ACRL College & Researc Libraries News

Association of College & Research Libraries

ACRL Board of Directors—Highlights of the 1975 Midwinter Meeting

The Board of Directors of the Association of College and Research Libraries took the following actions during its two Midwinter meetings, held in Chicago on January 20 and 23, 1975.

Approved a proposal presented by the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section Committee on Manuscripts Collections, to prepare a major exhibit, to be opened in Chicago in July 1976, of original and contemporary historical manuscripts, documents, and printed materials to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the United States. [Note: The ALA Executive Board enthusiastically supported this proposal.]

Voted to copyright College & Research Libraries and College & Research Libraries News. [Note: In each issue the following statement will appear: “All material in this journal subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be photocopied for the noncommercial purpose of scientific or educational advancement.”]

Approved the recommendations of the ACRL Committee on Legislation, that ACRL work to change the Higher Education Act of 1965 so that (1) the $5,000 basic grants, supplemental grants, and special purpose grants under HEA II-A be available only to colleges having a total library materials budget of not more than $_____and less than $_____per student [figures to be supplied following analysis of U.S. Office of Education statistics]; and (2) the Higher Education Act of 1965 be expanded to include a provision similar to the Library Partnership Act but based on a per capita grant formula similar to HEFA or LSCA I for a total of $ which would make funds available to institutions of higher education for the purchase of library materials and the development of resource-sharing programs to provide better library services at the local, regional, and state level [figures to be supplied].

Approved as policy the following statement: “The master’s degree in library science from a library school accredited by the American Library Association is the appropriate terminal professional degree for academic librarians.”

Reaffirmed the American Library Association’s endorsement of the American Association of University Professors’ 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure, and directed the ACRL executive secretary, on behalf of the president and the Board of Directors, to communicate this reaffirmation to AAUP.

Received a report from Jasper G. Schad, chairman of the ACRL Committee on Standards and Accreditation, concerning the “Draft: Guidelines for Branch Libraries in Colleges and Universities” and the “Draft: Standards for College Libraries, 1975 Revision,” published in the December 1974 issue of CirRL News. The chairman also reported that the committee “has reviewed the report of the (Continued on page 71)

ARL/ACRL Task Force on University Library Standards and reaffirms the need to continue the development of standards for university libraries in institutions which grant more than ten doctoral degrees per year.”

Supported the concept of public ownership of the public papers of major government officials, but voted to defer action on a policy statement on the subject, which had been presented by the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section Committee on Manuscripts Collections, in order to consider more extensively the specific language of the statement.

Approved as a draft for publication in CirRL News the “Statement on the Reproduction of Manuscripts and Archives for Commercial Purposes,” prepared by the RBMS Committee on Manuscripts Collections and approved by the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section. [Note: See p. 94 of this issue.]

Approved as policy the “Universal Gift Form and Instructions,” prepared by the RBMS Committee on Manuscripts Collections and approved by the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section. [Note: See p. 93 of this issue.]

Supported the efforts of the Western European Language Specialists Discussion Group to meet with representatives of the Modern Language Association to establish communication and to identify funding priorities for the New Research Tools Program of the National Endowment for the Humanities. [Note: The ALA Executive Board also supported these efforts.]

Supported for a J. Morris Jones—World Book Encyclopedia—ALA Goals Award a proposal presented by the Committee on Academic Status, to prepare a series of audio and video materials on a range of issues influencing the role and status of librarians in postsecondary institutions.

Directed the Committee on Academic Status to develop an instrument for a salary survey of academic librarians in the United States and to work in concert with the ACRL office and other appropriate agencies to conduct such a survey at regular specified intervals according to the guidelines presented by the committee.

Endorsed the efforts of the College Libraries Section to write a proposal for a study of college library problems.

Continued to support the Slavic and East European Section in its work to revise and update the Library of Congress classification schedules and subject heading list pertaining to the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and the Balkan Peninsula; but voted to defer action on a specific proposal presented by the Slavic and East European Subject Headings and Classification Committee.

Approved a proposal for a summer study program for librarians in colleges and universities whose students are predominantly of ethnic minorities.

Supported for a J. Morris Jones—World Book Encyclopedia—ALA Goals Award, at a revised budget level, a proposal presented by Louise Giles, ACRL vice-president, to develop an ethnic theme for the ALA centennial celebration.

Granted chapter status to a group of academic librarians from western New York.

Approved a statement on “Guidelines for ACRL Chapters,” prepared by the ACRL Ad Hoc Committee on Chapter Development. [Note: See p. 89 of this issue.]

Voted to establish a permanent ACRL Chapters Committee, to provide assistance in the formation of chapters; to improve the relationship between the chapters and ACRL and thus between academic librarians and the national organization; to conduct an annual survey of chapters and to compile information for the benefit of all chapters in order to promote the exchange of information; and to develop programs for encouraging membership in ACRL.

Endorsed the concept of an ACRL membership promotion plan as presented by the Ad Hoc Committee on Chapter Development.

Acknowledged the appointment of the new editor of CírRL News, Mary Frances Collins, and of the new associate News editor, Anne Dowling.

Approved the recommendations of the ACRL San Francisco Conference Program Planning Committee, concerning the allocation of funds for ACRL’s programs at the 1975 Annual Conference. The funds will be used to support the divisional program and programs of the Agriculture and Biological Sciences Section, the Anthropology Section, the Art Section, the Asian and African Section, the Education and Behavioral Sciences Section, and the Slavic and East European Section.

Heard a report from H. William Axford, ACRL president, concerning (1) the transitional period resulting from the new ALA dues schedule, the role of COPES, and the recent survey predicting a decline in division memberships; (2) the role of the ACRL executive secretary in relation to ACRL and to ALA and in determining policy; (3) the roles and functions of College & Research Libraries and C&RL News; (4) the proposed formula for the distribution of ALA organizational membership dues; and (5) an identification of ACRL’s general concerns for the future.

Authorized the ACRL vice-president, the ACRL executive secretary, and the ACRL Budget and Finance Committee to prepare the 1975/76 ACRL budget, for approval by a mail vote of the Board of Directors before April 15, 1975.

Approved the recommendation of the Committee on Academic Status, that the 1975/76 ACRL budget include provision for at least one half-time professional assistant to handle problems relating to faculty status.

Heard a report from Richard K. Gardner, editor of Choice, concerning an assessment to Choice by ALA for indirect overhead costs.