August 6, 2020 via zoom
Attendees: Jasmine, Stefani, Mary, Greg, Jess, Maisha, Karen, Adam, Meaghan
Checking in: How is everyone?
We discussed what the fall will look like at our respective campuses, this NYT Ethicist column, and expressed frustration with opening logistics and general states of confusion.
“Administrivia”
Included: Website updates (for accurate contact information,) new gmail account logistics, Google Groups, and Google Drive administration.
Archivist position: Greg’s ideas
How to archive chapter programs by creating a repository of presentations, videos, posters. This could help make our programs more accessible. But since WordPress does not include much storage space, we’ll need to link outward. We discussed different platform possibilities, like this one, osf, used for OpenCon 2019
Financial report (Adam)
Total assets are just under $3900.00. There has not been much activity since our last meeting and since our usual Fall Programming is different this year.
Program and Planning Committee Report
We’re switching gears away from a major event in the fall to multiple, smaller events in order to be more accessible and because we need to continue to meet remotely. The events would be conversations with invited speakers within a distributed work environment so as not to overwhelm people with a full day event. This engages people more often but in smaller doses.
The committee would like to engage all library workers and not make these events exclusive to librarians or exclusive to chapter members. The board approved this idea.
We discussed what advocacy looks like for the chapter: organizing rather than teaching how to organize toward things that have actual impact rather than settling for performative advocacy.
Potential first event: Jasmine will be in touch with Andrea Lemoins, a key organizer for the Concerned Black Workers at the Free Library of Philadelphia that has led to major leadership changes at FLP, to see if she will facilitate a program about how we can support the larger library community and organize toward action in our own institutions.
We would also hold a chapter meeting then, which will share the usual information as well as emphasize our chapter’s values, direction, and what membership supports.
Possible future events include: reading and watching groups, screening the documentary film “Change the Subject,” and an event for “paraprofessional” library workers
The board discussed grant funding for programming via PaLA and came to an agreement on fees we would offer speakers for our programs: $500 fee for an hour and a half presentation / facilitation.
Community Liaisons
Community Liaison and Community Liaison Committee descriptions ready for review and to post to website. Jess will write a blog post and an invitation for participants to be posted.(Addendum: approved and posted!)
Communications Committee
The first interview with Board President Jasmine Woodson has been posted! A second interview with Vice President Maisha Carey will be next. The committee (Greg, Brendan, and Mary) met briefly to determine what to communicate and how. Meaghan agreed to join the group as well. We’d like to research what channels are most effective for what types of information.
Website Updates
The website needs current, accurate contact information for board members and committees, and membership and volunteering opportunities as well as space for archived material.
The board will also consider more information under the “About” button including creating a Mission Statement. Greg will look into the Constitution, Jess will see whether other chapters or ACRL can offer guidance and Stefani volunteered to help with writing.