ACRL College & Research Libraries News

College & Research Libraries News

Academic Libraries at the Crossroads

1992-93 Annual Report

Mission

The mission of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) is to foster the profession of academic and research librarianship and to enhance the ability of academic and research libraries to serve effectively the library and information needs of current and potential library users.

Message from the President

Jacquelyn A. McCoy ACRL’s 54th President

One is tempted to wax Dickensian about the best of times and the worst of times when describing the past year of ACRL activities. There have been so many positive and creative accomplishments achieved by the membership, the staff, and the leaders of the association. Yet the adjustments in our country’s economy have had a profound impact not only on your library and on mine but on the ACRL organization as well. Difficult decisions about funding and challenging choices about initiatives have dominated our Executive Board meetings. However, I have been privileged to work with so many members of strength and courage who are using these difficult times as an opportunity to take a new look at the organization and to pioneer new paths for future generations of academic librarians.

So many members, committees, and sections of the association have responded to these difficult times with positive and creative activities that it is impossible to highlight all those deserving recognition in the space allotted for this article. However, the following will have to serve as a representative sample of your association’s achievements during the past year.

ACRL participated in a forum on NREN sponsored by the National Commission on Library and Information Science and our representatives spoke forcefully in support of NREN. Similarly, ACRL expanded its cooperation with other information-related higher educational organizations including EDUCOM, American Association for Higher Education, and the first national conference of ALA’s Black Caucus.

The American Library Association’s presidential theme, “Empowering People Through Libraries,” was developed in ACRL publications, in three ACRL section programs at national meetings, and by radio and other public appearances by the ACRL president. This was particularly significant as both public and private libraries nationwide were threatened with curtailment of funding and even the total elimination of library services in some communities.

A new ACRL Task Force on Membership Communications was formed to gather and disseminate information on how academic librarians and libraries may access the Internet, the national and international electronic communication superhighway. There is no doubt that electronic communication is a growing and thriving venture within the ACRL organization.

Jacquelyn A. McCoy

Message from the President

During my year as president, I have promoted the theme of Academic Libraries at the Crossroads. I think it is quite evident from the activities mentioned above that your association is responding to these changes and taking a leadership role in the profession. At the President’s Program in New Orleans two speakers enlightened an overflow crowd about the changes in the academy and the impact of new technologies on higher education. The services we render in an information age and the age of educational consumerism were discussed in light of the reengineering of the academy. The provocative title of the program no doubt explains why it attracted so large an audience: “Headed for the Beach: Redirecting the Academic Whale.” The academic library profession needs to find new partners and helpmates as we seek to make wise decisions in the process of reengineering the academy. I trust that ACRL, your professional association, will be there supporting you in this endeavor.

ACRL Membership Statistics
ACRL/ Sections	Personal	Organizational/ Special	Aug. 1993 Total	Aug. 1992 Total	%increase decrease
ACRL	9,502	1,115	10,617	10,737	-1.12%
AAMES	397	91	488	506	-3.56%
AFAS	222	27	249	206	20.87%
ANSS	486	101	587	591	-0.68%
ARTS	831	132	963	963	0.00%
BIS	3,712	483	4,195	4,197	-0.50%
CJCLS	871	267	1,138	1,125	1.16%
CLS	1,855	363	2,218	2,256	-1.68%
EBSS	1,214	225	1,439	1,496	-3.81%
ECLSS	524	35	559	436	28.21%
LPSS	691	124	815	839	-2.86%
RBMS	1,746	209	1,955	1,954	0.50%
SEES	250	76	326	335	-2.69%
STS	1,647	264	1,911	1,907	0.21%
ULS	5,806	380	6,186	6,297	-1.76%
WESS	701	72	773	794	-2.64%
WSS	877	80	957	904	5.86%

Message from the Vice-President

Thomas G. Kirk Vice-President / President-Elect

The vice-presidential year is a time of preparation for the year ahead. I would like to report on such efforts of this past year.

One of my responsibilities is the appointment of leaders to ACRL committees. This is incredibly important because the persons appointed influence ACRL actions far beyond the vice-president’s time in office. To carry out this effort I was assisted by a very effective Appointments and Nominations Committee chaired by Pamela Snelson (Drew University). I believe each of the committees is lead by a chair who brings direction and vitality to the association’s work.

During the year I attended a workshop sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives. The workshop gave me an opportunity to learn about nonprofit professional associations—the challenges and the strategies used to meet them. Because the workshop was such an eye-opening experience and one which I think will benefit many other member leaders of ACRL, we are planning a preconference for ALA 1994 Annual Conference that will give ACRL leaders and other interested ACRL members an opportunity to focus on this topic.

I have also been developing a conference program for ALA’s 1994 Annual Conference. Breaking from the tradition of the past I will not have a President’s Program. Instead the focus will be on an ACRL Conference Program which is made up of the various programs of the sections and committees of ACRL. The leaders of these groups have worked extremely hard to develop joint and cooperative programming around the broad scope of networking. I think the leadership has developed a “conference within a conference” which offers exciting opportunities for professional development.

In the spirit of the theme for 1993–941 encourage ACRL members to explore their networking efforts. How are you connecting with others who are vital to the development of your library? How are you proactive in working with others to achieve your goals? What are you doing to learn more about electronic networking and how it might meet your needs and the information needs of your patrons? In the final analysis this networking—social and electronic—is for the purpose of enhancing, as ALA President Hardy Franklin has put it, our customer service.

Thomas G. Kirk

Letter from the Executive Director

Althea H. Jenkins Executive Director

In an era when libraries in American colleges and universities are faced with diminishing resources, expanding expectations, and paradigm shifts, ACRL continues its long tradition of providing a means of enhancing library service to the academic and research communities. Throughout the year ACRL members invested in the association by participating in a variety of projects and activities. We appreciate the continuing support of ACRL’s 10,700 members in meeting our goals.

In this report, you’ll read of the 1992–1993 accomplishments and activities of the association. Most items are reported under one of the four ACRL goals. A few deserve special notice:

Most important to ACRL members was the annual planning session held at the Midwinter meetings. The association sought the advice of its leadership to help guide the work and allocate resources during the next year. The Board of Directors used information from this session to identify priorities for 1994.

ACRL members were very successful in their cooperative activities with other information-related organizations. There was cooperation with CAUSE in the publication of its professional paper series title #11, Reinvesting in the Information job Family on Campus: Context, Changes, New Jobs, and Models for Evaluation and Compensation, with LITA and LAMA in the presentation of the preconference “Leadership and Technological Change” and CNI worked with members to present the first ACRL/CNI “Navigating and Navigators: Research and Development in Navigational Tools & Services for the Internet” preconference. These activities were highly praised by the membership and the preconferences received rave reviews by participants as activities that provided a lot of learning and ideas for planning for the future.

ACRL took a leadership role among associations to form and publicize a policy statement for deliberating social, political, and economic issues.

Changes in the ACRL staffing that took place throughout the year could not go unnoticed. Claire Dudley, Choice managing editor, announced her retirement at the end of 1992 ending 11 years of service to Choice. Francine Graf, the Choice social science editor was promoted to the position of managing editor. Robert Balay, the Choice reference and political science editor became general editor for the 11th edition of the Guide to Reference Books. ACRL headquarters staff underwent a number of changes. Most noticeable was Cathleen Bourdon’s departure. In June 1993, Cathleen assumed duties as the executive director for ALA’s Reference and Adult Services Division and the Association of Specialized and

Althea H. Jenkins

Letter from the Executive Director

Cooperative Library Agencies. Cathleen has served as ACRL’s Deputy Executive Director since 1983; ACRL, the officers, and members continue to benefit from Cathleen’s leadership qualities, organizational skills, and ability to work with a variety of people.

In consultation with the ALA administration, ACRL reorganized staff into three units: membership services, publications and national conferences, and executive services. Under this structure Mary Ellen Davis was promoted to senior associate executive director with responsibilities for publications and national conferences. Mary Taylor was promoted to associate executive director with responsibilities for membership services.

We are pleased to present this very positive end-of-the-year report. ACRL had another good year in providing services to members and to the profession. We welcome your suggestions at any time on how we can improve our services to meet your needs. In closing I say to you, it is the strength of member commitment that drives the association and brings the success that we all can celebrate.

The Year in Review

Goal 1. Professional Development.

Contribute to the total professional development of academic and research librarians.

Enthusiam continues for the programs ACRL provides its members at ALA Annual Conference. More than 20 pro grams were presented by ACRL units at the 1993 Annual

Conference in New Orleans on topics such as change, multiculturalism, and technology (see the next page for a complete list). In keeping with the exploration of technology, ACRL also established its 20th discussion group: Electronic Text Centers.

Preconferences

ACRL offered four one-day preconferences in New Orleans prior to the ALA Annual Conference. Through the four preconferences named in the sidebar, over 20 speakers shared their expertise with 348 participants.

RBMS Preconference

ACRL’s Rare Books and Manuscripts Section presented a successful three-day conference in New Orleans, June 22–25, 1993. The theme for the 34th preconference, “Mainstream or Margin? How Others View Special Collections,” provided opportunities for several speakers and presenters to explore issues of perception, roles, and practices with more than 200 attendees.

National Conference

Joanne Euster was appointed chair of the National Conference Executive Committee to plan the program for the ACRL Seventh National Conference. Euster’s committee has developed the theme “Continuity and Transformation: The Promise of Confluence.” Four tracks will guide each day’s programming: knowledge workers and their organizations; technology and the service-centered library; internationalism and multiculturalism; and social, economic, and political context.

The Year in Review

Goal 2. Enhancing Service Capability.

Enhance the capability of ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF USERS.

The values of a profession are most clearly expressed in the standards which the members set for themselves and for the conduct of the profession. Three ACRL standards and guidelines received final approval by ACRL and ALA governing bodies during 1992-1993 (see sidebar).

ACRL has developed and published 25 official documents in the form of standards, guidelines, and statements. All official documents are published in C&RL News. Over 500 reprints were distributed during FY93.

ACRL staff provide advisory services to the membership and to the academic library and higher education communities by responding to questions covering a variety of topics. The information contained in the 25 published official ACRL documents in the form of standards, guidelines, and statements is useful in responding to a majority of the questions staff receives.

Electronic Communication

In efforts to help members be more effective in their roles with the association and the profession, ACRL staff established an electronic source for announcing ACRL information, the ACRL listserv, that serves as a one-way communication vehicle for making available official documents such as board minutes, publications lists, standards, lists of preconferences, election results, and award information. Several ACRL units also established electronic sources for sharing and exchanging information.

Awards

While ACRL honors many of its outstanding members, the ACRL Academic/Research Librarian of the Year is clearly the most prestigious. The 1993 award went to William A. Moffett, director of the Huntington Library in San Marino, California. In choosing Moffett for this award the committee cited his leadership in combating the theft of and trade in rare books, and for successfully challenging in 1991 the scholarly monopoly of unpublished Dead Sea Scrolls materials. The committee said, “these contributions have brought both national and international attention to the profession.”

The Year in Review

ACRL continues its tradition of providing opportunities for recognition of its members through an ambitious awards program. Two new awards—BIS Innovations and EBSS Distinguished Librarian—were approved bringing the total number of ACRL awards to 14.

The Year in Review

Goal 3. Advocacy and Liaison.

Promote and speak for the INTERESTS OF ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH LIBRARIANSHIP.

Throughout the year, the leadership worked hard to strengthen and expand relationships with other information-related and higher education organizations. President-elect Thomas

Kirk was invited to deliberate with a special task force of the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) to look at ways of implementing the National Research and Educational Network (NREN). ACRL had representation at the fall and spring meetings of the CNI.

ACRL continued its relationship with the National Forum for Information Literacy, and was invited to participate in two programs with other Forum members. ACRL presented papers at the EDUCOM 1992 annual conference, the 1993 annual conference of the American Association of Higher Education (AAHE), the Black Caucus of ALA National Conference, and the Mellon HBCU Library Improvement Project program. Leaders also spoke at several chapter meetings.

ACRL cooperated with the CNI to explore teaching the use of the Internet. As an extension of ACRL’s membership in CNI, the Emerging Technologies in Instruction Committee of the Bibliographic Instruction Section is undertaking a project to study and make recommendations on instructional practices in teaching the use of the Internet. Emerging Technologies will work with the CNI Working Group on Teaching and Learning (as well as consult with EDUCOM, CAUSE, and other groups) to explore current methodologies of teaching the use of the Internet and report back to the profession on new trends and developments.

The ACRL leadership continues to play an active role and to provide the profession and the higher education community with greatly valued judgment and experience in librarianship and information technology.

The Year in Review

Goal 4. Research & Publication.

Promote study, research, AND PUBLICATION RELEVANT TO ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH LIBRARIANSHIP.

Publications are ACRL’s most visible member service ranging from the monthly issues of C&RL News and bimonthly issues of C&RL, to the publication of seven new titles in 1992–93.

The Board of Directors voted to appoint three member editors of ACRL publications. Stephen Wiberley, editor of ACRL Publications in Librarianship succeeded Jonathan Lindsey; Sidney Berger, editor of Rare

Books and Manuscripts Librarianshipsucceeded Alice Schreyer; and Gloriana St. Clair, received a second term as editor of C&RL.

Early in the year the ACRL national conference proceedings were released: Academic Libraries Achieving Excellence in Higher Education: Proceedings of the Sixth National Conference of the Association of College and Research Libraries. These proceedings include: 52 refereed contributed papers, reports on 36 programs, and the complete text of provocative presentations by four keynote speakers. Tom Kirk edited the volume.

Two volumes were added to the CLIP Notes series this year. Database Searching in College Libraries (CLIP Note #15) was conceived and designed by Mary Huston and compiled and written by Sarah Pederson.

Interlibrary Loan in College Libraries(CLIP Note #16) was compiled by Roxann Bustos. The CLIP Note series is coordinated through the College Libraries Section.

Learning to Teach: Workshops on Instructionand Sourcebook of Bibliographic Instruction were published through the efforts of the Bibliographic Instruction Section. Learning to Teach was developed as a project of the Learning to Teach Task Force. The Sourcebook was developed by the Sourcebook for Bibliographic Instruction Task Force.

Scholarly Communication in an Electronic Environment: Issues for Research Librariesis a collection of essays resulting from the 1992 RBMS Preconference. Robert Martin edited the work.

The handbook of cataloging examples, Examples to Accompany Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Books, helps rare book catalogers apply the Library of Congress’ descriptive code. This title was prepared by Rare Books and Manuscripts Section’s Bibliographic Standards Committee.

The Publications in Librarianship (PIL) series released Abstracting, Information Retrieval and the Humanities: Providing Access to Historical

The Year in Review

Literature.This is the first title in this series produced using authorgenerated camera-ready copy.

Choice

Electronic publishing and cultural diversity are the two themes that characterized the year for Choice. With a second year of hands-on electronic publishing experience behind us, Choice is positioned to take advantage of new electronic publishing opportunities with libraries directly, or with strategic partners. Publishing opportunities on the Internet are being explored.

The Choice staff attended a two-day workshop, designed and facilitated by Dr. Frances Kendall, dealing with the issue of cultural diversity in our publishing operation and on academic campuses. The staff has made a commitment to expand the coverage of books that deal with multicultural themes or are written by authors from non-European backgrounds. Choice established formal contact with the African Book Collective and has begun to receive, and select for review, recently published books from African publishers.

Negotiations were completed on a CD-ROM license agreement with SilverPlatter and the documentation and database design were completed this past year. The product, Choice Reviews on SilverPlatter, a CD-ROM database of more than 30,000 reviews, will be released in the fall of 1993.

The Choice Reviews Database on CARL Systems is now available by license from Choice and a number of libraries and consortia have signed up to use this online file of Choice book reviews.

Progress was made on a number of projects in Choice’s active publishing program. Francine Graf, a social sciences editor, was promoted to managing editor in January 1993. Publication was completed on the four titles that profile selected ethnic groups in America in Choice’s new series, “Ethnic Studies Reviews.” Editorial work continues under the direction of Robert Balay, reference editor and general editor, on the 11th edition of the Guide to Reference Books. A publishing plan was developed for a bibliography of vocational and technical books for community college libraries. ACRL’s Community and Junior College Library Section will be assisting Choice with the project.

ACRL Board of Directors, 1992–93

Back row: Thomas Peischl, Sandra Ready, Linda Phillips, Barbara J. Wittkopf, Shelley E. Phipps, Evan Ira Färber, Ray E. Metz, Front row: Karin Begg Borei, Rochelle Sager, Anne K. Beaubien, Thomas Kirk, Jacquelyn A. McCoy, Althea Jenkins. Not shown: Eileen Dubin.

Financial Report

Thomas M. Peischl Budget and Finance Committee Chair

For the fiscal year ending August 31, 1993, ACRL operating revenues were $945,204, and expenditures were $750,308,

Choiceoperating revenues were $1,517,399 and expenditures were $1,403,988. Member dues provided approximately 37 percent of ACRL’s total operating revenue; publications sales and subscriptions accounted for 28 percent; product and classified advertising 24 percent; preconference fees 9 percent; and 2 percent from donations and other items.

ACRL administers five endowment accounts: Hugh Atkinson Memorial, Oberly, Leab, Choice, and ACRL. On August 31, 1993, these accounts totaled $138,080. The earned income on these endowments is retained by ACRL and used mainly to support the awards program.

The year-end financial report showed ACRL and Choice in a favorable financial condition and budget performance. We can attribute our end-of-the-year status to a number of things: salary savings from vacant positions during the year for both ACRL and Choice; ACRL book sales that exceeded projections; and product and classified advertising revenue above projections.

Major savings were also realized through the staff’s excellent use of cost-containment strategies. Without exception, every project with a printing, production, or typesetting component was completed under budget, accounting for significant savings. New production methods at Choice also accounted for substantial savings in typesetting costs. E-mail had its impact on ACRL’s budget as well. This year’s telephone and postage costs are $18,760 less than projected and Choice also recognized savings in telephone and postage expenses. Choice’s decision to stay in its present location accounted for additional savings. These savings along with others placed ACRL and Choice in a good financial position for the year ahead with net revenues of $194,896 (ACRL) and $113,411 (Choice).

ACRL revenue exceeded budget by $98,957, while expenses were $130,944 less than budget. Choice revenue exceeded budget by $31,899, and expenses were $75,350 less than budget. At the close of the fiscal year, the ACRL “Operating Fund Balance” stood at $788,929. The Choice “Operating Fund Balance” stood at $858,073. The combined “Operating Fund Balance” at final close was $1,647,002. Combined revenue for ACRL and Choice was $2,462,603 and expenses totaled $2,154,298.

Thomas M. Peischl

Financial Report

Executive Summary 1992-93
SOURCES OF REVENUE	FY1993 BUDGET	FY1993 ACTUAL	PERCENT OF BUDGET	LAST YEAR ACTUAL
Ending Reserve
Aug. 31: Op. Fund	$442,758	$788,929	178.19%	$614,036
Aug. 31: Endowment	$93,846	$116,038	123.65%	$89,801
Aug. 31: CHOICE	$727,103	$858,073	118.01%	$764,662
Aug. 31: CHOICE Endowment $20,000	$22,042	110.21%	$20,000
Subtotal	$1,283,707	$1,785,082	139.06%	$1,488,499
Membership dues and other	$372,908	$353,327	94.75%	$353,184
Other	$900	$18,165	2018.33%	$12,165
Advisory	$0	($61)	0.00%	$0
Awards	$1,500	$2,937	195.80%	$1,160
Jobline	$0	($380)	0.00%	$1,201
Subtotal	$375,308	$373,988	99.65%	$367,710
Publications
Choice	$1,485,500	$1,517,399	102.15%	$1,455,913
C&RL	$130,511	$127,721	97.86%	$117,038
C&RL News	$203,538	$222,580	109.36%	$223,970
RBML	$19,023	$22,047	115.90%	$24,031
Sec. Newsletters	$0	$2,150	0.00%	$16
Nonperiodical Pubs.	$68,000	$109,681	161.30%	$69,381
BCL	$0	$3,725	0.00%	$2,932
Chapter Topics	$0	$0	0.00%	$0
Subtotal	$1,906,572	$2,005,303	105.18%	$1,893,281
Education
Continuing Ed.	$0	$0	0.00%	$285
National (89, 92)	$0	$0	0.00%	$487,489
Pre-& Postconferences	$49,867	$83,312	167.07%	$33,892
Subtotal	$49,867	$83,312	167.07%	$521,666
Funded Projects
HBCU Statistics (Mellon)	$0	$0	0.00%	$7,289
Subtotal	$0	$0	0.00%	$7,289
TOTALREVENUE	$2,331,747	$2,462,603	105.61%	$2,789,946
Choice Revenue	$1,485,500	$1,517,399	102.15%	$1,455,913
TOTAL REV. W/O CHOICE	$846,247	$945,204	111.69%	$1,334,033

Financial Report

OBJECT OF EXPENSE	FY1993 BUDGET	FY1993 ACTUAL	PERCENT OF BUDGET	LAST YEAR ACTUAL
Membership Activities
Membership Svcs.	$45,748	$40,723	89.02%	$41,939
Exec. Comm. & Board	$66,046	$57,266	86.71%	$71,950
Statistics	$0	$0	0.00%	$13,303
Advisory	$28,902	($36,223)	-125.33%	$21,837
Standards distrib.	$5,832	$3,940	67.56%	$4,595
Discussion Groups	$4,532	$3,781	83.43%	$4,266
Awards	$7,988	$9,325	116.74%	$10,027
Chapters	$48,740	$38,964	79.94%	$44,454
Committees	$55,108	$44,604	80.94%	$54,574
Sections	$56,306	$69,414	123.28%	$59,039
Jobline	$0	$0	0.00%	$2,251
Section Newsletters	$20,689	$17,891	86.48%	$30,050
Chapter Topics	$4,141	$3,253	78.56%	$5,125
C&RL	$13,385	$0	0.00%	$0
C&RL News	$37,647	$0	0.00%	$14,977
Subtotal	$395,064	$252,938	64.02%	$378,387
Publications
Choice	$1,479,338	$1,403,988	94.91%	$1,418,488
C&RL	$130,511	$117,631	90.13%	$109,338
C&RL News	$203,538	$208,679	102.53%	$223,970
RBML	$19,305	$18,556	96.12%	$16,055
Nonperiodical Pubs.	$67,471	$62,003	91.90%	$67,381
BCL	$0	$0	0.00%	$520
Subtotal	$1,900,163	$1,810,857	95.30%	$1,835,752
Education
Continuing Ed.	$0	$0	0.00%	$362
National (89, 92)	$15,853	$18,087	114.09%	$312,955
Pre-& Postconferences	$49,510	$72,414	146.26%	$25,105
Subtotal	$65,363	$90,501	138.46%	$338,422
Funded Projects
HBCU Statistics	$0	$0	0.00%	$7,289
Subtotal	$0	$0	0%	$7,289
TOTAL EXPENSES	$2,360,590	$2,154,296	91.26%	$2,559,850
Choice Expenses	$1,479,338	$1,403,988	94.91%	$1,418,488
TOTAL EXP. W/O CHOICE	$881,252	$750,308	85.14%	$1,141,362
NET	($35,005)	$194,896	556.77%	$192,671