Youth Services Forum Executive Committee
February 11, 2000
Charlottesville, VA

Attending: Ginger Armstrong, Linda Gosnell, Maureen Harrill, Sue Llewellyn, Diantha McCauley, Sherry Pearson, Jessica Printz, Rebecca Purdy, Josie Schaffer

Sherry Pearson welcomed new representatives Sue Llewellyn and Jessica Printz and called the meeting to order with regional reports.

Maureen reported on Region I activities and handed out an "After Harry Potter" booklist designed by the Salem Public Library. She distributed a children's coordinator contact list for Region I. Sherry provided examples of the colorful signage created using a Corel software program.

Lorry Risinger from Region II mailed her regional report. Program highlights included free chess instruction in Amherst, a gingerbread house workshop in Lynchburg, open craft workshops, and best teen book booklists created by students in individual schools. Lawrenceville was awarded an E-Z Grant for the outreach "After School SOL Enrichment Program." With this program, one school, two churches, and the library become sites where preregistered third and fourth graders can go after school and improve their social studies SOL skills. Fourteen trained volunteers help the kids and are available at one of the sites once a week. The lessons were designed by a VCU traveling teacher who helps teachers teach the SOLs. Campbell County is looking for a Children's Coordinator and Cumberland County has a new building.

For Region III, Josie reported on the latest happenings in Norfolk. A Black History Month art contest will be held. The Virginia Opera Association will bring a trunk of costumes and scripts and perform bits of Cinderella. Todd Elliot will host a teen café. Job openings are available in Chesapeake. Josie is now the branch librarian at the Windsor Woods Library in Virginia Beach.

Jessica reported on Region IV news and turned in a contact list for the region. At Appomattox Regional, storytimes will continue. Highlights in Chesterfield County included a Dr. Seuss celebration complete with cake, a visit by Emmy-winning African American storyteller Bobby Norfolk, a "Meet the Mouse" program for beginner computer users, and a "Meet LINC" program to help patrons with the new automated system. Colonial Heights will continue with storytimes and will include outside visitors such as a local baseball coach or SPCA employee. In Essex, a part-time trainer from the library travels to schools, churches, daycare centers, and homes to teach storytime techniques. In Henrico County, John and Alexandra Wallner visited to discuss their biographies of famous Americans. "Edible Storytimes" and a visit from Bobby Norfolk were highlighted. In Petersburg, Wali Brandon performs as Frederick Douglass. Petersburg is also planning on creating a family resource center and are promoting themselves as a "City of Readers." Posters of the mayor, city manager, etc. will be seen throughout the community. Powhatan's teen group had a lock-in with a "Through the Decades" theme in which they dressed from a different decade. In Richmond, Living History Associates will present a Maggie Walker program. Patricia Boston was highly recommended for her African dance and music program. Alex-Zan will discuss African American inventors. The Westover Hills Branch held it 2nd Annual Winterfest Celebration with tropical birds provided by Shirley T.

Linda reported on Pamunkey Regional Library's activities. The 3-D film "Revenge of the Creature from the Black Lagoon" was shown during Teen Read Week. Open mike programs were held at the Rockville Branch. Bobby Norfolk will appear. Janubeary programs with teddy bear stories and crafts were offered.

Sue reported on Region V and distributed her contact list. In Arlington, a volunteer from Puerto Rico started a bilingual storytime. A special library night occurred where families came to the library on the school bus. A "Baby Steps" program, co-sponsored by Healthy Families, targets first mothers with the latest program offering nutritional information from a chef. In Alexandria, a brand new central library has opened. At Mary Riley Styles, a "Hogwart's Holiday" program and a presentation by Linda Fang are scheduled. In Loudoun, Sheryl McDaniels presents "African American Folk Tales." In March, a Kindermusic program for those ages 3-4 will be held and will allow kids to try on costumes from "A Child's Life in the 1850's." Shakta Khalsa will present a yoga program. In Fairfax, a father/son book group called "Calling All Guys" will be held where boys can invite their father or another male to join them for a book discussion. A Harriet Tubman program will be performed by InterAct Story Theatre. Fauquier County has a new children's librarian. Len Cabral will present a Black History Month program. The Teen Advisory Board is having a tye-dye program and plans to start a teen web page. During Christmas, Fauquier provided Headstart children with Gumdrop Square where Headstart kids could pick out two presents for family members and one free book. King George continues with storytimes. Prince William will host Barefoot Puppets and Harry Potter events. A Redwall Feast and Leap Year Tea Party are also scheduled. Wali Brandon will perform "Shut My Mouth Wide Open" and the annual "Science Projects Without Tears" will be offered as well.

The October minutes were approved without addition or correction.

Rebecca reported on VLA Council news. Everyone is encouraged to renew VLA membership. Membership packets will be mailed to all new and returning members. The directory will not be ready until June. If you need to borrow a coffee pot for a VLA program, contact Linda Hahne. Mousepads containing Jefferson's quote are available from Linda Hahne.

The Continuing Education Committee has created charges for other committees such as creating a list of libraries that can provide space for meetings and workshops, identifying partners for workshop topics, and working on the VLA archives.

The 2000 VLA Conference will be held in Norfolk on October 19th and 20th. The 2001 Conference will be held in Richmond and the 2002 Conference will be a joint VLA/VEMA Conference at a site to be determined. Session proposals for the 2000 VLA Conference will arrive soon and ideas will be discussed at the next meeting.

On October 18th, the Program Planner's Workshop will be held and Rebecca encouraged all to attend. When creating flyers to promote our own programs, please list the price of the workshop and then the VLA member discounted price below the regular price.

Federal and state legislation regarding software and public domain rights was discussed at VLA Council. Contacting local representatives for information and to express opinions was recommended.

The Catholic University of America has a new dean and wants to strengthen library science programs in Richmond. They may offer a benefit to VLA members. They are also looking for adjunct faculty suggestions.

Rebecca requested that members look at the Youth Services Forum web page for the next meeting. The group will discuss additions to the web page.

ALA members can sign up for a copyright tutorial by e-mail. Non-ALA members must pay a fee. To sign up for the tutorial, send an e-mail to: listproc@ala1.ala.org. Leave the subject line blank. In the body of the e-mail, type "subscribe tutorial first name last name."

Pat Muller sent a list of youth-list listserv members which was distributed to all present. All members on the listserv are not necessarily VLA members. It was suggested that all Youth Services Forum program flyers be sent to all members on the list.

Welcome packets for new members were discussed. Ginger will compile membership welcome packets that will include contact lists, duty description, our mission, program planning information, sample reports, meeting date schedule, survey form, YSF flyer, sample of program flyers, stationery, VLA membership form, roster, directions, youth-list flyer, Jefferson Cup flyer, list of all YSF members, and the VLA region map.

To better publicize the Youth Services Forum, the group discussed handing out Youth Services Forum surveys and VLA membership forms at the Summer Reading Program Workshop and at any other children's events throughout the state. The group will also send e-mails to the youth-list that will allow listserv members to link to the Youth Services Forum web page. To provide more information, the group discussed accompanying a reference and the performer's phone number for performers listed in the regional reports. It was also requested that those regions with one regional representative find a second representative to help with regional business.

Rebecca distributed a folder of program planning information which included a calendar of actions, program expense estimate sheet, Continuing Education Committee liaison roster, reimbursement request form, program planners' checklist, and a program evaluation form.

Then the group discussed possible program ideas for the Youth Services Forum this year. Diantha reported that the evaluations from last year's annual program requested programs on successful program ideas, booktalking, teen advisory boards, and outreach. A program idea sharing workshop was suggested. This program could be offered regionally and minutes from each workshop could be offered on the web page when completed. Presenters could provide handouts with their program idea and their contact information. The workshops would be held in the fall. Regional representatives were asked to call their contacts and ask them their thoughts about this kind of workshop and to think about where they would like the workshop to be held. One flyer could be distributed with the dates of all regional workshops listed.

The Jefferson Cup Committee this year is comprised of former chairs who are re-evaluating the award process. The committee hopes to announce the winner in April.

The next meeting date will be April 7. Additional meeting dates are June 9 and September 22. All meetings will be held at the Gordon Avenue Library.

The meeting adjourned.