ALAO Procedures Manual: Interest Groups

Assessment Interest Group

Purpose

Provide a vehicle to discuss and share issues and developments pertinent to assessment in Ohio academic libraries. Interests potentially overlapping those of other ALAO interest groups, e.g. information literacy or collection assessment, will be pursued in collaboration with those groups.

Goals

1. Create a network for individuals tasked with assessment in academic libraries;
2. Provide an opportunity for professional service and development within the state for individuals tasked with library assessment;
3. Encourage discussion of topics relevant to assessment efforts;
4. Increase visibility of assessment efforts across the Ohio academic community;

Objectives

1. Hold an annual meeting to discuss business for the upcoming year;
2. Hold periodic workshops to exchange ideas or techniques on issues or developments relevant to the assessment field; and
3. Encourage and sponsor conference sessions, presentations, and panel discussions about topics related to assessment efforts.

Participation

Any ALAO member with an interest in assessment topics is welcome to participate.

Organizational Structure

1. Two co-chairs, serving staggered two-year terms;
2. Coordinating committee, formed annually by a call for volunteers.

Coordinating Committee

The Coordinating Committee plans and facilitates workshops, conference programs, and pre-conferences. The committee consists of members representing a diversity of assessment expertise, institutions, and geographical regions in Ohio. If interested in serving on this group, contact current chair on the AIG Web page.

More Information AIG Web pages.

Recognized by ALAO 7/2013

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Collection Management Interest Group

Purpose

Provide a forum for ALAO members to identify and discuss collection management issues, to share information, and to explore avenues of cooperation.

Goals

1. Promote discussion on topics relevant to collection management and development in academic libraries;
2. Promote networking and the exchange of ideas and expertise among academic library staff interested in collection management and development issues; and
3. Support continuing education activities in the areas of collection management and development.

Objectives

1. Hold an annual meeting that includes a program or roundtable discussion.
2. Regularly contribute items to the ALAO Newsletter on issues of concern to the interest group members.
3. Sponsor or co-sponsor programs or conference sessions related to collection management and development.

Participation

Any ALAO member with an interest in collection management and development issues is welcome to participate.

More Information CMIG Web pages.

Recognized by ALAO 6/1993

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Community and Two-Year Colleges Interest Group (C2YCLIG)

Purpose

To enable librarians working with students pursuing two year degrees or technical certificates to share experiences, expertise and solutions.

Goals

1. Advance academic library services in Ohio by defining, studying and promoting the interests of community and two year college libraries and the personnel of those academic libraries.
2. Foster communication and collaboration among those interested in community college and two year libraries.

Objectives

1. Present sharing opportunities (at least one per year) that help those interested in two year and community college libraries share experiences, expertise and solutions.
2. Maintain an online presence to facilitate communication among group members.
3. Advocate for and advance libraries in two year and community college associations (for example, OATYC and OACC).
4. Communicate group activities and information with ALAO and the wider library community.

Participation

Any ALAO member interested in community college and two year libraries is welcome to participate.

More Information C2YCLIG Web pages.

Curriculum Materials Center Interest Group (INACTIVE)

Purpose

Provide an opportunity at a statewide level for interested CMC and personnel to meet and exchange information.

Goals

1. Address mutual issues or problems related to Curriculum Materials Centers that can be discussed in a group setting for the purpose of generating ideas and solutions.
2. Keep CMC personnel abreast of current curriculum standards on the state and national levels.
3. Share ideas and information regarding Curriculum Materials Centers by sponsoring or co-sponsoring programs.
4. Provide for networking between Curriculum Materials Centers through the publication of a directory of Curriculum Materials Centers, the CMCIG webpage, and utilizing the CMCIG listserv for information sharing and discussions.
5. Promote the interest of Curriculum Materials Centers and CMC personnel through contributions to the ALAO Newsletter and web page.
6. Support continued professional development of CMC personnel to insure high standards of service to education programs in the state (Ohio).

Objectives

To be determined annually by the Chair of the Interest Group in consultation with the coordinating committee and interest group members.

Participation

The Interest Group includes ALAO members who have expressed an interest in curriculum materials. This may include, but is not limited to, CMC librarians, education librarians, curriculum librarians, CMC faculty, personnel, and support staff.

Elections

The Chair will be elected each spring from the interest group membership.

More Information CMCIG Web pages. 

Recognized by ALAO 12/1987

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Distance Learning Interest Group

Purpose

Provide a statewide forum for library staff interested in and/or involved with distance learning services.

Goals

1. Discuss topics relevant to library support for distance learners;
2. Share information and provide networking opportunities by sponsoring and co-sponsoring programs;
3. Promote library involvement with distance learning programs on Ohio campuses;
4. Explore opportunities for cooperation between ALAO and OLN, the Ohio Learning Network; and
5. Promote information exchange with the ACRL Distance Learning Section.

Objectives

1. Hold an annual meeting that includes either a program or a roundtable discussion;
2. Contribute, when appropriate, to the ALAO Newsletter on topics relevant to the group's membership; and
3. Create and maintain a webpage that provides information about academic library services in Ohio that support distance learning programs.

Participation

Any ALAO member who has expressed an interest in issues relating to library services for distance learning is welcome to participate.

More Information DLIG Web pages.

Recognized by ALAO 4/1992

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Instruction Interest Group

Purpose

Provide a statewide forum for library staff involved in library instruction and information literacy.

Goals

1. Share teaching expertise and resources
2. Support continuing education activities
3. Promote the instructional role of academic libraries

Objectives

1. Sponsor a session at the association's annual conference
2. Hold a workshop relevant to the group's interests
3. Regularly contribute instruction-related content to the ALAO Newsletter
4. Encourage communication among librarians involved in library instruction through submissions to the ALAO Newsletter
5. Maintain and contribute instruction-related content to the IIG Blog

Participation

Any ALAO member who is interested in library instruction and information literacy is welcome to participate in IIG.

Organizational Structure

1. Two co-chairs, serving staggered two-year terms
2. Planning Committee is formed annually by a call for volunteers in the ALAO Newsletter.  This committee works on items such as planning the spring workshop and the annual conference information table.

More Information IIG Web pages. 

  Recognized by ALAO 6/1988; 

revised 2001, 2004, 2006, 2011

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Programming, Outreach, and Marketing Interest Group

Purpose

Members of this group will work to identify, address, and promote programming, outreach, and marketing issues that impact libraries and higher education.

Goals

• Identify and recruit members of the Ohio academic library community who have an interest in or who do programming, outreach, and marketing work as a regular part of their job responsibilities
• Foster communication and collaboration among members of the interest group, ALAO, and the Ohio academic library community regarding programming, outreach, and marketing issues
• Advance and promote programming, outreach, and marketing initiatives within the state of Ohio, across the nation, and internationally by partnering with colleagues, similar interest groups, and other professional library associations

Focus

Topics of interest that members of the group will investigate include:

• Outreach from the library to “smaller” collections around campus
• Outreach from campus libraries to the surrounding communities
• Unpaid labor of outreach librarians
• Student success, engagement, and retention
• Assessment of programs, social media “reach,” etc.
• Marketing, publicity, and communications
• Collaborating with other campus departments to execute programs, etc.
• Orientation
• Reaching special student populations including but not limited to: international, non-traditional, at-risk, transfer, military-affiliated, multicultural, and first-generation
• First Year Experience programs

Participation

This interest group will comprise members of the ALAO community who have an interest in or who perform programming, outreach, and marketing as a regular part of their job responsibilities.

Organizational Structure

1. Two co-chairs, serving staggered two-year terms

More Information PROMIG Web pages.

Recognized by ALAO 9/2018

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Scholarly Communications Interest Group

Purpose

Identify, address, and promote scholarly communications issues that impact libraries and higher education.

Goals

1. Identify and recruit members of the Ohio library community who have an interest in or work with scholarly communications issues as a regular part of their job responsibilities.
2. Foster communication and collaboration among members of the interest group, ALAO, and the Ohio library community regarding scholarly communications issues.
3. Advance and promote scholarly communication initiatives within the state of Ohio, across the nation, and internationally by partnering with colleagues, similar interest groups, and other professional library associations.

Objectives

1. Hold an annual meeting through which members identify and prioritize issues and initiatives that the group should address.
2. Present continuing education opportunities (at least one per year) that promote and advance scholarly communication initiatives.
   
3. Identify opportunities to advocate for and advance scholarly communications issues within the ACRL community and the profession.
4. Communicate group activities and information about scholarly communications initiatives with the ALAO community through appropriate media and venues.
   

Participation

ALAO members who work with or have an interest in scholarly communications initiatives.

More Information SCIG Web pages.

  Recognized by ALAO 2/2017

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Special Collections and Archives Interest Group

Purpose

To provide a vehicle with which to discuss and disseminate issues and developments pertinent to special collections and archives in Ohio academic libraries.

Goals and Objectives

1. To provide opportunities for networking with colleagues with similar interests.
2. To provide an opportunity for professional service and development within the state for special collections librarians.
3. To encourage discussion of topics relevant to academic special collections and archives.
4. To increase visibility of special collections and archival materials across the Ohio academic community.
5. To hold an annual meeting to discuss business for the upcoming year.
6. To hold an annual workshop to exchange ideas or techniques on issues or developments relevant to the archives and special collections field.
7. To encourage and sponsor more conference sessions, presentations, and panel discussions about topics related to archives and special collections.

Participation

1. Any member of ALAO who is interested in special collections and archives topics is welcome.

More Information SCAIG Web pages. 

  Recognized by ALAO 10/2012

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STEM Interest Group

Purpose

Provide a statewide forum for discussing topics of interest to librarians and library staff who support the STEM fields - science, technology, engineering, and medicine/mathematics.

Focus

Goals

1. Support STEM librarians and staff through continuing education.
2. Provide opportunities for knowledge sharing among STEM focused library personnel.
3. Mentoring of those new to the specialization.
   

Objectives

1. Develop collaboration and partnerships among librarians and library staff at different institutions to support STEM initiatives. 
2. Organize mentoring program for librarians and library staff new to STEM fields.
3. Host a Great Lakes Science Boot Camp in Ohio.
4. Host a Midwest Data Librarian Symposium in Ohio.
5. Continued collaboration to identify and host relevant professional development opportunities connected to STEM issues in libraries..
   

Participation

ALAO members who have an interest in the STEM fields, particularly those who support faculty, students and researchers in STEM.

More Information STEM IG Web page. 

  Recognized by ALAO 4/2018

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Support Staff Interest Group

Purpose

Identify issues and areas of mutual concern among academic library support staff and develop communication for the purpose of resource sharing and continuing education.

Goals

1. Encourage the participation of all colleagues within the profession to achieve the common goal of quality service.
2. Foster positive working relationships among support staff at all levels in academic libraries.
3. Develop a professional identity for support positions within academic libraries.
4. Promote cohesiveness among support staff statewide.
5. Promote the exchange of ideas among individuals with similar responsibilities in academic libraries.
6. Maintain open communication channels with other organizations in Ohio that serve the professional development of library support staff, such as the Ohio Library Support Staff Institute (OLSSI).

Objectives

1. Create an online network of communication to publicize SSIG activities and share resources.
2. Promote professional development opportunities focused on the needs of library support staff
3. Collaborate with the ALA web manager(s) to maintain the SSIG web presence
   
4. Collaborate with conference planners of the OLSSI to facilitate any reciprocal arrangements of sponsored registrations for ALAO and OLSSI events.

Participation

Any ALAO member is welcome to participate in the SSIG.

Organizational Structure

1. Two co-chairs, serving two-year staggered terms, share leadership for the SSIG.
   
2. The co-chairs are designated as first-year and second-year co-chairs, with shared responsibility for website overview and attendance at ALAO Board meetings.
   
3. The co-chairs recruit a Members Committee to assist with workshop planning and achieving other objectives.
   
4. The second-year co-chair is responsible for recruiting a candidate to be appointed as the incoming first-year co-chair.

Awards

ALAO and the Support Staff Interest Group sponsor an annual presenter grant of up to $150 to encourage support staff development and participation in the annual ALAO conference.

More Information SSIG Web pages. 

Recognized by ALAO 5/88

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Technical, Electronic, and Digital Services Interest Group

Purpose

Provide a forum for discussion and information sharing among ALAO members who are interested in technical services, electronic resources and systems, and digital services.

Goals

1. Provide mechanisms for networking and discussion of technical, electronic and digital services (TEDS) related issues in acquisitions, cataloging, metadata, preservation, serials, electronic resources, systems, digital services, and related technology.
   
2. Support continuing education and professional development activities by providing and/or sponsoring TEDS programming at the annual ALAO Conference and TEDSIG annual workshop/meeting.
   
3. Foster empowerment by reaching out and welcoming all levels of staff in academic libraries’ technical, electronic and digital services and supporting counterparts from the non-profit and private sectors.
   
4. Develop relationships with like-minded regional organizations to share best practices and expertise among members.
   
5. Promote the role of TEDS librarians and staff to build awareness of the value of TEDS services to the library and higher education communities.
   
6. Recognize and honor significant contributions by ALAO members to the technical, electronic and digital services fields with the annual TEDDY Award.

Objectives

1. Promote TEDS programming by fostering call for relevant conference proposal submissions and sponsoring a program at the annual ALAO conference.
   
2. Sponsor a workshop annually on an area of interest to technical, electronic and digital services librarians and support staff
   
3. Promote and increase awareness of TEDSIG activities by regularly contributing to the ALAO Newsletter
   
4. Support communication, discussion, and networking for the membership by providing an email discussion list
   
5. Oversee the nominations, selection and presentation of the TEDDY Award
   
6. Provide a mechanism for sharing best practices and expertise among members
   
7. Identify at least one TEDSIG member to be appointed to the ALAO Conference Planning Committee to represent TEDSIG.  The Interest Group Coordinator may serve in this capacity.

Participation

Technical, electronic and digital services librarians and support staff in Ohio libraries and counterparts in the non-profit and private sectors, who are members of ALAO, are welcome to participate in TEDSIG. 

Elections

A Co-Chair will be elected annually from among TEDSIG participants. Co-Chairs serve staggered two-year terms.

Awards

ALAO and TEDSIG sponsor the annual TEDDY Award, which recognizes and honors significant contributions by ALAO members to the technical, electronic and digital services fields.

More Information TEDSIG Web pages. 

Recognized by ALAO 4/92

Last update: 11/19

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