Public Library Systems Meeting Highlights

ALA Midwinter Meeting 2007, Seattle, WA

Rhonda Puntney, chair
Sunday, January 21, 2007

The committee submitted two program proposals for the 2008 PLA conference.  We should know shortly if the proposals have been accepted.  The proposals are:  "Partners in Caring:  Two Library Systems One Heart" and the other is "WELead:  Mentoring New Library Leaders in Wisconsin".  The committee talked at length on possible proposals for upcoming conferences and will begin to work on proposals dealing with information and resource sharing.  The commtitee will also begin looking at conducting a survey on public library systems and how they systems vary.  The committee discussed how to diseminate the survey results and will consider writing an article for Public Libraries.

Members present: Kim DeNero-Ackroyd, Sara Dallas, Lorrie Lessey, Valerie Rowe-Jackson, Siobhan Reardon, David John Seleb

Visitors: Josie Barnes Parker

ALA Midwinter Meeting 2005, Boston, MA

Juliet Machie, Chair
1/16/05

Strenghtening the committee-Each member agreed to submit nominations to Chair for new members

Support for Public Library Systems- Committee will do a survey of library systems to identify training needs and issues.

Collaborations-Committee will partner with PLA's Recruitment of Public Librarians committee for a program proposal at ALA 2006 Annual Conference

Programs-Committee will work on PLA 2006 Conference program proposal if proposal is accepted.

Members present: Janet Woody, Juliet Machie, Valerie Jackson

Members absent: Maralita Freeney, Tamiye Trejo Meehan, Rhonda Puntney, Matt Bollerman (electronic member)

Visitors: Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin

ALA Midwinter Meeting 2004, San Diego, CA

Lorri Lessey, Chair
1/11/04

With no one but the chair present it was not possible to move forward. There had been a suggestion for a program from Toronto that was to be developed. Over the past month two suggestions for programs or table talks had come in and needed to be discussed via e-mail. I will keep the committee informed and see if we can begin to develop ideas for programs or table talks.

Members present: Lorri Lessey, Hedra packman and Juliet Machie stopped by but did not stay.

Annual Conference 2003

Lorri Lessey, Chair
06/22/2003

The committee met with four members present. The first issue of business was to discuss the program the committee will be presenting on Monday, June 23rd. All members agree to attend the program and help with distribution of materials/books. Lorri Lessey will introduce the speaker, Steve Connor, who will present the program "They Never Tell Me Anything".

Discussion was held on what topic the committee wanted to address next. After looking at bookmobiles and staffing in tight times we decided to persue a program on how to close a branch library. Michael Mahaney is working on this issue in Buffalo, NY and Maralita Freeny has a contact in Maryland. Further discussion will be held at midwinter as we work on a program for ALA in Chicago or PLA in Boston.

Members: Lorri Lessey (Chair), Maralita Freeny, Michael Mahaney, Kathy Fredette

Absent: Philip Ritter, Carlton Sears, Steve Schaefer, Karen Creenan, Dinah Smith O'Brian, Hedra Peterman (electronic), Matt Bollerman (electronic)

Midwinter 2003

Lorri Lessey, Chair
1/26/03

The committee met and finalized the program for Annual. With Maureen Sullivan as the only speaker committee members will need to be present to make an introduction and to distribute any handouts. Lorri Lessey will be doing the introduction due to her having already met Maureen.

Discussion was held on a program for PLA in Seattle. The committee is recommending a program on training of paraprofessionals. Lorri Lessey will be responsible for completing the form for consideration (This has been done). We discussed the number of speakers to use and the possibility of distributing a disc containing the overview of the program used by the speaker.

The committee will be thinking about future programing to be able to present possibilities at ALA Annual.

Members Present: Lorri Lessey (Chair), Steve Schaefer, Kathy Fredette

Absent: Carlton Sears, Matthew Bollerman (electronic), Hedra Peterman (electronic), Karen Creenan, Micki Freeny, Michael Mahaney (said he would not be there), Dinah Smith O'Brien, Phil Ritter (said he would not be there)

Visitors: Micki Dugan - Dougherty County Public Library, Albany, Georgia

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