ACRL New England Chapter News Online

ISSN 1527-0106

Spring 2005, Number 105

In This Issue (Home):

President's Letter

ACRL/NEC Retreat

Librarian of the Year Award

Communications Cte. Co-Chair Needed

Legislative Report

Women's Studies Summer Retreat

Interest Group Reports:
Information Technology (ITIG)
Library Instruction (NELIG)
Women's Studies

Board Meeting Minutes, March 9th, 2005 (.pdf)

Calendar Listings

The ACRL/NEC Retreat: A Time for Learning and Improving

Colleen D. Anderson, Bryant College
Past-President ACRL/NEC

This spring ACRL/NEC will hold a one day retreat on June 6th, 2005 at Hampshire College to pass on to new Board members and SIG Chairs the tasks and responsibilities associated with their jobs and to brainstorm ideas for making our group more effective. The first part of the retreat will consist of one-on-one instruction and training by outgoing Board members and SIG Chairs to provide their successors with essential information. The decision to make this training a formal process with a designated time and place came about because of our perception that new Board and SIG Chairs differed in the amount of knowledge they possessed to help them perform effectively in their positions. We want to standardize the process to ensure all new Board members and SIGS received information on:

1. the goals and mission of ACRL/NEC,
2. its relationship with ACRL National,
3. the contents of the bylaws and constitution, and
4. the tasks and particulars associated with each position.

We also want to ensure that new members understand the budget and funds disbursement, including:

1. the dollar amount allotted to each SIG,
2. the process for submitting a budget for a large program, and
3. the appropriate forms necessary to obtain reimbursement or requests for funds.
4. Lastly, we want an opportunity to stress the importance of the responsibility associated with taking on a Board or SIG leadership position in order to reduce absences from meetings.

The second half of the retreat will be a brainstorming session. We will encourage all attendees to offer suggestions on how to make ACRL/NEC a more effective and responsive group for its members. Though the retreat is essential for new Board and SIG members, it is also open to any ACRL/NEC member who wants to partake in the brainstorming session. The kinds of questions we will be considering include:

1. How can ACRL/NEC leadership encourage new members to run for office,
2. In what ways can we make serving in a leadership position for ACRL/NEC a rewarding professional experience and provide those who serve with tangible rewards at the end of their term?,
3. How can we encourage attendance at our quarterly meetings and annual conference?,
4. When should we consider joint programs with other professional groups and what should be the extent of our relationships with these groups?,
5. How can we geographically distribute our meetings and conferences so that all members feel they have been given ample opportunity to attend?

A summary of the retreat will be reported in the next News Online.