ACRL College & Research Libraries News

College & Research Libraries News

From the ACRL President

Since Midwinter:

1. ALA Reorganization. The ACRL Executive Committee has had an opportunity to see a preliminary copy of the latest ACONDA findings which are to be presented to membership at Dallas. In it there is a proposal for a further study of reorganization, but suggesting either the triad or the federation concept. ACRL still supports the federation proposal. It also supports the new ACONDA proposal for further study and suggests that ACRL recommend that no interim changes be made in the structure or organization of individual aspects of ALA until a final decision on the reorganization proposal is made.

In my earlier memo to you in the News, I indicated that we would keep ACRL membership informed of our own study on the matter of federation. Following the Midwinter Meetings in Los Angeles, we set up three task forces to analyze and prepare recommendations, assuming federation, with respect to three areas of concern to us. These are listed below with the names of ACRL members serving on them who, I am sure, would be happy to receive any suggestions from the membership.

Structure: Joanne Harrar, University of Georgia; William Pullen, Georgia State College; Hal Stone, Los Angeles City College.

Goals: Louis Jacob, University of Pennsylvania; Marc Gittelsohn, University of California, Berkeley; Darrell Lemke, Consortium of Universities, Washington.

Finances: Mark Gormley, Wayne State University; James Humphry, H. W. Wilson Co., Bronx, N.Y.

We are planning an all-day meeting of these task forces and the Executive Committee in Dallas on Sunday, June 20, at which we hope to produce final recommendations which will be presented to the ACRL Board of Directors and then for discussion by ACRL membership.

2. Internship Committee. The Board of Directors approved, upon the recommendation of the Planning Committee, the establishment of a committee to develop a program for providing further training and assistance in the development of professional skills for black librarians and librarians from other minority groups. The Committee consists of Mrs. Virginia Lacy Jones, Katharine Stokes, David Weber, Mrs. Annette Phinazee, and Mrs. Phyllis Cartwright.

3. Legislation. As many of you know, the Higher Education Act of 1965 runs out at the end of June. In addition, the availability of funds has been curtailed and the guidelines for their distribution redefined. The ALA Washington Office has been concerned with recommendations to congressmen regarding the extension of the Act, the increase in appropriations, and the guidelines for allocation of funds. To assist the Washington Office in its work, it has been given a list of college librarians who could, when called on for quick action, contact their own representatives and senators. Each ACRL librarian should also assume individual responsibility for similar action.

4. Dallas. The ACRL formal program time is being reserved for reports on various ACRL activities, with specific discussion directed to the work of the Academic Status Committee and discussion of federation proposals.—Anne C. Edmonds, President, ACRL. ■ ■