RSS Highlights for RUSA Board – Midwinter 2008

Dates of Meeting: Sat. Jan. 12, Mon. Jan 14, Tues. Jan 15, 2008

The RSS Section has been busy planning a variety of activities. The following are some highlights:

Guidelines for Library and Information Services to Adults was revised by the Library Services to an Aging Population Committee with great success. The group plans for more updating over time.

A new definition of reference was approved by the RSS Board and submitted to the RUSA Board for approval.

The group discussed issues related to an update of RUSA's Access to Information statement that may have specific bearing on RSS issues.

Programming for 2009:

  • A proposal for a Joint RSS/MARS 2009 Preconference (Reinvented Reference 5: Emerging Technologies for Reference Services) was submitted
  • The Services to the Aging Committee and the Office for Literacy and Outreach Services (OLOS) are considering co-sponsorship of a free 2009 preconference
  • The RSS Board approved a Library Services to the Spanish Speaking Committee proposal for a 2009 program incorporating their recently approved guidelines; Program will be co-sponsored with REFORMA. This is exciting as it’s the first program offered by this committee in many years, and is sure to draw a great crowd.
  • Other committees are considering other programs as well as publications and other options for 2009.

RSS Awards approved:

  • Criteria are being drafted for “Best of RSS” Award; Several award names have been submitted; Award will be a certificate, not monetary; Organization and Planning Committee will continue leadership in the development of the award
  • The Bessie Boehm Moore Award will be reactivated by the Library Servicesto an Aging Population Committee and funded by Senior Service America, Inc.; $1,000 and a citation of achievement will be awarded to a library organization that has developed an outstanding and creative program for library services to the aging.

RSS Discussion Group 5 Yr. Re-Petition Process:

  • RSS Board recommends that the Organization and Planning Committee revise Article 9 of the ByLaws to eliminate the DG re-petition process and to include DGs in the RSS Section Review process. DGs would be subject to the same review questions as committees, and that process would be sufficient to analyze their viability. Revision would also require DGs to maintain a list of attendees to be reported as part of the review. O&P Committee will investigate this further.

RSS Goals and Objectives and Strategic Plan:

  • In light of the RUSA Strategic Planning discussion, the RSS Exec Comm voted to archive the current RSS Goals & Objectives. Chair-elect Judy Solberg will take the finished document after annual 08 and begin work with the RSS group on a new Goals & Objectives document for RSS.
  • A Midwinter 2009 forum is planned for a SWOT discussion and beginning consideration of goals & objectives specific to RSS.

RSS Section Review:

  • The section is expecting to be reviewed at MW 2009. The Organization and Planning Committee will appoint someone to meet with each Committee and Discussion Group to assist in answering the section review questions from RUSA.

RUSA Reference Research Grant:

  • RUSA Board approved a $2,000 grant to be awarded to honor the 15thAnniversary program of the Reference Research Forum. The award will be given at the 14th Reference Research Forum, and will be used by the winner for research in the coming year. The winner will present that paper at the 2009 Annual Reference Research Forum.

Joint RSS/MARS Board Meeting Highlights:

  • RSS and MARS Boards approved ex-offico (non-voting) membership of MARS Virtual Reference Discussion Group Chair on RSS/MARS joint Virtual Reference Service Committee
  • Issues related to joint RSS/MARS web space were discussed. What branding will be on the page? What will the URL be? How will joint preconferences pages be handled? How will links be arranged? How will pages and documents be archived? These issues will be presented to the RUSA Board
  • Podcasting and video-casting of portions of the joint preconference were discussed. Issues related to permissions, equipment, and technical support must be resolved.