards Committee update - Jen V.

• Please add your thoughts to this document
• Met once to clarify mission for awards, purpose, how best to achieve. May change timing as per Luke’s suggestion to launch awards at conference to encourage more nominations. 

​6. Nominating Committee update and next steps - LukerThe nominating committee has asked several people to serve as President. Board guidelines state nomination should have Board service. Giving people a week or so for people to reach out to Jen and Luker to ask questions and discuss the role. Question if Board has ever offered a stipend? Currently, President gets PDP’s. Question re: responsibilities? Jen stated in past we’ve had Exec Director, helpful make org run smoothly, can’t necessarily afford until back to in-person conferences. Deeth suggested providing more info for people to review eg number of hours, list of responsibility. Understand people have other work, school and family commitments. 

7. Strategic Plan planning - Jen: Jen and Deb meeting to start

• Task force vs. entire board; might be able to work with MLS and get PDP’s for small planning committee; Jen would like suggestions for what people would like to see; Morgan commented on the merit of BPS library strategic plan: small group work on specific parts shared back with the larger group for review. Deb noted BPS library plan aligned with the overall BPS strategic plan, so accordingly MSLA strategic plan should be aligned with MBLC. 

8. Ideas please! - Jen 

• June Board meeting (Weds June 15th) - in person? Where? Celebration?
• Annual membership meeting - has been virtual in July for past 2-3 years

9. Other news/topics from board members: Librarian at Meadowbrook School in Weston, Ryan Tahmaseb, published The 21st Century School Library. Trivia coming up, please join!

Adjourn 6:00 pm