Association for Library Collections and Technical Services Annual Report 2008–9

Abstract

This year was full of accomplishments new initiatives, and the start of a thorough review of the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS) organizational structure. The effect of the current global economy has been far-reaching and has affected members, their libraries and organizations, membership renewals, division participation, conference attendance, and the operation and financial management of the division. Data Gathering The survey of the membership conducted in 2007-8, based on The 7 Measures of Success: What Remarkable Associations Do That Others Don't, continued to provide valuable insight into member needs, concerns, perceptions, and expectations. (1) Additional analysis, including the Preservation and Reformatting Section (PARS) study titled Changing PARS Discussion/Interest Group Structure and the Committee review of members in public libraries provided additional useful information. The Membership Research Study, conducted by the American Library Association (ALA) Office for Research and Statistics also revealed demographic and employment data. Communication Increasing and improving communication with and between the membership and implementing new modes of communication were accomplished. The Newsletter Online and a rejuvenated ALCTS@aGlance featured conference and meeting previews as well as reports, news, and announcements of education opportunities. An assortment of discussion lists enabled members to examine topics ranging from digital preservation to the future of subject headings. The E-forum, which debuted in May 2008, has attracted more than nine hundred subscribers for lively discussions on subjects including disaster preparedness, coping with shrinking resources, and national cataloging standards versus local policies. The ALA Connect introduction, in spring 2009, offers another communication tool that members will find very useful for sharing documents and information. 2009 ALA Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference Forums during the 2009 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Denver attracted large audiences listening to experts discuss a variety of hot topics. Particularly noteworthy were RDA [Resource Description and Access] Update Forum and Who's at the Wheel? What We've Learned About Patron-Driven Collection Development. Creating and Sustaining Communities around Shared Library Data, a forum that focused on OCLC's proposed change to its record use policy, drew more than 150 attendees. The 2009 Annual Conference in Chicago featured an excellent schedule of events. ALCTS 101 Primer: We Are, What We Do, and How You Fit provided new members with an overview of the opportunities the division offers. Programs included Leadership Development in Transition: Steering the Ship from the Helm and Deck, Swingin' with the Pendulum: Facing Cancellations in the Age of E-Journal Packages, and the President's program, Who Owns Antiquity? Museums and the Battle over Our Ancient Heritage, featuring James Cuno, president and Eloise W. Martin director, from the Art Institute of Chicago. The recipient of the 2009 Ross Atkinson Lifetime Achievement Award, Cindy Hepfer, was recognized at the awards ceremony for her exceptional service to and to the library profession at-large, as a library leader, educator, author, scholar, and mentor. Library Resources and Technical Services The division's highly respected peer-reviewed journal, Library Resources and Technical Services (LRTS), adds to its deserved reputation for quality articles under the leadership of Editor Peggy Johnson. The LRTS article Approaches to Selection, Access, and Collection Development in the Web World: A Case Study with Fugitive Literature, by Karen Schmidt, Wendy Allen Shelburne, and David Steven Vess, won the 2009 Blackwell's Scholarship Award and the 2009 Best of LRTS Award. (2) LRTS has seen slowly declining subscriptions over the last several years. …