ULS Universe

This award annually recognizes an outstanding member of the library profession who has made a significant contribution to academic or research librarianship and library development.

ACRL needs your help to identify individuals that are deserving of this prestigious award.

Do you have a colleague or coworker, boss, or librarian on your staff that you would like to recognize for their contributions to the profession?

An award of $5,000 will be presented by YBP Library Services.

The Academic/Research Librarian of the Year Award committee is currently accepting nominations, and the deadline is December 4, 2009.

More information about the award can be found in the Awards section of the ACRL Web site, http://www.ala.org/acrl

Direct Link: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/awards/acrllibrarian.cfm

Wondering how that poll turned out, where we asked for your vote on what new committees ULS should create? Here’s the overview (click the image to enlarge it).

For more detailed responses, you’re welcome to view our full poll results on SurveyMonkey.

Looks like Academic Outreach is the one to start with, eh? Feel free to contact me directly if you have thoughts about this, or comment below.

As you plan your ALA calendar, consider the ACRL-ULS program, Millennials in Graduate School:  How do We Support them? on Saturday, July 11^th from 1:30 to 3:00 PM in McCormick Place West, W-196c. Millennials, those born between 1982 and 1994, are entering graduate school and doctoral programs. Surveys suggest that these students use libraries heavily and are less than satisfied with the experience. What do these digital multi-taskers want and expect?  How can university libraries support their needs?

This program will bring together a panel of speakers to discuss trends in graduate education, the expectations of this cohort and the successful approaches that will engage them. Speakers include Susan Gibbons from University of Rochester, reporting on her latest ethnographic study of graduate students, Joan K. Lippincott from the Coalition for Networked information and Barbara Dewey, Dean of Libraries at the University of Tennessee. The program will also feature a video montage of graduate students making their case to librarians. All attendees will receive a chance to win an iPod Touch!

Check out this page for a complete listing of ACRL programs in Chicago:

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/events/annual09.cfm

New This Year!  The ACRL Research Program Committee (RPC) is sponsoring Research Writer’s Workshops at the ACRL 14th National Conference in Seattle, March 12-15, 2009.  Aimed at the new or inexperienced writer, the Research Writer’s Workshops will bring together small groups of two to three writers matched with an experienced writer or editor, who will offer guidance and critique.

AUTHORS
Are you an academic librarian working on a research article? Would you like some constructive feedback?  Submit a draft research paper to the Research Program Committee sponsored writing workshops at the ACRL Seattle conference.  ACRL RPC will match new writers with experienced writers, and the groups will meet face-to-face during the Seattle conference.  Draft research papers must be submitted to RPC by February 16, 2009.  Papers will be shared only among members of the designated groups.

REVIEWERS
Are you an experienced, published writer or editor?  Interested in providing guidance to your colleagues who may be writing their first research article?  Submit your name and a description of your areas of expertise by February 9, 2009. Reviewers are expected to review papers submitted for their small group in advance of the Seattle conference, as well as guide their small group sessions onsite during the conference.

MEET DURING ACRL 2009
At the ACRL conference, the groups will meet during one of two scheduled times below to critique the papers, discuss approaches for writing, and share ideas on where to submit articles.

Session One: Friday, March 13, 10:30 a.m. – noon
Session Two: Saturday, March 14, 10:30 – noon
Location: Washington State Trade and Convention Center, Room 211 – Seattle, Washington

HOW TO SUBMIT
New Writers Submission Guidelines: Deadline for submissions:  February 16, 2009
Include on first page: Author’s Name and contact information in upper left; your session time preference (see below); a paragraph describing what you would like others to comment on about your paper. e.g. grammar, writing style, clarity, presentation of the research methodology, etc.

Page limit:  25 double spaced pages, standard 1” margins

Preferred format:  Microsoft Word Number pages.  Footers should include author’s full name and email.  Draft research papers should be in complete enough form for others to read easily.

Submit by February 16 to: Ruth Vondracek at ruth.vondracek@oregonstate.edu

Experienced Writers or Editors Request to Participate: Deadline Feb. 9, 2009
Please send your current contact information, a copy of your current resume or list of publications, your preference for session times (see below) and a brief description of your current research interests.

*Writing Workshop Session Times:  Please indicate your preference. ACRL RPC will try to honor your preference as much as possible; if not possible you will be placed in the alternate session.

Submit by February 9 to: Ruth Vondracek at ruth.vondracek@oregonstate.edu

Join your colleagues in Seattle, March 12-15, 2009, at the premier professional development event for academic and research librarians and staff. Registration and housing for ACRL’s 14th National Conference is now open!

The ACRL 14th National Conference will challenge you to explore new ideas, engage in new learning, and extend the collective vision of the future of academic and research libraries. ACRL’s celebrated line-up of keynote speakers include Naomi Klein, award-winning journalist, activist, and author of The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism; Sherman Alexie, prolific novelist, poet and screenplay writer; and Ira Glass, host and producer of the public radio program This American Life. In addition to program sessions, the conference will provide time to have fun, share informal conversations, network with colleagues, and explore Seattle. ACRL will offer Virtual Conference presentations and embrace Web 2.0 tools such as podcasts, Flickr, blogs, and more to enhance and expand the impact of the National Conference. ACRL 2009 will also implement more eco-friendly practices than ever before and has invited Robin Chase, Founder of Zipcar and GoLoco to speak about her innovative combination of social networking and transportation. Help us reduce the meeting’s ecological footprint by committing to the Green Pledge when you register for the conference. Registration materials are online at www.acrl.org/seattle.

Today’s post on ACRLog from Steven Bell is “Why a CLS and ULS.” The post highlights a conversation that just started in the CLS Facebook group on the question of why there are two different sections in ACRL for college and university libraries.

I couldn’t resist posting my response to that question, which I’m reproducing here.

I’m a ULS member and have been increasing involved in the section for the past several years. From my perspective, the characteristic that has set ULS apart, historically, is a focus on administration.

I say “historically” because things are changing in ULS. In our last board meeting we spent a good bit of time casting about for a new characteristic that could set ULS apart. What makes university libraries different from other ACRL library types? More academic research? Grad students? These are not much to build a section around.

So the truth is I’ve been secretly asking the same question as Lisa. How would ULS and CLS members feel to be merged into the same body? Would that comingling of university and college librarians lead to more interesting projects and programs? I think it’s a question worth serious consideration.

But the more critical question is, what would we call it? CULS? UCLS? Who gets to go first?

What do you think? Would you merge the two sections into one?

The Association of College & Research Libraries, with generous support from Thomson Reuters, makes an annual award of $1500 to support dissertation research in the field of academic librarianship.* Details are available online at http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlawards/doctoraldissertation.cfm and applications are being accepted through December 5, 2008.

Are YOU the next Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship winner?

* No attempt will be made to define academic librarianship, but the subject should be consistent with topics usually published in College & Research Libraries or key refereed library and information science research journals or presented at ACRL meetings.

If you have an interest in the ways that European libraries are cooperating now, you will be interested in a program available online from the ACRL West European Studies Section that was presented at the ALA conference in Anaheim. Cooperative Strategies for European Libraries: Access and Preservation highlights cooperative efforts to enhance access to library resources through collaborative cataloging and preservation. The resources can be very useful for finding information in European libraries, including digital collections.

See
http://wess.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Cooperative_Strategies_for_European_Libraries:_Access_and_Preservation

You will notice 2 links for the audio (mp3) and slides (power point) for the first two presenters. By opening the slides first you will be ready to move through them as the audio begins. Open the slides first by right clicking on your mouse and then clicking to open in a new window. Now go back to the original page and open the audio either in the same window or by right clicking to open a new window. The third presentation is only video which you can open in the same window or a new window if you choose.

David Lincove
2008 WESS program chair
Ohio State University Libraries