Executive Summary Minutes MSLA Board Meeting 2/16/22

5 PM to 7 PM on Zoom

 In attendance:
Michael Caligiuri, Liz Cammilleri, Deeth Ellis, Michelle Fontaine, Debbie Froggatt, Wendy Garland, Morgan Keohane, Emily Kristofek, Emma Kwon, Laura Luker, Ingrid Mayyasi, Claudia Palframan, Elena Schuck, Luke Steere, Canice Thynne, Jen Varney, Alix Woznick

Welcome, check in, call to order 5:06pm: Approve minutes of January meeting --- Jen encouraged all Board members to read reports submitted, call for move to accept minutes, motion by Mike, seconded by Alix, minutes approved
Housekeeping items:

1. Send web updates to [email protected] 
2. Remaining meetings are on the dashboard.
3. Please add regional events to the calendar on the MSLA website. 
4. Note: we will prioritize awards voting at this meeting

Updates:

• Treasurer - Michelle Fontaine: Finance reports attached, our net worth is $91,853.32, $5741 set aside for Paradis grants, also funds from EBSCO grant included in the total net worth; funds coming in from conference registration
• MLS liaison update - Christi Farrar: April left MLS on Jan 14, Christi is the sole youth services consultant, will hire, restructure in progress at MLS, welcome feedback about offerings and services, number wise school libraries are largest portion of members, MLS will advocate for school libraries, please suggest topics for continuing education and PDP opportunities
• Professional Learning - Jen/Michelle: looking at new vendors to replace CVENT; Wild Apricot is fairly commonly used by similar organizations; small group attended the recent unconference, Advocacy - Deb: Georgina met with Heather Peske (DESE) and Catherine Tarpit to outline scope of the presentation for the conference, how libraries partner with early literacy initiatives at DESE level to support students, Michael Moriarty is a DESE Board member with an interest in early literacy, Deb looked at media literacy in Rhode Island, Reuben Henriques - History and Social Science Content Lead, goal for DESE to consider certified librarians in every school. Georgina is working with Simmons to host a meeting between alum and Simmons admin to support future librarians. Also working on database initiatives, brag sheet, MLA meeting, MLBC presentation Claudia and Ann Gobi, letter to Commissioner Riley, waiting to hear from Judy Marcella at DESE. Looking at how to include the ELL community, incorporate mental health, MLS workshops for school librarians, hotspots, ebooks, note ebooks are great but can only be accessed by students whose schools have a certified school librarian, add to listserv to encourage our membership to attend legislative breakfast, note support for librarians in Lunenburg who were potentially being replaced by STEM teachers, district reversed their decision. More details in the Advocacy report!
• Awards - Wendy: Folks are welcome to review the rubric; fewer nominations this year, reflective of the time; possible that letter from admin is a barrier; question re: super librarian, discussion of really good librarian vs. “excellence”; question re: virtual influencer: committee looks at website maintenance;  Wendy gave the example of wanting to show a grad student what an excellent website looks like eg organizational structure, content, current etc.; take some off the list, invite to reapply; comment from Mike this is a lot of work for the committee! Rubric is in the narrative on the form, discussion about awards are not for meeting expectations, they are for over and above, demonstrating excellence, awards are advocacy. Move to approve the award nominations by Deeth, seconded by Morgan, approved. BPS librarians are meeting with K.C. Boyd this evening. The award committee will inform recipients in the next two days, followed by collecting information from them including photo, and announce in media & social media on 3/11
• Office --- Emily Kristofek - conference plans in full swing
• Forum/Podcast -Luke Steere: Forum is out, podcast about the conference
• Outreach / MLA Legislative Update - Deb Froggatt (see below)
• AASL reaffiliation - Jen - paperwork to maintain our affiliation with AASL is due soon

 Nominating committee - Luker

• If you haven’t yet completed the board survey about your plans for next year, please do so; Deeth and Luker talking about potential nominees

 Professional Learning / 2022 Conference - Alix
Whova is working well, Luker is helping, the conference flier, banner and logo are available for promoting the conference, Board please consider eg promoting/highlighting a session. Board members will be asked to host a session and help the presenter by facilitating Zoom and Whova for the session. Looking at sponsors including Follett and JLG. Currently 68 members and 16 speakers registered, few other folks, $50 students, unemployed and paraprofessionals. Contracts signed.

Other news/topics from board members - Jen
Jen noted there will be training for hosts. There will be a Google doc to sign up. Vacation soon!

​Deeth motion to adjourn, Luker second, meeting closed at 6:19pm

Adjourn 6:19 pm

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