History of the SSIG

1985 –- Eighteen support staff from seven institutions met during the ALAO Annual Conference and expressed interest in organizing meetings to explore the formation of an ALAO Interest Group. Mark Kuestner, Oberlin, was a member of the ALAO Program Committee and put an article and a call for papers in the ALAO Newsletter.

1986 –- Ohio State University sponsored a workshop about and for support staff. ALAO was supportive and encourage the event, but did not apply pressure to be an interest group. Initial draft of the statement of purpose with signatures of participants was written, and Richard Petit was instrumental in its development.

1987 -- Support Staff Discussion Group was formed. Bowling Green State University hosted the group’s first meeting. During that meeting a committee of 16 liaisons from 16 institutions was formed to draw up guidelines and bylaws to submit to the ALAO Executive Board. Susan Bitzer, Wright State, was appointed chair.

1988 -- The Support Staff Discussion Group was recognized as the ALAO Support Staff Interest Group by the ALAO Executive Board. The first annual spring workshop was held at Ohio Wesleyan University.

1997 -- SSIG member Sara Bushong (BGSU) was awarded the ALAO Jay Ladd Distinguished Service Award.

1998 –- SSIG is revived under the leadership of Semuel Marable (Wright State) and Doug Morrison (University of Akron-Wayne) after a period of inactivity.

2002 -- SSIG member Doug Morrison (OSU-ATI) was awarded the ALAO Jay Ladd Distinguished Service Award.

2003 -- The first annual Ohio Library Outstanding Support Staff and Supporter of Support Staff Awards were gven to Pat Wood (OSU-Marion) and Cathy Parker (University of Akron), respectively.

2003 -- The first Support Staff Presenter Grant was awarded to Pat Wood and Crystal Jennings (OSU-Marion) for their 2003 Annual Conference presentation "Student Assistants: Hired, Trained, Retained."

ALAO SSIG Chairs