Meeting Notes: Massachusetts Library Association Youth Services Section
Thursday, January 16, 2020 at the Tewksbury Public Library, Tewksbury, MA
Members in attendance: Marissa Antosh, Duxbury; Kat Lewin, Tewksbury; Katrina Ireland, Northboro; Noelle Boc, Tewksbury; Esme Green, Sudbury. Ellen Sulzycki attended via GoToMeeting.
1. Welcome
2. Executive Board Updates—Marissa Antosh
a. Updated budget submitted to E-Board. We are planning to use the $400 current remaining budget to purchase calendars (see 4a below).
b. Article on e-book war against Macmillan from WGBH. Attorney General of MA may get involved. Many libraries (including all of MVLC) have voted to boycott Macmillan because of this. Will this help or hurt libraries in the long run? Who benefits? Amazon does.
c. MLA website is being updated. MLAYSS information will be added to MLA website and not just to the YSS wiki. Information will be transferred from the wiki to the website going forward.
3. Conference Updates—Katrina Ireland
a. Conference is May 18-20 in Hyannis, “youth day” is Tuesday, May 19. There has been a successful rearrangement of programs, so that there are two youth programs in each time slot. The Mini Fan Con has been canceled due to communication issues and the desire for funding that is unavailable.
b. Fundraising basket—“Imagine Your Story” basket of writing utensils, journal, stationery, et cetera.
i. Ellen Sulzycki (Member-at-Large West, Springfield) is collecting. Donations of $ and items accepted (Western route through transit).
ii. The basket currently has notebooks, stickers, and erasers, but we are also looking for colored pens and/or pencils, highlighters, etc. A Pet Planner will be added to the basket as well.
4. Fundraising
a. Pet planner mock-up is complete! It was unanimously approved by the group.
i. 32 photos @ $5 per entry = $160
ii. Our budget ($400) plus this amount = $560
iii. Can print 24 calendars with $560 ($22.79 to print each, profit of $2.21 if sold for $25.00 each)
iv. Preorders—Google form or possibly through MLA website?
b. Eventual end goal—scholarship for youth services worker (not necessarily librarian) to the conference. There are some scholarships for the conference right now; a possibility that they might rotate through different sections.
5. Membership – what do we offer? Why should people join MLA?
a. A bigger stage than local roundtables. You get to help plan the conference, work with legislative days.
b. Networking opportunities
c. Reenergize your passion for librarianship!
d. Note: The shepherds at the MLA conference need to mention that, if they like the session and want others like it, or if they don’t find the sessions useful and wish there were other topics covered, being involved in MLAYSS gives them a say
6. Nominations for different positons are coming up soon.
7. Open Discussion/General Merriment
a. Kat discussed upcoming Purim Party and Letterboxing event
b. Ellen is hosting the Professional Learning Network Summit in Springfield on Friday, 2/28 from 9:30-1. This event is free and open to librarians and museum workers. Free lunch and book giveaways! There will be speakers.
8. Next meeting: Thursday, March 19, 2020, from 11-1 at the Duxbury Free Library. (Note location change from New Bedford)