NJLA Children’s Services Section

Meeting Minutes – September 9, 2011

Mt. Olive Public Library *

*(due to flooding @ the Parsippany Library, the meeting was changed to Mt. Olive Public Library)

Attending:

Melissa Okerblom, PresidentParsippany Public Library

Pat Vasilisk, NJLA Executive Board LiaisonRetired

Lisa Taylor, SecretaryOcean County Library

Amanda Spino, Member-at-LargeOcean County Library

Audra Osorio, Member-at-LargeMt. Olive Public Library

Susan Chan, Second Vice PresidentSouth Brunswick Library

Vicky Kulikowski, TreasurerLong Hill Township Library

The meeting was called to order at 10:05am. Melissa welcomed the new members and introductions were made.

Audra led the group on a tour of the Mt. Olive Public Library.

The group reconvened and approved the minutes from the June 3, 2011, meeting that had been previously distributed to the board members via email.

Reports

There was no treasurer’s report available.

Susanna Chan reported that she attended the last NJLA Executive Board Meeting, using it as an opportunity to learn the workings and operations of the board. At the next board meeting, she will ask to information about our upcoming events (YS Forum and Librarian’s Toolbox).

Pat Vasilisk reported the following highlights from the NJLA Executive Board meeting

  • Membership numbers are down, so there will be a fundraising appeal in November
  • There will be a spring conference, but the date and the location have not yet been determined
  • Dan Kleinman of Safe Libraries has been pushing for legislation regarding pornography on the Internet that would affect public libraries. Pat Tumulty has asked the NJLA Public Policy committee to comment on the proposed legislations and perhaps suggest some language that would be acceptable and reasonable for public libraries.
  • The Honors and Awards Committee is beginning a new award called Rising Star. People will be asked to nominate librarians who are new to the field (5 years or less), and have been doing an outstanding job. This is an excellent opportunity for YS librarians across the state!
  • The State Library funding for Q&A NJ will end on September 30th. The Virtual Reference Committee is attempting to keep the service running, but it appears that a break in service may be very likely.
  • NJLA is working on a new strategic plan. CSS will be asked to submit a new, updated plan to the committee.
  • The next NJLA Board meeting is September 20, in Plainsboro.

Sharon Rawlins submitted the following from the NJ State Library:

NJ State Library Report for the CSS Section Meeting, Sept. 9, 2011

Submitted by Sharon Rawlins, Youth Services Consultant, NJ State Library

  • SAVE THE DATE – Youth Services Forum – Thursday, October 13, 2011

The State Library is partnering with NJLA, and NJASL for the annual Youth Services Forum to offer a series of workshops on issues and hot topics of interest to public and school youth services librarians. The Forum will be an all-day event from 9:30 AM – 4 PM at the Monmouth County Library in Manalapan, NJ. Registration and program information is posted on the NJYAC and Youth Services page of the NJ State Library website and will be posted soon on the NJLA site. For more information, contact Sharon Rawlins, Youth Services Consultant, NJ State Library, , 609-278-2640 ext. 116.

  • 2011 Summer Reading Statistics Needed:

Submit your 2011 Summer Reading Program statistics on SurveyMonkey at The deadline is Oct. 7, 2011.

  • E-Summit Materials and Comments

In case you were not able to make it to the E-Summit on July 14, 2011 at the Sheraton in Eatontown, the State Library has made the information available on its website. Here is a link to the materials packet as well as the presentations that were given that day.

Materials Packet

  • Nancy Dowd Has Left the NJ State Library

Nancy Dowd, head of Marketing, has accepted a new position and that her last day with the NJ State Library was July 29th. She will be teaching librarians everywhere how to market in her new job with NoveList/EBSCO Publishing in North Carolina. Nancy had been with the NJ State Library for five years during which time she was an international speaker, author of a very popular marketing book and winner of numerous awards, not the least of which was the prestigious John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations award. I’m sure you will join me in wishing Nancy all the best in her new position.

Sincerely, Norma Blake, State Librarian

  • Autism Webinars Now Archived

If you missed the first autism webinar “Autism Community Relationship Building” presented by Adrienne Robertiello on July 20, 2011sponsored by the NJ State Library and LibraryLinkNJ,a podcast and resources links are available on the NJ State Library’s website at

The podcast and resources from the second autism webinar “Libraries and Autism: We're Connected” presented by Meg Kolaya and Dan Weiss on August 3, 2011 is also posted on the NJSL’s Library Development Bureau’s page on the NJSL website at

  • ALSC/CandlewickPress "Light the Way" Grant

The ALSC/Candlewick Press "Light the Way: Outreach to the Underserved" Grant was formed in honor of Newbery Medalist and Geisel Honoree author Kate DiCamillo, and the themes represented in her books. Theaward consists of a $3,000 grant toassist alibrary inconducting exemplary outreach to underserved populations through a new program or an expansion of work already being done.

TheALSC Library Service to Special Population Children and Their Caregivers Committeewill selectthe winner of this award based on an application process.Special population children may include those who have learning or physical differences, those who are speaking English as a second language, those who are in a non-traditional school environment, those who are in non-traditional family settings (such as teen parents, foster children, children in the juvenile justice system, and children in gay and lesbian families), and those who need accommodation service to meet their needs. The winner of this awardwill be announced at ALA's Midwinter Meeting.

  • How to Apply

2012 Light the Way Grant Application

Applications for the 2012Light the Way Grant are now available. Please click on the link above to download. Contact the chair of the Library Service to Special Population Children and their Caregivers committee (LSSPCC), Paula Holmes, with questions at . Applications and supporting materials must be postmarked or emailed by December 1, 2011.

Winner Information

Current Winner
Past Winner

  • ALA’s Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) announces the release of the new Fall 2011 Online Education Course schedule.Detailed descriptions and registration information is available on the ALSC Online Education website at. Fees are $95 for personal ALSC members; $145 for personal ALA members; and $165 for non-members. Questions? Please contact ALSC Program Officer Jenny Najduch at or 1 (800) 545-2433 ext.4026.
  • ALSC’s Webinars:
  • In October, ALSC is offering another Newbery and Caldecott Mock Elections webinar (Wed., Oct. 5 @ 7 PM) as well as a brand-new webinar, Sensory Storytime: Preschool Programming That Makes Sense for Kids with Autism (Thurs., Oct. 6 @ 11:30 AM, and Mon., Oct. 24 @ 10:30 AM). This new webinar is perfect for librarians seeking to create a welcoming, calming atmosphere for all children at their library. With extensive theory and practice from instructor Barbara Klipper, librarian at the Ferguson Library in Stamford, CT, this webinar promises to be incredibly enriching for librarians. Fees are $45 a session for ALSC members, $55 for non-members and $195 for groups and archived for $25.
  • Useful websites:
  • Instructables (instructions for making crafter/maker/DIY projects that can be more useful to you and your students,
  • Other Events of Interest:
  • The 6th Annual Princeton Children's Book Festival, Saturday, September 10, 2011 from 11:00-4:00 at the Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street Princeton, NJ 08542. For a full list of authors and illustrators please visit the Festival's website at:
  • BookFest @ Bank Street 2011 is Saturday, October 29, 2011, 9:30-3:30PM at Bank Street College of Education, NYC. Registration opens Monday, September 12, 2011. The registration fee is $65 per person, and includes a box lunch and coffee.Registration will be limited to 150 people, and will close when that maximum is reached.2011 National Book Festival: September 24-25 on the National Mall -

(end NJSL report)

CSS online presence

Melissa would like to see the CSS Wiki page re-vamped, and she polled the members on their preference for using the CSS Google site. Most members expressed interest in the Google site as well as the Wiki. Amanda volunteered to work on updating the Wiki page. Lisa and Susanna will work on updating the Google site.

Constitution

There was some discussion regarding the new CSS Constitution, however, the group needs some documents and information from past president, Priscilla Cordero, before moving ahead. Melissa will contact Priscilla.

Librarian’s Toolbox

The Librarian’s Toolbox program was tentatively planned for December 8. It will be a free, full-day event for new librarians, new librarians seeking employment, and MLS students. Possible sites mentioned were Franklin Township or South Brunswick libraries. Attendees will move through the program as a cohort with possible sessions as follows (sessions or session names are a work in progress): NJLA, Get Your Hands Dirty (Audra volunteered for this session), Budgeting, Programming, and Unconference. Melissa will make inquiries as to dates and locations available.

Autism Webinar

Melissa suggested that the group might want to attend an upcoming autism webinar as a group to take advantage of the $195.00 group rate. A consensus was not reached.

Newsletter

Melissa suggested that CSS might want to start a newsletter, most likely an online edition. Pat reminded the group that CSS did have a newsletter, titled Reflections, in the past. Lisa suggested that, in addition to a CSS newsletter, CSS ask for a small column or space in the quarterly NJLA Newsletter to highlight CSS events or news.

2012 Conference

Melissa reminded the members to start thinking of possible programs for the spring conference.

Strategic Planning

This item was on the agenda but was discussed during the NJLA Executive Board report.

Elections

CSS should solicit candidates for the following positions by mid-January: the new treasurer/secretary position, Member-at-Large, and V.P/President-elect. A slate should be prepared by February and elections should be held in April.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:33pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Lisa Taylor