Association of College and Research Libraries s1
Revised August 5, 2014
Association of College and Research Libraries
Board of Directors Meeting II
ALA Annual Conference
Monday, June 30, 2014
1:30–4:30 p.m.
BALLY-Bronze 3-4
Board II
Present: Trevor A. Dawes, Karen A. Williams, Steven J. Bell, Mark Emmons, Julie Ann Garrison,
Julia M. Gelfand, Irene M.H. Herold, Marilyn N. Ochoa, Loretta R. Parham, Mary Ann Sheblé, Susan Barnes Whyte, Douglas K. Lehman, Cynthia K. Steinhoff, Mary Ellen K. Davis (ex-officio)
Guests: Miguel Figueroa, Joyce Ogburn, Jim Teliha
Staff: David Connolly, Kathryn Deiss, Allison Payne, Mary Jane Petrowski
14.0 Call to order (Dawes)
Dawes called the meeting to order at 1:37 p.m.
15.0 Opening remarks/review of ground rules (Dawes)
Dawes welcomed attendees and referred the Board to the Ground Rules. He encouraged engagement and adherence to parliamentary procedures.
16.0 Adoption of the Agenda II (Dawes)
The amended agenda was adopted with the addition of two agenda items: ACRL 2021 Conference Location and Information Literacy Framework Next Steps. Changes in the order of the agenda were made to accommodate schedules. The revised order is reflected in the minutes. Documents #12.0, #12.1 were added to the document inventory.
17.0 Representatives Assembly update (Jim Teliha)
Jim Teliha, ACRL representative to the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee, began his report to the Board with an update on the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF). Teliha stated that FTRF membership is up and urged anyone interested to join the organization.
Teliha referred to the AAUP document on trigger warning that was shared with the Board during the Board I meeting on Saturday. He explained that trigger warning policies call on the faculty to identify upsetting materials before presenting to students. Some higher education institutions, such as Oberlin College and the University of California Santa Barbara, are already looking into developing policies on trigger warnings. Teliha reminded the committee that Barbara Jones, ALA Office Intellectual Freedom Director, and he would like to receive feedback by July 16 on the internal AAUP trigger warnings document. The public version of the document will be shared on September 1, 2014.
18.0 Councilor’s Report (Lehman)
Lehman advised that the ALA Council had met twice at Annual Conference and that the ALA Council III meeting would be tomorrow. Lehman mentioned two recently passed resolutions: a resolution in support of Air Force base libraries and a resolution allowing libraries to stay open during government shutdowns. Lehman advised that the Council may consider resolutions on materials ratings. He also stated that the ACRL 75th Anniversary resolution will be presented.
The ALA Committee on Legislation will put forth a resolution that reaffirms that national open policies and network neutrality. Dawes advised that it is important to note that the ACRL Government Relations Committee has reviewed and endorsed this resolution. Lehman stated that there is need for network neutrality, especially in rural areas. There is a need for high-speed internet that does not have preferential treatment for certain providers.
Motion: That the ACRL Board formally endorse the ALA Council resolution on network neutrality.
Action: The Board approved the motion to endorse the ALA Council resolution of network neutrality.
Next Steps: Lehman will communicate this Board Action to the ALA Council.
19.0 Consent Agenda
19.1 ACRL 2021 Conference Location
Motion: That the ACRL Board of Directors approve the ACRL 2021 conference location of Seattle, Washington.
Action: The consent agenda was approved as presented.
20.0 Budget and Finance (Steinhoff)
20.1 FY14 3rd Quarter report
Davis presented the latest monthly performance report from the May 2014, which was released shortly before the start of conference. She reminded the Board the FY14 is a non-conference year and that there is some spending in the FY14 budget for next year’s conference. There was nothing too different or surprising in the May performance reports. There are some declines in membership, subscriptions and book sales. However, digital advertising, consulting, and the publication of three new books should help revenue. Davis reported that CHOICE is continuing with cost containment efforts and that there have been no unexpected changes in the CHOICE budget.
20.2 Dashboard Metrics Review
After receiving input at the Budget and Finance Committee meeting, the “LTIs ACRL & CHOICE” graph was updated with data before FY09. The title was also modified to “LTIs ACRL (including award endowments) & CHOICE.” Davis advised that staff will work on the readability of “Net of Business Lines” and number each metric.
The Board reviewed the revised Dashboard Metrics and thought that overall the metrics are useful in providing a snapshot of ACRL and CHOICE. The Board had a few suggestions, including that the “ACRL Membership Composition, FY09-FY14” could be modified to better display corporate data. The Board also suggested that the “LTIs ACRL (including award endowments) & CHOICE” chart could include data from 2006 to show the recession.
After viewing the Dashboard Metrics, the Board was curious if there is a way to keep the momentum of Friends donations after the Kick Start the Future campaign concludes next year. They suggested that it could be useful to note the campaign dates on the chart. Mary Jane Petrowski advised that more detailed campaign data is included in Document 10.2 75th Anniversary Campaign Details.
Next steps: ACRL staff will update the Dashboard Metrics based on the feedback received from the Board.
20.3 FY15 Budget recommendation
Cindy Steinhoff began the FY15 budget discussion by stating that next year is a conference year. She stated that there is a concerted effort to spend down a portion of the net asset balance on new strategic initiatives. Steinhoff added that we are still feeling the residual effects of the recession and are proceeding cautiously.
Steinhoff stated that the CHOICE budget is included in the document packet. CHOICE is anticipating declining revenue for print products and is looking for new revenue streams. A highlight in the CHOICE budget has been webinars, which Mark Cummings has increased this fiscal year and is already planning for next year. The CHOICE budget is still seeing some technology expenditures to bring the current Choice Reviews Online version up-to-date.
The Board began their discussion on scholarships for the ACRL 2015 National Conference in Portland. In the current budget, there is $73,300 budgeted for scholarships. The Board discussed how much could be added to this amount to support scholarships and whom these scholarships would be for.
The Board discussed the criteria for the additional scholarship recipients. Members at the ACRL Leadership Council had expressed support for providing scholarships for those in the profession between five and nine years, which could help retain membership. There was some concern for this criterion, as it would not include tenured individuals.
There was also discussion on the number of scholarships that would be given to this group. The Board suggested adding 25 additional scholarships with $16,000 added to the FY15 budget. There was some discussion about the exact amount that should be added to the scholarships fund. The Board concluded that $16,000 is a prudent addition to the budget.
The Board decided that the ACRL 2015 Scholarships Committee could be tasked with determining the details for the additional scholarships.
There were some questions about what should be done if there is a tremendous amount of money received through the Kick Start the Future Campaign. One suggestion was that extra money could be retained for the 2017 national conference.
Action: The ACRL Board of Directors approved the motion that an additional $16,000 should be allocated for conference scholarships for those members beyond their first five years.
Action: The ACRL Board of Directors approved the amended FY15 budget as presented:
· Total ACRL revenues of $4,454,395
· Total ACRL expenses of $4,576,550
· Net ACRL revenues of ($122,155)
· Total CHOICE revenues of $3,000,891
· Total CHOICE expenses of $3,233,565
· Net CHOICE revenues of ($232,674)
Next steps: ACRL staff will update the FY15 budget with the additional $16,000 allocated for conference scholarship, which will be submitted to the ALA Finance Department.
20.4 FY15 Individual member dues rates
Steinhoff provided some background information on the dues rate increase. She stated that several years ago the membership approved a bylaws change empowering the Board to increase dues up to the percentage increase of the HEPI Index. Prior to this bylaws change, dues increases had to be voted on and approved by the members. Steinhoff reported that the literature states that associations fare better when raising dues by small increments more frequently than one large increment every few years.
The dues rate increase proposed by the Budget and Finance Committee is not higher than HEPI, which is like the consumer price index for the higher education community. If the ACRL Board increased dues, ACRL dues would still be lower than some of the ALA divisions. Steinhoff reminded the Board that in September the ALA pricing rules will change and that we will lose $15,000 in dues revenue when sections become free. Steinhoff stated that the Budget and Finance Committee recommends that the Board support the dues increase of $2 for regular members and $1 for students and retirees.
The Board asked how dues increases have been received by members in the past. Mary Jane Petrowski advised that historically, small incremental dues increases usually go unnoticed. There was no negative feedback received during the last dues increase. Petrowski stated that while membership is declining, there is no indication that this is a result of a dues increase.
Action: The ACRL Board of Directors approved the recommendation to increase dues by a 2.9% increase, which allows a $2 for its regular personal member dues category and $1 for student and retired members. The FY15 rates will be:
· Personal members: $60
· Student members: $39
· Retired members: $39
22.0 ALA Center for the Future of Libraries (Miguel A. Figueroa)
Miguel Figueroa, ALA Center for the Future of Libraries staff, referred the Board to his report AC14 Doc 11.0. The Center for the Future of Libraries had a summit at the Library of Congress in May. The work model is based on the Center for the Future of Museums. The Center will be used for advocacy purposes and provide an opportunity for increased internal and external communication.
Figueroa mentioned some of the Center’s futuring techniques, such as scenario planning, brainstorming and design thinking, that are being used to improve the strategic plan.
He asked the Board to think about potential ways ACRL could partner with the Center to increase the representation by academic libraries. He would like to see more work across divisions and stated that there will be member advisory groups to the Center.
The Board asked Figueroa to consider how academic library directors could use the Center’s resources and if there will be an opportunity to recreate the summit to help local libraries think about the long-term future.
Figueroa stated the Center is funded jointly by Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and ALA. The Center may submit a formal project grant proposal in the future.
26.0 Recognition of outgoing Board members (Dawes)
Mark Emmons, Director-at-Large, 2010-2014
Dawes thanked Emmons for his service on the Board and for the significant contributions he made to ACRL. He stated that Emmons brought a range of expertise, especially on the topic of information literacy. Dawes thanked Emmons for agreeing to Chair the newly formed Standards for Proficiencies for Assessment Librarians and Coordinators Task Force. The Board valued Emmons’ ability to raise and tackle some difficult discussions and thanked him for his engaged participation as a Board member.
Mary Ann Sheblé, Director-at-Large, 2010-2014
Dawes recognized Sheblé for not only her work as a library leader, but also for her expanded role at her community college. He stated that this has been a clear testament to her level of trust and admiration that she has garnered from her institution, which she has also received from the Board. He thanked her for her work as a Board liaison to the (Dr. E. J.) Josey Spectrum Scholar Mentor Committee, and for her help with the Slavic and East European Section transition. Dawes thanked Sheblé for her many contributions to the Board.
Steven Bell, Vice-President, President, Past President, 2011-2014
Dawes stated that he is grateful for Bell’s work as a mentor this past year. He stated that he has not only learned how to conduct Board meetings, but also has gained valuable advice and counsel from Bell. Dawes noted his appreciation for Bell’s continued leadership through his work as the Chair of the 75th Anniversary Kick Start the Future campaign. Dawes stated that Bell will be missed during their weekly Presidents’ calls.
23.0 iSCIL (Ogburn)
Ogburn referred the Board to her report, ACRL AC14 documents 9.0 and 9.1. She stated that following the successful publication of the white paper, the Board created the Intersections of Information Literacy and Scholarly Communication Task Force. She began by letting the Board know that the Task Force meeting yesterday morning went well.
She moved on to discuss the request for the Board to endorse the abbreviation of iSCIL for the Task Force. She said that iSCIL has been used informally between Task Force members, and asked for the Board’s input. The Board replied that the name might be confused with existing titles, such as iSchool and iSKIL. Ogburn agreed to reconsider the acronym.
Ogburn reported on some Task Force highlights, such as an article by Task Force members that will be published in C&RL News in September, comments made on the Information Literacy Framework, and the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) project briefing in April that was well received and attended.
Professional development has been focused on three areas: 1. discussing and applying the white paper and using the new Framework as a point of entry 2. copyright in information literacy and 3. incorporating scholarly communication in job descriptions.
The Task Force has submitted a proposal for ACRL 2015. They are aware of the competition, but are hoping this will be an opportunity to engage membership one more time before the Task Force’s final report is submitted next year. If the program proposal is not accepted, the Task Force may consider doing a poster session.