Annual Report (2001)
International Relations Committee, ARLIS NA

A. LEADERSHIP UPDATE

Ed Teague's term as chair has expired and the president is in the process of appointing a new chair.  Committee members for the year were Marilyn Berger, Daphne Dufresne,  Jeannette Dixon (IFLA Representative), Renata Guttman, Judith Herschman, Beverly Karno, Susana Tejada, Carol Terry (IFLA 2001 Satellite Conference Liaison). Affiliate member: Lorna Corbetta-Noyes. Board liaison: Leslie Abrams.

B. ACTIVITIES of the IRC in 2000-2001

1.  As usual, the primary activity of the IRC this year has been planning a session for the ARLIS/NA 29th annual conference. The session was not approved.  Proposal details:

Title: "Nordic Expeditions: Exploring Art Information Resources for Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden."
Abstract: A continuing challenge in the arts information community is simply knowing what is available regardless of the vehicle of communication is paper or electronic.  A primary purpose of the International Relations Committee is to promote understanding of art information resources worldwide.  Toward that end, our conference sessions have focused on resources in different parts of the world.  For the 2002 conference, we propose exploring information resources related to Nordic countries. Such a program, to our knowledge, has never before been presented.  Speakers will address from their own experience different perspectives of art information related to Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, or Sweden. 
Speakers: Arndis Arnadottir (Art School of Iceland, Reykjavik)  Lena Torslow Hansen (Art Consulting Scandinania, Los Angeles),  Anja Lollesgaard (Danish Museum of Decorative Art, Copenhagen), Frances Clymer, (Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody).

2.  Not managed by the IRC but worth mentioning is the IFLA satellite conference which took place August 16-17, 2001, in Boston.
Conference planners, including IRC's Carol Terry, organized sessions with the theme,   "How do I find a picture of …?: the Changing Nature of Image Research."

3.  The following issues were brought to the midyear Board with responses given:

a. Expand committee membership. The board felt 8 was a large enough committee size. The IRC should continue to invite those interested in international relations to its business meeting since they are open to all (including non-members attending the conference).
b. Conference proposals, IRC's: Board feels all conference proposals are to be judged in an equitable way as to how well it contributes to the conference theme. Could a portion of the IRC business meeting be set aside for presentations
c. Affiliate publications:  Where are they? These have been going to HQ. Elizabeth Clarke agreed to send to committee chair.  It is OK to pursue donating materials to a library school library once the IRC no longer needs.

C. COMMUNICATION ISSUES

The   IRC website and  listserv function well.
As of February 2002, the new management firm has not routed to the chair any publications from affiliates.
An article in Update, or Art Doc, following up on past international guests and their experiences with ARLIS/NA conferences might be worthwhile.

D. BUDGET ISSUES

Getty Grant Follow-Up.  The chair wrote the required report for the Getty describing how the grant funds were used.  ARLIS/NA returned $1,400 to the Getty since Mr. Gu wisely obtained an airfare with cheaper cost than projected.  In response to the report, Joan Weinstein, Senior Program Officer, at the Getty, wrote, "I enjoyed reading about Mr. Gu's activities during his stay in Los Angeles. I am sure that he greatly benefited from the exhange of ideas at the conference, and I hope that his positive experiences will continue to beneift him and his library in the future."

There was no IRC budget proposal for 2002.  IFLA dues are no longer part of the IRC budget.

E. STRATEGIC PLANNING

Strategic plan items #107, #108 are ongoing activities.

F. ISSUES FOR THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

For post-conference, with a new Board:  Revisit the IRC issues brought up at 2001 midyear Board meeting.

Respectfully submitted,
Ed Teague
IRC Chair, 2000-2002