1. Meeting called to order

2. Approval of meeting minutes

• January 12 meeting minutes are approved with removal of attendance list before posting to the blog.

3. ALA@UBC T-Shirt Design Contest

• A secret, paper ballot vote was conducted to select one of two designs submitted by Alyssa Feir for the ALA@UBC t-shirt design contest. The vote resulted in a tie, and the decision was made to send out a Doodle poll so that there could be a new vote, which will include color options for the t-shirt (green logo on a black shirt, white logo on a black shirt, white logo on a cranberry shirt, and gold logo on a navy shirt). The last day to vote will be Friday, February 10.

4. Old Business

• Surrey Library tour recap: The tour was great! There was a great turnout, and the group received a private tour from David Kerr. The facility is gorgeous and boasts public art, meeting, studying, and computer space, as well as a coffee shop. The library also rents space to SFU for an educational satellite campus. The library is the crown jewel of the city’s redevelopment plans and is in the process of developing its collection. It’s an exciting time to be at the Surrey Library! A thank you note has been sent.
• Marathon Reading:
  – Carrie was at a meeting with Megan Langley at the Carnegie Center, so Chelsea reported out on the progress of the event planning.
  – The Dodson Room (CORRECTION: It’s actually the Lillooet Room) has been reserved for March 7. The possibility of adding another day (March 6 or March 8) to the event at UBC was discussed, but the majority of the group felt that having the UBC portion of the event last only one day and then having an open mic event at Carnegie Center would be preferable.
  – The Creative Writing program has confirmed interest in participating.
  – Carrie created a document that breaks March 7 into 15-minute reading chunks so that people can sign up for reading slots. The sign-up sheet was passed around so that people could put their names down for readings. A Google doc will be created for additional Marathon Reading sign-ups.
  – It will also be necessary to have people sign up for 1- or 2-hour slots to come in and keep an eye on things, like the reading schedule, food, and money. People on the event coordinating committee can sign up for monitoring first, but other ALA folks should be aware that they may be called upon, too.
  – Carrie proposes the idea of a raffle. Everyone that reads would have their name put into a hat and a gift card would go to the winner. Would ALA be wiling to contribute $50 for a local gift certificate? The group seems fine with the idea of donating $50 for a raffle, but suggested that there actually be multiple prizes (buying at least three gift certificates with the $50). People suggested that the gift certificates could be for a bookstore, VPL gift shop, or a coffee shop.
  – The suggestion was made that ALA-ers should bring in a bunch of books (classics, poetry, Dr. Seuss) for people to read in case they drop in.
  – The suggestion was also made that the people who are there to monitor should be prepared to jump in and do extra readings if no one shows up / signs up.
  – Someone asked if there would be someone who could take photos.
  – Someone suggested having an audio book playing when no one is reading.

• Cherry Blossom / Haiku Event
  – Nick spoke with the Ritsumeikan folks, and they suggested having the event over the course of two weeks on February 28 and March 6 (12-1 p.m.).
  – The event will include learning about haiku, writing haiku, and finding a haiku master.
  – Ritsumeikan has offered the use of their tatami room and will also provide food and prizes for the winners.
  – Nick will make a poster (partly in Japanese) and will sent it out to the Ritsumeikan students by the end of the week.
  – 10 people from SLAIS will also be able to attend. People will be asked to sign up and a waiting list can be kept if the number exceeds 10. People who sign up should commit to participating both weeks.
  – Brigid Winter volunteered to take photos at the event.
  – Nick will write a blurb and send it to Layla so that she can sent the invitation to the SLAIS admin list.
  – An idea is proposed to decorate a tree in SLAIS with the haikus written on pink paper and to ask people to donate funds and also to help chose a haiku champion.

• ALA@UW collaboration update
  – Elspeth and Mary have been in touch with ALA@UW, and they have an event planned for April 4 with the president of ALA, so getting together in the spring probably won’t work for them. We will begin to plan an event for the fall.
  – If there are people attending the ALA conference over the summer, a mixer can be organized for members of the two groups. Since Sarah Fallik will be attending as UBC’s representative, she can potentially help organize.
  – UW is on the quarter system, so they don’t start until later in September, which needs to be considered when planning events for the fall.
  – If you have ideas for events with UW, let Elspeth know.

5. New Business

• ALA events and ALA week themes: There are lots of ALA theme weeks around which we can plan events, such as Teen Tech Week in March, Freedom of Information Day in March, National Library Week in April, and lots of events in September and throughout the fall. We can potentially team up with a local library to put together an event and discussion.
• Don’t forget to sign up to be an official member of ALA! Just go to the membership section of their website. It’s only $30 for students and it’s good for your resume to be a card carrying member of the organization.

6. Next Meeting

• The next meeting will be on February 29 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. (CORRECTION: It will actually be 12-1 p.m.) in the Trail Room at SLAIS.

7. Meeting adjourned