Minutes 09-30-2003

Youth Services Advisory Council
September 30, 2003
State Library of Iowa
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Mary Cameron called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.   In attendance were: Kim Bell, Ginny Cameron, Karen Day, Linda Fox, Cheryl Haman, Jerri Heid, , Lisa Manley, Missy Mayfield-Cook, Cathy Shaw, Sue Reiher, Barb Sowers, Sue Teutsch, Maria Levetzow, Joa LaVille,  Elizabeth Huff, and Jeaneal Weeks.  Absent:  Mary Siegner, Terri Tesch,  Marilyn Tilley, Beth Marie Quanbeck, and Carol Rosenbaurm.  State Librarian Mary Wegner welcomed the group to the State Library of Iowa.

Introductions

Mary Cameron shared with the group that the Youth Services Advisory Council had not met face-to-face for a meeting since 1999.  She also mentioned that the agenda for this meeting would not be similar to the “nuts and bolts” agendas we usually have for our meetings.  This meeting agenda was intended to stimulate discussion.  Each member introduced themselves and told one thing about their library.

Minutes

Minutes from the May 6, 2003 meeting were mailed to members last spring and were approved with no changes.

ILA Booth

Mary distributed a sign up sheet for members to sign up to help work the SLP booth at ILA.  Karen Day encouraged members to bring cowboy hats and bandanas if they had them.  A famous cowboy will be at the booth and the first 100 librarians will get to have pictures taken with the cowboy.  We will be giving away sheriff’s badges at the booth as well as many door prizes.   Maria will also be sending posters showing artwork from the 2004 YA Manual.  Linda Fox will bring her cowboy boots for the display.

Membership on the Youth Services Advisory Council

Presently members serve a three year term with the opportunity to serve another term if they wish.  A discussion was held about increasing the size of the council such as adding additional librarians from each of the LSA’s, adding school librarians, etc.  Suggestions included:

• Inviting school librarians to one of our meetings and talking about information literacy,
• Inviting the IEMA book awards committee to one of our meetings to talk about the awards;
• Inviting ISU Extension or Child Care Resource and Referral to a meeting to talk about programs they offer and ways we could partner.

Members preferred keeping our ICN meetings to discussing “nuts and bolts,”  keeping the meetings from 5:00 to 7:00 ; and somewhat limiting terms so there can be new people brought in to keep ideas fresh.   Other suggestions about the council included:  

• the State Library sending press releases to local papers so librarians on the council receive recognition locally;
• YSAC Members telling other groups they are involved in about the business of the council such as at county meetings or LSA Roundtables;
• Putting an article in Footnotes about YSAC;
• Including information in the CYP newsletter about YSAC and
• Creating a brochure about YSAC

Summer Library Workshops

The traditional Summer Library Evaluation was discussed.  Suggestions to change the evaluation were given.  They included:  Making the books/minutes/days reporting optional; Include goals for summer library program.  Include questions such as: “Do you feel this was a successful summer library program?”;  “What statistical evidence do you have that you had a successful program?”.  Ginny, Linda, Jeaneal, Cathy, and Jerri volunteered to be on a committee to review the evaluation so that we can get it submitted to the CSLP manual.  The revisions will be ready for the February ICN.  Another suggestion was just to include this in a library’s annual report. 

A discussion was held about the current ten SLP workshops that are done each year.  Participation has grown so much that we are outgrowing many library meeting rooms.  Mary distributed a copy of how other states are doing their workshops.  Members felt we should keep adding sites and adding presenters.  They felt the best format was the one we now have from 9-1 at no charge.  A discussion was held about maybe doing some ICN session like we do for the YA workshop or having a session at the Kids First Conference on SLP for those who couldn’t attend a workshop.  At this point there probably won’t be any changes until the 2006 program.

YSAC Projects

Mary distributed some examples of resource booklets that other states have done.  She also explained about a project that the State Library of Iowa is going to be doing with the states of Nebraska and South Dakota .  The states are hoping to have the copies of the books available by fall.  This is a project that could be coordinated by the Youth Services Advisory Council in the future.  Mary distributed the rough drafts of the submission form and guidelines. Members of the council gave additional ideas of information that should be included on the submission form.

Kids First Conference

Everyone liked the location of the 2003 Kids First Conference. Mary hasn’t set any dates nor does she have any speakers in mind.  Suggestions for speakers included Esme and  Pat Mora. Keynote topics might be something on CIPA and Intellectual Freedom.  There will be more discussion on this in November.  A suggestion was to have this conference with school librarians.

Westgate Lecture

The location for the  Westgate Lecture will be the  Stoney Creek Inn – 5291 NW 84^th Street , Johnston , Iowa 50131 . The Westgate Lecture will be done in partnership with the Iowa Department of Education and Iowa Public Television.    Barbara Moss, who specializes in using nonfiction books with children will be the keynote speaker on Wednesday , April 14.  Registration will begin at 9:00 with the keynote at 10:00 .  Lunch will be provided.  On Thursday, April 15 everyone will have a chance to attend breakout sessions through out the day.  Both days will provide opportunities for librarian to connect with other professionals that work with children.  A tentative theme is “Early Literacy Content and Connections Conference.”  Registration tentatively will be $15.00 for both days or $20.00 for one day.  Flyers should be ready by January.

Competencies for Youth Services Librarians

Mary distributed a document that the State Library of Iowa and the Library Service Areas developed to help libraries develop job descriptions for positions in their libraries.

Youth Services Guidelines

Mary distributed multiple examples of Youth Services Guidelines that many states have developed for youth services in public libraries.  The council felt they would rather see some youth services standards added to the accreditation process such as libraries providing a summer library program for youth in their communities and libraries providing outreach services to daycares and preschools.

Other

Mary talked about the ICN sessions that the Nebraska Library Commission has been doing for many years.  She asked members if youth services librarians in Iowa would like that format.  Suggestions included: Having sessions at various times, handouts would be available on the web, having sessions repeated,  and only having sessions for two hours.  Suggested topics included:

• Serving Spanish Speaking Patrons
• Developing Goals for Summer Reading Program
• Starting Book Discussion Groups for Children
• Poetry Slams for Teens
• Graphic Novels for Teens

Future Meeting Dates

November 4, 2003
February 3, 2004
April 14 and 15, 2004 Westgate Lecture
May 4, 2004

Mary thanked everyone for a successful day of discussion and for taking time out of their busy schedules to come to Des Moines to meet face-to-face.