ALAO - Newsletter March 2002

The Next Generation of ALAO Leadership

Carolyn Radcliff, Past President
Kent State University

Elections for ALAO Board members are wrapping up. Ballots, sent out in mid-February, were due March 15. I hope you took a moment to select from a first-class slate of candidates:

Candidates for Vice-President/President-elect:
Doug Morrison
Lois Szudy

Candidates for Secretary:
Don Wicks
Jacky Johnson

Candidates for Membership Chair:
Aimee deChambeau
Ruth Fenske

Candidates for Board Member-at-Large:
Beth Burns
Jo Ann Calzonetti
Sharon Huge
Mary Jane Horn
Cindy Kristof
Jeanne Langendorfer

Election results will be presented to the current Board at the April meeting, and winners will assume office in June. Thanks to all candidates and to all those who were nominated!

Providing opportunities for continuing education has been a major objective of ALAO since its inception, and this year is no exception.

Beginning in April and continuing through May, the Collection Management, Curriculum Materials Center, Instruction, Support Staff, and Technical Services Interest Groups will all offer workshops to increase the knowledge and skills of the academic librarians and staff members in Ohio. Please take advantage of these continuing education opportunities and join one or more of our Interest Groups. These workshops are detailed in this newsletter and in separate mailings.

Another continuing education opportunity is the Ohio Support Staff Institute Statewide Initiative (OSSI) which is in the planning stages. OSSI is an ambitious 3-½ day program designed to provide personal development, skill improvement, and knowledge enhancement to support staff members from all types of Ohio libraries. Watch for more information on this innovative institute.

Again this year, ALAO will serve as a co-sponsor of the Library Leadership Ohio program to be held August 11-16, 2002, in Millersburg, Ohio. Library Leadership Ohio provides leadership training to library staff members with 2-10 years experience. The program is open to librarians and staff members with or without the MLS degree. Participants will interact with a select group of library leaders serving as mentors, gain knowledge and skills needed for effective leadership in a rapidly changing environment, and assess the library/political situation in Ohio. Please contact me for more information at msuter@utoledo.edu.

It's been a busy few weeks since the last conference update, but we now have a venue and a speaker! The 2002 Annual Conference will be held at the Fawcett Center (FC) in Columbus, OH, on November 1, 2002. After extensive discussions and meetings with FC administrative and technical personnel, we've learned that its network infrastructure has been and continues to be upgraded; and tests with laptops (both PC and Macintosh) in completed rooms have confirmed successful access to the Internet. An additional large meeting room has been renovated and is now ready for our use. The Program Committee is already planning ways to alleviate crowding in the hallways, which has been a concern of attendees for many years. We look forward to providing a pleasant conference setting and high quality presentations. The rest, of course, is up to you!

We are pleased to have Dr. Joseph Janes, Founding Director of the Internet Public Library and Assistant Professor at the Information School at the University of Washington, as our confirmed speaker! He is a regular contributor to many conference programs (e.g. ALA and ALISE) and author of numerous articles in professional publications. He has also co-authored several books, including the Internet Compendium series, as well as others that explore the changing information environment. We look forward to an exciting keynote speech and lively discussion following his presentation.

The Program Committee decided to extend the deadline for presentation proposals to March 15, 2002. I encourage you to submit a proposal describing how services in your library retain and redefine the human touch that so characterizes the work of library staff, while at the same time incorporates innovative and changing information technology. First-time presenters will find that presenting at an ALAO conference is a great way to gain public speaking experience. I especially encourage support staff to explore the Support Staff Presenter Grant and send us your ideas! Remember, it's the presentations and poster sessions that really make the conference, and YOU, the ALAO members, create the presentations and poster sessions!

Mary Ellen Davis, ACRL Executive Director, announced ACRL's E-Learning Webcasts. The six Webcasts currently featured were recorded at the March 2001 ACRL 10th National Conference in Denver, including the keynote presentation by Michael Hawley. The Website has more information: acrl.telusys.net/webcast/index.html. The TLT Group also offers Webcasts on "education, technology, and change, with a focus on higher education" at www.tltgroup.org/calendar/interviewarchives2001.htm.

Mary Reichel, ACRL President, announced a new task force would be appointed to review "Guidelines for the Preparation of Policies on Library Access." Another new task force, chaired by Lee Hisle, is facilitating discussion of "big picture" issues. More information should be forthcoming on these opportunities to participate in ALA.

Mary Jane Petrowski, known to many Ohio librarians as one of the instructors at Ohio Immersion, has joined ACRL as Senior Associate Executive Director. In that role, among many other duties, she will be our Chapter contact at ACRL.

Cliff Glaviano, Liaison to the Ohio ALA Councilor
Bowling Green State University

The Ohio Caucus met at ALA Midwinter in New Orleans, Monday, January 21, 2002, in the Morial Conference Center. Councilor Carolyn Brodie did her usual excellent job of updating those in attendance on happenings throughout Council and of interest to the profession in general. She also brought many interesting handouts and materials from the ALA Office that often are not brought to the attention of academic librarians.

Carolyn reminded us that a great deal of information on ALA happenings can be found on the ALA Website, offering updated information on advocacy and legislation from the ALA Washington Office Webpage. Another item of potential interest to ALAO was the upcoming Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) hearing to be held in Philadelphia on March 25. It is expected to last six days and will likely go to trial. An appeal is expected no matter which side wins. Visit the ALA Washington Office www.ala.org/washoff

Brodie also mentioned that the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) expires September 2002. The ALA Washington Office has a new Webpage for LSTA, at www.ala.org/washoff/lsta.html, with much information on supporting LSTA renewal. ALA has an LSTA stories link to which folks who benefited from LSTA can submit information for ALA lobbying efforts.

ALA Council will be asked to pass enabling bylaws to change ALA from 501 (C) 3 tax corporation status to 501 (C) 6 status so that ALA can take part in accreditation and certification activities. This would also allow ALA to do more lobbying work. The USA Patriot Act information packet is available from the ALA Washington Office. Finally, there was much discussion on the ALA meeting quorum. Current definitions haven't allowed real business to proceed in years.

The Caucus takes place late Monday afternoons at ALA Annual and Midwinter meetings. ALAO members are always invited to attend. Look for it in your ALA Conference program.

Congratulations to Ann M. Watson, who was awarded the 2002 Legislative Travel Award to attend the National Legislative Day in Washington, DC, on May 6-7. Ann has attended both of the Ohio Legislative Day events sponsored by ALAO. She is eager to be involved in advocating for academic libraries at the national level.

USA Patriot Act
Librarians should be attuned to the issues affecting libraries as a result of the Patriot Act. ALA suggests that we should:
§ Have polices and make sure they are legal
§ Train staff
§ Document costs
§ Follow up with your legal council
§ Inform the Washington Office of ALA, when appropriate, of any experiences your library has involving Patriot Act issues.

UCITA
In Ohio, proponents and opponents of HB 287, the Ohio UCITA bomb shelter proposal, have been heard by the House Civil and Commercial Law Committee. The committee is consulting legal experts on both sides, and some changes could be adopted by mid-February with the bill moving to the full House soon afterward. Advocates and all interested librarians should stay tuned for UCITA-related news. It may soon be time to write or call your representative on this matter.

Did you remember to renew your ALAO dues for 2002? Many of you have, but we still have quite a few who have not yet sent in their renewals. As of 2/6/02, there have been 315 renewals but over 290 2001 expired memberships. Why not act on that good intention and renew now? You can renew by contacting your ALAO Liaison (if your institution has one) or by going to the ALAO Website, printing a renewal form and sending it in. The December Newsletter also had a renewal form. It is $20 to renew; $10 for students. The membership year is January 1- December 31.

Welcome to the following new members who joined ALAO in January and February: Erica Coe (University of Dayton), Donna Capezzuto (Ohio University-Eastern Campus), Stephanie Wachalec (Kent State University - student member), Eric Resnis (Kent State University - student member), David Tipton (Circleville Bible College), Susan Corl (Holmes County Public Library), Mark Horan (University of Toledo), and Rachel Vacek (Miami University). Welcome also to Jasmine Vaughan as the new liaison for Kenyon College.

I am still looking for liaisons from the following institutions:
Miami University - Middletown campus
Miami University - Hamilton campus
Mount Union College
OCLC, Inc
University of Toledo
University of Cincinnati - Clermont campus

If you are interested in serving as a liaison, please contact me at blankenship.5@osu.edu.

Tell us what you think!
The ALAO Executive Board is considering reducing the number of Newsletter issues that are published in print, and relying on a Web version only for the June issue. Please email one of the editors and tell us if you prefer print. If we don't hear from many members, we'll assume it is a non-issue.

Your editors, Sheila Shellabarger and Alison Ricker, have collectively served for many years…at least ten, possibly longer. The years slip by so quickly…
It's high time for new talent!
Please contact one of us if you would be willing to serve as either copy or production editor. It is certainly possible to combine the two functions into one, and we invite any ALAO member to consider that proposal.

In addition to producing the Newsletter, you serve as an appointed member of the ALAO Executive Board and participate in all discussions (without vote) of that body. This is a wonderful opportunity to gain valuable experience, contribute to the profession, and work with the really great folks in ALAO! Questions? Please email alison.ricker@oberlin.edu. Thank you!

March 2002 Newsletter Highlights

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