January 16, 2008

The Executive Board of MSLA held a virtual meeting in Chatzy.com on Wednesday, January 16. The following members attended: Barbara Andrews, Bruce Cramer, Valerie Diggs, Gerri Fegan, Linda Friel, Bob Helmer, Kahla Jourdan, Sandy Kelly, Diane Libbey, Kathy Lowe, Heather MacPherson, Judi Paradis, Ann Perham, Bob Roth, Charlotte Sidell, Jeannette Sisco, Amy Sprung, Sue Ellen Szymanski, Caroline Tucker, Lynn Weeks, and Elisabeth Zimmer.

The Legislative Committee has been actively encouraging us to let our legislators know about the importance of school libraries and our bill H564.  All members are encouraged to contact their representative in support of our bill.  To reiterate what Judi Paradis sent earlier this week:

What we need to do now:

We need to increase pressure on legislators THIS WEEK!  If you have made a call or sent an email or letter—PLEASE follow up with a call back NOW and ask if they have received any feedback or have heard any information about how soon this bill will be voted out of committee.   Urge them to ask Representative Haddad and Senator Antonioni to have it done as soon as possible to help protect library programs during upcoming budget season.

If you have not contacted your legislators—this is the time to act! Go to www.mass.gov and find out the name of the legislators in the district where you live AND where you vote.  Contact these legislators and tell them that you want them to make sure that the Education Committee VOTES H564 FAVORABLY OUT OF COMMITTEE.  Tell them that this bill will ensure that school administrators know that Chapter 70 can be spent on school libraries.  This simple change will help enhance our status as we work toward formulating a long-term plan for Massachusetts school libraries.  Tell them that we need them to do this NOW.

Don’t be left out!  Our Bookmark Contest deadline is February 25!  Look for contest details on our web site at http://www.maschoolibraries.org/. Winners will be announced at Joint MLA/MSLA Legislation Day on April 2nd.

We are excited to announce that all of you members helped the annual conference to be successful netting us a profit to help keep our organization in business.  Please look forward to details for our next annual conference to be held November 2 – 3, 2008.

Did you know that school libraries are being represented at the Department of Education as they revise the ELA strands?  Our own Valerie Diggs, Standards Committee Chair, is attending meetings and supporting developing frameworks that define the important role school libraries have in the academic life of students.  She is helping to incorporate the access, evaluation, synthesis, and use of information into these updates.  Keep your eyes open for new developments.

— Carol Klatt, MSLA Secretary