Youth Services Forum Executive Committee
Charlottesville, VA
September 10, 1999

Attending: Ginger Armstrong, Maureen Harrill, Diantha McCauley, Pat Muller, Sherry Pearson, Scott Phillips, Carlene Poole, Rebecca Purdy, Lorry Risinger

Diantha McCauley called the meeting to order and welcomed new Regional Representative Carlene Pool.

The Jefferson Cup Committee is meeting earlier this year and only a few books so far have been sent to the committee. Gary Paulsen, author of Soldier's Heart (the latest Jefferson Cup winner), is sailing in the South Pacific and is unable to be reached. It is unsure if Paulsen will be appearing at the Jefferson Cup program at the VLA Conference.

The Serving the Underserved: Library Services to Teens workshop will be held on September 29, 1999 at the Library of Virginia. 51 registrations have been turned in as of today. Volunteers to help set up refreshments and to register attendees have been recruited.

VLA encourages attendance at the VLA Conference at the Homestead. The Youth Services Forum will be sponsoring "Once Upon a Time" on Thursday night from 8:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. during which participants can share a story or booktalk. The Youth Services Forum is also sponsoring a musical program with Sharon Zoumbaris on Friday and Saturday as well as the Jefferson Cup program on Thursday afternoon.

VLA Council news was reported. VLA is encouraging library directors to send staff members to VLA programs and to become members of VLA. The Intellectual Freedom Committee and the Legislative Committee are meeting to discuss the implications of the Virginia law HB748 which concerns providing printed pornography to minors in Virginia. This law was amended to include electronic formats. The Awards and Recognition Committee announced among other awards the George Mason Award for the Williamsburg Regional Library for its cancer center. The Intellectual Freedom Committee is hosting a Banned Books Week Display contest. The Program Planner's Workshop will be held on November 12, 1999 by the Continuing Education Committee at the Library of Virginia from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. The Membership Committee has devised a new flyer with information about VLA for next year.

The purpose, objectives, and responsibilities of the Youth Services Forum were distributed, and planning for the new year was discussed. The Youth Services Forum can help the Library of Virginia with its strategic plan by helping to provide youth services programming and also by serving as conduits for information. The key areas that the Youth Services Forum will work on next year are:
1) Getting the word out about what the Youth Services Forum is all about,
2) Finding a better way of communicating that is cost-effective, and
3) Offering something of value to members such as continuing education programs, train the trainer programs, or regional road trips.
Contact Rebecca Purdy with any further ideas.

The Library of Virginia is fine tuning the strategic plan. Currently the main focus is on statewide reading promotion with the Summer Reading Program and the Read-Aloud Virginia initiative. A list of read-aloud favorites will be created. There may be a technology institute in late spring. Information about the youth services grants has been mailed to the libraries. Contact Pat Muller at the Library of Virginia for more information. The due date for applicants is December 1, 1999. YALSA wants to know what libraries are doing for Teen Read Week. Send any information on teen programs for this event to YALSA. The theme for Teen Read Week 2000 will be "Say Read" and will be used each year with different subthemes. Demco will create bookmarks, posters, and maybe tattoos.

Sherry Pearson and Maureen Harrill reported on Region I news. Highlights included storyteller Linda Goodman presenting "Shivers and Shrieks," a celebration of the 30th anniversary of "Sesame Street," storyteller Mary Veverka during National Library Week, a teen lock-in for Halloween with ghost stories, pizza and tacos, and a "Book Feast!" for National Children's Book Week encouraging kids to read with books on food. Also various storytimes, library card sign-up events, and Mother Goose Time celebrations were reported.

Lorry Risinger reported on Region II news. The Kindergarten Kick-Off was a success for the second year in a row. The guest speaker was a real kindergarten teacher. Graduated kindergartners were also in attendance.

Region III was not present.

Ginger Armstrong distributed a report from Region IV. Highlights included a visit from the Loud Poetry Guy, a children's festival and 75th anniversary celebration in Petersburg, library card sign-up events, and a "Sleepytime in the Library" program with teens reading bedtime stories to preschoolers. A lock-in will be hosted in Powhatan near Halloween with a costume fashion show, ghost stories, and scary movies. Various storytimes have continued for the fall.

Rebecca Purdy distributed a report on Region V news. Programs included "Scary Stories on the Lawn" for ages 6-11, storytelling by Milbre Burch, poetry slams, a visit by author Joan Bauer, internet classes, and bilingual storytimes. Ginger Schwartz sent a report on the following highlighted events: introductory rollerblading, music with Peter McCrory, Historical Impressions performances, author Rosalyn Schanzer's visit, George Circling Eagle's introduction to black pioneers, a storytelling workshop by Rhonda Belyea, and an introduction to sign language.

The Youth Services Forum is currently looking for a regional representative for Region VI.

The Jefferson Cup Committee is looking for any interested members. If anyone is interested in serving on the Jefferson Cup Committee, please contact Sherry Inabinet by phone 804-725-3338 (home) or 804-758-5717 (work), by fax at (804) 758-5919 or by e-mail at inabinet@inna.net.

The next meeting will be held after the Jefferson Cup program at the Homestead at the VLA Conference on October 28, 1999.