MINUTES
MARS Executive Committee
Friday, June 23, 1995
MCC E253c
Present:
Members: Denise Bennett, Peggy Seiden, Louis Drummond, Bernie
Pasqualini, Laine Farley, Elliot Kanter, Karen Diaz, Sally Kalin
Visitors: Laurie Preston, Marcella Stark, Janice Simmons-Welburn, Amy
Tracy Wells, Pat Hawthorne, Carol Tobin, Nancy Bodner, Lori Morse, Becki
Whitaker, Pat Riesenman, Stephen Dew, Doris Ann Sweet, Kathleen Kluegel,
Linda Friend, Patricia Ianuzzi, Pamela C. Sieving
Handouts:
Goals, Strategies, Objectives -- 1996
MARS Program Flyer
The meeting was called to order at 2:10 by Denise Bennett.
A. Draft minutes from midwinter were distributed to those who did not
have copies. Corrections were made by Louis Drummond. Others were
encouraged to give Karen any other corrections by the end of this conference.
B. Announcements
1. Election Results --
Mary Somerville is the new ALA President Elect
Kathleen Kluegel is President Elect of RASD
Becki Whitaker is Secretary of RASD
Paige Weston is Chair Elect of MARS
Nancy Bodner is MARS Member-at-Large
2. The MARS program was announced and flyers available for
those present to take to committee meetings and distribute.
C. Reports of Officers
1. RASD Board -- P. Seiden
As a follow up from midwinter, Peggy wanted to know if anyone
wished to have any information asked of the MARS membership.
It was noted that one problem with the survey is that not everyone
fills it out.
Question -- Can there be a follow up survey for non-participants?
Ask them if there is one thing that would cause them to become
a participant.
Demographics -- doesn't some of this already exist in the RASD
database? Peggy will check with Cathleen.
Suggestion for 5 year interval data.
Suggestion to ask very basic technology questions... Do you have
a computer on your desk? What workstations are available for
your public?, etc.
Reorganization of ALA
A proposal has been put forth to reorganize ALA. Anyone wanting a
copy of the proposal can pick it up at the RASD table in the ALA
offices.
(Document #44). The outline is as follows:
All members belong to one of four societies:
School
Public
Academic
Specialized
Association-Wide Centers pursue interests of more than one type of
workplace: (These carry no additional dues)
Technology
Legislation
Intellectual Freedom
Children/Youth
Education for Library and Info Services
International Relations
Library Advocates (trustees, friends, etc.)
Reference/Info Services
Organization/Preservation of Information
Leadership & Management
Association-Wide Services (to assist the Centers)
Public Information
Research
Library Personnel
Publishing
Headquarters Library
Literacy and Underserved
Conference Services
Chapter Relations/Member Services
Special Interest Groups/Member Interest Groups
There was discussion in the meeting of the pros and cons of this
reorganization. The time frame for attempting to implement this
was not known. Question: Will input be gathered from member-
ship? An open meeting on the topic will take place here (Monday at
4:30 in MCC E262). Also, it was assumed that the members would
have to vote on its implementation. The new dues under this
structure would be similar to belonging to two divisions now.
Some concern was expressed about how quickly this is proceeding.
Peggy will report more info on Monday.
2. Messages from MARS Editor -- A. Wells
The next deadline for Messages is July 7. There are currently 261
members of MARS-L. There is more information available on the
ALA gopher. An ALA Web site has also just gone up. Amy is
working with Rob Carlson at ALA to move MARS-L onto the
ALA site.
Comment: MARS-L is not listed on the ALA list of listservs.
Discussion on the nature of MARS-L, that it is in fact only for
distribution at this point and is not a discussion list. Some
discussion took place on what sort of info should go onto the
gopher and what should go to MARS-L. Committee chairs should
ask their members and bring back any feedback.
3. Scheduling Coordinator
Ann was not at the meeting but Denise reminded chairs to fill out
the schedule forms and send them to Ann.
A new proposal to try to hold several meetings in one large room
at midwinter was discussed. If committees are willing to try this,
they should notify Ann when sending in their schedule.
A suggestion was made to not schedule Discussion Groups during
ExComm meetings.
4. MARS Historian -- Pat Riesenman
Her sabbatical was approved, and she will begin pulling information
together this fall.
5. Secretary -- Karen Diaz
There is no revised handbook yet. It should be available by next
midwinter.
6. Past Chair -- Louis Drummond
No report
7. Chair -- Peggy Seiden
No report
D. Reports of Standing and Ad Hoc Committees and Discussion Groups
1. Awards/Members at Large
The certificates are ready and announcements will be made at
Sunday's business meeting before the program.
2. Education, Training and Support -- Marcella Stark
The training guidelines have been submitted to all of the appropriate
committees. They are also pleased with the publication of the
assessment log. They are currently working on an article on
evaluating search engines on the Internet (Webcrawler type engines).
Will be defining the next project at this conference.
3. Planning -- Louis Drummond
Distributed the 1996 Goals, Strategies and Objectives. The
planning committee now meets every midwinter with chair-
elect to create priorities. This document is to help committee
chairs designing new projects. What was handed out is the
complete list, but only the most current list will go to the RASD
Update.
The Handbook will now be done every year at annual -- rather
than what is stated in the current handbook (which states every-
other year at midwinter).
A suggestion was made to keep track of what objectives are being
met annually, to know which ones may need more attention in
the future. Another suggestion was made to insert committee
activities into the Goals document. There is the need to validate
that MARS is in fact moving in the direction of what is being
planned. Planning will discuss how to do this at their next meeting
and report to ExComm on Monday.
4. Products and Services -- Sandra B
They will be deciding at this conference what the next project will
be.
5. Management -- Janice Simmons-Welburn
The committee will report later in the conference. Planning was
supposed to look at the charge of this committee, but as it is a new
group of committee members, it was decided to wait on this issue
until committee can meet.
6. Program Planning 1996 -- Janice Simmons-Welburn
The topic will be Distance Education/Learning. The committee
will be fine tuning the topic and format at this conference.
7. Public Libraries -- Nancy Bodner
The glossary has been updated from 29 to 55 entries. An open
discussion forum will be held here: "Internet Superhighway:
Avoiding Road Kill Now that You're Connected." This will be
held on Saturday, 9:30-11:30.
Question: Is anyone on the committee monitoring the listserv
on Public Libraries and the Internet? (Yes, Lori Morse is)
--- BREAK ---
8. Publications -- Pat Hawthorne
Both publications discussed at midwinter are now in print and
available in the ALA store. A new brochure should be available
in the RASD booth.
Both Management and Local Systems and Services are currently
working on publications.
The electronic publishing statement will go before the RASD Board
at this conference.
There are now style manuals available for RASD publications. The
new chair of Publications, Stephen Dew can be contacted for a copy.
9. Hot Topics
The Lyman Ross was not present, but Denise announced that the
discussion will take place Monday 9:30-11 at the Palmer House. The
topic is "Virtual Collections or Virtual Mess?"
10. Managers in MARS -- Doris Ann Sweet
The discussion will take place Sunday 4:30 - 5:30 in the McCormick
Center E253B. The topic is Internet Competency.
E. Reports of Section Representatives
1. Legislation -- Patty Ianuzzi
She is still vague about her position with RASD but will be attending
the legislative update and report on Monday. MARS still needs to
decide how to handle all the issues that have been coming up. This
needs to be discussed at Planning.
2. Organization -- Elliot Kanter
No new business.
3. Planning and Finance -- Louis Drummond
No new business.
4. Publications -- Pat Hawthorne
The committee is working on how to handle proceedings from
programs, preconferences, etc. Ed Erazo is the new RASD Update
Editor.
5. Standards and Guidelines -- Kathleen Kluegel
Any committee considering looking at a Standard or Guideline should
consult this committee early and often. Material needs to go to them
4-5 weeks before any conference you want an item discussed at.
[A revisit to the topic of the Program was made. Sally Kalin
encouraged those in the room to help with getting questions
going at the beginning of q and a period.]
[A motion was passed to extend appreciation and acknowledgment
to Jane Kleiner for her good work with RASD Update. Bernie
moved and Sally seconded the motion. Passed. Peggy will send
a letter on behalf of MARS. Pat suggested the same be done for
Lea Wade and her work on Messages.]
F. Information and Orientation for New Chairs -- Denise Bennett
If any new chair does not have a handbook, they can pick one
up from the RASD table in the office.
Schedules for committee meetings should be sent to Ann Jensen,
not directly to ALA.
Have committee members check the roster for accurate information
and return corrections to Denise before leaving the conference.
Chairs need to report back to ExComm at either the Monday or
Tuesday ExComm meetings.
Any publication ideas should be discussed with MARS Publications
Committee ASAP.
Outgoing chairs should pass on files of projects to incoming chairs
and the MARS Historian.
G. Other announcements
1. ExComm meets again Monday 9:30 - 11 at the Marriott -- Denver
and Tuesday 9:30-12:30 in the McCormick Center Room 139.
2. Kathleen Kluegel announced that this is the last MARS ExComm
she will be attending and thanked everyone for there support and
help over the years. She was thanked in kind.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:20.