ACRL College & Research Libraries News

College & Research Libraries News

Proposed Changes for ACRL Governance

In the fall of 1973, ACRL President Norman Tanis appointed a Subcommittee on Goals, Priorities, and Structures, which was to report to the Planning Committee. The subcommittee was charged to describe the changing environment of research and postsecondary education; to identify the issues and problems relating to information and library service in this environment; to determine the role for an association such as ACRL in responding to these issues and problems; and to disregard all financial aspects or the constitutionality of its suggestions. The subcommittee saw as its purpose: to facilitate the planning process by providing a focal point through the delineation of goals and objectives; to provide a framework through which each section can develop its own goals; to suggest ways to coordinate policy and the management of ACRL; to develop a means of recognizing and relating to emerging trends in our society; and to plan for continuing evaluation of all ACRL activities.

The final report of the subcommittee, which was submitted to the ACRL Board at the Midwinter Meeting in January 1978, was referred to the ACRL Planning Committee for review and study. Included in the report was a recommendation to simplify and reduce in size the Board of Directors as follows:

The policy-making body of the Association will be a new Board of Directors elected by the Membership. The Board will consist of eight members elected at large and the three officers of the Association. The Board of Directors will elect from its members an Executive Board to take action when necessary between meetings of the Board.

The Planning Committee favors instead a Board of Directors composed as follows:

The three elected officers (president, past president, and vice-president/president-elect) Seven members elected at large for four-year terms from a slate of fourteen (two will be elected from four candidates nominated by each of the type-of-library sections: the University Libraries Section, the College Libraries Section, and the Community and Junior College Libraries Section; and one will be elected from two candidates nominated by the Chapters Council)

One Council representative elected for a four- year term (the Nominating Committee will select two candidates who have served as elected members on the Board of Directors of the association in the last four years and who are not currently on Council)

The chair of the Budget and Finance Committee (ex-officio with vote)

The executive secretary (ex-officio without vote) The Planning Committee also recommends that the name of the Executive Board be renamed Executive Committee to avoid confusion with the ALA Executive Board and that this body be constituted as follows:

The three elected officers (president, past president, vice-president/president-elect)

The chair of the Budget and Finance Committee

The executive secretary

As presently organized, the ACRL Board of Directors consists of thirty-two members comprising the elected officers (president, past president, vice-president/president-elect), the chairs and vice-chairs of the three type-of-library sections (University Libraries Section, College Libraries Section, and Community and Junior College Libraries Section) and nine type-of-activity sections (Agriculture and Biological Sciences, Anthropology, Art, Asian and African, Bibliographic Instruction, Education and Behavioral Sciences, Law and Political Science, Rare Books and Manuscripts, and Slavic and East European), four members elected at large, and the executive secretary.

The size of the present board is unwieldy, often making it difficult for the association to conduct its business efficiently. The type-of- activity sections generally represent special interest groups rather than the membership as a whole and because of their number (eighteen) give disproportionate representation to a relatively small segment of the membership. Candidates nominated by the type-of-library sections would be more broadly representative of the membership as a whole. It is further recommended that board members be assigned by the president to serve as liaison to each type-of-activity section to provide a communication link between the board and sections.

Divisional representation on the ALA Council was approved by that body at the 1978 Midwinter Meeting. The council representative is, therefore, a new position on the Board of Directors.

Under the plan proposed by the Subcommittee on Goals, Priorities, and Structures, it would be possible to elect an Executive Committee that did not include any of the elected officers. Because the elected officers are charged with the responsibility for planning and guiding the direction of ACRL with board approval, it is essential that they be members of the Executive Committee. The chair of the Budget and Finance Committee should be included on the Executive Committee because many actions have financial implications. The presence of this person would increase the efficiency of the Executive Committee.

The Planning Committee is seeking membership reaction to the proposed changes in the ACRL Board of Directors. Please forward comments by December 1, 1978, to Julie Virgo, Executive Secretary, ACRL.