Women's Issues Section

Minutes on the meeting of the Executive Committee
Saturday, August 2, 2003 14:30 - 17:20
Friday, August 8, 2003 10:15 - 12:15
Berlin, Germany

I. The meeting was called to order by Leena Siitonen, Chair of the IFLA Women's Issues Section (WIS). Monica Ertel, Secretary/Treasurer was also present. Leena welcomed the group to the meeting and introductions were made around the room of all attendees. Approximately 20 people attended each meeting as noted at the end of this report. The following people are members of the Section:

Leena Siitonen (Chair), Monica Ertel (Secretary/Treasurer), Maitrayee Ghosh (Information Coordinator), Thelma Tate (Newsletter Editor), Kalpana Dasgupta (India), Marta Terry (Cuba), Mary Biblo (USA), Claire McInerney (USA), Salma Chowdhury (Bangladesh), Subair Roselyn (Nigeria), Olufunmilola Olorunda (Nigeria), Sunita Barve (India), Jackie Druery (USA), Karin Alexander (Germany), Ruth Bature (Nigeria)

II. Leena Siitonen and Monica Ertel were elected as chairperson and secretary for the meeting. The agenda was approved and adopted.

Leena reported on the status of the Women's Issues Section. WIS needs to report to IFLA about how we plan to organize ourselves. The program in Glasgow last year was well- attended and feedback was positive. In Berlin, the satellite meeting on globalization and access to information by women on July 31 was successful. Leena expressed appreciation to Karin Alexander and her institute for outstanding support for the satellite meeting. People from nine countries attended and there were eleven speakers. The meeting was co-sponsored by the Library and Information Science Journals Section which gave good support. They are interested in helping to publish articles from the meeting. Brochures for the WIS are now available in English, French, German and Spanish. The Chair thanked the translators : Barbara Sommer - German; Marianne Clatin - French and Daniel Tejeiro Pisarro - Spanish. We are currently soliciting speakers for the program next year and the call for papers has gone out in English, French and Spanish. Leena reported that the publication of the collection of papers presented at the Round Table on Women's Issues programs over the past ten years has been compiled and submitted to the publisher, twenty-eight papers in total.

V. Treasurer's Report

Monica reported that the Section ended the year with $264.33 US. After conference expenses, the Section has $67.33 US in it's coffers. Concern was expressed about building up the reserves. Mary Biblo suggested that the Treasurer's Report be published in the Newsletter when it is submitted to IFLA Headquarters in October.

VI. Report of the Newsletter Editor

Thelma Tate reported on the WIS Newsletter, co-edited by herself and Beth Stafford. Two issues were published this year. Over two hundred copies were sent out. Both issues were mounted on IFLANET. Thelma is in the process of updating the mailing list. She suggested that we have regional representatives or coordinators from each continent or country about developments in their region. Current circulation of the newsletter is 120.

VII. Women's Issues Section Organization

1. The Section must revise and update its strategic plan for 2004-2005. Leena asked for input and suggestions. At the second board meeting of the Section, time was spent going through the plan and important changes and updates were made. Leena will compile the plan and send the draft around for comments.
2. Leena discussed the process for nomination of new section standing committee members who will serve until 2005. Signups were sent around the room. The Chair also announced that there was a need for a new Information Coordinator and Maitrayee Ghosh (India) volunteered.
3. IFLA will be reviewing each Section's effectiveness over the next couple of years. WIS needs to start to compile information for this review process. Kalpana Dasgupta (India) suggested that WIS bring forth a resolution to the Council regarding the importance of emphasizing women's information needs in all sections throughout IFLA. A group will meet at the IFLA Booth during the time allotted for WIS to work on the resolution. The resolution was accepted by IFLA and was presented as #8 at the Council II meeting. It passed with some discussion.

VIII. Ideas about promoting WIS within IFLA

A discussion was held about how WIS can effectively fit into the new five-day conference program. Each section can have one session of two hours. Barbara Ford noted that another program at this conference was focusing on women's issues and that WIS should support this effort. She suggested that the Chair send a thank you note to the speaker and to the section chair. Thelma suggested that a joint program could be held together with Mobile Libraries Section. It was also suggested that WIS members make announcements at their country caucus meetings about WIS to promote awareness and attendance at our programs.

IX. Publications/Communications

1. Leena reported on a new project to publish, possibly as a monograph, invited papers on women's issues. She would like to encourage new and young writers to contribute. Eileen Breen, of the Library and Information Science Journals Section has agreed to help find places to publish this information although it was noted that IFLA has the first right of refusal on these papers. Some possible article ideas included information needs of women and the status of women in libraries.
2. The brochure was discussed and the group declared that they liked the logo used by Monica on the Call for Papers for Buenos Aries (woman holding a book over her head). Monica will determine if the logo can be modified to include the woman standing on a globe. Leena mentioned that when translations are required, we consider paying a modest fee to ensure that the work gets done properly as it takes a special skill to do translations. Leena then passed around the brochures and asked members to help distribute them.
3. Monica Ertel reported on the WOMENISS listserv. There are thirty-eight subscribers. There seems to be some problem posting information to the site and she will work with Sophie Felföldi at IFLA to resolve this. Input to discussions was encouraged.
4. The group discussed the need for the IFLA website to be updated with information about WIS. Now that we have a new Information Coordinator, this will be a more efficient and up-to-date process.
5. The monograph of papers from past Round Table on Women's Issues programs as mentioned above has been compiled and will soon be published by K.G. Sauer. At the second meeting of the WIS on August 8, 2003, Leena announced that the papers will be published as IFLA Publications number 106 in the fall. The title is "Women's Issues at IFLA: Equality, Gender and Information on Agenda." The total number of pages in the publication is 270 and represents papers from 1993 - 2002. The group recognized Leena for her outstanding effort and congratulated her on the impending publication of this important work.

X. Programs

No open program was held in Berlin due to the work involved in setting up the successful satellite meeting. Two WIS business meetings were held in Berlin. WIS had a time set aside to work in the IFLA booth. All members were encouraged to attend. Work has begun to solicit papers for the WIS program in Buenos Aires. A Poster Session will be planned by Thelma, Maitrayee and Mary. Members need to think about themes for programs in Oslo, Seoul and Quebec.

Leena mentioned the need for a working group for organising a satellite meeting and a program in Oslo. Olofunmilola Olorunda (Nigeria) agreed to lead this effort. A suggested theme was "Women's Issues in Peace-Making." Another idea proposed by Marianne Clatin (France) and Lorraine Jackson (USA) was to have a tea sponsored by WIS to get women to talk informally.

XI. Leena thanked all members for active participation. The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted by
San Rafael, California, USA August 29, 2003

Monica Ertel, Secretary/Treasurer

Attendees: