The VLA Council met in Charlottesville on Friday, April 9, 1999. President Sandy Heinemann called the meeting to order and the minutes of the February meeting were approved as amended.

Executive Director Linda Hahne reported that membership is now at 1,082 with new members and renewals still being received. There are 178 new members this year and 318 members from last year who have not renewed. The Paraprofessional Conference, to be held this May, already has 318 registrants. An attendance of about 500 is expected. To date, there have been 41 registrations for Federal Legislative Day. Linda also reported that invitations to exhibitors for the Annual Conference will soon be mailed.

Terry Sumey, Treasurer, reported that the VLA budget is on track. The budgeted amount for income from dues has already been exceeded by $1,845. VLA's goal is to reach $65,000 in revenue from dues. From January 1 to March 31, income of $104,926 has been received. The Association has been able to transfer $20,000 to investments.

Linda Hahne presented the 1999 proposed conference budget for Council approval. Projected revenue is $65,000 with projected expenditures at $57,000. The revenue budget is conservative, based on an attendance of 400 with 75 exhibitors. The Conference Committee hopes to see an attendance of 500 to 600 with 80 exhibitors. The expense budget should be quite accurate since many of the rates are already locked in. The proposed budget was approved by Council.

Linda then proposed to Council that the following year's conference, in 2000, be held in Norfolk at the Clarion Hotel with sessions at the Scope Convention Center across the street. The conference had been planned for Williamsburg, however, the hotel had some confusion about VLA's reservation and is no longer available. The Clarion has recently been renovated and has offered a very good package to VLA. It has reasonable rates and free parking for guests and day visitors. VLA plans to book the entire hotel. Council approved the proposal to hold the conference in Norfolk. Linda reported that VLA is trying a new format for the 2000 conference, based on surveys and observations of past attendance. The conference will begin early on Thursday, October 19, and end on Friday, October 20, 2000, without the usual carryover to Saturday morning. Morel Fry from Old Dominion University will be conference chair.

Stella Pool, Second Vice President, reported that the proposed amendments to the VLA bylaws passed. Copies of the revised bylaws were distributed to Council members. Stella also announced that updates to the VLA Manual are almost complete. The revised version will be sent to the printer soon and should be available by the next Council meeting. Stella commended the members of the Administrative Services Committee for their hard work and commitment to this project. The next project for the Committee is organizing the Association's archives. Stella reminded Council members that copies of all official documents should be forwarded to the Second Vice President.

President-Elect Carolyn Barkley distributed a summary of the Membership Committee's work on recruitment and retention. The report outlines both long and short term strategies designed to increase membership. Short term activities were organized into five areas:

• "One Minute for Membership: Be a Member, Get a Member" recruitment campaign. Increase the membership of VLA by 5% by October 1999.
• "Stick With VLA" retention campaign -- 1999. "I stuck With VLA" renewal campaign - 2000.
• Identify new sources of candidates for membership.
• Advocate membership benefits.
• Establish libraries as centers of recruitment and membership activity.

Some specific strategies include developing a recruitment packet as well as a confirmation and welcome packet for new members; contacting non-renewing members by phone or email; contacting library schools and the Library of Virginia to learn of new librarians in the area; and targeting library directors for membership and support. Carolyn reported that the Committee will continue its meetings to work on the long range plan and Sandy Heinemann noted that VLA particularly wants to attract people who will participate in the organization and who will develop in leadership roles.

Tom Hehman, Past President, reporting for the Legislative Committee, distributed the proposed legislative agenda for the 2000 General Assembly session. The three main priorities include state aid for public libraries, full funding of "Infopowering the Commonwealth" and the Library of Virginia budget. Other areas of concern are the friends groups' sales tax exemption, internet access and supporting VIVA initiatives. The motion to adopt the 2000 legislative agenda carried. Tom noted that VLA's goal in the future is to provide for more state aid in the Governor's budget request rather than funding through a budget amendment.

Mary Mayer-Hennelly, chair of the Conference Committee, announced that Carol Tenopir (Library Journal columnist) and Dr. E. J. Josey (former ALA President and founder of the ALA Black Caucus) are scheduled to speak at this year's Annual Conference in October. She distributed copies of the concurrent session proposal form and asked Council members to encourage their colleagues to submit ideas. To date, the response to the proposal form has been light. The Conference Committee will meet on May 11 to review the proposals and hopes to respond to applicants by the end of May.

Tom Hehman announced that the Nominating Committee is still gathering members and is trying to achieve a balanced regional representation. Nominations are open for the positions of Vice President/President-Elect, Second Vice President, Treasurer and ALA Councilor.

Several units announced upcoming programs and workshops. Neal Wyatt, chair of the Intellectual Freedom Committee reported that nominations are open for the SIRS/VLA Intellectual Freedom Award. Barbie Selby reported for the Publications Committee that Nan Seamans will be the Assistant Editor for Virginia Libraries and Andrea Kross will be Assistant Editor for the VLA Newsletter. The Continuing Education Committee has designed a survey to gather information on staff development and training which will be mailed to library directors. The Jefferson Cup Committee received over 400 books to review for this year's award, and plans to restructure the selection process in the future.

The meeting adjourned at 11:50. The next Council meeting will be held on Friday, June 11.

Non-members of the American Association of Law Libraries can attend its 1999 Annual Meeting at a discount this year using a special AALL promotional offer for affiliate organizations in the region. The meeting, At the Crossroads: Information Management, Technology, Policy, will be held on July 17-22 in Washington, D.C. The discount applies to non-member rates for the five-day conference. Two options are available: a rate of $345 (discounted from $395) for a program registration, which includes admission to programs, program materials, admission to the exhibits and opening reception; and $445 (discounted from $495) for a full registration, which covers the above and two additional meal events. A special offer flyer must be used to obtain the discount. For a copy of the discount flyer and detailed program information, contact Marcia Bradley, at (312) 939-4764, ext. 10; or membership@aall.org

Between now and the end of June, 1999, SOLINET is offering free registration for any one of its workshops to all of its member libraries. The following guidelines apply:

• only one free registration per institution
• workshops co-sponsored or conducted by other organizations (OCLC Institute, LAMA, Tennessee Library Association) are excluded from the offer
• registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis and class sizes are limited.

To redeem the free registration, complete a registration form, write "Member Bonus" at the top of the form and indicate that the cost is free. For more information, refer to the Spring, 1999 SOLINET Workshop Schedule or visit the web site at http://www.solinet.net.

Washington and Lee University's Leyburn Library has reached a historic milestone with the recent acquisition of its half-millionth volume, acquired during the year in which the University is celebrating its 250th anniversary. The library staff selected Cheap, Quick, and Easy: Imitative Architectural Materials, 1870-1930, by Pam Simpson, the Ernest Williams II Professor of Art History at W&L, and chair of the Art Department, as the honored half-millionth volume.

Kirn Memorial Library held a special open house on March 21. The event highlighted recent improvements to the Norfolk's central library facility just a week after the MacArthur Center Mall opened directly across the street. First visitors noticed new display shelving, a distinct business area, new carpeting and a highlighted section for displays. The new Teen Center, an area with materials and furnishings just for young adults, was unveiled. Also, Kirn's new technology lab, funded by a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant, was open for inspection. Over 700 people attended.

VLA Council meetings will be held in Charlottesville at the Northside Library on June 11 and September 10.

National Library Legislative Day

Washington, D.C.

Sponsor: Region II

Place: Lynchburg

Contact: Lorry Risinger

(804) 847-1565, ext. 225

risindl@ci.lynchburg.va.us

Friends of Virginia Libraries (FOVL) Annual Meeting

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Place: Bedford Public Library

Contact: Bill Whitesides

Sponsor: VLA Paraprofessional Forum

Place: University of Richmond

Contact: Suzanne Leacy

or Don Socia

Sponsor: Multi-Cultural Forum and Public Services Forum

Place: University of Virginia

Contact: Sarah Wiggins

(202) 994-2092

mlbsaw@gwumc.edu

Sponsor: Region V

Place: Chinn Park Regional Library

Contact: Maggie Zarnosky

(703) 845-6017

nvbruin@nv.cc.va.us

Sponsor: Public Documents Forum

Place: Old Dominion University

Contact: Janet Justis

(757) 683-4169

jjustis@odu.edu

Sponsor: Technical Services and Technology Forum

Place: Library of Virginia

Contact: Elaine Day

(540) 568-6582

dayel@jmu.edu

American Association of Law Libraries Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C.

Sponsor: VLA Paraprofessional Forum

Place: Centerville Library, Fairfax

Contact: Barbara Rittinger

(703) 228-5978

britti1@co.arlington.va.us

VLA Annual Conference

The Homestead