Thursday, April 15, 2004
April Executive Board Meeting
The recently concluded Executive Board meeting April 1-3 contained some innovations for AALL. For the first time, the board convened a Planning Day in which to begin planning for the next strategic focus for the association. We are resisting calling it a "strategic plan" because the latest thinking suggests what we need is a process to think and act strategically both day-to-day and longer term.
While our 2000-2005 Strategic Plan yielded numerous successful results, we live in an ever-changing environment that requires us to become much more adept at responding to needs and events with ever-increasing agility. Learning to think and operate at the highest strategic level will help us help you and the field of law librarianship progress in a thoughtful rather than reactive way.
We are early in the process of planning for the next plan, but you can be assured that clear, frequent and open communications with membership lies at the heart of the effort. You can expect to hear more about the process from all of us as it evolves.
Other strategic issues the board addressed include the final report from the Career Development Task Force in which the board discussed the future direction of professional education for AALL, a resolution (see below) on the Patriot Act, and a discussion led by Bob Oakley, AALL Washington Affairs Representative, of future directions for the Washington Office.
Another innovation at the April board meeting was the introduction of all-electronic board books and item submission process. You can look forward to a full report of the meeting from AALL Secretary Catherine Lemann , in the June issue of AALL Spectrum .
AALL Resolution on the USA Patriot Act and Related Measures That Infringe on the Rights of Library Users
On April 3, 2004 the Executive Board endorsed the AALL Resolution on the USA Patriot Act and Related Measures that Infringe on the Rights of Library Users and directed that Associate Washington Affairs Representative, Mary Alice Baish distribute as appropriate to key individuals in Congress and elsewhere.
Annual Meeting HOT TOPIC Program Proposals
The 2004 AALL Annual Meeting Program Committee is seeking program proposals for this year's "Hot Topic" program slot, to be held on Tuesday, July 13th , 2004 from 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Members with program proposals about emerging or "hot" issues impacting law librarianship should send their proposals to Gail Warren , AMPC Chair, at by April 30, 2004 . Although it is not necessary to complete an official program proposal form, please include as much information as possible, such as a clear program description, program objectives, and a list of potential speakers. Need more information about developing a program proposal? Call Gail at (804) 786-2075, or send an e-mail message. After reviewing all proposals received, the AMPC will finalize a "Hot Topic" selection by May 7, 2004.
Call for Nominations for the Werner Award
Do you know a state, court, or county law librarian who has performed a significant service to persons with disabilities? If so, please nominate him or her for the SCCLL-SIS O. James Werner Award for Distinctive Service to Persons with Disabilities .
The nominee must:
- be a member of the State, Court, and County Law Library Special Interest Section and
- have made a significant contribution to persons with disabilities by either serving directly or by arranging for services to be provided to people with disabilities.
The nominee can also be an SCCLL-SIS member who has a disability and provides distinctive service.
Please nominate an SCCLL-SIS member by e-mailing Lisa Rush . Include contact information for yourself and your nominee, and describe the service your nominee performed.
You can also reach Lisa by calling the Travis County Law Library at 512/854-9290. The deadline for nominations is June 6.
Three AALL Members Included in Library Journal's Movers & Shakers 2004!
Congratulations to Genie Tyburski , Steven M. Cohen , and Troy Johnson for their recognition by Library Journal (March 15, 2004 Supplement) as a Mover & Shaker for 2004! These three accomplished individuals are true leaders in the field and richly deserve this recognition. You'll enjoy reading their LJ profile reached from the links above.
Sincerely,
Susan E. Fox, CAE
Executive Director