MSLA Executive Board Meeting Summary

February 7, 2007

The Executive Board of MSLA met on Wednesday, February 7th at Weston High School. Treasurer, Barbara Andrews, announced that we made a healthy profit at the 2006 MSLA Conference. This is the major event that helps to fund our organization’s programs.

Legislation Day is scheduled for March 8th and all members are encouraged to join together at the State House to visit your legislators and advocate for school libraries. Our Annual Bookmark Contest winners will  receive their awards at the Grand Staircase that day as well, and their legislators have been invited to present the awards  Raise your voice and be heard for school libraries in Massachusetts.  Our proposed legislation,  Docket #2298, has been filed.  Once again, we are proposing that Chapter 70 be amended to include the words “libraries” and “books”.  Your support is needed to ensure that our bill passes this time around!

All MSLA members are urged to attend one of the Legislative Breakfasts coming up in your region. This is an opportunity for professionals from all types of libraries to meet their local legislators and advocate for their programs. Check your MBLC region’s web site for the dates of a breakfast in your area.

For those who graciously volunteered to serve on MSLA committees, help out with special projects or share your expertise with other MSLA members, please know that you are appreciated. Expect a call from an Executive Board Member or committee in the near future. We have a great need for your talents and time. A list of Resource Members and their areas of expertise has been posted on the MSLA web site at http://maschoolibraries.org. If you are in need of advice or assistance, take a look at this list and let a colleague know that you could benefit from his or her experience.

The Student Special Interest Group   is planning a mini-conference for March 24th at the Simmons College Conference Center.  They are currently looking for seasoned library teachers to present to GSLIS  students.  Some of the topics students are interested in learning about are: collaboration with teachers, relationship with principals, storytelling, technology, book talks, automation systems, library layout, and book binding for children. If you would like to share your knowledge and earn some PDPs, please contact Anna Schneider ( This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it ) or Susanna Paterson ( This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it ), MSLA Student SIG co-presidents. They are very enthusiastic.  Look for more details of this event on the listserv soon!

On another exciting note, MSLA has now completed a new draft of Information Fluency Standards http://maschoolibraries.org/content/view/139/116/ which we have proposed for adoption by the Department of Education. We have been working hard to define the important role the school library teacher has in the State of Massachusetts.

 Elected executive board members (Secretary, Treasurer and Area Directors) whose terms end in May have  all agreed to run for another two-year term.  We will hold an online election before April 1. Watch the MSLA email list for an announcement. Please know that we enjoy serving you and the interests of the organization.  If you ever have questions or comments, please contact any Executive Board member from our website at http://maschoolibraries.org/content/view/21/29/ .

Don’t forget to register for the NEEMA Symposium and Leadership Conference by February 15th for a $20 discount. See http://www.neema.org for details.

— Carol Klatt, MSLA Secretary