ALAO Diversity Scholarship Reflection

Posted on November 29, 2011 by gibsonke

Jasmine L. Jefferson, Kent State University
Recipient of the 2010-2011 ALAO Diversity Scholarship

Receiving the ALAO Diversity Scholarship has greatly enhanced my professional career. Before the scholarship, I had not been aware of many of the areas library and information science incorporated. With this scholarship came the opportunity to attend the ALAO conference and this is where I became even more excited about the profession. At the conference I was able to sit in on lectures/presentations, meet vendors, and make connections with library professionals.
Receiving this scholarship not only helped provide financial security towards my future but emotional support as well. My mentor, Jamie Seeholzer, has been there for me every step of the way with encouraging words and advice that have proven to be priceless to my success in this field. It was great to have someone to talk to who has been through similar experiences. To me, this was the most important part of this experience because although we are taught in our classes how to essentially become librarians, a lot of what librarians do is learned in the field. Having someone to share my experiences with made me more comfortable and allowed me to learn more than I ever could in the classroom.
Currently, since I have one semester left, I am finishing up my coursework with a practicum in reference instruction. This is an area that I am not yet familiar with and look forward to its challenges and rewards. In the future, I would love to work at an academic library in the reference department and plan on starting the application process very soon. Looking back on my own experience, my advice to future students would be to expose yourself to as much as you can about library and information science to give yourself all the opportunities you can to learn and experience the wonderful world of libraries. I am so grateful for all I have experienced and greatly appreciate the support I have received from ALAO.

Posted in Vol. 29 no. 4 (Dec 2011) | Leave a comment

Interest Group and Committee News

Posted on November 29, 2011 by gibsonke

Curriculum Materials Center Interest Group
Stephanie Bange, Wright State University

The CMCIG-sponsored program at the recent ALAO Conference in Toledo, “Wizards and Vampires and Nerdfighters, O My! Popular Literature in the Academic Library”, was a hit. Approximately 20 people attended. Nancy Down talked about the mission of the Browne Popular Culture Library, highlighting several collections in the library. Kathy Yoder talked about the “Crossover Fiction” available in the BGSU CRC, i.e. fiction that is popular with both teens and adults, that is common to both departments of BGSU Library.
The CMCIG co-chairs are working on getting the CMCIG Listserv back up and running. An initial list of people wanting to be on the listserv is in Karen Plummer’s hands; she will begin to build it for us. Stephanie plans to email others and post on the CMCIG Blog to encourage others to join. If you would like to be included in the listserv, please send your email address to Stephanie: stephanie.bange@wright.edu
Co-chairs Amy and Stephanie plan to meet in the next month to plan the spring workshop — date and theme to be announced soon. Stay tuned for a Save the Date announcement!

Distance Learning Interest Group
Kathleen Pickens-French, Miami University, Hamilton

Do you know a “Distance Learning Visionary”?
The Academic Library Association of Ohio (ALAO) recognizes the need to encourage and spotlight pioneering individuals, particularly those who offer their colleagues new and innovative practices that can be adapted and implemented in their home institutions. As such, ALAO’s Distance Learning Interest Group (DLIG) is excited to announce that nominations are now being accepted for the 2012 “Distance Learning Visionary”. Benefits of winning include:

  • Honor of being named the 2012 Distance Learning Visionary.
  • Recognition at the 2012 ALAO Annual Conference Luncheon, as well as on the ALAO Website, ALAO Newsletter, & the DLIG Blog.
  • Reward of $150 presentation grant for sharing distance learning strategies, applications, or research with attendees of the 2012 DLIG Spring Workshop. Please note that the funds are contingent upon the grantee presenting in person, remotely, or via pre-recorded session.

Nomination applications should include a 250-500 word essay that demonstrates the nominee’s contributions to e-learning, as well as a short presentation proposal that suggests what the nominee would share with colleagues striving to succeed in the technology-driven environment of online learning. Links to relevant supporting materials are encouraged; self and group nominations are permissible.
For complete details and submission guidelines, please see the DLIG blog at http://distancelibrarians.wordpress.com, or email the DLIG Co-Chairs at ohiodlig@gmail.com.
Applications are due by December 20th, 2011.

Diversity Committee
Diane Kolosionek, Cleveland State University


Bridgette Billingslea, recipient of the 2011-2012 ALAO Diversity Scholarship, was recognized during the awards ceremony at the ALAO Annual Conference on November 4, 2011. She was presented with a certificate by Diane Kolosionek, Diversity Committee Chair. As part of the scholarship award, Bridgette receives a year of mentoring by an ALAO member. Bridgette’s mentor is Sharon Purtee, Health Sciences Librarian at the Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library, University of Cincinnati. Sharon is a current member of the Diversity Committee.

Instruction Interest Group (IIG)
Kathryn Venditti,Ashland University and Lauren Wahman, University of Cincinnati, Blue Ash College

IIG Information Table created by Kathryn Venditti (Ashland University), Lauren Wahman (UC Blue Ash) and Julie Chance Gustafson (Wooster)

Rares Piloiu at IIG sponsored session, Taking Tutorials to the Classroom: The Use of Tutorials in ‘Differentiated Instruction’

IIG sponsored a well-attended session (32 people) for instruction librarians at the ALAO Annual Conference on November 4, 2011. Otterbein University librarians Rares Piloiu, Judy Carey Nevin, and Lois Szudy presented Taking Tutorials to the Classroom: The Use of Tutorials in ‘Differentiated Instruction’. This was a timely presentation that included useful information on available softwares, challenges that arise when using tutorials, and benefits of video tutorials in library instruction.
IIG also sponsored an information table at the Annual Conference. The table included a tri-board display, instruction-related books, teaching resources handout for participants, informational handout about IIG, and sign-up sheet for notification about the upcoming blog.
We are thinking about our spring 2012 workshop and are eager to hear your ideas for a theme. Email Kathryn Venditti kvenditt@ashland.edu or Lauren Wahman lauren.wahman@uc.edu to let us know what workshop topics interest you or to suggest a presenter.

Research and Publications Committee
Mark Eddy, Case Western Reserve University

The ALAO Research and Publications Committee wants to remind everyone about our Research Grant Program for 2012. ALAO members can apply for up to $1000 in research funding to help cover costs for current or upcoming research projects. Applications are due on December 15th. For more information and to apply for the 2012 ALAO Research Grant please visit our ALAO web page:http://alaoweb.org/committees/researchpub/2012-research-grant

Posted in Vol. 29 no. 4 (Dec 2011) | Leave a comment

People & Library News

Posted on November 29, 2011 by gibsonke

Bowling Green State University

Dr. Marcia Suterjoined the Bowling Green State University Libraries in September as Interim Chair of the Library Teaching & Learning Department. Dr. Suter brings a wealth of library administrative experience from her former positions with The University of Toledo, most recently as Associate Professor and Associate Dean of the University Libraries; and, previously as Director of Library Services, Main Campus Libraries, eLearning, and Academic Support; Interim Assistant Dean for Access and Information Services of the University Libraries; chair of the University Libraries Faculty; and Director of the Learning Resource Center. She also co-chaired the North Central Association Re-Accreditation Steering Committee for The University of Toledo. Dr. Suter also is experienced with strategic planning, space planning, instruction, and collection development.Colleen Boff has been appointed to the position of Interim Associate Dean at Bowling Green State University Libraries. In her position as Interim Associate Dean, Colleen will supervise the NW Ohio Regional Book Depository Supervisor; coordinate the assessment of library operations and services; collaborate with campus constituents to develop and enhance programs and services for students, faculty, and the community; assist with developing, implementing, and assessing the annual and strategic planning initiatives as well as policies and plans that support the research and curricular needs of the University community; plan and oversee UL capital improvements and other operations-related projects; and other duties as appropriate.

Katie Mihaly was hired as the Library Associate 2 (Reserves Supervisor) at Bowling Green State University Libraries. Katie comes from the Carlson Library at the University of Toledo, where she has supervised the circulation desk as well as OhioLINK processing functions, and has been responsible for course reserves and processing interlibrary loan articles.

Kent State University

Exhibitions on display at Kent State Special Collections and Archives this fall and winter include A Doorway to the Work of W.S. Merwin, being held in honor of this current U.S. Poet Laureate’s October 2011 visit to campus and featuring selected works from his long career. Civil War Collections, commemmorating the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, focuses on materials relating to Ohio’s contributions to the war, including biographies of soldiers and civilians, regimental histories, and social histories of the war’s impact in the region. Featured items include personal papers of Ohio soldiers and Union Army officers as well as Civil War poetry and literature. And Babar the Elephant’s 80th Birthday showcases Kent State’s unique collection of over 3,600 Babar-related items including original artworks, books, posters, and toys. Additionally, materials from a previous exhibit, The Nature of Natural Science, are now available online: the hand-list of the exhibit (http://www.library.kent.edu/files/handbook.pdf) as well as a podcast of Dr. Matthew Crawford’s lecture presented in conjunction with the exhibit on the role that book publishing and illustration played in the history of science in the early modern era (http://www.library.kent.edu/page/16357).

Shawnee State University

Shawnee State University Library is pleased to announce that Michael W. Johnson has joined the staff as Circulation Librarian. Michael holds an undergraduate degree in History and Political Science from Colorado College and Master of Library Science degree from Indiana University School of Library and Information Science. Prior to attending Library School, Michael taught for 2 years in China at Shanghai University and Nankai University.

Southern State Community College

Southern State Community College recently announced plans to expand by building two new campuses. The present South Campus at 12681 US Route 62, Sardinia, will eventually move to a new location at Mt. Orab in Brown County. The college will also build a smaller campus in Adams County near the Adams County Hospital. Both new campuses will be located on SR 32. For more information about the campus expansion plans at SSCC: http://newsdemocrat.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=134577.

A program on therapeutic music will be held at the South Campus LRC in January. This event is located at our Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=183966545011256.

The new Fayette Campus LRC manager is Kari Jones. Kari replaces Carissa Thatcher at our campus in Washington CH. Carissa is now the LRC manager at our South Campus. Kari has prior experience working in the Watson Library at Wilmington College. She is enthusiastic about her new job and looks forward to helping the college community and One Stop patrons from Fayette County.

Posted in Vol. 29 no. 4 (Dec 2011) | Leave a comment

President’s Report

Posted on September 16, 2011 by gibsonke

ALAO friends,
I’m pleased to report that the 2011/2012 academic year has gotten off to a successful start. At the annual retreat of the ALAO Executive Board (held at Deer Creek State Park Lodge and Conference Center) we adopted new Bylaws (which can be viewed at our website), welcomed new and returning board members, thanked those who rotated off, created a task force that will suggest changes to improve communications and workflows, and planned out our strategy for the coming year.
ALAO was a section of the Ohio College Association until 2009. With the restructuring of OCA, ALAO either needed to find a new affiliation or we needed to incorporate as a stand-alone non-profit. We chose the latter and with Rocki Strader’s guidance and Anne K. Abate’s assistance we registered the necessary paperwork with the I.R.S. and Ohio’s Secretary of State and are well on our way to receiving such designation.
The 37th Annual Conference promises to be informative and rewarding. Our keynote speaker, Steven J. Bell, is the Vice-president/President-elect of ACRL. This year’s gathering includes a pre-conference where a panel of Ohio library directors will discuss ACRL’s Value of Academic Libraries: A Comprehensive Research Review and Report. This report is “a review of the quantitative and qualitative literature, methodologies and best practices currently in place for demonstrating the value of academic libraries…” source: http://www.acrl.ala.org/value/).
Please join us in Toledo for a great conference. You’ll learn of new products, services and trends from vendors, network with Ohio colleagues, and learn about some of the exciting activities and research taking place in Ohio. While in the “Glass City” you might elect to visit one of the nation’s premier art museums, a fantastic zoo, or one or more of the city’s many impressive restaurants.
Sincerely,
Brian Hickam
ALAO President

Posted in Vol. 29 no. 3 (Sept 2011) | Leave a comment

2011 Annual Conference & Pre-conference

Posted on September 16, 2011 by gibsonke

Pre-Conference

November 3rd, 2011
The Academic Library Association of Ohio is excited to offer a pre-conference this year, with a lineup that promises to be professionally valuable and engaging. The pre-conference kicks off with an opening keynote delivered by Lauren Pressley entitled, “Change and Opportunities for Today’s Academic Libraries.” Ms. Pressley is an Instructional Design Librarian at Wake Forest University, and is the author of So You Want to Be a Librarian and Wikis for Libraries.
Additionally, the pre-conference agenda includes a panel discussion on ACRL’s The Value of Academic Libraries: A Comprehensive Research Review and Report with a panel of the following Ohio academic library leaders:
John Burke, Director, Gardner-Harvey Library, Miami University Middletown (panel moderator)
Sara Bushong, Dean of Libraries, Bowling Green State University (panelist)
Susan Scott, Director of the Library, Ohio State University – Newark Campus (panelist)
Kathleen Webb, Dean of University Libraries, University of Dayton (panelist)
Al Zavar, Director, West Campus Library, Cuyahoga Community College (panelist)

Also included in the pre-conference — lunch and time for networking with colleagues.
Register today!
http://www.alaoweb.org/conferences/conf2011/preconf.html

Annual Conference

The ALAO 2011 Conference (Friday, November 4th) will kick-off with an opening keynote from Steven J. Bell Steven J. Bell, Associate University Librarian at Temple University and ACRL Vice-President/President-Elect. Entitled, “Change + Design = Innovation: Taking a Design Approach to Achieve Innovation From Change,” his presentation will explore how academic librarians can apply a design approach, a process that designers use to identify problems and develop thoughtful solutions, in their libraries to stimulate ideation, innovation and implementation in times of constant change.
Additionally, the exciting ALAO 2011 Conference lineup includes:
Presentations, posters, and spotlight sessions, all centered on change in today’s academic libraries
Vendor spotlights
Lunch with colleagues
Plenty of time for networking
Much, much more!

Registration:
http://www.alaoweb.org/events?eventId=280910&EventViewMode=EventDetails

Conference Program: http://alaoweb.org/conferences/conf2011

For questions regarding registration contact:
Rita Johnson
Wright State University
rita.johnson@wright.edu
937.775.2689

Posted in Vol. 29 no. 3 (Sept 2011) | Leave a comment

Jay Ladd Distinguished Service Award Nominations Sought

Posted on September 16, 2011 by gibsonke

The ALAO Awards Committee seeks nominations for the 2011 Jay Ladd Distinguished Service Award. This award recognizes an individual who (1) has been an ALAO member for at least 5 years, and (2) who has promoted academic libraries and librarianship not only on his or her own campus, but also within the state. The award also recognizes someone who has provided leadership in the promotion of ALAO through service such as committee membership, executive board office, or interest group office. The Jay Ladd Distinguished Service Award honors the memory of Jay Ladd, a founding member of ALAO in the early 1970s.
This is a wonderful way to recognize a colleague who has provided leadership in ALAO and in the profession. The recipient of this year’s award will receive an honorary 5-year membership in ALAO and will be recognized at the ALAO Annual Conference in Toledo, Ohio, on November 4, 2011.

Please include the following information:

  • Name of nominee
  • Nominee’s position title
  • Nominee’s college or university
  • Nominee’s ALAO activities
  • Your reasons for nominating this person
  • Your name and contact information, including phone and email

NOTE: You may nominate more than one person. Your reasons for nominating your candidate(s) for the Jay Ladd Distinguished Service Award will be especially valuable to the Awards Committee.

Please send your nominations as an email attachment or fax by Monday, September 26, 2011, to:

Rocki Strader
ALAO Past President
email: strader.2@osu.edu
fax: 614-292-5214

Posted in Vol. 29 no. 3 (Sept 2011) | Leave a comment

Interest Groups and Committees

Posted on September 16, 2011 by gibsonke

Distance Learning Interest Group (DLIG)

(Kathleen Pickens-French, Miami University Hamilton)
Do YOU know a “Distance Learning Visionary”? In just a few months, DLIG will begin collecting applications for our very first research and presentation grant. In addition to earning the award title, the chosen recipient will receive a $150. presentation grant for sharing their innovative ideas at the DLIG Spring Workshop (remote participation is permissible). For more details, see the DLIG page on the ALAO website or follow the DLIG blog at http://distancelibrarians.wordpress.com.

DLIG is also excited to announce that they are sponsoring the session “Using Usability Testing to Determine Best Practices for LibGuides” at the upcoming ALAO Annual Conference. Attendees will learn how the presenters conducted usability testing to assess the findability, organization, and design of their LibGuides. Whether you use LibGuides or a different platform for reaching your students online, you will pick up strategies and tips for best practices that can be implemented in your own library. Please see the Conference website for more details.

Instruction Interest Group (IIG)

(Kathryn Venditti, Ashland University)
The Instruction Interest Group (IIG) welcomes Lauren Wahman as our new IIG co-chair. Lauren has been very active in IIG over the past year, serving on the planning committee and presenting at our spring workshop. She officially began her tenure as co-chair at the ALAO board retreat in July. Lauren is an Instruction Librarian at University of Cincinnati, Raymond Walters College Library. She coordinates Library Instruction Services and teaches course-related library instruction. Her research interests include student-centered learning, first-year experience, and teaching methods.
The IIG is pleased to announce that we will be sponsoring a session for instruction librarians at the ALAO Annual Conference in November. Otterbein University librarians Rares Piloiu, Judy Carey Nevin, and director Lois Szudy will present “Taking Tutorials to the Classroom: the Use of Tutorials in ‘Differentiated Instruction.” At Otterbein, the teaching librarians have been experimenting with the use of tutorials in classroom instruction. They will share what they learned and how they utilized the tutorials in their Libguides to provide simultaneous “differentiated instruction,” reduce the amount of time spent on verbal instruction, and increase the use of Libguides.
The IIG will also be sponsoring an information table at the Annual Conference. Please stop by to say hello and to learn more about the IIG. We are already thinking about our spring 2012 workshop and are eager to hear your ideas for a theme. Stop by our table or email Kathryn Venditti kvenditt@ashland.edu or Lauren Wahman lauren.wahman@uc.edu to let us know what workshop topics interest you or to suggest a presenter.

Research & Publications Committee

(Mark Eddy, Case Western University)

2011 Conference Panel Session
The RPC will host a panel discussion session at this year’s conference entitled, Tackling Your First Research Project: Tips and Strategies for New Library Science Researchers. The session will be held from 11:10am to 12pm. Join experienced professionals for a lively discussion about conducting and publishing research in a rapidly evolving library environment. Topics will include exploring publishing opportunities and venues, working with a mentor, identifying research trends, collaborating with colleagues, and capitalizing on cost saving measures and grant opportunities. This session will be a free-form, informal discussion among our panelists and session attendees. Whether you are new to research, or just looking for tips on meeting your current research goals, this is the session for you! Our preliminary roster of panelists includes,
Sue Polanka – Head of Reference and Instruction, Wright State University
Heidi Gauder – Coordinator of Instruction and Reference, The University of Dayton
Fran Mentch – Social and Behavioral Sciences Librarian, Cleveland State University
Fang Fang – Instructional Technologist, Kenyon College
Joshua Finnell – Librarian, Denison University
Daniel Feinberg – Associate Lecturer & Information Literacy Librarian, The University of Toledo

2011 Research Grant Award (Round Two) Winners!
The RPC was very pleased to host a second round of our research grant award program this past spring, and we are very excited to announce two grant award recipients! Our award winners are:
Heidi Gauder – Coordinator of Instruction and Reference, The University of Dayton
A grant of $250 in support of her proposed research project, Seeking Sources: A Citation Analysis of Honors Student Theses
Fran Mentch – Social and Behavioral Sciences Librarian, Cleveland State University
A grant of $250 in support of her proposed research project, Not Your Mother’s Social Work Profession: Content Analysis of Generational Change in the Field of Social Work

2011/2012 Research Grant Award Program
This coming year there will be a total of $1000 available for our grant award program. This expansion of research grant award funding will enable the committee to offer additional research support to ALAO members with a first round during the fall months. An optional second round, to be determined by the committee, will take place in the spring if sufficient remaining funds are available after the first round. Look for upcoming announcements and deadlines for this year’s program on our ALAO RPC web page, Facebook and Twitter, and on the ALAO listservs!

Technical, Electronic, and Digital Services Interest Group (TEDSIG)

(Jennifer Bazeley, Miami University)
TEDSIG will be sponsoring the presentation “Conflict and consensus: clusters of opinions on e-books” at the 2011 ALAO conference, to be presented by Andy Revelle and colleagues. This presentation will present the results of an ALA grant-funded two part study on user opinions about e-books. The first part of the study employed Q methodology to identify four clusters of opinions related to e-books across the campus community. The second part used the results of the Q study to create a large-n survey to learn the demographic make-up of each group. Andy and his colleagues have also published this research in the March 2011 issue of College and Research Libraries (v. 72, no. 2).

TEDSIG will be sending out a call for nominations for the annual TEDDY award, which recognizes distinguished service by an ALAO member in the fields of Technical, Electronic and Digital Services. If you have a nominee in mind, keep an eye on the ALAO and TEDSIG listservs for instructions on how to nominate a candidate.

Posted in Vol. 29 no. 3 (Sept 2011) | Leave a comment

People and Library News

Posted on September 16, 2011 by gibsonke

Columbus State Community College

Jane Breitmeier (Supervisor, Technical Services and Document Management System) retired after eleven years of service at Columbus State Community College. Congratulations and best wishes to Jane.

Shona Wainwright was awarded Staff Employee of the Month by the College. Shona was critical to a variety of College wide initiatives including and has worked quietly and effectively in the Educational Resources Center as office associate for more than twenty years.

Derek Zoladz begins his position as full time Reference and Instruction Librarian in September. Derek graduated from Kent State University in 2010 and previously worked as a part time Reference Librarian at Columbus State Community College. He brings an engaging, technology-driven instructional style to the team

Gary Charles, a former Analyst in the Information Technology Division, begins full time employment in the Library in the Document Management System as a Systems Administrator in September.

Bruce Massis (Library Director) and Angel Gondek (Supervisor, Circulation and Multimedia Support) coauthored an article “Bedbugs in Our US Libraries” published in New Library World.

Oberlin College

Jeremy Smith, formerly Jazz Archivist at Duke University, joined the Oberlin library staff as Conservatory Special Collections Librarian and Curator of the James and Susan Neumann Jazz Collection on August 1. Smith holds degrees from University of South Carolina Honors College, Regent University of Virginia Beach, and Duke University, where he earned both the Master of Arts and Ph.D. in Musicology (2008), with a specialization in jazz studies. As the first Jazz Archivist at Duke, Smith established policies and procedures in collection development, technical services, and reference assistance, and was responsible for outreach, fundraising, event programming, and publicity. He also designed an audio workstation for Duke and developed and implemented a workflow for preservation-quality analog-to-digital audio conversion. One of his first priorities is to oversee the transfer of the extensive Neumann Collection to Oberlin from its present location in Chicago.

Ohio University

Sara Harrington has joined Ohio University Libraries in the position of Head of Arts & Archives. Dr. Harrington received her Ph.D. in Art History, her M.A. in Art History and her M.L.S. — all from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and where she was most recently the Art Librarian at the New Brunswick Libraries. She received her B.A. in Art History and French from Boston College. She has extensive teaching experience, an established publication record and graduate assistant experience in special collections, and she is active in the American Library Association. In her new position, she will provide leadership and direction for the Mahn Center for Archives & Special Collections, the Harris Fine Arts Library and the Music/Dance Library. Her work will further enhance and integrate art and archival collections into the research and the curriculum at Ohio University.

Sinclair Community College Library

Sinclair Library welcomes Andrea Christman as Technical Services and Systems Librarian. Andrea brought her nine years of professional experience from the Dayton Metro Library. She is uploading new records and enhancing our library database. She is also supervising and maintaining quality control of our library’s integrated system. Andrea is a marathon runner. Of course, we are delighted that she has joined our team and are confident that we are up to speed.

Southern State Community College

Congratulations to Mary Ayres on her retirement following over thirty years at Southern State. Mary was also an active member of ALAO, most recently acting as chair of the Support Staff Interest Group.

Wittenberg University

Douglas K. Lehman, Director of Thomas Library at Wittenberg University is now the Chair of the ACRL College Libraries Section. He is also the Chair of the ACRL Marketing Academic and Research Libraries Committee.

Posted in Vol. 29 no. 3 (Sept 2011) | Leave a comment

President’s Report

Posted on June 2, 2011 by alaoadmin

Rocki Strader, Ohio State University

Here I am, writing my last Newsletter report as ALAO President. I’d like to take a few moments to look back on some of my experiences in that capacity. This is by no means an exhaustive list of what happened this year! I’ll take them more or less in chronological order:
In July 2010, the Executive Board held its annual Leadership Retreat. I went from Vice-President/President-Elect to President. And jumped right in to issues ranging from a new five-year strategic plan to fully implementing our new online platform to incorporating the Association as a full-blown non-profit organization.
I want to thank (again!) Gaynelle Predmore for her leadership in organizing and presenting the new strategic plan, which you can see at http://www.alaoweb.org/aboutalao/strategicplan2010-2014.html. Gaynelle and I guided some lively discussion, and I’d like to thank everyone on the Board for their insights and suggestions. We have some strong words to live by through 2014.
Thanks also are due to Brian Gray and Frank Bove for their patience for migrating our online presence to a new platform (Wild Apricot) and for their continued due diligence as we learn all the capabilities of the new system. Many members have expressed appreciation at being able to register for events and renew memberships online. I would also like to welcome back Karen Plummer as a co-webmaster and also now as a Member-at-Large.
The 36th Annual Conference held on October 29, 2010, at the Crowne Plaza Columbus North. Our guest speaker was Stephen Abram, of Gale Cengage. You can view his presentation here: http://www.slideshare.net/stephenabram1/ohio-academics-5607801. We had a full house and many excellent presentations and poster sessions. My thanks to the planning committee for anticipating and handling the myriad details so well.
I would be remiss in my review if I left out our Communications Editor. I would like to express our appreciation to Lindsay Midkiff Miller for service as Communications Editor, and to welcome again Katie Gibson who has stepped in to the position.
Throughout the year the Board has been discussing and refining the documentation needed to become a separate incorporated non-profit organization. Our efforts are drawing closer to fruition: ALAO members should have received an email in mid-May announcing a special election to approve a set of Bylaws to replace our Constitution. The election is to take place June 1-15, 2011. The Bylaws are a necessary part of the paperwork that we need to file to finish the incorporation process.
On June 7, 2011, The Ohio State University, Newark campus, will host the ACRL Roadshow: Scholarly Communications 101. This event is being sponsored by ALAO and OhioLINK. As a chapter of ACRL, we consider both privilege and responsibility to be associated with this event. More information may be found in Susan Scott’s report in the March 2011 ALAO Newsletter.
Finally, I’d like to thank the 2010/2011 Executive Board for putting up with me this past year. It’s been a pleasure to work with you! And a warm welcome to our newly elected officers for 2011/2012: Sue Polanka, Vice-President/President-Elect; Don Appleby, Treasurer; Peggy Rector, Public Relations Coordinator; Members-at-Large: Alice Crosetto, Alisa Mizikar, and Karen Plummer.
Brian Hickam is poised to take over as President in July, and I wish him the best! I look forward to serving as Immediate Past-President under his leadership.

Posted in Vol. 29 no. 2 (June 2011) | Leave a comment

2011/2012 Election Results

Posted on June 2, 2011 by alaoadmin

Results of the 2011/2012 election are as follows:
Vice President: Sue Polanka
Treasurer: Don Appleby
PR Coordinator: Peggy Rector
Board Members At-Large: Karen Plummer, Alisa Mizikar, Alice Crosetto

Congratulations to our newly elected officers!
Thanks to all who voted (34% participation), and especially to those who volunteered to run for elected office.

Posted in Vol. 29 no. 2 (June 2011) | 1 Comment