Minutes

Present: James Caufield, Karen Fischer, Laurel Haycock, Julie Kelly, Jane Ann Nelson, Jim Newsome, Kirsten Clark (guest and ARLD legislative liasion).

Kirsten Clark from St. Benedicts was introduced and welcomed as the ARLD Legislative Liaison. We then discussed the role of the legislative liaison. There is no formally delineated job description, so the Board shared ideas with Kirsten about potential activities for the person in this position. It was suggested that she keep us informed and act as a communications conduit between the ARLD membership and relevant legislative issues and concerns. She will also be able to add her own support to issues of significance to academic libraries. Clark is already on the MLA Legislative Committee list, and will be put on the Board’s routing list as well.

Old Business

A. Approval of April Minutes-

April minutes were approved and Newsome will send them to the MLA office for posting.

B. Fall Program Update-

Julie Kelly gave an update on planning for the Fall conference. There are still some scheduling changes which need to occur for particular programs. We will know more about the final schedule later. There is also a good chance that Sen. Mark Dayton and U.S. Rep.Betty McCollum may be speakers at the conference. James Caufield suggested that we create an advance executive briefing for Dayton on pertinent library issues for academic libraries. It was agreed that James will begin this briefing document, and we will revisit it at our June meeting. In addition, we will discuss more issues pertaining to the Fall MLA conference at this meeting. Kelly has notified most of the ARLD-sponsored program organizers of their program’s acceptance, and will soon contact the others as well. There is a worksheet for each group to complete by June 27th, and this will also be reviewed at our June meeting. Julie will be attending another program planning meeting in early July.

C. ACRL 2005 Conference Update-

Wendy Pratt Lougee, ACRL 2005 Conference Local Arrangements Co-Chair, has recruited Terri Fishel of Macalester College to be the other co-chair. The ARLD Board offers our support and assistance in planning the conference, scheduled for Minneapolis.

D. ARLD Day Debriefing-

ARLD Day was discussed. Nearly 100 people attended in Duluth, and special thanks go to the local arrangements people there. The conference was a great success. The Board discussed the evaluations- of 40 who rated the conference, 37 viewed it as either excellent or very good. There were a few concerns, and most of these were minor. The board did re-emphasize that in the future ample time and space should be allotted to poster sessions. Also, care should be taken in providing food that includes vegetarian options, easily available water throughout the day, non-sweetened sodas, and low-fat or low-sugar food options. We should also provide ample break times to enjoy these things and each other.

Jane Ann will send out Board thank yous to the presenters. We are asking Karen Docherty to ask the presenters in Duluth if they have anything they would be willing to have us post to our ARLD web site, as a temporary archive of the meeting. If they do, Docherty will have Alison Johnson of MLA post these materials.

It was also suggested that for future ARLD days, an electronic suggestion box be available on our webpage for feedback. In addition, a prep sheet on our web page for future presenters at the MLA Conference or ARLD Days would prove useful for them. Also, presenters should be asked to provide blurbs, summaries, or abstracts of their talks beforehand, which we or the MLA office would post to our website to entice attendees and help enliven discussion. Jane Ann volunteered to work on these.

New Business

E. Chapter Topics Report

Karen Docherty wrote a Chapter Topics Report summarizing the programs at ARLD Day, and submitted it to ACRL. The Board praised its high quality. Karen Fischer will ask Karen D. to submit it for the MLA Newsletter.

F. Karen Fischer leaving Board; Kelly assumes Chair

Karen Fischer, ARLD Board Chair has accepted a library director position in Washington state, and has therefore resigned as ARLD chair. Julie Kelly, chair elect, will fill the position for the remainder of 2003, and then continue as chair for 2004. This will mean that the Board is now short one member, and next year there will be no one in the position of Past Chair. The Board discussed the possible ramifications of this vacancy. There seems to be nothing in the MLA bylaws about how to deal with a mid-term departure. The main role of the person in the “Past Chair” office is to coordinate ARLD Day. Newsome offered to co-coordinate it with another Board member. It was suggested that Karen Docherty, as communications officer, might be a logical co-coordinator . Julie Kelly will ask her if she is willing. General planning for ARLD Day typically begins in September, sometimes growing out of ideas generated at the Annual Conference’s ARLD business meeting. The co-coordinator idea for ARLD Day will be firmed up at a later meeting.

Karen Fischer was thanked for her hard work and creativity in chairing the Board, and for all her excellent work and direction for ARLD. She will be missed.

G. Other

Instructional dialogues will be addressed at our June meeting, as well as which

Instructional dialogue documents to post on our website.

Next Meetings:

Friday, June 13, 12:30-2:30 pm in the Metronet Office

Monday, August 25, 2:45-4:45 pm in the Metronet Office –

Respectfully submitted,

Jim Newsome, Secretary, 5/10/03