Monographs Committee Meeting Highlights

ALA Midwinter Meeting, Seattle, 2007

Kathleen Hughes, staff liaison, brought up for discussion the book proposal "Science Fair Collection Development" by Erin O'Toole. Kathleen shared our electronic member Kim E. Becnel's comments about the proposal. The rest of us (Deborah, Barbara and Laurel) all promised to show our YS staff the proposal and see what they think and report our conclusions to the committee, as soon as possible.
 
Kathleen reported that the "Made Simple" series that we have talked about for some time will now be incorporated into the framework of another series, the PALM ("Practical Advice for Librarians") series, which is being worked on by Sandra Nelson. Rather than having two similar series, there will be just the one, which our ideas will be included in.
 
Kathleen then gave us a handout on PLA Wiki News, introduced Andrea Mercado to the committee and asked Andrea to speak about the Wiki with us. Andrea told us that she has been given the charge of creating an "Encyclopedia of Public Libraries" Wiki. Only a few people will have the login to edit the Wiki so changes will be able to be tracked and monitored.  Andrea's goal is to get the Wiki up by January, 2008 or by the PLA Conference March 2008.  She is asking our committee and other committees to help with content and more specifically for us to help with outlining what should be in an encyclopedia of public libraries.

Members present: Kathleen Hughes, Staff Liaison; Deborah Grodinsky; Laurel Best; Barbara Flynn

Members absent: Margaret Smith, Cynthia Orr, Kim Becnel (electronic member).

Visitors: MLIS student from SCSU, Meg Engelter; PLA member Charles Jones, Chicago Public Library: Andrea Mercado, Reading Public Library

ALA Annual Conference, New Orleans, 2006

The PLA Monographs Committee met at the ALA conference on Sunday, June 25, from 1:30 - 3:30. In attendance: Kathleen Hughes (PLA), Mary Wallace, Diane Harmon, and Deborah Grodinsky. Absent: Margaret Smith, Laurel Best, Mickey Ann Garcia, and Cynthia Orr.

Kathleen handed out to each member a copy of the PLA publications report to the PLA Board of Directors as well as the current PLA publications list.  Kathleen reported that the new publication "Defending Access with Confidence" has been making lots of sales and has already had to be reprinted. As a result, PLA Publications have had less of a loss than usual. Kathleen explained that the Results series is actually published by ALA, who pays PLA royalties because PLA provides seed money for each title. PLA publications sales figures are at $32,909.71 as of the April report, almost $25,000 ahead of budget. Kathleen mentioned that a person will soon be hired for the PLA Manager, Communications position so she will have more time for her current job responsibilities which concentrate on PLA Publications and the editorship of Public Libraries. 

Status of current publications under discussion:

Circulation Made Simple. No change in status. By end of summer, Kathleen will select from RFPs to start writing this pamphlet.

The Emergency Procedures Manual. Diane thought it needed some introductory sections.  It was recommended that it be redone or edited to be less specific.  Another suggestion - include a CD-Rom or DVD with it that would let you create your own emergency plan.  Diane or Mary mentioned that Neal-Schuman has a new book out, "Disaster Planning," that might change our decision about putting out the emergency manual.  It was suggested that we take a better look at the Neal-Schuman book.  Deborah did take a look at the Neal-Schuman book, "Disaster Planning," at the Exhibits. It comes with a CD-Rom. It deals pretty strictly with 'disasters' rather than general emergency procedures. The blurb on the book says: "Written by experienced librarians who know because they've recovered from disasters, this important how-to helps librarians prepare for hurricanes, computer hackers, earthquakes, explosions, fires, flood, terrorist attacks, and other events...it shows you how to: Create a working disaster team; establish a communications strategy; develop response plans and identify the proper relief/recovery agencies for your library."

It looks like a great resource for disasters.  The monograph that we are considering, 'The Emergency Procedures Manual," does cover some of these same elements: evacuation, fire, severe weather, bomb threats. But it also discusses customer behavior, building problems, injury or medical emergency, missing children, and/or parents, and a code of conduct policy.

At the meeting we looked at materials Diane offered from a program she just attended at this conference, "Training the Person in Charge." This program was put on by the Dayton Metro Library. Mark Willis was the speaker (mwillis@daytonlibrary.org). This topic will be explored further.  Next meeting will be at the ALA Midwinter conference in Seattle.

Meeting minutes submitted by Deborah Grodinsky, Skokie (Ill.) Public Library, July 5, 2006.

PLA Monographs Committee
ALA Annual Conference, Atlanta, 2002
Meeting commenced at 8:10 a.m.

1. Participants:

Attended: Laurel Best, Luren Dickinson, Dianne Harmon, Kathleen Hughes, Juliet Machie, Michael Mahaney, Larry Neal, Cathy Ormsby, Kirstin Steele, Laura Sullivan (electronic member)

Excused: Faye Clow (resigned), Molly Fogarty, Elaine Lindstrom, Rex Miller, Julie Walker

2. Review of Publications Status Report

• Kathleen distributed the current PLA sales report dated 6/4/02. Sales figures are behind $7,481 budget, but she anticipates this will catch up with the release of two new monographs. Expenses have been below the budgeted figure so the publications program is $20,315 ahead of the overall budget.
• Take action on reviewed publications:

Children and the Internet - Juliet and Dianne reviewed. It is woefully outdated (1998), most websites don't work, and there is concern about lack of CIPA coverage. Suggest it be removed. Consider replacing with a print/electronic combo where the print version refers to a website that is updated on a more frequent basis. Kathleen will discuss revision with ALSC, Dianne will send an outline of topics and potential writers by July 20.

Information Services Training Checklist - Kirstin and Laura

Needs items relating to the Internet . Laura will send a paper copy of hers to Kathleen for consideration as a replacement.

National Bookmobile Guidelines - Luren and Juliet - the Rural Libraries Web Site offers a suitable replacement since this one is 10 years odl. Luren really likes www.clarion.edu as a replacement. Further action?

• Status of Possible Updates

Forming and Funding Library Foundatons - Faye Clow is not interested in updating. Kirsten will contact Benjamin Goldberg at Williamsburg Regional Library about updating or writing a monograph on this topic.

Baltimore County Help Manual - Kathleen - This is being updated and they are willing to let PLA Publish it. Should be available by this summer.

• New Publications

PLA Handbook for Writers of Public Library Policies - Kirstin and Michael - Great guidelines, would like part of it to be combined with a website offering up-to-date policies. It's not helpful without samples as it currently stands.

Problem Behavior Manual replacement - Laurel - Committee voted to discontinue this monograph and replace it with Nashville's.

Bridging Cultures from Ethnic Services Roundtable - Kathleen will contact this group.

Illinois LSTA Model - Dianne - She will continue to monitor this group's progress.

Disaster planning - Larry - Decatur, IL has a good plan. Action?

Personnel Utilization in Libraries suggested updated - Larry - Larry will provide Kathleen with a copy to compare with current offerings.

Reference Evaluation Project replacement (need to assign someone to find). No action taken.

3. Other items.

• Why was spiral binding used on Consumer Health?
• Faye Clow has resigned from the committee due to budget and time constraints.
• Juliet will look for other strategic plans to consider adding.
• Will assign two members to review Michigan Public Library Trustee Manual.
• Kathleen will bring two copies of Marketing Plan/Anne Arundel Library to Midwinter to be reviewed.
• Larry will ask Nicole is Dianne can remain on the Monographs Subcommittee another year.
• Consider a monograph on successful millage campaigns; possible author Polly Koenigsknecht of West Bloomfield, Michigan.
• Comments about simultaneous meeting format: better than last time, but still not great; prefer to start a little later; provide food or coffee

Meeting adjourned at 9:15 a.m.

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