Letter from the President

From the President –

It has been a busy fall for RUSA and it is about to get even busier! It is hard to believe that Midwinter is nearly upon us. Check out the information below to find the places where you can contribute.

Framing the Future

ALA and RUSA are working hard to better serve our members. This includes spending time planning for the future. At the Joint Boards meeting at the end of October, ALA Division leaders and the ALA Executive Committee joined with ALA staff to begin to reimagine ALA as a more collaborative, nimble and flexible organization. The results of the discussions are being put together now. Stay tuned for more information and ideas from President Maureen Sullivan as we move toward Midwinter.

The RUSA Executive Committee met for a day and a half at the Chicago meeting as well. Four big plans have come out of those discussions:

Pilot Test for Free Webinars during 2012-2013

The RUSA Board has agreed to try a pilot test to use our new Blackboard Collaborate software to host several free webinars in 2013. RUSA will support and pay all costs for one free webinar for each section. Watch RUSA-L and ALA Connect to find out which webinars you will want to attend!

Not signed up for RUSA-L yet? Here’s the information you need to get started:http://www.ala.org/rusa/communications/lists

Strategic Planning

RUSA’s 2012-2015 Strategic Plan is under discussion to put actions in place to achieve the objectives identified by the plan. I urge you to review the plan and think about what you need form RUSA. You can find the strategic plan on the RUSA Web site at: http://www.ala.org/rusa/sites/ala.org.rusa/files/content/about/rusa-strategic-plan.pdf

Before Midwinter, we will invite all of you to comment on the plan and its objectives and suggest activities for RUSA. Watch ALA Connect and RUSA-L for more details!

Learning Outcomes and Knowledge Coordination Task Force

The RUSA membership survey a little over a year ago and RUSA Structures Task Force report last year noted that the highest priority for our members is professional development opportunity. In order to do this right, though, we need to have a coherent plan to tie together professional development, programming, the hybrid programming that is partly professional development and partly programming, and the resources of the web site. A new task force is beginning the conversation. The group has been asked to:

  • Consult widely within RUSA and create a vision for a coordinated approach to professional development, programs, and publications.
  • Develop a sustainable plan for virtual programs
  • Develop a measurable plan for provide professional education through a variety of formats.
  • Develop a sustainable plan for the RUSA website so that our web site is useful to members and includes information that members can use in their daily work.

RUSA Review Task Force

There is a great deal of work going on at ALA to re-imagine the whole organization as a more collaborative and nimble group. As I mentioned earlier, the discussions at the Joint Boards meeting in Chicago in late October were focused on a return to major priorities. As part of that return, there will be a concerted look at the organization, with a focus on reducing duplication and fostering collaboration to make ALA more attractive to members who can no longer afford to spend as much time or money as in days past.

Thanks to the hard work of many individuals and groups, we have good information about RUSA’s sections and standing committees. There is, however, a piece missing that we need to have in place if we are to respond to the opportunities any changes in ALA will bring to us in the near future. We know that our sections are a great strength. The Executive Committee and I believe that it is time to look at RUSA as a whole in the way that we have been so successful in reviewing sections. It is important for us to think about the role of RUSA in this new ALA. Our primary outcome is a re-invigorated RUSA in which members are enthusiastic about what they can do and what RUSA can give them. We want to be confident that RUSA as an organization can continue to meet changing member needs.

A new task force is being formed to lead this review. It will complete its work in September 2013. Please watch for your chance to provide input to this important process.

Special Committee Initiatives

The Resource Development Committee is hard at work to identify ways that RUSA can develop programs and services that provide more income for RUSA activities. Have ideas? Contact Gary White at gww2@umd.edu.

The Just Ask Team was formed to develop a vision of both reference librarians and reference services to help RUSA advocate for the support and development of quality reference services. The committee will work to design promotional materials that convey the value of reference librarians and services in all types of libraries to both the profession and the general public It now has two co-chairs, Diana Shonrock and Elizabeth Stephan. Under their leadership, the team is planning a Discussion Forum in Seattle on Sunday, January 27 from 8:30 to 10:00 AM at the Midwinter meeting in Seattle to identify the roles and duties of reference librarians in different types of libraries, to begin to revise the RUSA definition of reference services, to identify needed advocacy tools, and to plan for a needs assessment study of reference librarians. We hope you will join the conversation at the Red Lion Hotel Fifth Avenue, Emerald II.

Annual RUSA Town Hall Meeting

RUSA meetings are listed in the ALA Midwinter Conference Scheduler. Those who are attending the conference can find out what RUSA is doing by visiting:http://alamw13.ala.org/scheduler.

Not able to attend Midwinter? You can still participate in RUSA planning. At the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle, join the RUSA Board either in person or online to participate in the annual Town Hall meeting on Saturday, January 26 at 1:30 PM in the Washington Convention Center, Room TCC 205.

Here are some questions to think about:

  • What keeps you involved in RUSA?
  • What encourages you to attend RUSA meetings?
  • What additional topics would you like to see in RUSA professional development activities?
  • What affinity areas would you like to see in RUSA (such as interest groups on particular topics that cross section levels)?

Don’t forget other fun activities at Midwinter, including:

RUSA Social

Saturday, January 26, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, Grand Hyatt Seattle, Leonesa I

A fun event where you can meet old friends and new, enjoying appetizers and a cash bar.

RUSA Book & Media Awards

Sunday, January 27, 5:00 – 6:30 pm, Renaissance Seattle Hotel, Municipal Room

A wonderful way to hear about the best of the best. This is where the top titles selected by RUSA CODES committees are announced.

Volunteer!

We want to include you in our work next year. The incoming RUSA President, Kathleen Kern, will be appointing RUSA level committees after Midwinter. Section vice-chairs will be appointing section committees as well.

We want to include you! Be sure to fill out the online form at the RUSA site. Go to: http://www.ala.org/rusa/about/divisioncommittees and click on the link to the RUSA Online Volunteer Form.

Click on Committee Rosters to see the charge for each group.

Tell us what you know and what you like to do. We will be listening!

In addition, we have lost a few committee members due to illness and changes in work responsibilities that do not allow them to be active this year. I will be filling several of these slots over the next few weeks.

The Last Word….

Let me take a moment to say a big THANK YOU to Susan Hornung and all of the RUSA staff, the members of the RUSA Executive Committee, RUSA Board, standing committees, and section leaders for their incredibly smart and hard work this past summer and fall. I look forward to even more fun this spring.

And as always, I want to hear from you about any ideas and suggestions you might have. Please write to me at popp@indiana.edu.

Mary Pagliero Popp
RUSA President 2012-2013

Division News: Awards, Events and Information You Can Use

RUSA Award Nomination Period Ends December 15

There’s still time to submit your nominations for RUSA’s 2013 awards! We have a multitude of travel grants, research grants and achievement awards available to you. Many offer cash prizes! Especially noteworthy are two new awards this year:the Gale Cengage History Research and Innovation Award encourages submissions from MLS degreed librarians looking to further research relating to history and history librarianship, and the BRASS Business Expert Press Award for Academic Business Librarians, which recognizes a librarian new to the field of academic business librarianship to attend the ALA Annual Conference. Review the entire list.

Holiday Shopping: We’ve got a book for you!

Looking for gifts for your fellow book lovers? Look no further than the award-winning titles selected by your RUSA colleagues! Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, genre fiction, audiobooks…there truly is something for everyone among our many literary awards. We’ve compiled all of the details and links into a single blog post to make your life easier–find it here. Happy gifting!

RUSA’s Midwinter Book and Media Awards Reception: Sunday, January 27 in Seattle

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Your expert readers advisory and collection development colleagues have been hard at work for the past twelve months, devouring newly-published books and scrutinizing new reference publications to determine who will take home the honors at Midwinter. Come be a part of the excitement and celebrate with us at the Book and Media Awards Reception.Get the event details, and make sure to add the event to your Midwinter schedule so we know you’re coming. If you can’t make it, follow our updates on our Facebook page or on Twitter, @ala_rusa, with the hashtag #literarytastes.

RUSA Membership Social: Time for Friends, New and Old

The Membership Social returns for another year of outstanding Saturday night fun at Midwinter! We encourage you to bring a friend, even if they’re not a RUSA member. The Membership Social will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the Leonesa Room in the Grand Hyatt Seattle.

Great prizes will be raffled off, too. Get the event details, and add it to your Midwinter schedule. This event is generously sponsored by Thomson Reuters. See you there!

Midwinter Meeting: Schedule Posted, Registration Still Available

Everything you could possibly want to know about the upcoming ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle is available at www.alamidwinter.org. Early Bird ends December 2, and Advance ends January 18. Come join us for intriguing conversations and fun events hosted by RUSA and ALA! Browse the Midwinter schedule.

Online Learning: Spring 2013 Courses Now Open for Registration

Whether you’re itching to learn new skills or need to brush up on the basics, RUSA’s online courses have got you covered! Topics include the reference interview, genealogy, ILL, business reference, readers advisory, health information and spatial literacy/online mapping. Individual and group registrations are available. Our health information course even offers CEUs! Review a full schedule.

Webinar Proposals Sought

Are you a subject matter expert or an experienced librarian with information to share? Consider submitting a webinar proposal! Presenters for approved webinars receive compensation and training on Blackboard Collaborate, our webinar presentation tool. Access a full list of topics we’re interested in and a link to the proposal form at the RUSA Blog.

Looking for a job? It’s a daunting task to sift through the excess of information about:

  • Finding a job
  • Preparing a resume and cover letter
  • Interviewing for a job
  • Discovering salary information
  • Negotiating a salary
  • Researching the job outlook for librarians
  • Identifying professional competencies for reference and user services librarians

RUSA can help! Our new Career Resources page on the RUSA website was developed specifically with reference and user services librarians in mind. Whether you’re looking for library positions in schools, academic libraries, public libraries, or special libraries, we’ve got something for everyone.

Visit the Career Resources page today and instantly make your job search easier and more productive!

[This web page is a work-in-progress and is updated frequently. If you have successful job hunting tip that you’d like to share, please contact lwood@ala.org]

Let’s be in touch! Here’s how you can stay connected to RUSA between issues of RUSA Update:

  • Bookmark the RUSA blog
  • Like RUSA on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Subscribe to RUSA-L, our division listserv, or one of our section listservs
  • Keep your membership information current so that you continue to receive communications–make updates by logging in at ala.org or by contacting the membership team at membership@ala.org or (800) 545-2433, option 5.
  • Have an e-mail address on file with ALA. All of our member communications are done electronically, so no e-mail address means you’re missing out on important news and benefits.

Committee on Professional Ethics

Chair from Committee on Professional Ethics Wants to Hear from YOU.

Based on recent requests to the committee for assistance in two areas, we’re working on developing two new explanatory statements for the ALA Code of Ethics. These areas are: Ethics and Social Media Conflicts of Interest. These explanatory statements will take the form of a question & answer document. We currently have two in this format on workplace speech (also being updated) and on enforcement of the Code of Ethics. To see these examples, please see the Resources section on our committee’s website. As we are a committee of Council, we are seeking your input on the topics that we should cover in these documents. Examples of the types of questions we could answer are:

  • Under Social Media: What policies should we have in place for our library’s Facebook page? What happens when an employee mentions the library on a personal Twitter account?
  • Under Conflicts of Interest: If I’m on an award committee and know a nominee, should I disclose that information and/or recuse myself? Is it OK to accept a meal from a library vendor?

If you have suggestions for topics that we should cover, please send them to the Committee chair at mgarnar@regis.edu. Our goal is to have both documents ready for public consumption by Annual 2013. Contact the chair if you have any questions, and thanks in advance for your assistance.

Please send your comments to:

Martin Garnar Chair, ALA Committee on Professional Ethics
Reference Services Librarian and Professor of Library Science
Dayton Memorial Library, Regis University
3333 Regis Blvd., Mail Stop D-20
Denver, CO 80221
303.964.5459 (voice)
303.964.5497 (fax)
mgarnar@regis.edu

RUSA Conference Program Coordinating Committee

In light of the changes described in ALA’s June 2012 Conference Changes Roadmap the RUSA CPCC is working with the RUSA Board to modify our division’s processes for program selection and allocation. The immediate impact of the Roadmap on future conferences is that programs will all take place in the convention center or headquarters hotel, time slots are shortened to 60 and 90 minutes, and the divisions will have fewer programs. The RUSA sections (specifically STARS, RSS, MARS, and BRASS) were extremely helpful this past summer in making quick changes so that we could accommodate the reduced number of program time slots for Annual 2013 in Chicago. We are now working on a new program allocation model for Annual 2014 in Las Vegas, though at this moment we do not yet know how many programs RUSA will have the opportunity to present there.

The committee has been communicating by email and met online on Oct. 26 via RUSA’s Blackboard Collaborate room. We will meet online again on Wednesday, December 5, 11:00 AM-12:30 PM EST. Our meeting at ALA Midwinter 2013 in Seattle is scheduled for Monday, January 28 from 8:30-10:00 AM.

It’s not too soon to start making your plans for next summer! The RUSA sections and committees will be presenting fifteen fantastic programs at Annual Conference 2013 in Chicago and BRASS will be presenting the Business Reference 101 preconference on Friday, June 28. The programs are offered over three days, from Saturday, June 29 through Monday, July 1.

Joe Thompson, chair

RUSA President’s Program Planning Committee

Progress continues on putting together an excellent program for Annual 2013 in Chicago, to be held on Saturday, June 29 from 4:00-5:30 PM. This year’s highly anticipated RUSA President’s Program will provide new perspectives and creative thinking from a prominent non-librarian. The committee has been considering a multitude of possible topics and speakers from a variety of sources including TED talks, PopTech, SXSW Interactive, and the World Future Society. You will not want to miss this major event of the conference. Stay tuned for the announcement of this year’s speaker!

The committee members were able to meet in person while in Anaheim and have been communicating regularly since then via email, phone and RUSA’s Blackboard Collaborate room. Our meeting at ALA Midwinter 2013 in Seattle is scheduled for Sunday, January 27 from 8:30-10:00 AM.

Mary Mintz and Joe Thompson, co-chairs

Message from the Chair

BRASS Notes

Carol Schuetz, Editor

Has every BRASS member explored ALA Connect recently? Former Chair Chris LeBeau has loaded all the BRASS program material from Adventures in Data Land and the publisher’s forum. You will see video presentations, powerpoints and related materials. There are links from the BRASS web page as well.

Seattle midwinter planning is underway. Expect an all BRASS members meeting and discussion topic for those planning on venturing to the beautiful northwest on Sunday January 27 from 8:30 to 10:00 AM. BRASS discussions and committee work will continue virtually as well during the midwinter period. There is lots of planning and initiatives under way among our incredible band of BRASS. Read on for how you can learn from and be part of BRASS.

Ann Fiegen

2012-2013 BRASS Chair

BRASS Business Reference in Academic Libraries Committee

The Business Reference in Academic Libraries committee is collaborating with SLA’s CUBL (College and University Business Libraries) to form the Core Competencies Task Force. We are working to create the first set of business research competencies. Our goal is to create clearly written guidelines that can be used by undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and business librarians in the private sector. Research competencies structure the academic experience and give students and others a benchmark for knowing their own information competency in the field and what their goals should be.

The committee is busy reviewing existing research competencies in other fields, existing information literacy standards in business disciplines, and conducting interviews with non-academic organizations about their experiences in business research. The committee expects to present rough drafts of these processes at ALA Midwinter.

Co-chair Carissa Phillips is identifying private businesses and other organizations to get feedback about how they use information and their experiences with recent business majors’ ability in information literacy.

Members of the committee are collaborating on Google Docs, group sourcing the literature review, providing links to research competencies and brainstorming on the content of the competencies.

Charles Allan, 2012-2013 Chair

BRASS Business Reference Sources Committee (BRSC)

The sub-committee focusing on nominations for Best Business Reference source is being headed up by Ed Hahn from Weber University. Hahn has started the nominations process and is encouraging all committee members to submit their nominations throughout the fall. This year we are also trying to broaden the pool by including new databases or other online resources. If anyone has any new business reference sources they would like us to consider, either print or online, please have them contact Hahn at edwardhahn@weber.edu or the BRSC committee chair at hurstsj@miamioh.edu.

The other BRSC sub-committee is focusing on planning for next year’s Publisher’s Forum program to be held at ALA Annual in Chicago. This subcommittee is being headed up by Penny Scott from the University of San Francisco. She and the other committee members are currently considering possible themes for the program. Anyone with suggestions for publishers or types of products you would like to see presented, please contact Scott at plscott@usfca.edu or the BRSC Chair at hurstsj@miamioh.edu.

Susan Hurst, 2012-2013 Chair

BRASS Conference Program Planning Committee: BRASS 2013 Program

Investment Success!
Building & Managing Your Retirement Portfolio

 


Monday, July 1, 2013

8:30-10:00 AM

Good personal investment education is important for librarians and library staff. We are an occupational group that is rarely able to access top financial advice. In this program, investment professionals will demystify the process and help us understand essential principles and how to apply them to make better decisions to meet our retirement goals. The presentation will include a discussion of the common mistakes investors make, why we make them, and how to avoid them.

Speakers:

Charles Rotblut, CFA, Vice President, American Association of Individual Investors (AAII)

Charles Rotblut is a vice president of the American Association of Individual Investors and is the editor of the AAII Journal. He authors the weekly AAII Investor Update e-newsletter and his commentary is published on both Seeking Alpha and Forbes.com.

Christine Benz, Director of Personal Finance, Morningstar, Inc.

Christine Benz is director of personal finance for Morningstar and author of 30-Minute Money Solutions: A Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Your Finances, published by John Wiley and Sons in January 2009. She is also editor of Morningstar Personal Finance, a monthly personal finance newsletter and writes a column on Morningstar.com.

Peter McKay, 2012-2013 Chair

BRASS Discussion Group Committee

The BRASS Discussion group will host an open forum at ALA’s Midwinter conference. All who are attending the conference are invited to join us Sunday, January 27 from 8:30-10:30 AM. The BRASS Discussion group is currently seeking input on what topic(s) that participants would like to discuss. Past discussions have focused on free business-related web resources, publishing, and other topics related to business librarianship. Please post suggestions for topics on the Business Reference and Services Section (BRASS) Suggestion Wall. We look forward to hearing your suggestions.

Jason Dewland, 2012-2013 Chair

BRASS Education Committee

The BRASS Education Committee has submitted a proposal for the 2013 preconference “Business Reference 101: Core Competencies for Business Librarianship.” This full-day interactive workshop is designed for new business librarians; generalists who have assumed responsibility in business librarianship; or librarians who handle business reference-related inquiries in all types of libraries. It will focus on core resources for business reference, business collection development, and licensing electronic business products. Lety Camacho (Brigham Young University), immediate Past-Chair of the BRASS Education Committee, is spearheading this effort. Mary Martin (Claremont Colleges) serves as the preconference coordinator.

The webinar working group is developing a series of webinars of interest to business librarians which will be offered as part of the RUSA online learning initiative. Chad Boeninger from Ohio University, Dan Hickey from Penn State, and Natasha Arguello from University of Texas at San Antonio welcome your suggestions for webinar topics which may be submitted via BRASS Suggestion Wall:http://brass.libguides.com/suggestionwall. Webinar presenters will be paid $150 for each 60-90-minute webinar. If you know any colleagues, or would like to share your own business reference expertise, please contact Natasha.Arguello@utsa.edu.

Natasha Arguello, 2012-2013 Chair
http://connect.ala.org/node/65121

BRASS Nominating Committee

The BRASS Nominating Committee was pleased to submit our slate of candidates for the 2013 ballot. Thanks to committee members Mary Gilles and Elizabeth Stephan for all of their help in getting this great list of nominees together. Special thanks, too, to Larayne Dallas, chair of the RUSA Nominating Committee, and to Susan Hornung for their excellent communication and support throughout this process. And, of course, thanks to our candidates who are willing to serve BRASS by being on the ballot! They are, for Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect: Todd Hines and Peter Z. McKay; and for Member-at-Large: Chad Boeninger and Elizabeth Malafi.

Celia Ross, 2012-2013 Chair

BRASS Vendor Relations Committee

The BRASS Vendor Relations Committee has been continuing to assist the BRASS 25th Anniversary Planning Committee by reaching out to new vendors and working with longtime partners to help secure funding for the celebration event planned for 2013 in Chicago. Other ideas for connecting to and collaborating with BRASS vendors in order to provide additional value to BRASS members are still in the works and include plans to build a “Virtual Expo” site where vendors could showcase their business reference products as well as any librarian support materials they publish so that BRASS members could see them all in one place.

Celia Ross, 2012-2013 Chair

BRASS Publications and Communications Committee

The Publications and Communications Committee is still reviewing Web pages. Please feel free to pass along any problems with BRASS Web pages to the committee chair, John Gottfried (jcgottfried@gmail.com). The committee will also be attempting to recruit a new Webmaster; interested parties should contact the chair.

John Gottfried, 2012-2013 Chair

BRASS Gale Cengage Learning Student Travel Award Committee

The 2013 BRASS Gale Cengage Learning Student Travel Award is now accepting applications.

Established in 1992 and sponsored by Gale Cengage Learning, this $1,000 monetary prize is awarded to a student enrolled in an ALA accredited master’s degree program to fund travel to and attendance at the 2013 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago and a one-year membership in RUSA’s BRASS. Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in a career as a business reference librarian, and the potential to be a leader in the profession as demonstrated by activities that may include (but are not limited to) coursework, internships, jobs, special projects, and publications.

The deadline for nominations is January 31, 2013. Information about the award, including a PDF of the nomination form, can be found on the RUSA website. As explained in the nomination form, the application should include letters of reference, and a library school transcript.

Todd M. Hines, 2012-2013 Chair

BRASS Morningstar Public Librarian Support Award Committee

The committee for the Morningstar Public Librarianship Award is now seeking nominations. The award is $1,000 in travel funds for ALA’s Annual Conference to a public librarian who has performed outstanding business reference service and who requires financial assistance to attend the conference. The winner must be a member of ALA, RUSA, and BRASS.

Melissa Jeter, 2011-2013 Chair

CODES

Barry Trott, Editor

RUSA CODES at Midwinter

RUSA CODES will be active at Midwinter with several discussion groups and the increasingly popular Book and Media Awards. Join your fellow CODES members and bring along a potential member!

Midwinter Book and Media Awards Reception

Sunday, January 27, 5:00-6:30 PM; Renaissance Seattle Hotel, Municipal Room.

Be sure to attend the Midwinter Book and Media Awards Reception, where RUSA celebrates the best fiction, non-fiction and reference titles of the year! RUSA’s expert readers’ advisory committees will unveil their choices for the Collection Development and Evaluation Section’s

(CODES) literary awards. All Midwinter attendees and exhibitors are invited to attend.

Reference Publishing Discussion Forum: Are Users Finding Our Online Reference Resources?

Sunday, January 27, 1:00-2:30 PM; W Seattle Hotel, Great Room 1B.

Interested in online reference sources? Check out the CODES discussion forum on Reference Publishing Discussion Forum: Are Users Finding Our Online Reference Resources? Libraries spend a great deal of money on quality online online reference resources, in the hopes that they will be useful to our communities. But are they being used? How do users discover reference resources in the online environment: teaching, research guides, stand-alone vendor resources? How do we enable users to cross multiple interfaces to reach reference sources?

Join our discussions with librarians and vendors on these issues.

CODES Collection Management in Public Libraries Discussion Group

Sunday, January 27, 4:30-5:30 PM; Washington State Convention Center, Room 212.

Public librarians will want to stop by the CODES Collection Management in Public Libraries Discussion Group to share ideas and thoughts on new eBook platforms and other topics of interest in current collection management. Please email any topics you would like to see on the agenda to: Nanci Milone Hill at nhill@mvlc.org.

Hot Topics Discussion Group

Saturday, January 26, 10:30-11:30 AM; Sheraton Seattle Hotel, Virginia.

The Hot Topics Discussion Group will be talking about the role of Subject Specialists and Selection. Collection development is one of the most rapidly changing areas of librarianship. As patron-driven acquisitions and collaborative purchasing increase, do subject specialists still play an important role in selection? Is their participation essential? Join us for a lively discussion on how collection development responsibilities are changing and what these changes mean for librarians.

Message from the Chair

History

Laura Hibler, Editor

 

The History Section is looking forward to having many of you participate in our activities in Seattle. If you are flying in early or have a desire to increase your skills, attend our FREE Genealogy Preconference, on Friday, January 25. Watch for more information concerning speakers, location, and registration. In addition to fun committee meetings, we will gather for the Genealogy and Local History and History Librarians Discussion Groups.

History Section Awards

The History Section is pleased to announce our new award, the RUSA History Section/Gale Cengage History Research Innovation Award. This award provides up to $2,500 dollars to be used at the winner’s discretion towards a project related to history and history librarianship. Applications are due December 15th.

We are also seeking nominations for the Genealogy Publishing Company Award. This cash award is presented annually to a librarian or library in recognition of their professional achievement in historical or genealogical reference, service or research. Nominations are due December 15th.

Sara E. Morris
History Section Chair, 2012-2013

Message from the Chair

MARS: Update from the Emerging Technologies in Reference Section

Cathy Larson, Editor
Join the discussion at http://lists.ala.org/wws/info/mars-l

 

Greetings!

We are fast approaching the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle from January 25-29, 2013. For winter of 2013, MARS will again use a modified system of meeting. Most committees, other than the Executive Committee, will not meet in person during Midwinter. Committees are meeting virtually prior to Midwinter, and submitting a report of committee activities to the Executive Committee by email. The Executive Committee will meet in person during Midwinter and will refer to committee reports to conduct business. The Planning Committee, and members of those groups hosting discussion forums will be present as well. Last year was the first time we tried this approach, and with the challenges many of our members face in finding funding for two conferences per year, we are continuing this approach this year.

Please let us know how you feel about this change. I will note from my perspective that we don’t seem to be able to get as many committee volunteers with the new format. Committee appointments, which typically begin July 1 of each year, are generally made between the Midwinter and Annual meetings and without interested volunteers attending our Midwinter committee meetings, it has been more of a challenge to identify those interested in working with our committees. I welcome your thoughts on ways we can increase our ability to identify willing and interested volunteers.

For those who are able to attend in person, the scheduler is up! Please visithttp://alamw13.ala.org/scheduler to see all the activities along with their times, locations and descriptions.

The RUSA Membership Social will be held on Saturday, January 26 from 6:00-8:00 PM at the Grand Hyatt Seattle. This event allows RUSA members and prospective members to meet and mingle while learning more about RUSA. I encourage you to attend if you are able to do so. The social is a highlight for RUSA during the Midwinter Meeting and it is a great place to encourage others to join us in MARS and to volunteer to serve on committees.

The Professional Development Committee of MARS in collaboration with the RSS Education and Professional Development for Reference Committee will host a free preconference workshop at the University of Washington’s Odegaard Library Friday, January 25, 2013, 1:00-5:00 PM. New Tech for Reference: From the Reference Interview to Roving Reference, Challenges, Benefits and Best Practice will have presentations on using social media for reference interactions, Springshare’s LibAnswers, and models for roving reference services. For more information about the workshop and transportation to the University of Washington, see the full description athttp://connect.ala.org/node/190900 or contact Stephanie Alexander (alexanders@smccd.edu)

MARS will also be hosting some very interesting discussion forums during Midwinter. Please show your support if you are attending the Conference.

We have a new committee this year: the User Experience Design Committee. This group will host a discussion on Sunday, January 27 from 4:30-5:30 PM, in the Washington State Convention Center Room 203, titled “Putting U in UX Design.” See the committee update for more details on this discussion.

The Virtual Reference Discussion Group will host a discussion forum on Saturday, January 26 from 4:30-5:30 PM in the Washington State Convention Center, Room 619, focusing on how transitioning from Meebo presented challenges and opportunities to retool virtual reference services.

The Hot Topics Discussion Group will host a discussion forum on Saturday, January 26, from 1:00-2:30 PM in the Washington State Convention Center, Room 213.

Please note that ALA has a new meeting policy this year. As a result, you will note that two of our discussion forums are shorter – only 60 minutes instead of the usual 90. This new meeting policy is ALA’s response to feedback from members who requested shorter meeting times. See http://connect.ala.org/node/178761 for more details on the change discussion.

Highlighting some of the work going on between conferences:

The Nominating Committee has been hard at work over the fall and they have prepared a slate for the upcoming elections. Watch your emails in March for the new ballot. And be sure to make your vote count!

The Planning Committee is working on two important projects. The group is undertaking a review and update of the MARS Manual. This is a classic work, full of valuable information, and we’re excited that the committee has agreed to begin making it an even better resource for us all. We are also preparing for Section Review, led by the Planning Committee in conjunction with the members at large. This is a regular event, whereby each of the Sections in RUSA review their activities, structures and plans for the future. The review helps us to formally document where we’ve been, evaluate what changes may be needed, how we relate to other sections and divisions within ALA, to create a roadmap for continual improvement in the section, and to provide information back to our parent division—RUSA.

The Local Systems and Services Committee is working on a virtual program we hope will be delivered early in the year—watch your email and our website for more details.

Lastly, don’t forget to nominate someone for the MARS Achievement Recognition Award this year! See the Call for Nominations for information on award criteria and deadlines for nominations.

Debbie Bezanson
bezanson@gwu.edu
Chair, Emerging Technologies in Reference Section (MARS) 2012-2013

Call for Nominations for the MARS Achievement Recognition Certificate

Do you know someone who always does more than expected for MARS? Someone who is willing to take on the challenge to complete a project or produce a successful program? What about someone who is an indispensable member of your committee or someone who has served as your mentor? If so, please consider nominating them for the MARS Achievement Recognition Certificate, also known as the My Favorite Martian Award.

The MARS Achievement Recognition Certificate is given annually to recognize excellence in service to MARS. This award, presented at the annual MARS Chair’s Program, is given to an individual who is a current member of MARS, and has been an active member for the past two years.

The recipient must have made either (1) sustained contributions toward attaining the goals of MARS, or (2) a single, significant contribution that has resulted in a positive impact upon the work of the section.

To nominate someone, please send the candidate’s name, contact information, and brief statement of why you think they should receive the award to Stephanie Graves (sgraves@lib.siu.edu) by Friday, January 18, 2013.

Stephanie J. Graves
sgraves@lib.siu.edu
Member-At-Large

MARS User Experience (UX) Design Committee

The brand new UX Design Committee will host a program at Midwinter, “Putting U in UX Design.” Heidi Steiner from Norwich University (along with a co-presenter TBA) will present on ideas for improving current practices and she’ll lead a discussion with the audience to hear what their experiences have been so far, what direction their interests in future programs might take, etc. We hope to see you there!

Missy Clapp
shoop@ufl.edu
Chair, User Experience Design Committee, 2012-2013

Message from the Chair

RSS

Amy Rustic, editor

 

Helllooooo RSSer’s!

Welcome to the Pre-Midwinter RSS Review! Below are some of the highlights of the great things happening in our section.

If you are heading to Seattle for the ALA Midwinter meeting mark your calendar for the following RSS events:

  • FREE Workshop! New Tech for Reference: from the reference interview to roving reference, challenges, benefits and best practices

When: Friday, January 25th, 1:00-5:00 PM.

Where: The University of Washington, Odegaard Library

More: Seehttp://connect.ala.org/node/190900 to register today!

  • Pancake Breakfast!

When: Saturday, January 26th, 8:00 AM

Where: Location TBA

More: Stay Tuned to RSS-L & Facebook for location information!

  • Helping Patrons find Employment or New Career Information Discussion with Job and Career Reference Committee

When: Saturday, January 26th, 10:30-11:30 AM

More: Stay Tuned to RSS-L and Facebook for location information!

 

  • Just Ask: Defining and Advocating for the Reference Librarian Discussion with Elizabeth Stephan & Diana D. Shonrock

When: Sunday, January 27th, 8:30-10:00 AM

More: Stay Tuned to RSS-L and Facebook for location information!

  • Mother Goose and Promoting Library Services to Spanish Speaking Discussion with Lucia Castillo

When: Sunday, January 27th, 10:30-11:30 AM

More: Stay Tuned to RSS-L and Facebook for location information!

  • Why Common Core Standards Matter: Discussion with Young Adult Reference Services Committee

When: Sunday, January 27th, 3:00-4:00 PM

More: Stay Tuned to RSS-L and Facebook for location information!

  • Unhappy Campers: Coping with Job Dissatisfaction and Burnout on the Front Lines Discussion with Virginia Cairns

When: Monday, January 28th, 1:00-2:30 PM

More: Stay Tuned to RSS-L and Facebook for location information!

Some other exciting happenings within RSS include a great slate of candidates for RSS Chair-Elect and Member-at-Large. Fortunately, ALA elections don’t happen until March when all of the current campaigning and attack ads will be a distant memory. But the decision will be a tough one…

  • Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect
    • Peter Collins
    • Qiana Johnson
  • Member-at-Large
    • Don Boozer
    • Betsy Park

We are ready to launch the new “Why is RSS Important?” Share your thoughts athttp://tinyurl.com/rssgreat and see your name in the next RSS Review!

In addition, we are looking for the 1st RSS Member of the Quarter. When you think of RSS, does someone immediately come to mind? Someone that always volunteers to get the job done?? Someone who is always thinking about how to add value to the RSS membership? Someone who is continually thinking on how to improve the section and its offerings? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then let us know whom. Go tohttp://goo.gl/UKFKd to nominate the 1st RSS Member of the Quarter!

Self-nominations are welcome.

Finally, be sure to check out the RSS Members Publications List    (http://connect.ala.org/node/184065). Highlights include:

  • Hoppenfeld, J. (2012). “Keeping students engaged with web-based polling in the library instruction session.” Library Hi Tech, 30(2), 235-252. doi: 10.1108/07378831211239933
  • Malizia, M., R. Hamilton, D. Littrell, K. Vargas, & C. Olney. (2012). “Connecting Public Libraries with Community Emergency Responders.” Public Libraries 51(3), 32-36.
  • Jeter, Melissa C. (2012) “Weathering the Storm: Expanding an Oral History Collection in Uncertain Economic Times.” Library Worklife: HR E-News for Today’s Leaders.

Be sure to share your publications with us (http://tinyurl.com/RSSmemberpubs) and you might see your name in print in the next RSS Review!

That’s it for now!

Sarah J. Hammill

Committee Reports

Communication & Teaching at the Point of Need Committee

The RUSA Communication and Teaching at Point of Need Committee has finalized their survey results and will be reporting to the membership shortly. We will be meeting virtually for midwinter at a date TBA shortly on the ALA Connect website.

Christine Sharbrough, Chair 2012-2013

 

Discussion Forums Coordinating Committee

Just Ask: Defining and Advocating for the Reference Librarian (Sunday, January 27, 8:30-10:00 AM) Want to influence the way RUSA advocates for reference services? Join members of the RUSA Just Ask Committee to discuss the evolving role of reference librarians and reference services in all types of libraries. The discussion will help create a RUSA member-influenced vision of both, which in turn will assist the organization in advocating more effectively for the support and development of quality reference services.

Unhappy Campers: Coping with Job Dissatisfaction and Burnout on the Front Lines (Monday, January 28, 2013, 1:00-2:30 PM) Shrinking budgets, staff cuts, competing demands, impatient patrons; it all has an impact on staff morale and the quality of service provided by librarians everywhere. Gather with colleagues to discuss the issues faced, as well as potential strategies for managing unhappiness and distress in the workplace from the perspectives of library administration, peers, and the individual librarian.

Crystal Lentz, Chair 2012-2013

 

Education and Professional Development for Reference

The Education and Professional Development for Reference Committee is working hard with MARS to put together a fantastic and free ALA Midwinter Workshop on New Technology for Reference. For more information and to register please see the details below.

As our primary focus this fall has been with the workshop, the group has engaged in discussions with other committees regarding an education offering around marketing reference resources.

RUSA MARS and RSS invite you to “New Tech for Reference: from the reference interview to roving reference, challenges, benefits and best practice” at the University of Washington’s Odegaard Library. The workshop is free, open to all and includes refreshments. ALA membership or Midwinter registration is not required.

Reference technology is constantly changing; what was once radical has become established, complete with best practices. Newer technologies appear rapidly, challenging us to understand, learn and adapt ever more quickly.

This workshop explores three new reference technologies, their benefits, challenges and best practices: using social media for reference; applying iPads in roving reference; and integrating a knowledge base system (such as LibAnswers) into reference services.

SCHEDULE:

1:00 – 1:15: Check-in

1:15 – 1:25: Welcome and introductions

1:25 – 2:45: Social media in reference – challenges, benefits and best practices (Michelle Chronister, U.S. General Services Administration)

2:45 – 3:10: Break (refreshments courtesy of OCLC QuestionPoint)

3:10 – 3:55: Using iPads for roving reference (Ava Iuliana, Cindy Dottin and Lauren Christos – Florida International University)

3:55 – 4:40: Knowledge base systems for reference (Erica Nicol and Linda Crook, Washington State University)

4:40 – 5:00: Wrap-up, closing and evaluations

Everyone is welcome, but pre-registration is required athttp://bit.ly/MARSRSS . In the event that registration reaches capacity, RUSA members will have preference.

Additional information about the workshop is available (including session descriptions) here: http://connect.ala.org/node/190900

Kristen Mastel & Joseph Yue, Co-Chairs 2012-2013

 

Evaluation of Reference and User Services Committee

Please note thatMeasuring and Assessing Reference Services and Resources: A Guide is available in public ALA Connect space. This guide was spearheaded by the Evaluation of Reference and User Services Committee when chaired by Lisa Horowitz in 2002-2003. In 2010-2011, committee members Tiffany Walsh, Robin Kinder, Jan Tidwell, and Richard Caldwell updated the guide and moved it into Connect. We hope RSS members make use of this valuable resource!

Ellen Keith, Chair 2011-2013

 

Health and Medical Reference Committee (HMRC)

The HMRC met virtually using Blackboard Collaborate on September 10, 2012. The committee decided to handle all of its professional communication on ALA Connect. The committee will be creating an ALA Connect Community for health and medical reference discussions. Various panelists were brought up and discussed as possibilities for the program at ALA 2013. Various members of the committee decided to spearhead the webinar series, and another group agreed to work on the new Medical Guidelines. Virtual meetings to discuss these two areas are being planned for this fall. A meeting of the HMRC is planned for ALA Midwinter.

Karen Vargas, Chair 2012-2014

 

Job and Career Reference Committee

The RSS Job and Career Reference Committee will have a discussion group at Midwinter, “Helping Patrons Find Employment or New Career Information.” The discussion group is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, January 26 from 10:30-11:30 AM.

We also are welcoming new committee member from BRASS, Janet Franks.

Kate Oberg, Chair 2012-2013

 

Library Service to an Aging Population

We are planning to meet virtually in January.

Abigail Elder, Chair 2012-2013

 

Library Services to the Spanish Speaking

Mother Goose and Promoting Library Services to the Spanish Speaking Community

Lucia Castillo, BA in Librarianship from Leeds Polytechnic, England, and MLS from the University of British Columbia, Canada, has worked with academic and special libraries in Peru for over 25 years. Since 2007, she has been working at the Vancouver Public Library. Her Mother Goose Program in Spanish for the Latino community is the only program available in Vancouver for Spanish speaking children. The Services to Spanish Speaking committee is proud to be able to have Lucia Castillo at ALA Midwinter on Sunday from 10:30-11:30 AM to give sample “story hour.” Attendees will learn the difficulties of meeting needs of the Spanish-speaking community through a question and answer period and discussions. There is evidence music stimulates the development of cognitive ability and emotional intelligence from an early age. Why not start teaching parents today to use rhymes and songs with their children? As Hans Christian Andersen said, “Where words fail, music speaks.” While Mother Goose programs attract children, the Mother Goose program is meant for parents. They are going to rescue a tradition applicable to other cultures, such as the Latino community. New immigrants need to integrate, but without losing their heritage and culture. For the Latino families, the Mother Goose program is a totally new thing. Through the program the Latino families keep their heritage, language, culture, tradition, socialize in a group activity, and make lifelong friendship. Services to the Spanish Speaking described the details of a survey published in the REFORMA Newsletter. ASCLA recognizes, along with the Services to the Spanish speaking, the 43% growth of the U.S. Hispanic population. Bringing Latinos into the library still remains an uphill battle. RUSA RSS is sponsoring this exciting discussion during ALA Midwinter – see you in Seattle. For more information, please contact Stephen Marvin (smarvin@wcupa.edu) or Lucia Castillo (lcastill17@yahoo.ca).

Stephen Marvin, Chair 2012-2013

 

Management of Reference Committee

The Committee has begun writing “Professional Competencies for the Management of Reference Services.” We are looking at current job ads to see what skills and talents are being sought these days. We are also looking for similar types of documents from other organizations and plan to do a literature review. Nancy Huling, a current committee member, was also on the Committee when the original Competencies were written, so her wisdom will be beneficial to the process. We are not meeting in person at Midwinter, but we will hold a virtual meeting on January 30, 2013 to continue our efforts.

Sally Dockter, Chair 2012-2013

 

Marketing and Public Relations for Reference

The RSS Marketing and PR Committee will meet on Saturday, January 26 from 10:30-11:30 AM. The location has not been determined. This is a regular meeting to discuss our goals, upcoming program planning, and work on collaboration with other RSS committees.

Cathay Crosby, Chair 2011-2013

 

Organization and Planning Committee

The Organization & Planning Committee will soon begin work on updating the RSS Handbook, reviewing the RSS Bylaws, and assisting the RSS Executive Committee with holding the RSS Annual Open House. The Committee will be meeting virtually for Midwinter. The time and date will be announced via RSS-L.

 

Liane Taylor, Chair 2012-2013

 

Recognition Committee

RSS Service Achievement Award Nominate someone today!

The Reference and Services Section of RUSA is pleased to solicit nominations for the annual RSS Service Achievement Award. This award, which will be presented at the annual RSS Open House and the RUSA annual awards ceremony, honors an RSS member’s contributions to the section. The recipient will be chosen based on either sustained contributions towards attaining the goals of RSS or a single significant contribution that has resulted in a positive impact upon the work of the section.

Please send your nomination detailing specifically how the nominee has met either of these criteria to Virginia Cole (vac11@cornell.edu), the award committee chair, by December 1.

Virginia Cole, Chair 2012-2013

 

Research and Statistics Committee

The Committee will not be meeting in person at Midwinter, and will schedule a virtual meeting soon.

Call for Presentations

The Research and Statistics Committee of the Reference Services Section of RUSA invites the submission of research projects for presentation at the 19th Reference Research Forum at the 2013 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.

The Reference Research Forum continues to be one of the most popular and valuable programs during the ALA Annual Conference, where attendees can learn about notable research projects conducted in the broad area of reference services such as user behavior, electronic services, reference effectiveness and assessment, and organizational structure and personnel. All researchers, including reference practitioners from all types of libraries, library school faculty and students, and other interested individuals, are encouraged to submit a proposal.

For examples of projects presented at past Forums, please see the Committee’s website: http://connect.ala.org/node/187004

The Committee employs a blind review process to select three projects for 20-minute presentations, followed by open discussion. Selected submissions must be presented in person at the Forum in Chicago.

Criteria for selection:

  • Quality and creativity of the research design and methodologies;
  • Significance of the study for improving the quality of reference service;
  • Potential for research to fill a gap in reference knowledge or to build on previous studies;
  • Research projects may be in-progress or completed;
  • Previously published research or research accepted for publication will not be accepted.

Proposals are due by Monday, December 31, 2012. Notification of acceptance will be made by Monday, February 11, 2013. The submission must not exceed two pages. Please include:

1      A cover sheet including your name(s), title(s), institutional affiliation(s), mailing address(es), fax number(s) and email address(es).

2      The second page should NOT show your name, any personal information, or the name of your institution. Instead, it must include:

a. Title of the project;

b. Explicit statement of the research problem;

c. Description of the research design and methodologies used, and preliminary findings if any;

d. Brief discussion of the unique contribution, potential impact, and significance of the research.

Please send submissions by email to: Lynda Duke Chair, RUSA RSS Research and Statistics Committee.

Lynda Duke, Chair 2012-2013

lduke@iwu.edu

 

Virtual Reference Services (MARS/RSS)

The RSS/MARS Virtual Reference Services Committee has been going through some transitions this year so far. We’ve had some personnel changes with several members resigning or expressing interest in resigning to take on new duties and different responsibilities. We wish them all the best! One of those was coordinating our “RUSA MARS/RSS VR Committee Survey Ad Hoc Group” so we are looking for someone who would like to take on that project. (You need not be a current member of the committee.) The committee has also been in transition on communication channels and is in the process of switching from our current listserv to one sponsored by ALA. The listserv serves as a “behind-the-scenes” tool for discussions by and announcements to committee members that may not be quite ready for posting to ALA Connect.

The committee will be having a virtual meeting in early 2013, and we are looking forward to moving ahead on projects in the New Year.

Don Boozer, Chair 2012-2013

 

Virtual Reference Tutorial Subcommittee

Jason Coleman has stepped down from the subcommittee and we wish to thank him for all his contributions. We have since added two new members to our group and we would like to welcome Christine Tobias and Neal Pomea. We are thrilled to have them join the team.

The subcommittee continues to meet monthly and works in subgroups between meetings. We will not be meeting at Midwinter, but our virtual monthly meeting will be on January 22nd at 1:00-2:00 PM CST. Our new members have been going through Drupal training while the rest of us move forward with our modules. The Resources section has been reorganized by topic and we will continue adding to this section as we work on additional modules. The Training module is still in progress and will be complete by Midwinter. We have recently discussed the Interview Skills and Core Competencies modules and subgroups have begun to take ideas from those meetings and implement them into Drupal content.

This will bring us to having four sections complete (or almost complete) by Midwinter. With additional members, we hope to continue at a fast pace into the spring to get most of the Virtual Reference Companion (VRC) complete by the Annual Conference.

Jared Hoppenfeld, Chair 2012-2013

Jennifer Lau-Bond, Chair 2011-201

 

 

RSS Review is the newsletter of the Reference Services Section of Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) of the American Library Association. Please send suggestions for future issues to Amy Rustic (aer123@psu.edu), editor.

Message from the Chair

STARS

Kerry Keegan, Editor

 

STARS has a lot on the ball. From our interlibrary loan practitioners’ workshop, “Everything You Always Wanted to Know about ILL” (http://www.ala.org/rusa/sections/stars/events), to creating resource sharing web publications, to member outreach, STARS focuses on relevance for our members and our profession.

We also have two new initiatives underway. First, our STARS web editors are planning a revamp of our STARS website. By Midwinter, we will have a new homepage to better connect you to the things we do. Second, STARS wants to give members better opportunities to provide feedback on our conference programming and training. To that end, STARS is also revamping how we evaluate our programs and how to communicate member ideas to the rest of the section.

If you would like to become involved in our dynamic section or have questions out what STARS can do for you and your library, please drop me an email (datkins@utk.edu) or give me a call (865-974-6866). There is always room for more STARS.

 

Sincerely,

David P. Atkins

STARS Chair

Committee Updates

STARS Membership Committee

The STARS Membership Committee is excited to announce a collaborative effort with our new webmasters to make available our latest two initiatives: “Five Things Every New Resource Sharing Librarian Should Know” and our debut “STAR Gazing” Interview. These are available at http://www.ala.org/rusa/sections/stars.

STARS Membership is also working with the Education and Training Committee to update a portion of the SHARE-L website and organize our agenda for ALA Midwinter.

Micquel Little, Chair

 

STARS Legislation and Licensing Committee

The STARS Legislation and Licensing Committee has been meeting monthly and committee members are trying to keep up-to-date on relevant issues in the news, including the Center for Copyright Information’s Copyright Alert System. Committee members are posting on the ALA Connect site as they discover topics.

Shannon O’Grady, Chair

 

STARS International ILL Committee

The STARS International ILL Committee is currently collaborating with the Education and Training Committee on its one year pilot project to update ShareILL.org, improving the information for National Bibliographies, National Libraries and Archives, and International Gateways and Union Catalogs. The committee was also recently recognized for its work on the 2011 International ILL survey, the results of which have been reported and well-received at several library conferences. We are actively seeking to recruit new non-US members for the International ILL Committee, and urge anyone who might know of any prospective candidates to contact us.

Tom Bruno, Chair

STARS Cooperative Collection Development Committee

The RUSA CODES/STARS Cooperative Collection Development committee is currently recruiting speakers for our program scheduled for Saturday 1:00-2:30 PM during 2013 ALA Annual.

Title: Enhancing services through integration of Interlibrary Loan and Acquisitions

Description:

This panel will explore the opportunities and challenges that arise from merging interlibrary loan and acquisitions departments, as well as the administrative aspects of such a partnership. Through examining the reasons why ILL/Acquisitions mergers may be beneficial, and hearing from peers engaged in the process, attendees will gain an understanding of how to weigh the merits of such an arrangement and determine if it is appropriate for their institution, as well as hear insights on how to move forward. This session is appropriate for all library types.

Sydney Thompson, Co-chair

 

STARS Rethinking Resource Sharing Policies Committee

An initial revision of the STAR Checklist is being reviewed by some members of the Rethinking Resource Sharing Steering Committee to ensure checklist items are applicable to a variety of library types (public, academic, special) and their locations. The goal is to finalize revisions at ALA Midwinter and release a new version, soon after.

While this is happening, the Rethinking Resource Sharing Initiative website is being transitioned to a new platform, WordPress, which will continue to link to the STAR checklist and the list of libraries who have participated.

Evan Simpson, Chair

 

STARS Education and Training Committee

With help from other STARS committees, the Education and Training (E&T) Committee has been updating pages on the ShareILL Wiki. The ShareILL Wiki lists electronic and print resources related to interlibrary loan, document delivery and resource sharing. Resources cover finding aids and tools, how to manage operations and ways to stay current. ShareILL will be updated in time for ALA Midwinter 2013.

The Education and Training Committee is also organizing a free workshop for ALA Midwinter 2013 called “Everything you always wanted to know about ILL.” The workshop covers topics of interest to all resource sharing practitioners. Further details are available at http://stars.hosts.atlas-sys.com/

Jennifer Jacobs and Karen Okamoto, Co-Chairs

 

STARS Vendor Relations Committee

The RUSA STARS Vendor Relations Committee is prepared to give an update on the status of revisions to the ISO ILL protocol at the upcoming meeting of the ILL Discussion Group at ALA Midwinter in Seattle. We are awaiting word on whether this topic is approved for the meeting agenda. The committee has also been asked to assist in updates to the ShareILL pages by the STARS Education and Training Committee. We will be amending pages that discuss document suppliers and systems, software, and standards. We expect to have work completed before the ALA Midwinter Conference.

Becky Ringwelski, Chair

 

STARS Research and Statistics Committee

The Research and Statistics Committee co-chairs, Charla and Susan, are currently training and practicing with Blackboard’s Collaborate function (BC) in order to prepare for the Research and Statistics virtual Midwinter committee meeting, to be held via BC at the end of November. The agenda will include i) discussions of an upcoming ALA Annual program on assessment and the pre- and post- assessment activities being developed to accompany it and ii) the committee’s work on the Publications page of the ShareILL wiki.

Susan Buzzell, Co-chair

 

STARS Hot Topics Discussion Group

The STARS Hot Topics Discussion Group is currently preparing for our program at ALA Midwinter. We are currently compiling topics and actively recruiting a Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect for the 2013-14 program year. Please email Troy Christenson if you would like to volunteer (tchrist9@fau.edu). We are also working with STARS Chair David Atkins and the STARS Program Assessment Committee to create program evaluation forms for STARS events.

Troy Christenson, Chair

 

STARS Nominating Committee

The STARS Nominating committee has been busy recruiting members to run for the STARS Executive Committee. This year, we are seeking candidates to run for Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect and a Member at Large position. Several candidates have been found, but we are still in the process of finalizing the ballot. We should announce the final ballot soon.

Sherri Michaels, Chair

 

Boucher Award Committee

Recognize a distinguished interlibrary loan librarian!

STARS is seeking nominations for the annual Virginia Boucher/OCLC Distinguished ILL Librarian Award. This award recognizes a librarian for outstanding professional achievement, leadership, and contributions to interlibrary loan and document delivery. The award consists of $2,000 plus a citation. Nominations must be received by December 15, 2012. Self-nominations are welcome! For complete information about the criteria for this award, please visit:http://www.ala.org/rusa/awards/boucher.

The nomination form is available as a PDF. A complete application will include the nomination form; a resume detailing the nominee’s career and outstanding contributions to the field; and a formal letter of nomination.

Questions and nominations can be directed to Megan Gaffney, 2012-2013 Boucher Award Committee Chair, at gaffneym@udel.edu.

Megan Gaffney, Chair

 

STARS Code and Guidelines Committee

The STARS Code and Guidelines Committee is in the process of updating their section of the ShareILL wiki.

Ryan Litsey, Chair

STARS Organization Committee

The Organization Committee is revising a portion of the ShareILL wiki before the Midwinter meetings. We are also reviewing and updating the STARS handbook.

Marlayna Christensen, Chair

 

Interlibrary Loan Discussion Group

The ILL discussion Group is currently accepting program proposals for Midwinter. Please contact Ryan Litsey, at ryan.litsey@ttu.edu for more information. We are also in the process of developing a method of evaluating programming for future Discussion Group submissions.

Ryan Litsey, Chair