Readers' Section Business Meeting
October 27, 2005

 

Present

Catherine Hansen (vice chair/chair elect), Katie Schulz (bibliographies), Sandy Sechrest (Literary Awards Committee chair), Trish Iaccarino Peterson (secretary), Desiree Bongers (past chair), Jamie Birkett (Web master), Maureen Welch (chair), Mary Dunn (newsletter)

 

Minutes

Minutes from the May 2005 business meeting were approved.

By-laws

Modifications to the by-laws were approved.

Programming

WAPL 2005 - the viewers' advisory program and the book discussion were both very well attended.

WLA 2005 - Sandy estimated there were 40-50 people at the Banta program, but it was hard to tell for sure. Our program on the romance genre is scheduled for this afternoon.

Wisconsin Book Festival - there were five book discussions scheduled. For the most part, these were not well attended. We will probably offer fewer discussions next year and not schedule any on Sunday. Also, we should make sure that there are strong ties between the books discussed and the authors who are speaking at the festival (however, this does not imply that the authors will be present at the book discussions).

WAPL 2006 - We usually organize a notable genre book marathon with four people on the panel. Suggestions for panel members included Maureen Welch (romance), Gary Warren Niebuhr (mystery), Desiree Bongers (lad lit), Bev DeWeese (science fiction), and Katie Schulz (creative non-fiction).

Other suggestions for WAPL programs included a session on how to lead a book discussion (Catherine has someone in mind who might be able to present on this topic - she can check with the person) and/or a program on readers' advisory on the Web. We had a short discussion on how libraries have incorporated this on their Web sites. River Falls PL has links to readers advisory sites, as does La Crosse PL. Oshkosh PL features staff reviews. Sheboygan PL uses DearReader. Madison PL and Hedberg PL also feature readers advisory on their sites. Some libraries use commercial services, others use a homegrown approach. Perhaps we could have a panel of people discussing different approaches. This program may also be appropriate for WLA 2006. Regardless, we'll plan on two programs for WAPL, plus a book discussion, plus the business meeting.

We should probably ask the person who presents the program on leading a book discussion group to actually lead the book discussion at WAPL!

Bibliographies

For the past two years, we have been primarily photocopying existing bibliographies. Only two have been added recently - one on chick lit and one on women sleuths. We need to generate some new book lists. Maureen is still planning to do one on romance. Catherine proposed one on triathalons. We should probably set a deadline - otherwise, time gets away from people. We thought October 1 sounded like a reasonable deadline.

Book Kits

Jamie created a link to Reference and Loan's Web site.

Newsletter

Please send Mary articles! The newsletter is published twice a year - before WLA and WAPL. However, Mary graciously accepts articles year-round.

Website

The link to the speakers bureau is not working yet. Jamie anticipates it will be operational by mid-November. The speakers bureau is a database of local speakers who are willing to do programs and readers advisory in/for libraries. This service was advertised in our newsletter.

Literary Awards Committee

Good turnout of the Banta program; Notable Books Marathon is scheduled for Friday morning. Maureen is recruiting new members for the 2006 committee. She's had about 10 responses so far - three or four of them requested additional information.

Old Business

None

New Business

We'll discuss recruitment for next year's board at our next business meeting (at WAPL).