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July, 2001, Annual Assembly
Austin, Texas
In attendance: John Slate, Mike Miller,
Delores Greenwald, Jackie Chetzron, Joe Specht, Ann Loggins, Charles
Harrell, Martha Knott, Carol Johnson, Jo Ann Oliphant, Peggy Mueller;
Sherilyn Bird, presiding.
Donald Davis, Diantha Dawkins, Julie Todaro, James Stewart
and Nancy Smith also participated in the meeting.
Welcome and Introductions: Sherilyn expressed
appreciation for the attendance and interest of the committee members; she
distributed the membership roster to committee members. Attendees
introduced themselves. Nancy Smith, representing the Program Committee,
asked a representative from the Committee to attend the Centennial Circle
meeting. JoAnn Oliphant, Charles Harrell offered to represent the Program
Committee. The Committee discussed program plans for Annual Conference.
The group agreed to interview past presidents Cynthia Grey, Gretchen Staas,
Pat Doyle, and Charles Harrell for the War Stories Program. Margaret
Nicholls has agreed to conduct the taped interviews. Group also agreed to
review transcripts for interesting historical data that could be used by
the Centennial and Program Committees. [Thanks to those who stayed and
read through transcripts - I plan to compile our suggestions shortly and
send them to the TLA office and the appropriate Committee chairs shortly.]
Don Davis - History Committee asked the Committee to
support the publication of the Chronology and the Bibliography of Texas
Library History. Don explained the books would cost between $2500-$3000
each at $27.36 per title. He suggested a publication run of 250 numbered
copies. He envisioned dedicating the books to the organization(s) that
provided support for publication. Don also planned to talk to the Friends
of the State Library and the Tocker Foundation to solicit support for the
project. He felt he would be more successful in his bids for support if
he could say that TLA, as an organization supported the project. Don also
talked about posting a web version of the books which would be freely
accessible from TLA's or the State Library's WebPages with the appropriate
links. Julie Todaro, Executive Board liaison to the History Committee,
and Charles Harrell helped the Committee understand the cost and other
issues related to this project.
The Committee agreed to support the publications by
authorizing $600 of the History Committee's budget, earmarked for
transcriptions, to be spent to support the publication of these 2 titles
($300 per title) instead of transcriptions. The Committee also asked the
Executive Board to support the publication by lending their name to the
project and authorizing $600 from TLA to support the books - hence, TLA's
total support would be $1200. Committee members understood TLA's budget
is very tight but felt that money will not always be tight and when viewed
with hindsight failure to support this project would be seen as a
mistake. In addition, a donor who has asked not to be named at this time,
graciously offered $600 to support the
publication projects.
Budget report: Handbook sales total $1472.
Charles Harrell suggested the TLA Executive Board meeting minutes from
December, 1999 should be reviewed. His memory was the TLA Executive Board
authorized the History Committee to use the proceeds from the Handbook
sales. The Board agreed that funds generated by the sale of the Handbook
could be used to support other publication projects. Committee members
discussed ways to generate more sales of the publication. They agreed to
help man the TLA booth to sell copies of the book. Charles agreed to draft
a letter urging public libraries to purchase copies of the Handbook.
Sherilyn reported she requested a total budget of $3835. Primary expenses
will be the cost of taping the War Stories event ($800). $3000 - tape
transcriptions (15 at $200/each now reduced to $2400 to support the
publication projects) and $25 to purchase professional quality tapes for
interviews.
Brief discussion about value of requesting future budgets
to cover the cost of preserving guillotined copies of Handbook of Texas
Libraries.
Distribution of interview questions. Sherilyn distributed
interview questions for the Committee to react to. There was agreement
that these questions, developed by Erma Jean Loveland, are excellent. The
committee expressed their appreciation for Erma Jean's work.
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Tell me briefly about your childhood: parents' name;
where were you born, brothers/sisters, education.
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How did you become interested in libraries?
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What prompted you to attend library school?
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Librarians who have had an influence in your career
or/and your role in TLA?
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What was your first job in a library?
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Tell me about your other library positions.
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When did you become active in TLA? What/Who caused you
to be interested in TLA?
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How did TLA influence your career?
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What are some of the projects in which you are/have been
involved with TLA?
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Who were some of the people you worked with in your
beginning TLA roles?
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Which TLA conference is your most memorable one?
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What circumstances made you agree to be the TLA
President?
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What are the nicest memories about your presidency? What
went right?
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What was the worst nightmare about the TLA Presidency?
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What were the issues and/or accomplishments during your
presidency?
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Who do you remember as a good team member from your
presidency?
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In a nutshell, how would you sum up your presidency?
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Other information, events, stories you would like to tell
for the record. What do you see in the future for TLA?
Distribution of Updated List of Candidates to Interview
plus brainstorming session for additional names. See attached list. John
Slate was scheduled to interview E. Polk, but Elizabeth has pressing
family business to attend, so we plan to have June Berry interview her in
Austin at their convenience. The TLA recorder is in the TLA office in
Austin. Peggy Mueller has agreed to interview Kathy P and other office
staff. James Stewart plans to interview Pat Smith - committee agreed Pat's
interview will be sealed as long as she is working for TLA. Carole
Johnson will schedule an interview with Carol Bartz in Houston. [Note
there is a misspelling - Alicia Salinas, not Alice.]
Email interviews: is this a good idea? After a brief
discussion, the Committee agreed to pursue email interviews. There are
several people who have moved out of state or who are difficult to
contact. Discussed using emails instead of oral interviews are as a "warm
up" event that precedes the oral interview. Good email interviews may
eliminate transcription costs. Clara Mounce agreed to interview Evelyn
King, and Lowell Lindsey via email. Martha Knott and Charles Harrell also
offered to conduct email interviews, but I am unable to report with whom.
[If you see other good candidates for email interviews when you read the
attached list - please let me know. The TLA office has waiver forms for
interviews which we like to get signed at the time of the interview. The
interviewee may review the interview and amend it before signing the
waiver, if they prefer.]
Sherilyn reported Janis Test is planning to write an
article for TL Journal.
The group adjourned to review transcripts and to cull out
information that could be of value.
Respectfully submitted,
Sherilyn Bird
I am very appreciative that Jackie Chetzron took these
minutes. It was a long meeting and we covered many items. If you see
something I inadvertently omitted please send an amendment. Other items:
Thank you for your attendance and participation. I will keep you posted
of our program plans. I encourage you to conduct interviews if you live
near someone on our list. I also encourage you to think about names we
should be adding to the list. This seems like a good agenda item for
the next meeting. Several people suggested that an excellent tape to
transcribe would be the interview between James Stewart and Margaret
Nichols - I will ask Gloria to pursue this. -- Sherilyn
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