ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries 2 4 2 /C & RL News Conference R e p o r t ULS undaunted by w intry Philadelphia B y S h a r o n W a llb r id g e a n d D e b o r a h D a n c ik Highlights o f the ULS meetings at idwinter embers of the ACRL University Libraries Section (ULS) braved snow and minus- 0-degree windchills to meet their various com­ ittee obligations at the 1995 ALA Midwinter eeting in Philadelphia, February 3–8. The fol­ owing is a capsule version of ULS news from he conference. • The 1995 and 1996 ULS Programs will oth focus on change and its effect on librar­ ans. The 1995 program to be held on Satur­ ay, June 24, focuses on the human side of rganizational change. Plans for the 1996 an­ ual program call for a focus on development elated to generational issues. • The ULS Communications Committee de­ ided to update the brochure that describes the CRL University Libraries Section. The brochure s distributed to new ULS members and is made vailable to ACRL chapters for distribution. It gives new and prospective members a ook at the structure and programs o f ULS and he focus of its activities. The “look” o f the bro­ hure has been adopted as a de facto logo for LS. The Communications Committee contin­ es to discuss electronic means o f communi­ ating with ULS members. The committee has lso recommended that a ULS sticker be af­ ixed to ULS members’ conference badges at he ACRL Conference in Pittsburgh. If the sticker s successful, the idea may be continued at ALA onferences. • At the recommendation of the ULS Board, CRL has appointed a task force to look at vari­ us issues surrounding the library role in ac­ rediting. The extent to which the current cri­ eria for measuring libraries is effective— as well M M 3 m M l t b i d o n r c A i a l t c U u c a f t i c A o c t as related issues in terms of the library role in institutional goals and how the library is help­ ing to meet those goals— is of concern to many library administrators. Many feel that the library accreditation process is inadequate. • Those working on draft guidelines for undergraduate libraries are expecting to hold hearings on the draft at the 1995 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. (Ed. note: The draft will be published in the May issue o f C&RL News.) • A Medium Sized Academic Libraries Com­ mittee has been formed to act as a steering committee for the already existing discussion group. Rather than defining “medium sized,” the group has decided that, for the time being, it is self-defining— if one thinks one’s library is medium sized, then it is. It certainly is a di­ verse group as illustrated by the composition o f the committee. The committee will be dis­ cussing the challenges facing such libraries in­ cluding funding and development. These librar­ ies tend to be curriculum-based and are viewed as a local resource, but not funded to assume such responsibilities. They are frequently de­ pendent upon other libraries for research ma­ terials. The committee will publicize the dis­ cussion group programs. The next discussion topic will focus on technology challenges. • The ULS Librarians in Higher Education Committee is planning a program around the theme of how to build/improve library cred­ ibility within the university administration. The program will be on Sunday, June 25, at 9:30 a.m. in Chicago. • The Public Service Directors of Large Uni­ versity Libraries Discussion Group is interested in exploring data collection for process im­ provement, as it would appear that little such activity is happening now. They also want to continue to explore issues related to networked databases as those new services are already con- Sharon Wallbridge is assistant director f o r techn ical services a n d collection developm ent at Washington State University; D eborah D ancik is hum anities a n d social sciences librarian a t the University o f Alberta A pril 1 9 9 5 / 2 4 3 suming five percent o f budgets— a figure that is likely to increase. Topics of discussion in Philadelphia included budgets, potential con­ solidation of libraries, customer-initiated ILL, cooperative efforts, student technology fees, serial cancellations, renovations, home pages, asbestos removal, space and facilities planning, electronic reserves, databases, and document delivery. (T h an ks to D on Frank, G eorgia Tech University, f o r p rov id in g this report.) • The Undergraduate Librarians Discussi Group topic for the 1995 ALA Midwinter Meet­ ing was the electronic environment. Planning for electronic reserves was the main area of interest, with reports from undergraduate librar­ on ies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Virginia, and the Univer­ sity o f Michigan. Information on the UWired Program at the University of Washington was also presented. UWired is a pilot program in which a test group of entering freshmen were issued laptop computers to use during 1994– 95. In addition to their other classes, these stu­ dents take a two-credit information technology seminar taught by librarians. Ed. note: See the awards article on page 264 for the story about the UWired FIGS project winning the BIS Inno­ vation Award. ( T hanks to P a u la W alker o f the U niversity o f W ash in g ton f o r th is in f o r m a ­ tion?)— SW “ D ista n ce E d u c a tio n : A Fa d o r th e F u t u r e ? ” Janet Kendall, director of extended aca­ demic programs at Washington State Univer­ sity (WSU), set the stage for other presenters at the ULS Current Topics Discussion Group pro­ gram by addressing the question of whether distance education is a fad or the future. She suggested that we look at the demographics for the next 10 to 15 years when a dramatic student population increase is projected. These students will need access to higher education and the current delivery modes and institutions will not be able to meet the de­ mands; distance learning will be the alterna­ tive of choice. Technology now allows edu­ cators to bring the previously d ifferent traditional delivery streams for on and off cam­ pus closer together. Also, there will be en­ hanced and expanded use of distance educa­ tion m ethodologies brought into central strategies of the university. Deborah Dalton, outreach consultant at North Dakota State University Library and a longtime distance learner herself, drew a dis­ tinction between distance learning and dis­ tance education, the latter implying a particu­ lar pedagogy rather than having the focus on the learner. She agreed with Kendall that the future will bring the demise of higher educa­ tion as we know it and that distance learning will be very much a part of our future. Two things Dalton stressed were the need for a shift in faculty teaching styles— in part because distance education is a very time consuming process where module/lesson preparation is so important— and that cooperation among all types of libraries within a state or region would be all important in providing library service to distance learners. The third speaker, Kate Adams, distance education coordinator at the University o f Ne­ braska Library, emphasized that distance edu­ cation is an opportunity for new delivery methodologies and for partnerships. The li­ brary must be represented on committees that develop distance learning programs and be directly involved with distance education staff in course development. Each of the speakers come from institutions with active distance education programs underpinned by library services, if others would like models. In the ensuing discussion, it was apparent that there is a growing awareness of distance education on campuses because faculty are sometimes the ones at a distance, as institu­ tions make an effort to acquire faculty exper­ tise from other campuses. This scenario puts a tremendous strain on the “home” library, implying again the need for partnerships among libraries for improved access. Accredi­ tation was an issue brought forward. Kendall noted that WSU had anticipated this, address­ ing the concerns with the accrediting agen­ cies up front (again, an example of success through careful planning and allowing ad­ equate time for preparation). One knotty prob­ lem remains: that of libraries needing to de­ velop strategies to fund support for distance learning, a definite part of our future.— DD 2 4 4 /C & R L News