ALAO Newsletter

Sue Polanka, Wright State University

This is my last report as ALAO President. I’d like to thank everyone on the ALAO Board for a wonderful year full of great conferences and workshops, generous awards and scholarships, and informative and fun filled discussions about the future of our organization.
This spring the Board has continued our work to improve the ALAO website. Melissa Bauer, one of our ALAO Webmasters, conducted a usability survey about the website. Alison Ricker, Membership Chair worked with the Board on a card sort activity at our March meeting. The webmasters are collecting the data and hope to have a prototype of the new site available for our July Board meeting with a full launch in late August.
Because ALAO received tax-exempt status last June, we were able to register for a Google apps account for non-profits. Katy Kelly, Board Member at Large from the University of Dayton, registered us for the site and is leading the Board through the adoption of Google apps as a communication tool for Board activities.
We held our annual election in April. I appreciate everyone’s patience as we conducted the election this year in a slightly different way – twice! Thanks to everyone who volunteered for the ballot and a warm welcome to our newly elected Board members:
Eboni Johnson, Oberlin College – Vice President/President Elect
Don Appleby, University of Akron – Treasurer
Alisa Mizikar, Wittenberg University – Public Relations Coordinator
Jeff Franks, University of Akron – Board Member at Large
Julia Gustafson, College of Wooster – Board Member at Large
Suzanne Smailes, Wittenberg University- Board Member at Large

July 15-16th the Board will meet in Columbus for our annual retreat. At the end of the first day we have an official passing of the torch for the new officers. I will hand the ALAO gavel over to Betsy Blankenship, our incoming President. Thank you for allowing me to serve as the ALAO President.
– It’s been a great year!

Betsy Blankenship, The Ohio State University Marion

The Conference Planning Committee invites everyone to attend the 39th Annual Conference on October 25, 2013 at The University Center at Kent State University, Stark. “The Changing Faces of Academic Libraries: Transforming, Reorganizing, Re-imagining” is this year’s theme and we are currently accepting presentation proposals – please consider submitting one today! Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Nancy Fried Foster from University of Rochester- check out the conference website for updates to the keynote page, as well as the pre-conference page. The official call is included in later in the newsletter.

In addition, the ALAO Board will hold its the Leadership Retreat on July 15-16 at the Holiday Inn Worthington to review the ALAO mission, strategic plan and goals and the past year accomplishments and activities and to plan ALAO programming and board initiatives for the coming year. We will welcome our new board members and say goodbye to those who have volunteered their time and leadership but are now going off the board.

Curriculum Materials Centers Interest Group

Stephanie Bange, Wright State University

The 2013 CMCIG Spring Workshop was held at the University of Cincinnati on Friday, May 17th. With the theme “Common Core Unraveled”, we began our day listening to Bob Reynolds from Battelle for Kids as he gave us background on the history and unpacked exactly what the Common Core State Standards are and how testing/assessment of CCSS is being done. Tom Shessler followed, speaking about tools INFOhio has developed and/or gathered on their website for teachers to use, including iMatrix and R4S. Dr. Richele O’Connor (a professor at WSU) wrapped it together to show us how it can be implemented in schools. Cheryl Ghosh led us on a tour of the beautiful and functional CECH Library. Our business meeting was brief; two items were discussed. First, we were reminded that Rita Kohrman (Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI) will be sending out a survey email, as a member of the ACRL CMC Directory Committee. Please be sure to respond so we can have an accurate directory. Second, Sharon Kerestes (CMC Librarian at Cedarville University) has volunteered to serve as the 2013-15 CMCIG Co-Chair. In the afternoon, a small group toured the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center — fabulous! While the group was small, we all walked away with fabulous tools to use (the Vertical Progression Guides will be very handy!) and armed with more knowledge about Common Core.

Distance Learning Interest Group, Instruction Interest Group

Lauren Wahman, University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College

Spring 2013 Workshop
The Distance Learning (DLIG) and Instruction (IIG) Interest Groups spring workshop, Making Noise in the Library: Advocating for our Students and our Libraries, took place on Monday, June 3 at Miami University’s Voice of America Learning Center in West Chester, OH.
Buffy Hamilton (embed link to Blog — http://theunquietlibrarian.wordpress.com/) (Learning Strategist | Cleveland Public Library) presented Moving From Nice to Necessary: Academic Libraries and Communities Collaboratively Composing Participatory Practices of Learning. This amazing keynote presentation on participatory learning and librarianship provided attendees with encouragement and great ideas to take back to their home institutions. During the afternoon, Buffy facilitated an Assessment Learning Circle which involved engaging discussions with peers to address all things assessment.

The 2013 DLIG Visionary, Bridget Faricy-Beredo (Clinical Medical Librarian | University of Toledo), presented Finding Your North Star. This engaging presentation highlighted Bridget’s tireless efforts in providing faculty and student outreach.

The panel discussion, They Didn’t Teach this in Library School: Straight Talk From the Trenches, moderated by Rob Snyder (Bowling Green State University) included Jessie Long (Miami University, Middletown) Lauren Wahman (University of Cincinnati, Blue Ash College), Katie Foran-Mulcahy (University of Cincinnati, Clermont College), and Sara Klink (Stark State College) and provided a collaborative discussion on teaching and technology.

Overall, we had 30 attendees who enjoyed a kazoo concert, great presentations, great food, and a nature walk!
New Co-Chairs for 2013-2014
We are happy to announce the new co-chairs for DLIG and IIG!
DLIG
Carrie Girton (Miami University, Hamilton) will be the incoming DLIG co-chair starting July 2013. Jessie Long, current senior co-chair, has completed her appointment.

IIG
Sara Klink (Stark State College) will be the new IIG co-chair starting July 2013. Lauren Wahman, current senior co-chair, has completed her appointment.

Diversity Committee

Diane Kolosionek, Cleveland State University

2013 Diversity Spring Workshop
Please attend the <a href=”http://www.alaoweb.org/events?eventId=649311&EventViewMode=EventDetails”ALAO Diversity Committee’s Spring Workshop to learn how your colleagues are promoting diversity in their libraries!

Date: Friday, June 14, 2013
Time: 10:00 AM – 3:45 PM, Check-in begins at 9:30 AM
<strongLocation: OHIONET, 1500 West Lane Avenue, Columbus, OH 43221
Directions: http://www.ohionet.org/about/maps-directions
Cost: $25.00 for ALAO members; $35.00 for non-members.
Lunch will be provided.
Registration: http://www.alaoweb.org/events?eventId=649311&EventViewMode=EventDetails
Seating is limited. Registration deadline is Wednesday, June 12, 2013.

Four sessions will be presented by members of the University of Michigan Library Diversity Council:

Library Diversity Committees, The Basics
Darlene Nichols (Librarian for Diversity and Inclusion)
Deirdre Spencer (Head, Fine Arts Library)
We will provide an overview of the University of Michigan Library Diversity Council including history, committee organization, purpose and activities. We will share the story of our success and challenges, our experience with organizing the committee (and the by-laws which govern the organization) for maximum effectiveness. We will discuss the evolution of our mission and purpose over time and where we stand today. We will offer concrete suggestions and the benefit of our experience in how you can plan and implement diversity within your organization.

Making the Case for a Diversity Committee!
Bob Campe (Chief Business and Financial Officer)
Darlene Nichols (Librarian for Diversity and Inclusion)
We will discuss why an academic library might benefit from a diversity committee and some ways to build a case for library administration. We will discuss the advantage of diversity and seeking to understand other voices, which broadens our perspective, as collection managers, public service providers, technology experts, administrators, etc. We will also discuss how diversity develops leadership through advocacy.

Engaging Staff through Innovative Programs
Steve Griffes (Information Resources Supervisor, Library Operations)
Scott Martin (Biological Sciences Librarian)
Mike McLean (Circulation Supervisor, Askwith Media Library)
There is an amazing array of possible programs that can be done inexpensively or even free. We will go into greater depth about the programming done by U-M LDC. This includes our approach to programming, as well as the factors that inform what we do, how we develop it, and how changing council membership influences it. We will discuss both one-time programs (speakers, discussion panels, film screenings, and events), as well as recurring programs (book clubs, current event discussions, our annual Diversity Celebration, and a long-running workshop that promotes respect and inclusion within the organization). U-M LDC will address strategies to maximize impact of diversity programming and methods to improve staff engagement. This session will demonstrate how diversity programming can support and influence the changing culture of your institution.

Getting out the Word
Mike McLean (Circulation Supervisor, Askwith Media Library)
Kate Saylor (Outreach Coordinator and Liaison Librarian, Taubman Health Sciences Library)
How do you communicate what the committee is doing? We will describe our communication plan and strategies for getting the word out. These include developing a brand, building upon existing library communication channels as well as developing our own external network which successfully utilizes social media, live tweeting of events, etc.

One session will be presented by Eileen Theodore-Shusta (Director of Planning, Assessment and Org. Effectiveness), Ohio University Libraries:

Diversity Internships for Undergraduates and LAMP
Learn about ways to establish an internship program for undergraduates from underrepresented populations. Established in 2009, the Libraries have hosted 1-2 interns each year since. The presenter will describe the background of how her organization began exploring internship options, the LAMP program, some of the interns they hosted, and lessons learned.

Please join us!

Congratulations our new ALAO Board Members:
Vice President/President Elect – Eboni Johnson, Oberlin College
Treasurer – Don Appleby, University of Akron
Public Relations/Outreach Coordinator – Alisa Mizikar, Wittenberg University
Board Members at Large –
Jeff Franks, University of Akron
Julia Gustafson, College of Wooster
Suzanne Smailes, Wittenberg University

Thanks to all those who volunteered for service, and congratulations to all who were elected.

Expanding ALAO membership to more staff members in every academic library in Ohio would benefit not just those new members and their institutions, but every member of ALAO as we diversify the talent, knowledge and skills represented by the membership as a whole. One person at each institution, acting as the ALAO membership liaison, can help further this goal. Will you be that person for your library?

Many individuals are already acting as an ALAO liaison, inviting new colleagues to join and encouraging others to renew – I just don’t know who you are, so coordinating those activities is impossible. Please contact me so we can work together. Thank you!
Alison Ricker
Membership Chair
aricker@oberlin.edu

ALAO 39th Annual Conference
October 25, 2013
University Center
Kent State University at Stark
North Canton, Ohio

Proposals are now being accepted for the ALAO Annual Conference. The deadline for proposals is June 7, 2013. Proposals should be submitted online via: http://osu.campusguides.com/sessions

The ALAO Conference Planning Committee invites you to submit proposals for presentations for the 2013 Annual Conference. Applicants are encouraged to develop creative proposals that show thoughtful exploration of this year’s conference theme: “The Changing Faces of Academic Libraries: Transforming, Reorganizing, Re-imagining.” You are encouraged to share your experiences, solutions, expertise, and innovative practices with colleagues from all types of academic libraries.

Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

Transforming:

• Collaboration – departments, community, groups
• Collections – print vs. electronic
• Outside the box – new initiatives
• Services – areas of student experience

Reorganizing:

• Library spaces – physical and virtual, active learning
• Staffing – new roles, new positions, new responsibilities
• Budget (electronic vs. print)
• Collections – maintenance
• Services

Re-imagining Library instruction:

• first year, second year groups, international, special groups (veterans), online
• Library reference – online, in person, new methods, assessment, tools used
• Library services
• Collaboration
• Budget – expertise needed?, IT
• Collections – digital initiatives, data
• Assessment
• Library as information portal

Guidelines:
You are welcome to submit multiple proposals, however, please know that no more than 2 will be included in the final program.

• All proposals will be blind-reviewed for content, relevance to the conference theme, and overall appeal. A concise, clearly written description and abstract will help the reviewers evaluate your offering more clearly.
• Exclude the name of your institution, department and any personal names in the abstract to expedite the blind review process. You do not need to exclude this information in the brief description.
• You will be contacted regarding your AV/technology requirements when your proposal is accepted.
• All presenters will be responsible for their own registration and travel costs.
• Please print a copy of the completed form for your records before submitting.
• You will receive an email confirmation upon submission. If you do not receive this confirmation email, please contact: Diane Schrecker, Ashland University Library at alao.cpc@gmail.com

Presentations may take the form of contributed papers, demonstrations, workshops, research, or panel discussions.

ALAO’s Professional Development Committee and Support Staff Interest Group sponsored a rebroadcast of two ACRL webinars on Friday, May 31st at Ohio State University Newark / COTC. Participants watched two 90 minute webinars; a brief discussion of key themes followed each webinar.

The morning session, “The Crisis in Academic Libraries (and Why This is the Best Thing Ever)”, reviewed some of the challenges current facing academic libraries and suggested ways for addressing each of these. These suggestions included aligning practice with the goals of the parent higher education institution, seeking to become innovators to redesign library service, and acting as “scholar-practitioners” in the higher education community to gain equal footing with department faculty.

In the afternoon, participants watched “Fair Use in Your Library after Georgia State” and received some critical guidance both on the four key factors for Fair Use decision making (Purpose, Amount, Nature, & Effect) and on how they were applied in the Georgia State case. Participants learned that as a result of this decision, many libraries no longer hold clear decision rules and that instead decisions often need to be made on an individual “ad hoc” basis with the four factors in mind. In the discussion that followed, attendees shared local procedures for guiding professors in complying with copyright law particularly in the area of course reserves.

Of the original 29 registrants, 22 attended the re-broadcasts; conflicts with the OhioLINK directors meeting and the limited availability of summer coverage may have led to this reduction in numbers. Participants came from 16 different home institutions. While organizers are still waiting on the evaluation results, overall it seemed to be a successful opportunity to learn and to network with other support staff and librarians from through out the state. Many thanks go out both to ACRL for providing access to the webinars and to the staff of the Ohio State University Newark / COTC library for providing space and technology for the day.

Joseph Straw, Marietta College

As Government Relations Liaison, I represented ALAO at National Library Legislative Day (NLLD) in Washington D.C. In attending NLLD for the first time, I would like to thank ALAO for supporting my travel to this event.

To get my bearings, I attended a NLLD Pre-Conference at the American Library Association (ALA) Washington Office on May 6. The highlight was a presentation by Stephanie Vance from Advocacy Associates who shared tips on meeting productively with legislators. Ted Wegner and Lynne Bradley at ALA also gave brief talks on grassroots advocacy and using the resources of the Washington Office. These preliminaries provided some useful information and set the stage for the days to come.

Most of May 7 was spent in an excellent series of briefings organized by the ALA Washington Office. I attended the briefings as part of the the Ohio delegation of over a dozen mostly public librarians. William Morris of the State Library of Ohio headed the state delegation and did a good job in arranging meetings with congressional staff and providing legislative packets to the advocates. Well over 300 participants took part in these sessions most of them from public and school libraries.

The briefing presentations included talks by Maureen Sullivan, president, ALA; Keith Michael Fields, executive director, ALA; Lee Raine, director, Pew Research Center; Rich Stombres, vice president, Penn Hill Group, and many others. Perhaps the highlight was the summary from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project that conducted a series of surveys in public libraries and found favorable perceptions of librarians, attachment to the library as place, the emergence of libraries as community technology hubs, and a favorable public climate for support of libraries. A good clearinghouse for the Pew studies is available at: http://libraries.pewinternet.org/.

Of interest to academic librarians were a number of presentations dealing with access, e-books, telecommunications, privacy, and copyright.
The highlight might of been the Fair Access to Science and Technology Research Act of 2013 or FASTR. This bill provides for an open access protocol to federally funded research and has strong support from ALA and bi-partisan backing in both houses of Congress. Summaries and talking points for the all the issues covered at NLLD can be found at the ALA Washington Office website: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/advleg/nlld.

May 7 was legislative day proper and was occupied with visits on Capitol Hill. I met and had an extended talk with a staffer for Congressman Bill Johnson on the FASTR bill, e-books, and funding for the Federal Depository Library Program. Later, I met with a staffer from Senator Sherrod Browns office and talked on many of the same issues. Other advocates from the state went individually or together and hit a large portion of Ohio’s congressional delegation.

Certainly it felt good to make my voice heard through the forum of the NLLD event. I will continue to monitor these issues as they progress through the legislative process. Without question a major thank you needs to be extended to the ALA Washington Office for their great work in representing the interests of the broader library profession on a full-time basis.