MLA YSS Meeting Minutes       3/24/19     Duxbury, MA

Present: Marissa Antosh (Duxbury); Jessica Phillips (Duxbury); Katrina Ireland (Northborough); Lindsey Antrella (Uxbridge); Shaun Ramsay (Weymouth); Sue Gomes (West Boylston); Lindsey Rahers (Duxbury); Amy Greil (Seekonk); Martha Boksenbaum (Cranston RI); Laura Ford (Falmouth); Katrina Lewin (Tewksbury)

1. Executive Board Updates: MLA has a new association manager and has proposed 2 new sections that will be voted on during conference (Leadership and RA).
2. Conference Committee Updates:
1. YSS has 9 total programs, one on Monday and the rest on Tuesday. Many at the meeting committed to shepherding at least one of the programs so that most are covered. Marissa will let Conference Committee Liaison Carol Gafford know who will be shepherding which program.
2. If you have not done so yet, donations are greatly appreciated for the Dr. Who-themed raffle basket for the conference. Give money direction to Marissa OR through paypal. Email Marissa for more details.
3. Nominating Committee
1. The secretary position is up for election. Kat Lewin is our one-woman nominating committee, and will be putting out the call for nominations via MASSYAC the week of 3/25. Interested applicants can send their information to Kat by 4/12, who will then send out a SurveyMonkey survey open to all MLA members to vote for their next secretary! Rock the vote!
2. The Southeast member-at-large position is vacant. This is an appointed position. Let Marissa know if you are interested in joining as the YSS Southeast member-at-large.
4. Fundraising for YSS
1. YSS has magnets that we will sell at the MLA conference in May, as well as an unconference tentatively planned for spring of 2020.
2. YSS will be creating a bullet journal-style, non-year-specific planner to sell as a fundraiser. We will be calling for photos of your adorable pets, personal or library, to use in the fundraiser. There *may* be a small entry fee. If anyone has any design skills and would like to work on creating the planner layout, please contact Marissa!
3. Marissa will contact We Print Today to see about printing costs.
5. Ask Anonymous and Open Discussion
1. We had one question about a coworker using “Ten Little Indians” in story time, and whether this person should say something to her coworker or just leave it alone. The group spent some time talking about the inappropriate nature of the song, and suggested ultimately that this person either approach her coworker in a non-threatening way, write a note to them, or even mention it to a supervisor who could bring it up at a staff meeting.
2. A reminder to check out 5minlib.com; Kat Ealy helps to write the blog and it’s “everything you need to know in the time you have!”
3. A recommendation for a blog called “Reading While White”; a self-reflective blogger talks about race, appropriation and our current culture with the understanding that they are coming from a privileged background.
4. A recommendation for Debbie Reese’s blog American Indians in Children’s Literature (AICL) for literature and constructive criticism.