New York Library Association - Public Library Section

Minutes November 30, 2007

New York Library Association - Public Library Section Board Meeting – Middletown Public Library

Present: Carol Clingan, Virginia Papandrea, Matthew Bollerman, Bob Devino, Kevin Gallagher, Karen LaRocca-Fels, and Barbara Madonna.

Excused: Beverly Choltco-Devlin, Timothy McDonough, Gail Alter Sacco

I. Call to Order, Approval of Agenda President Clingan called the meeting to order at 10:40 am

II. Approval of Minutes. Minutes of the previous meeting were approved on a motion by M Bollerman, second V Papandrea.

III. Financial Report The Treasurer’s Report through November 12 was discussed by M Bollerman. The budget had not been amended to reflect the flash-drive expenditure. 96 Author! Author! tickets were sold which is a very good return for the affair; it was never designed to be a break-even event.

Membership dues represent a bulk of the section income and underwrite the largest expenditures, Awards and Conference, which are direct benefits to the PLS membership.

Continuing Education workshops at the NYLA annual conference take place in odd years while the Spring PLS conference is held in even years. This is why $4,000 in the Spring CE/Conference line not spent in the 2007 budget. A budget modification for 2008 was also proposed to move $1,000 from NYLA Conference Continuing Ed into the Spring CE/Conference line as there will be no PLS CE at NYLA in 2008.

Libby Post of Communication Services has pledged $1,000 for the 2008 PLS Spring Conference and $1,000 for Author! Author! 2008.

The November financial report and 2008 proposed budget were approved on a motion by K Gallagher, second K-LaRocca-Fels.

IV. President’s Report C Clingan presented statistics showing attendance at the 2008 NYLA conference in Buffalo. She will also email them to the board.

PLS membership was strong with 1,228 members as of October 30, up by 124 from January 1. The increase could be a result of greater publicity for the section or timely follow up on expired memberships. V. Vice-President’s Report K LaRocca-Fels distributed a list of Conference Committee members for the 2008 NYLA conference.

VI. Committee Reports

Awards. There is some confusion as to the Director’s terms and duties. K Gallagher will contact T McDonough regarding the Spring CE Conference and Award duties. Here is the link to the NYLA-PLS website that explains duties: http://www.nyla.org/index.php?page_id=1200

Civil Service Task Force. V Papandrea asked if the existing civil service job descriptions would be updated. It was suggested she speak to Josh Cohen, Chair of the task force, and LAMS which has the job specifications on its website.

Legislative Committee. No Report

Library District Task Force. M Borges has submitted a proposal to DLD where NYLA would act as a consultant for DLD’s redistricting initiative.

Membership. B Choltco-Devlin was excused. C Clingan reported PLS membership was strong with 1,228 members as of October 30, up by 124 from January 1. NYLA is currently offering amnesty for expired members through the end of the year. The question of whether section dues will be raised from $5 to $7 will be determined by the results of the (current) vote of the NYLA membership.

VII. NYLA Conference

G Sacco was not informed of the first NYLA 2008 CE committee meeting, but is currently on the list of CE members and has received meeting date information.

B Devino reported on Author! Author! A contract for the Automobile Museum, on the Avenue of the Pines, has been submitted to J Johannesen. The cost will be $1,200 with access to the whole museum until 8 pm. There will be a tour, meal and then the speakers.

Brindisi Restaurant will cater and they have experience working with the museum. The menu includes cheese and crackers, fruit, crab rolls and spring rolls. Since the Vitality Event immediately follows no dessert will be offered.

Julia Spenser Fleming, the feature author, has a new book scheduled for publication spring 2008. Author Anne White from Glens Falls and a protégé of Fleming will speak as an ‘opening act’ proving two authors for the price of one. Lois Gordon’s husband is a volunteer at the Automobile museum and has offered assistance in organizing other volunteers for the event.

The board discussed a full page ad in the preliminary conference bulletin promoting the event. K LaRocca-Fels presented a list of possible programming ideas for NYLA 2008. These were discussed in detail and the following revised list was developed:  Politics and Networking  Redesigning Library Spaces and Customer Service (Karen Hyman)  The Mormon Memorial: Historic Donation Challenges  Library Assistants co-sponsored with NYLSAA  Financing Building Projects (IDA, DASNY, others)  Passing the Vote (Libby Post)  Trustee Education  Human Resources/Career Management

VIII. Spring Conference T McDonough was not at the meeting. B. Devino will work on booking a location in the Albany/Colonie area. K. Gallagher will work with Tim.

IX. Old Business No old business.

X. New Business It was suggested that information about the 2007 award winners be posted on the website along with a synopsis of their nomination to explain why they were selected and provide guidance to future applicants.

New meeting: February 15, 2008

M Bollerman moved to adjourn. Seconded by K Gallagher. Adjournment: 1:58 pm

Respectfully submitted, Barbara Madonna, Secretary