ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries 98 / C&RL News ■ F e b r u a r y ! 999 C o l l e g e & R e s e a r c h L i b r a r i e s news ACRL can didates fo r p re sid e n t sh a re plan s fo r ACRL Vote in th e e le c tio n th is s p rin g by Patricia Ann Wand and Lizabeth (Betsy) Wilson E d n o t e : C& RL N ew s o ffe r e d ACRL c a n d i­ d a te s fo r v ic e -p re s id e n t/ p re s id e n t-e le c t, P a tricia A n n W a n d a n d L iz a b e th (B e ts y ) s o n , th is o p p o rtu n ity to s h a re th e ir v ie w s w ith th e m e m b e rsh ip . A lth ou g h m a n y o f th e issu es fa c in g ACRL a r e d is cu ss e d in fo rm a lly a t m e e t­ ings, th is d o e s n o t p ro v id e a n a tio n a l fo ru m to all m e m b e r s . W e h o p e th a t p ro v id in g th is f o ­ ru m w ill a s sist y o u in m a k in g a n in fo rm e d c h o ic e w h e n y o u receiv e yo u r b allo t this spring. P A T R IC IA A N N W A N D M y m e m b e r s h ip in ACRL d a te s to 1 9 7 3 , a 2 5 - y e a r sp a n o f th e m o st dram atic a n d rev o lu tio n ­ ary c h a n g e s im ag in ab le in libraries. W h e n I b e ­ g a n in th is p r o fe s s io n lib r a ria n sh ip w a s n o t c o n sid ere d a fast-track career. F e w p e o p le th en e n v isio n e d u b iq u ito u s co m p u te rs a n d th e c o n ­ s e q u e n c e o f th e ir im p a c t o n th e c re a tio n , sto r­ a g e , a n d d eliv ery o f in form ation . N o w w e ta k e fo r g ra n te d th is a n d m a n y o th e r a s p e c ts o f th e in fo rm a tio n a g e th a t w e r e v irtu ally u n k n o w n in 1973. P a r t o f a c h a n g i n g c u lt u r e L ib raries w e r e ea rly u s e rs o f c o m p u te r s, in tro ­ d u cin g digital te ch n o lo g y in th e 1 9 7 0 s to allevi­ a te m a n y r o u tin e o p e r a tio n s . S h a re d c a ta lo g ­ in g th ro u g h O C LC a n d L ib rary o f C o n g re s s a n d c irc u la tio n sy s te m s a re e x a m p le s o f ea rly im plem entation. B u t m o st o f this w a s u n k n o w n W il­ Patricia Ann W and Lizabeth (Betsy) Wilson outside th e p rofession until th e early 1990s w h e n o n lin e c a ta lo g s b e c a m e a v a ila b le to read ers. F o r 2 0 y e a r s lib ra ria n s w o r k e d q u ie tly , b e ­ h in d th e s c e n e s , im p le m e n tin g sta te -o f-th e -a rt te c h n o lo g y to im p ro v e a c c e s s to in fo rm a tio n . W e c a n n o lo n g e r a ffo rd to w o r k q u ie tly n o r to rem a in figuratively b e h in d th e s c e n e s . In th e n e w a g e w e m u st c h a n g e o u r ap p roach . O u tr e a c h , o u tr e a c h , o u tr e a c h . O u tr e a c h s h a ll b e c o m e t h e m a n tra o f a c a d e m ic lib r a r­ ian s as w e m o v e in to th e 21 st cen tury. W e c a n ­ n o t b e p assiv e in o u r p r e s e n c e o n c a m p u s; to o m u c h is a t s ta k e . W e m u st r e a c h o u t, lo c a lly a n d n a tio n a lly , to a c tu a liz e t h e v a lu e s o f lib r a r ia n s h ip a n d to in c r e a s e th e v is ib ility o f lib r a r ie s ’ v ita l r o le in s o c ie ty . T h e v a lu e s o f lib ra ria n sh ip , s o c lo s e ly a llie d to th e v a lu e s o f d e m o c r a c y , m u st b e p r o m o te d a t e v e ry le v e l a n d b y e v e r y lib rarian . A s th e In te rn e t sh rin k s A b o ut th e auth o rs Patricia A n n W and is u n iversity lib raria n a t A m erica n U niversity, e-m ail: patw and @ a m erica n.ed u ; Liza b eth (Betsy) W ilson is a s so cia te d ir e c t o r o f L ib ra rie s f o r R e se a rc h a n d In s tru c tio n a l S e rv ic e s a t th e U n iv e rs ity o f W a sh in g to n , e -m a il: betsyw @ u.w ashington.edu mailto:patwand@american.edu mailto:betsyw@u.washington.edu C&RL News ■ Feb ru ary 1999 / 99 W e m u s t r e a c h o u t , l o c a l l y a n d n a t i o n a l ly , t o a c t u a l i z e t h e v a l u e s o f l i b r a r i a n s h i p a n d t o in c r e a s e t h e v i s i b i l i t y o f l i b r a r i e s ' v it a l r o l e in s o c ie t y . th e w o rld , p ro m o tin g fr e e d o m o f a c c e s s to in ­ fo rm a tio n is e ss e n tia l b o th in th e U n ited States a n d g lo b a lly . M e m b e r s i n i t i a t e s u c c e s s f u l p r o g r a m s H o w d o e s a p r o fe s s io n a l a s s o c ia tio n , s u c h as ACRL, s u p p o rt its m e m b e r s a n d re m a in v ia b le th r o u g h fu n d a m e n ta l c h a n g e s o f th is n atu re? ACRL b o th r e fle c ts th e c h a n g in g e n v iro n m e n t a n d in itiates ad d itio n a l c h a n g e s to m e e t m e m ­ b e r n e e d s . O n ly th ro u g h a c tiv e p a r tic ip a tio n o f its m e m b e r s , a n d th e d ir e c tio n th e y g iv e to its staff, c a n a n a s so c ia tio n le a d th e p ro fe s sio n . ACRL b u ild s a n n u a lly o n its stre n g th s. R e ­ c e n t m a jo r d ev e lo p m e n ts serv e as e x a m p les: • d efin in g th e v a lu e s o f lib rarian sh ip ; • e s ta b lish in g th e C o u n c il o f L iaison s; • fo u n d in g th e N atio n al In stitu te fo r In fo r­ m a tio n L iteracy ; • tra in in g a c a d e m ic lib ra ria n s in a d v o c a c y skills; • h eigh ten in g aw aren ess o f legislative issues; • participating in international librarianship; and • h elp in g to d ev elo p an d p ro m o te standards. T h e s e a re all p ro g ra m s th at re fle c t m e m b e r c o n c e r n s a n d c o m m itm e n ts . I f e le c t e d ACRL P re s id e n t, I s h a ll w o r k fo r p r o g r e s s in all th e p ro g ra m s , r e ly in g o n m e m b e r in p u t a n d c o n ­ tribu tion s. I h a v e p e rs o n a l e x p e r ie n c e in m a n y o f t h e s e in itiativ es. T h r e e a r e a s in w h ic h I h a v e c o n tr ib u te d th r o u g h o u t m y c a r e e r in c lu d e b ib lio g r a p h ic in s tr u c tio n , in te rn a tio n a l lib r a ria n sh ip , a d v o ­ c a c y , a n d le g is la tiv e in itia tiv es. I r e la te b rie fly m y e x p e r ie n c e in e a c h , w h ic h w ill e x p la in in p art m y c o m m itm e n t to t h e s e in itiativ es. I n s t r u c t io n is a n e s s e n t i a l c o m p o n e n t M y e x p e r ie n c e as a s e c o n d a ry an d h ig h e r e d u ­ c a tio n t e a c h e r b r o u g h t m e in to lib ra ria n sh ip . A fter t e a c h in g in a h e a lth e d u c a tio n p ro g ra m as a P e a c e C orp s v o lu n te e r in C o lo m b ia, I k n e w I w a n ted to pu rsu e teach in g as a career. I earn ed a m a s te r’s in te a c h in g , ta u g h t fo r sev e ra l y ears, an d , a fte r m o v in g to a n e w c o m m u n ity , to o k a te m p o ra ry p o s itio n as s u p p o rt staff in a un iv er­ s ity lib rary. W h ile w o r k in g in th e lib rary , I w a s a s ­ to u n d e d a t th e c o m p le x ity o f in fo rm a tio n stor­ a g e a n d retriev a l m e c h a n is m s — th is w a s e v e n tru e b e fo r e d igital a c c e s s — a n d I re a liz e d th at I h a d a lre a d y e a r n e d a b a c h e lo r ’s a n d m a s te r ’s b u t h a d le a r n e d fe w e ffe c tiv e stra te g ies fo r u s ­ in g lib ra ries. I b e c a m e c o n v in c e d th at in stru c ­ tio n fo r u sin g th e library sh o u ld b e a b a s ic s e g ­ m e n t o f e v e r y c o l l e g e s tu d e n t’s e d u c a tio n ; a to o lk it th a t w o u ld p r e p a r e th e stu d e n t fo r life ­ lo n g learn in g. C o m p le tin g th e MLS in 1 9 7 2 , I e n te r e d th e p ro fe s sio n a t a tim e w h e n a n u m b e r o f u s w e re p u sh in g to estab lish in stru ction as a m a jo r c o m ­ p o n e n t o f lib rary s erv ic e. I p resen ted a p a p e r an d h e lp e d to org an ize a la n d m a r k p r e c o n f e r e n c e , h e ld a t S o u th e r n M e th o d is t U n iv e rs ity in 1 9 7 9 , fr o m w h ic h ACRL’s B ib lio g ra p h ic In stru ctio n S e c tio n e v e n ­ tually w a s fo u n d e d . I n t e r n a t i o n a l l i b r a r i a n s h i p c o m e s h o m e At th e s a m e tim e I w a s c o n tr ib u tin g to th e C o m m u n ity a n d J u n io r C o lle g e L ib ra rie s S e c ­ tio n , a n d I w a s a c tiv e in h e lp in g to re s tru c ­ tu re th e A n th ro p o lo g y a n d S o c io lo g y S e ctio n . M y in te r e s t in a n th r o p o lo g y s te m m e d fro m m y cro ss-cu ltu ra l e x p e r ie n c e in C o lo m b ia a n d I h a d p u rs u e d g r a d u a te c o u r s e w o r k in a n ­ th r o p o lo g y . F ie ld w o r k a n d th e c o lle c t io n o f d a ta o v e r la p p e d lo g ic a lly w ith th e n e e d to stru c tu re r e c o r d e d d a ta to m a k e it e a s ily r e ­ trie v a b le . A g a in I fo u n d a d ir e c t a n d lo g ic a l lin k b e t w e e n m y in te re sts : th e c o n te n t o f th e d is c ip lin e o f a n th r o p o lo g y a n d th e a r c h ite c ­ tu r e o f its d a ta s to r a g e m e c h a n is m s . T o d a y m y c o n tin u e d in terests in a n th ro p o l­ o g y a re re fle c te d in w ritin g a n d c o n su lta n c y in in te rn a tio n a l lib ra ria n sh ip as w e ll as in le a d e r ­ s h ip in ACRL’s In te r n a tio n a l R e la tio n s C o m ­ m itte e a n d p a r tic ip a tio n in th e In te r n a tio n a l F e d e r a tio n o f L ib rary A s s o c ia tio n s (IFL A ). L i b r a r y l e g i s l a t i v e is s u e s a n d a d v o c a c y e f f o r t s in c r e a s e In 1 9 8 9 I w a s a p p o in te d c h a ir o f th e ACRL W h ite H o u s e C o n fe r e n c e T a s k F o r c e a n d re p ­ r e s e n te d ACRL o n th e ALA W h ite H o u s e C o n - 10 0 / C&RL News ■ February 1999 c o m m itm e n t, in tro d u c e d m e to v ario u s issu es th at p ro fe s sio n a l a s so c ia tio n s fa c e . I s a w th e m firsth an d ; w h e th e r th e iss u e w a s m e m b e rsh ip recru itm en t, re te n tio n an d d u es, th e o p e ra tio n an d g o v e rn a n c e o f th e a sso c ia tio n itself, o r th e d e lic a te b a la n c e o f lim ite d r e s o u r c e s a n d d e ­ m a n d fo r p ro g ra m d e v e lo p m e n t. In itia lly I u n d e r s to o d is s u e s fr o m th e p e r ­ s p e c tiv e o f m y o w n s e lf-in te r e s t. B u t a s I e x ­ p lo re d th e issu es an d ta lk ed to o th e r m e m b e rs an d to staff, I c a m e to s e e issues in b ro a d e r c o n ­ texts. U n d ersta n d in g th e b r o a d c o n te x t is e s s e n ­ tial to th e h e a lth a n d w e ll-b e in g o f a n a s s o c ia ­ tio n th a t m u st m e e t th e n e e d s o f w id e ly d i­ v e rse m em b ers. M y m e m b e r s h ip o n ACRL’s B o a r d o f D i­ rectors, w h ile I ch aired th e B u d g et an d F in an ce C o m m ittee , th o ro u g h ly e x p o s e d m e to th e is­ su es. I w a s im p ressed th en , a n d c o n tin u e to b e im p re s se d , w ith th e c o m m itm e n t a n d c re a tiv ­ ity o f ACRL le a d e r s h ip . B o th e le c t e d o ffic e r s a n d s ta ff h e lp s te e r this la rg e o r g a n iz a tio n to ­ w a rd c o m m o n ly h e ld g o a ls b a s e d o n th e m is­ sio n an d valu es o f th e m em b ers th em selves. In­ d iv idu al m e m b e rs m a k e a tre m e n d o u s d iffer­ e n c e th ro u g h th e ir d ir e c t a n d in d ire c t c o n tr i­ b u tio n s o f tim e a n d e x p e r tis e . C o n c lu s io n W e fa c e c h a lle n g in g tim es. B y w o rk in g to ­ gether, b y acknow ledgin g o u r in terdep en den ce, b y con tin u in g to p ay d u es (in m o n e y a n d tim e) to a stro n g organ ization , w e will m e e t th e ch al­ len ges. W e m u st d o th e s e th in gs an d m ore. This is a fast-track career. W e are in th e midst o f a c u ltu re c h a n g e . W h ile m in d in g o u r b a s ic o p e ra tio n s a n d v alu es, w e m u st re m e m b e r th e o u trea ch mantra: O u treach , o u treach , outreach. W h e n I a c c e p te d th e n o m in a tio n , I d id s o w ith th e in te n t o f r e p a y in g ACRL, its m e m ­ b e rs h ip , a n d its le a d e r s in s o m e sm all w a y . I o ffe r m y e n e rg y , c o m m itm e n t, a n d ab ility to b rin g p e o p le to g e th e r to d o “w o r k w o rth d o ­ in g .” A C R L is a c o m m u n i t y ACRL is m o r e th a n a n o r g a n iz a tio n o f lib r a r­ ies as its n a m e m igh t im ply. It is a c o m m u n ity o f in d iv id u a l lib r a ria n s b r o u g h t to g e th e r b y c o m m o n c o n c e r n s a n d n e e d s . ACRL’s e n o r ­ m o u s stren gth rests in th e extrao rdin arily c o m - feren ce. I edited th e position p a p e r o n academ ic libraries fo r th e c o n fe r e n c e , particip ated in th e c o n f e r e n c e in 1 9 9 1 , a n d c o n tin u e to m o n ito r fo llo w -u p o f th e r e s o lu tio n s th at w e r e p a s s e d a t th e c o n fe r e n c e . T h is activity o n th e n atio n al le v e l g r e w n atu rally fro m m y c o n trib u tio n s to s ta te lib ra ry le g isla tiv e e ffo rts w h ile w o rk in g in O re g o n . T e stify in g o n b e h a lf o f fiv e lib rary a s s o c ia ­ tio n s in F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 8 b e fo r e th e U .S. H o u s e A p p ro p r ia tio n s s u b c o m m itte e in s u p p o rt o f b u d g e ts fo r th e S u p e rin te n d e n t o f D o c u m e n ts a n d Library o f C o n g re s s w a s th e u ltim ate e x ­ p e r ie n c e fo r a library ad vo cate! I w as p ro u d to r e p r e s e n t th e v o ic e o f s o m a n y lib ra ria n s an d library u sers as C o n g ress p o n d e re d th e a llo c a ­ tio n o f lim ite d fe d e r a l d o llars. B e in g a m e m b e r a n d c h a ir in g th e ALA C o m m ittee o n L eg isla tio n a n d th e ACRL G o v ­ e rn m e n t R e la tio n s C o m m itte e h a v e g iv e n m e a fro n t ro w s e a t a n d a llo w e d a m p le o p p o r tu ­ n ity to stu d y th e v a riety o f le g is la tiv e is s u e s th a t e f f e c t lib r a rie s . T h e r e is m o r e to fe d e r a l lib ra ry c o n c e r n s th a n fu n ding! In r e c e n t y e a r s I h a v e w ritte n a b o u t in te l­ lectual p rop erty an d fair u se issues in th e on lin e e n v iro n m e n t a n d h a v e s e r v e d o n th e ALA I n ­ te lle c tu a l P ro p e rty S u b c o m m itte e . I c o n tin u e to w o r k to im p ro v e th e fed era l library d e p o s i­ to ry p ro g ra m a n d to im p ro v e citiz e n a c c e s s to g o v e r n m e n t in fo rm a tio n . I fo llo w c lo s e ly li­ b ra ry is s u e s in th e H ig h e r E d u c a tio n A ct an d th e im p le m e n ta tio n o f u n iv e rs a l s e r v ic e d is­ c o u n ts to s c h o o ls a n d lib raries. U n d e r s t a n d i n g is s u e s o f p r o f e s s i o n a l a s s o c i a t i o n s M y p a r tic ip a tio n in t h e s e s e g m e n ts o f ACRL a n d ALA, f o c u s e d o n p e r s o n a l in te re s ts a n d L IZ A B E T H (B E T S Y ) W IL S O N I w ish to th a n k th e ACRL N o m in a tio n s C o m ­ m i t t e e f o r i n v i t i n g m e t o s t a n d f o r vice-p resid en t/ p resid en t e le c t o f a n a sso cia tio n th at h a s g iv e n m e s o m u ch fo r n e a rly tw o d e ­ c a d e s . I h a v e re c e iv e d m o r e fro m ACRL th a n I c a n e v e r giv e in return. I h a v e d e p e n d e d u p o n ACRL to k e e p m e c o n n e c te d w ith c o lle a g u e s a n d e n e r g iz e d w ith n e w id e a s ; to p ro v id e m e g ro u n d in g o n iss u e s a n d c h a lle n g e s in h ig h e r e d u c a tio n ; to in s p ire m e w ith q u a lity p u b lic a ­ tions; a n d to o ffer m e a c h a n c e to learn in a su s­ tain ed an d co n tin u o u s w ay. C&RL News ■ Feb ruary 1999/ 101 A C R L c a n h e lp u s m o v e o u t w a r d f r o m o u r c a m p u s e s in t o t h e in t e r c o n n e c t e d w o r l d s o f h i g h e r e d u c a t io n , K - 1 2 , e x t e n d e d c o m m u ­ n it ie s , g l o b a l p a r t n e r s , a n d t h o s e w h o e m p l o y o u r g r a d u a t e s . m itte d in d iv id u a ls w h o jo in , w h o v o lu n te e r , w h o c o n tr ib u te , a n d w h o le a d . ACRL a llo w s u s to s te p o u t o f o u r n a r r o w in s titu tio n a l e n ­ v ir o n m e n ts an d c o n n e c t w ith lib rarian s a n d li­ b r a r ie s ’ s ta ff fr o m th e b r o a d e s t c o n tin u u m o f a c a d e m ic lib ra rie s— fro m th e co m m u n ity c o l­ le g e to th e b a c ca la u re a te institution to th e c o m ­ p r e h e n s iv e u n iv e rsity to th e d is ta n c e le a rn in g provider. I h av e alw ays b e lie v e d that o u r great­ e s t stre n g th s a r e a ls o o u r g r e a te s t c h a lle n g e s . A CRL’s s tr e n g th re s ts in in c lu s iv e n e s s a n d b r e a d th ; its c h a lle n g e re s ts in fin d in g fo c u s w h ile still le ttin g th e m a n y d iv e r s e v o ic e s o f its m e m b e rsh ip b e h e a rd an d a d d ressed . P r o fe s s io n a l a s s o c ia t io n s lik e ACRL in ­ trig u e m e . W h a t m o tiv a te s th o u s a n d s o f a c a ­ d e m ic lib r a ria n s to a n te u p d u e s , v o lu n te e r th e ir w e e k e n d s a n d lim ite d s p a r e tim e , p a y th e ir w a y to c o n fe r e n c e s , a n d d o n a te e x tra o r­ d in ary e ffo r t to th e a s so c ia tio n ? It c a n ’t b e e x ­ p lain ed b y b e in g a b le to add a lin e to a resu m e. It c a n ’t b e e x p la in e d b y g e ttin g a n o th e r m e m ­ b e r s h ip c a rd . It c a n ’t b e e x p la in e d b y h a v in g to d ig d e e p e r in to o u r p o c k e t s t o fu n d o u r trav el. W h a t m o tiv ates th o u sa n d s to giv e th e ir dis­ c r e tio n a r y e ffo r t a n d tim e to ACRL? I b e lie v e le a r n in g m o tiv a te s u s. C o n n e c tio n s m o tiv a te u s. M a k in g a n im p a c t m o tiv a te s u s. B u t m o s t o f all, s e r v ic e a n d “w o r k w o r th d o in g ” m o ti­ v a te s us. T h e s e m o tiv a tio n s a re all in h e re n t in ACRL m e m b e r s h ip . A n id o l b e c o m e s a c o l l e a g u e It s e e m s l ik e y e s t e r d a y th a t I a t t e n d e d m y fir s t A CRL e v e n t . It w a s t h e f i r s t - e v e r I n ­ s tr u c tio n S e c tio n (fo r m e r ly B ib lio g r a p h ic I n ­ s tr u c tio n S e c t io n ) d in n e r . T h e d in n e r s e r v e d to k i c k o f f a M id w in te r c o n f e r e n c e h e l d in S a n A n to n io . N o w , I g r a n t y o u , h o w c a n y o u n o t h a v e a g r e a t firs t e x p e r i e n c e in S a n A n ­ to n io ? K n o w in g n o t a s o u l a t t h e d in n e r a n d b e i n g f i ll e d w ith a h e a l t h y d o s e o f c o n f e r ­ e n c e u n c e r t a in t y , I s o u g h t o u t a s p o t a t a r a th e r liv e ly t a b le . W h e n I s a t d o w n , s o m e ­ o n e im m e d ia te ly w e lc o m e d m e to th e g r o u p a n d i n t r o d u c e d h e r s e l f a s S h a r o n H o g a n . S h a r o n H o g a n — o n e o f m y in s tr u c tio n id o ls! I h a d r e a d h e r w r itin g s in l ib r a r y s c h o o l , n e v e r t h in k in g th a t I w o u ld e v e r m e e t th e p e r s o n b e h in d t h e in s p ir in g a r tic le s . N o t o n ly d id a n id o l b e c o m e a c o lle a g u e th a t n ig h t, b u t I m e t m a n y o t h e r s o f e q u a l s ta tu r e w h o w e r e g e n u i n e ly in t e r e s t e d in w h a t a b e g in n in g lib r a ria n , fu ll o f n e w fo u n d e n t h u s ia s m f o r t h e t e a c h in g r o l e o f lib r a r ­ ia n s , h a d t o s a y . I a l s o f o u n d a p l a c e f o r m y s e l f in t h e o r g a n iz a tio n . T h a t d in n e r e x ­ p e r i e n c e is s y m b o lic to m e o f w h a t ACRL is a n d s h o u ld b e a b o u t— c o n n e c tio n s , c o n tin u ­ ity , a n d c o l l e a g u e s . I h a v e n e v e r f o r g o t t e n t h e k in d n e s s a n d s u p p o r t S h a r o n e x t e n d e d t o m e th a t n ig h t. S in c e th e n , I h a v e trie d to m o d e l th e s a m e w a rm th w h e n I a tte n d a n ACRL e v e n t, m e e t­ in g , o r c o r r id o r d is c u s s io n . W e n e v e r k n o w w h e n s o m e t h in g w e s a y o r d o , o r d o n ’t d o , w ill in s p ir e o t h e r s to i n v o k e t h e i r “d is c r e ­ t io n a r y e f f o r t ” o n b e h a l f o f ACRL. I h o p e to f u r th e r t h e c o m m it m e n t o f A C RL m e m b e r s t o a f f e c t a n d i n f l u e n c e , to in s p ir e a n d g u id e , a n d to s u p p o r t o u r in d i­ v id u a l a n d c o lle c t iv e le a r n in g . A s e a c h o f us n u r tu r e s c o n n e c t i o n s a n d c o lla b o r a t io n s o n o u r c a m p u s e s a n d in o u r c o m m u n i t ie s , A C RL c a n s u p p o r t u s t h r o u g h its m a n y o r ­ g a n iz a t i o n a l m a n if e s t a t io n s a n d p e r s o n a l n e tw o r k s . A CRL c a n h e lp u s m o v e o u tw a r d fr o m o u r c a m p u s e s in to t h e i n t e r c o n n e c t e d w o r ld s o f h ig h e r e d u c a tio n , K - 1 2 , e x te n d e d c o m m u n itie s , g lo b a l p a rtn ers, a n d th o s e w h o e m p lo y o u r g r a d u a te s . A C R L ’s u n iq u e p o s i ­ t i o n a s c a t a ly t ic h o m e b a s e f o r in t e g r a t iv e e f f o r t s s u c h a s t h e I n s titu te f o r I n fo r m a tio n L ite r a c y a n d t h e H a r v a r d L e a d e r s h ip I n s t i­ tu te w ill a llo w u s to b u ild c o lla b o r a tio n s n e c ­ e s s a r y f o r o u r fu tu re s u c c e s s a s a c a d e m ic li­ b r a r ia n s . L o o k i n g t o t h e S t r a t e g i c P l a n I b e l i e v e th a t t h e b e s t s t r a t e g i c p la n n in g m a n ife s ts it s e l f a s s tr a te g ic th in k in g . S tr a te ­ g ic th in k in g is th e n e c e s s a r y p r e c o n d itio n fo r w is e in v e s tm e n ts th r o u g h o u t ACRL fr o m in ­ d iv id u a l c o m m itte e s , s e c tio n s , c h a p te r s , an d d is c u s s i o n g r o u p s t o t h e a s s o c ia t i o n a s a w h o l e . A s w ith o u r o w n in s tit u t io n s , ACRL 102 / C&RL News ■ Feb ruary 1999 h a s f i n i te r e s o u r c e s a n d u n lim it e d n e e d s , d e m a n d s , a n d id eas. B y u s in g t h e A C RL S t r a t e g ic P la n a s a g u id e b u t s till a llo w in g f r in g e id e a s a n d in i­ t ia tiv e s th a t a r e w o r t h d o in g t o e m e r g e , w e c a n m a in ta in a r e s p o n s iv e a n d n im b le o r g a ­ n i z a t i o n th a t a c a d e m i c lib r a r ia n s w ill w a n t t o jo i n . T h e s t r a t e g i c d ir e c t i o n s a r t i c u l a te d in t h e A C RL S t r a t e g ic P la n a r e s o lid , o n t h e m o n e y , a n d r e f l e c t i v e o f t h e m e m b e r s h ip s ’ n e e d s a n d c o n c e r n s . I w o u l d c o n t in u e t h e l e a r n i n g a n d l e a d e r s h i p f o c i a d v a n c e d b y P r e s i d e n t M a u r e e n S u lliv a n in fu r t h e r in g p r o fe s s io n a l d e v e lo p m e n t o p p o r tu n itie s ; c o l ­ l a b o r a tio n w ith o t h e r p r o f e s s io n a l o r g a n iz a ­ t io n s o f h i g h e r e d u c a ti o n ; a p r o m in e n t r o le in p l a n n i n g a n d d e c i s i o n m a k in g f o r in f l u ­ e n c in g in fo r m a tio n p o lic y ; a n d e f f ic ie n t a n d e f f e c t i v e A C RL o p e r a t i o n s . W e n e e d to s u s ta in a n d g r o w e s ta b lis h e d p ro g ra m s s u c h a s th e lia is o n w o r k w ith o th e r p r o fe s s io n a l a s s o c ia tio n s in h ig h e r e d u c a tio n a n d th e le g is la tiv e a d v o c a c y e ffo r t. W e m u st b e a r t i c u l a t e a s w e s it a t t h e v a r io u s t a b l e s w h e r e d i s c u s s i o n s o f a n d d e c i s i o n s a b o u t c o p y r i g h t , i n t e ll e c t u a l p r o p e r ty , in f o r m a ­ tio n a c c e s s , a n d in fo r m a tio n a n d te c h n o lo g y l it e r a c y a r e b e i n g m a d e . A C R L ’s f i n e w o r k t h r o u g h its C o u n c il o f L ia is o n s e f f o r t s , l e g ­ isla tiv e in itia tiv es , h ig h p r o file w o r k w ith a c ­ c r e d itin g a g e n c ie s , a n d o u tc o m e s a s s e s s m e n t sh o u ld b e su stain ed an d ex p an d ed . At th e s a m e tim e , w e n e e d to c r e a te a n e n ­ v ir o n m e n t th a t c a ta ly z e s n e w a n d n e e d e d e f­ fo rts th a t c a n b e g r o w n in c o lla b o r a t io n w ith o th e r g r o u p s a n d o rg a n iz a tio n s . W e n e e d n o t g o th is a lo n e . T h e In s titu te f o r I n fo r m a tio n L ite ra c y (IIL ), s e e d e d b y ACRL, is o f f to a ru n ­ n in g s ta rt w ith its first Im m e r s io n P r o g r a m s c h e d u le d f o r J u l y 1 9 9 9 . I h a v e h a d th e p riv i­ l e g e o f s e r v in g o n t h e IIL s t e e r in g g r o u p fo r th e p a s t tw o y e a r s a n d h a v e s e e n h o w tr a n s ­ fo r m a tio n a l in itia tiv e s c a n flo u r is h w h e n in ­ s p ir e d le a d e r s h ip fr o m s o m e o n e lik e C e ris e O b e r m a n is c o u p le d w ith th e o p e r a tio n a l a n d fis c a l s u p p o r t o f ACRL. W e n e e d t o a llo w fo r m o r e s u c h in n o v a tiv e a n d h ig h p r o file e ffo rts to m o v e q u ic k ly a n d d e ftly th r o u g h th e o r g a ­ n iz a tio n . A CRL h a s e n o r m o u s p o te n tia l to se r v e a s a cataly st, w h ic h c o n n e c ts g o o d id eas w ith r e a l p r o b le m s . C r e a t i n g a s e a m l e s s e n v i r o n m e n t M o s t r e c e n t ly , I h a v e e x p e r i e n c e s t h a t u n ­ d e r s c o r e t h a t w e c a n n o l o n g e r ( i f w e e v e r c o u ld ) fe e l c o m fo r ta b le o r c o m p la c e n t a b o u t t h e a r t if ic ia l b o u n d a r ie s a m o n g a c a d e m i c , s c h o o l , s p e c i a l , a n d p u b li c l ib r a r ie s . I n f o r ­ m a tio n t e c h n o l o g y , c o n s o r t ia l p u r c h a s e s o f e l e c t r o n i c r e s o u r c e s , t h e g r o w in g d ig ita l li­ b r a r y p r e s e n c e , a n d t h e r e a lit y o f l if e l o n g le a r n in g h a v e w o r k e d to s o f t e n a n d d is s o lv e t h e s e d iv is io n s . W e m u s t l o o k f o r w a y s to n o t o n ly c o n n e c t w ith o u r c o l l e a g u e s in o t h e r h ig h e r e d u c a tio n p r o f e s s io n a l o r g a n i­ z a t io n s , b u t a l s o w ith in o u r p r o f e s s i o n a n d o u r c o m m u n it ie s . T h e A m e r ic a n A s s o c i a t i o n o f S c h o o l Li- b ra ria n s / A C R L T a s k F o r c e o n t h e E d u c a ­ t i o n a l R o l e o f L ib r a r ia n s is e v i d e n c e th a t A C RL le a d e r s h i p a l r e a d y u n d e r s t a n d s t h e im p o r ta n c e o f c r e a tin g a s e a m le s s lib ra ry a n d e d u c a tio n a l e n v ir o n m e n t f o r o u r c o m m u n i­ tie s . IIL w ill f o c u s o n c o m m u n it y - b a s e d in i­ tia tiv e s a n d e s ta b lis h in g b e s t p r a c t ic e s f o r all t y p e s o f in s tit u t io n s t h r o u g h c o l l a b o r a t iv e e f f o r t s . C o l l a b o r a t io n w it h in a n d o u t s id e A C R L is o f c r it i c a l i m p o r t a n c e . T h e r e is m u c h w o r k t o b e d o n e , a n d s t a y in g w ith in o u r n a r r o w in s tit u t io n a l a n d o r g a n iz a tio n a l w a lls w ill b e n e fit n o n e o f u s o r th o s e w e s e e k to s e r v e . ■ Advance registration through March 12 R e g is te r fo r ACRL’s 9th National C o n feren ce, “Racing T o w a r d T o m o r r o w , ” b y M arch 1 2 , 1999, and save nearly 15 % o ff onsite rates. T h e co n fe re n ce, April 8 - 1 1 , 1999, in D e­ troit, will allow yo u to k e e p p a c e and provide leadership fo r th e future direction o f academ ic libraries. M ore than 2 0 0 program s will exp lo re issues su ch as scholarly com m u nication, infor­ m ation literacy, distance learning, electronic publishing, alternate funding sources, etc. J o i n A CRL, n e t w o r k w ith y o u r c o l ­ le a g u e s , a n d s h a rp e n y o u r sk ills at th e p re ­ m ie re e v en t fo r a c a d e m ic librarians. R egistratio n m aterials a re o n th e W e b at http :/ / w w w .ala.org/ acrl/ p ren d ex.h tm l. O r call ( 8 0 0 ) 5 4 5 -2 4 3 3 x 2 5 l 4 to req u est registra­ tio n m aterials. http://www.ala.org/acrl/prendex.html