1. Welcome and Call to Order at 12:30. Introductions were made.
2. Review of 1999 minutes. Minutes were available on the section home page. Gale Dutcher moved to approve the minutes and Cheryl Dee seconded the motion.
3. Reports:
A. Secretary's Report -- Kris Alpi
The future of the MLES mailing list and/or listserv was discussed. The current mailing list maintained by the MLES Secretary does not allow interactive discussion or self-management capabilities. Kris outlined several options with their pluses and minuses, then recommended moving to a listserv at a free site like eGroups. Chery Dee was not sure that there was a need for a listserv. Two possible university hosts were mentioned.
B. Treasurer's Report -- Kris Alpi
Starting balance on 5/4/99 was $3613.88. After dues and interest income and $1125.00 in library school reunion donations, and less our donation of $325.00 to the McClure Award Endowment, the ending balance on 5/2/00 was $5194.48. The section gained six members -- rising to 98 as of 1/31/00. Ellen Detlefsen moved to approve the minutes and MaryEllen Sievert seconded the motion.
Some of the reunion donations are still owed to MLA for the reunion expenses. Reunion donations for 2000 are going directly to MLA. At the Section Treasurer meeting held on Monday, May 8 it was discussed that sections should not carry large reserves of funds. MLES has a large reserve fund considering its small expenses, and need to expend the unexpectedly large amount of remaining donations. The members in attendance agreed that providing some travel grant up to $250 for the 2001 New Perspectives participants would be an excellent way to expend some of the funds. The amount will be determined based on number of speakers and funding needed.
C. Webmaster Report -- Kris Alpi
The web site needs to be moved from its current home at the New York Academy of Medicine. MLANET is still working on prices and services for web and listserv hosting. Questions about search engines, archived MLA reports, and section information within the MLA Membership Directory have not yet been resolved. Areas of work include membership benefits/brochure, MLES section history, and sharing of regular reports and goal statements.
D. Nominating Committee Report -- Ellen Detlefsen
Elections went smoothly this year. 96 ballots were mailed and 17 valid ballots were received by the deadline. Ballot mailing was paid for by the University of Pittsburgh. MLES needs some new leadership. Angela Ruffin of NLM had e-mailed Alex Dimitroff to volunteer. Keith Cogdill was another potential officer mentioned. The Chair will look at the Bylaws to establish whether MLES needs a nominee to the Nominating Committee.
E. Section Council Report -- Alex Dimitroff
MLANET funding for sections is being discussed. Program planning will be done early. Scheduling is a major concern -- two section business meeting times and two informal for SIGs to meet. Chery Dee recommended evening sessions.
F. Program Chair -- Alex Dimitroff
Abstract management software will be used for 2001 meeting abstracts. MLES was invited to participate in several other sections programs -- Medical Informatics, EMTS, Research, and Public Services Section -- in addition to our own New Perspectives session and the Reunion. The Program Chair is the organizer and moderator for the New Perspectives session, as well as blinded and distributing the abstracts to the jurors from the Executive Board.
G. Library School Reunion -- Gale Dutcher
With the approval of the Board, MLA has assumed financial responsibilities for the Reunion and the NPC will do the fund raising. BIOSIS donated $1000 this year. Gale sent letters/pledge forms to the Deans copying the health sciences faculty. MLA will send out the letters. Two schools sent things for the tables. Over 200 people attended. There were some setup problems in the room. Gale will ask Angela Ruffin if she would be interested in taking over reunion organizing.
4. Old Business
A. MLES Membership Brochure
Kris had asked Lynda Baker as recommended last year. Lynda responded that nothing had been done and that she was not interested in continuing to work on it. Marty Thompson mentioned that MLES is going to be asked for information for MLANET.
B. Archives and Section History
Kris asked about whether there was a section archive or history. Linda Smith had been active in this area, and it was suggested that she be contacted.
5. New Business
Chery Dee brought up the fact that incoming MLA President Carol Jenkins asked if MLES wanted to be involved with making health sciences library education part of her platform. The MLA President wants to visit library schools and support distance education for health sciences. One idea was to offer mini MLA poster sessions at schools presenting the work of local colleagues.
Ellen Detlefsen talked about the US News ranking of health information programs and that we should find out more about the how and when the ranking are done. There is a personnel crisis looming and MLES needs to think about rejuvenation, recruitment and succession. At the MLA Job Booth, there were 27 applicants for 80 jobs. People are afraid to specialize.
Adjuncts teach most of the health sciences librarianship classes--only a few are full-time tenured faculty and some have become deans which cut down on teaching. Adjuncts are also teaching other classes with broader appeal like internet resources, consumer health, special libraries and medical informatics.
Chery Dee is on the national mentoring task force. She asked how do we mentor future doctoral candidates and what are the residency requirements for doctoral work?
Ellen asked for other new business. The meeting adjourned around 2:00 pm.
The minutes were taken by Kristine Alpi.