ALA Midwinter Conference Reports 
from LIRT Committees and Task Forces

 
Computer Applications Committee  
Continuing Education Committee 
Elections/Nominations Committee 
Liaison Committee 
Long Range Planning Committee 
Newsletter Committee 
Organization & Bylaws Committee 
Program Committee  
Publications Committee 
Public Relations/Membership Committee 
Research Committee


Computer Applications Committee
David Levinson, Chair, Lake Forest College, levinson@lfc.edu

Members present: David Levinson, Barb Cressman, Haiwang Yuan, Gail Egbers (guest), Melissa Kalpin (guest), Meredith Smith (guest)

The committee examined Haiwang Yuan's courseware review, which appears elsewhere in this issue of LIRT News, then discussed some topics we would like to explore as a committee--perhaps, in the form of a discussion forum. Suggestions included methods of controlling the computer classroom environment by the use of remote control software, design of library instruction labs, instructional web page design for remote users, choice of search software, walk-in teaching at "information centers" located in the reference area, consortia and instruction, building the dream classroom: how does it affect teaching methods, setup for control and security, computers and learning styles, "arcades" as learning labs, and web page design for labs and kiosks.


Continuing Education Committee
Janet Sheets, Chair, Baylor University, Janet_Sheets@baylor.edu
 
Members present: Mari Ellen Leverence, Kate Ruttenborg (guest)

Mari Ellen Leverence (m-levere@govst.edu) reports that two topics which were not represented in this year's LIRT's Top 20 (a list of the best instruction articles of the year), but which the committee wishes to look for next time are active learning involving students and interactive audiences, and distance education.

The following suggestions for improving the method of choosing the top 20 were offered for next year's participants:

  1. Search for library instruction articles and read them early in the year and start with a "core" group of articles.
  2. Correspond regularly via email with fellow committee members to identify which are your favorites and your rationale.
  3. Keep narrowing down the earlier "core" choices, while continuing to look for outstanding articles published later in the year.
  4. Some criteria to keep in mind while searching for the    best library instruction articles are scholarship, sound methodology, technological innovations, and representation from all kinds of libraries.


Elections/Nominations Committee
Carole Hinshaw, Chair, University of Central Florida, chinshaw@mail.ucf.edu

Members present: Carole Hinshaw (chair), Carol Derner, Elizabeth Margutti

Carol Derner is the chair for 1998-1999.  The committee identified potential candidates for LIRT offices for 1999-2000. The committee will divide the list  and contact at least three people for each office in order to have 2 nominees for each office. The slate of nominees will be  presented  to the Executive Board at mid-winter 1999. 



Liaison Committee
Michael Poma, Chair, Creighton University, mapoma@creighton.edu

Members present:  Michael Poma (chair), Elaine Gass, Ellen Kessler, Jennalyn Tellman, Sharon Stewart (incoming chair), Trisha Stevenson (guest)

The committee met to go over the list of scheduled non-LIRT meetings related to instruction and to assign coverage to each member.  Following this discussion, the out-going and in-coming chairs met to discuss duties and how these are carried out.



Long Range Planning Committee
Alison Armstrong , chair, University of Cincinnati, alison.armstrong@uc.edu

Members present: Alison Armstrong (chair), Diana Schonrock, Maggie Zarnosky

The environmental scan is near completion. Alison will send a final draft to the committee for review following Annual, and the committee will present the final version at Midwinter. The ALA Roundtable Coordinating Committee is requesting a strategic plan.  Long Range Planning will ask Executive Board if the "Goal and Objectives" document will suffice.  At midwinter 1999, the committee will begin initial planning efforts for the next LIRT retreat.



Newsletter Committee
David G. Sherwood, Chair, Creighton University, davids@creighton.edu

Members present:  David Sherwood (chair and editor), Susan Clark, Jana Edwards (production editor)

After planning the contents of the next two issues of the newsletter, the committee reviewed a draft of the new Guidelines for Contributors and made plans to draft more detailed guidelines for specific kinds of articles.  The committee continues to make plans for soliciting advertising--if and when approval for this project is granted by LIRT's Executive Board.  The committee sought and received permission from the Executive Board to seek an individual to serve as assistant editor for the remainder of the year and to become editor with the September issue of 1999.
 



Organization & Bylaws Committee
Kari Lucas, Chair, University of California, San Diego, klucas@ucsd.edu

Members present: Kari Lucas (chair), Marilyn Barr, Charles Dintrone, Elizabeth Margutti

  1. The committee determined that the Professional Association Networking Committee is no longer needed and will recommend to the Executive Board that it be disbanded effective immediately. Member interest will then be channeled to the Liaison Committee.
  2. The committee determined to update the LIRT Organizational Manual thematically.
  3. Determined that appointed positions are required to submit Annual Reports. Will revise Organizational Manual to reflect this in SECTION V STANDING COMMITTEES.
  4. Determined to clarify how appointed positions are appointed in the Organizational Manual.
  5. Determined to add a Budget request line to the Planning and Goal Progress Evaluation form.
  6. Determined to add a description of ALA reprographic services to the Organizational Manual.
  7. Drafted a clarification of the role of the Electronic Services Manager in revising and updating the Organizational Manual process.


Program Committee
Cindy Krolikowski, Chair, Wayne State University, ac4979@wayne.edu
 
Members present: Cindy Krolikowski (chair), Phil Jones, Anne Houston
 
The committee met at the All-Committee Meeting Saturday morning to share the results of everybody's program assignments from the last few months. The committee agreed to meet early in the room scheduled for the 1998 LIRT program on Sunday to prepare the handouts and arrange the equipment and seating.


Publications Committee
Harvey Gover, Chair, Washington State University,  hgover@beta.tricity.wsu.edu

Members present: Harvey Gover (chair), Zary Mostashari (incoming chair), Patience Simmons, John Spencer

Zary Mostashari was introduced as new incoming chair.  Minutes from Mid-winter meeting were approved. Reviewed entries and approved changes in bibliography project. Set a date of Oct 17th for the completion of the manuscript.  Made assignments for completion of sections of the bibliography. Gover asked each member to prepare a one to three page description of their compilation of their respective segments. Mostashari took assignment of requesting permission from Ulrich's. Gover will coordinate introductions and prepare a final draft of the introduction.



Public Relations/Membership Committee
Linda Goff, Chair, ljgoff@csus.edu
 
Members present: Linda Goff (chair), Andy Corrigan, Allisa Beck, Carolyn Strickland

The committee looked at ongoing activities: Bites, the booth, and Member  A'LIRT, and discussed problems with ALA's delivery of boxes of booth materials:  the banner was lost two years ago, and this year the rotating display stand for brochures was lost.  Recommended to Steering Committee that a footlocker or storage trunk be purchased to store booth materials between conferences to avoid future losses.  Also recommended the rental of a computer for the booth, and a revision of the volunteer form to include more information about committee activities.
  



Research Committee
Jim Kapoun, Chair, Southwest State University, kapoun@ssu.southwest.msus.edu

Members present: Jim Kapoun (chair), Lenora Berendt, Kathy Kie, Gina Persichini, Sherry DeDecker, Nerea Llamas, Esteban Valdez, Rachel Fenske

Agreed to continue the scheduled maintenance of the LIRT Research web page. Decided to create LIRT research instructional teaching tips brochures for ALA summer 1999 on the following topics:

  1. Presentation
  2. Classroom
  3. Crisis Management
  4. Classroom Management
  5. Technology in the Classroom



LIRT News, September 1998. Volume 21, number 1.
To report problems, please contact the LIRT News Production editor at edwards@ufl.edu

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