ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries


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In the News
Last month I highlighted in this space the 

importance of communication. This month I’m 
highlighting yet another important “c” word—  
cooperation .

In this issue we publish ACRL’s 1992-93 
Annual Report, “Academic Libraries at the Cross­
roads.” The activities described in this report 
would not be possible without the cooperation 
o f thousands of member volunteers working 
together. With our diverse membership, coop­
eration is key to the successful completion of 
projects and to promoting the interests of aca­
demic libraries. Cooperating with other higher 
education associations and organizations fur­
thers the agenda of academic libraries and pro­
vides added benefits to the memberships of the 
participating organizations.

ACRL leaders emphasize cooperation in their 
annual reports. Jacquelyn McCoy, ACRL’s 1992–
93 president, urges us to “find new partners 
and helpmates as we seek to make wise deci­
sions as we reengineer the academic library.” 
Tom Kirk, ACRL’s 1993-94 president, is work­
ing with section leaders and committee chairs

to prepare joint cooperative programming high­
lighting networking activities in lieu of the tra­
ditional ACRL President’s Program.

Our articles this month also focus on the 
importance of cooperation. Bud Call examines 
joint-use libraries and identifies areas where co­
operation (and communication) are key to the 
successful marriage of two institutions. Ellen 
Meltzer cites cooperation as one of the critical 
elements to the successful move of a library. 
Pat Wand describes a government meeting on 
the National Information Infrastructure ( a k a  In­
ternet a k a  NREN). Only the cooperation of the 
government and the public and private sectors 
will maximize the effectiveness of this power­
ful tool. This month’s “News from the Field” 
reports on statewide cooperative activities 
among libraries in Utah and Virginia.

So, next time you’re working on a project 
take a moment to consider how you are coop­
erating and communicating. Your considered 
use of these skills might make a difference to 
the success of your project.

— Mary Ellen K. Davis 
E ditor & P u blisher