ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries July/August 1986 / 457 Crim inal justice in O rlando By E lean or F a r ra ll R eference Librarian Arizona State University The 1986 meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. R e n t a l cars bearing sunburned tourists to Dis­ ney’s entertainment meccas jammed all six lanes of International Drive, the roadway abutting the Or­ lando Marriott. Inside the hotel activity was almost as frenzied. The 1986 annual meeting of the Acad­ emy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) was in ses­ sion. Program choices included five plenary ses­ sions and 206 panels of three or four papers each to be presented from eight a.m. on Monday, March 17, to noon on Friday, March 21. The theme for all this activity was “Twenty Years of Challenging Crime in a Free Society,” a title derived from the 1967 report of the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice. The 1,600 member Academy, founded in 1963, promotes the professional advancement of the criminal justice system through education and re­ search. Its membership roster includes teachers, administrators, researchers, students, and practi­ tioners. Themes of its presented papers are catho­ lic, ranging from international terrorism to intern­ ships; correctional dynamics to privatization of services; victimless crime to probation; apartheid to domestic violence, and dozens of areas in be­ tween. ACJ S annual meetings afford members opportu­ nities to present papers, share research, bridge the gaps between academicians and practitioners, and, through its plenary sessions, hear issues dis­ cussed by the acknowledged experts in the field. Seats at any of the ninety-minute panels may be at a premium, or the panel may outnumber the audi­ ence. The time of day, the day of the presentation, the reputation and influence of panel participants, the speaker’s support network at the conference all are variables affecting attendance. As the Justice Studies Subject Specialist at Ar­ izona State University, I was attending my fourth ACJS conference, this time with partial funding from A CRL’s Professional Liaison Committee. As chair of the Library Committee of ACJS I was pre­ senting the results of a survey to determine the type and frequency of library usage by criminal justice academicians and their perceptions of the role of the library and librarian in the education process. As a conferee I heard discussions on terrorism, computer-aided instruction, experiential educa­ tion, curricula comparisons, education vs. train­ ing, ombudsman applications, women in the crim­ inal ju stice field , and the oft m entioned contributions of the defunct Law Enforcement Ed­ ucation Program to criminal justice education. The standing Library Committee within the ACJ S organizational structure is in its fourth year, currently composed of its original three members. Programs are presented at each annual meeting. In various cities a few local librarians have partici­ pated in the panels. Promotion of these sessions within the parent organization has met with lim­ ited success. A demonstration of online computer searching with the carrot of free searches has been the most successful program to date. The movement of academic librarians into non­ library associations seems to be gaining momen­ tum, spurred on no doubt by such factors as the success of public librarians’ political gains within 458 / C & R L News sta te leagues of cities and tow ns, th e in te r- organizational awareness of medical, business and legal librarians, specialization within bibliogra­ pher and reference assignments, and the promo­ tion of professional association liaison activities by ACRL. Librarians wishing to promote professional liai­ son must be enthusiastic and persistent. Adding ac­ tive participation in another professional associa­ tion to participation in local, regional, state or national library associations will require addi­ tional funding and leave time. Both personal dedi­ cation and institutional support must be present. Promoting a library committee within an associ­ ation could prove self-defeating if only librarians are on the committee. Librarians talking to fellow librarians is a fine idea for collegial networking and very useful, but it does not promote the visibility of librarians in the organization or encourage other professional contacts. Far more effective, it seems to me, would be to infiltrate existing committees nd integrate one’s ideas into their functions. D e­ eloping a supporting network within the organi­ ation is imperative if activities are to be produc­ ive. Utilizing well-known members at sessions ponsored by librarians, or serving on panels set up y association members will prove effective. All uch activities will open channels for marketing li­ rary functions. The librarian who accepts the challenge of pro­ essional liaison may often feel like the circus per­ ormer astride two horses. Keeping aboard both ay not always be easy; the temptation exists to ail off both or step back astride one. The deter­ ined performer will master both. The librarian ho participates in both library and other profes­ ional associations has the opportunity to develop erspective, objectivity and an understanding of he library profession in its relationship to other ields. a v z t s b s b f f m b m w s p t f C h ap ter visits The A C R L President-Elect reports on two recent chapter meetings. Missouri, April 25. A C R L’s Missouri Chapter asked me to give the keynote address at their Spring Conference at Maryville. The conference theme was “ L ib ra ry A utom ation: R ealities and R e­ wards.” It was appropriately held at Northwest Missouri State University, which has a beautiful new electronic library utilizing a number of the lat­ est library technologies, including the LS 2000 sys­ tem. The conference included sessions on indexing for the online catalog, on system planning, on elec­ tronic mail, on barcoding, user training, and pa­ tron access and identification. The 70 participants were provided with very p ractical and much- needed information on planning and implement­ ing a library automation system, including positive and negative aspects. It was indeed a privilege to visit a new library fa­ cility built for technology and to experience various autom ated library services, including a video teaching system. Nancy Hanks, the director of the B .D . Owens Library, can be proud of her and her staff’s accomplishment. I also appreciated the fine Missouri hospitality, especially the dinner with Madonna and Tom Kennedy at the Apple Tree. Montana, May 1–3. I arrived at Kalispell on an absolutely beautiful, clear and sunny afternoon and received a warm welcome from members of the Montana Library Association who were meet­ ing jointly with A C R L’s Montana Chapter. My first view of the G lacier Park mountains was