Streamlining organization—asked to clarify

Goals not at same levels:  conference just a vehicle for getting to where we want to be.  Continued education for practicing librarians; also urgency for focus on prospective art librarians (in graduate education).

Streamlining organization—does the structure work to meet goals?  69 business meetings, 15 panels.  “Don’t be fearful of radical transformation.”

Roundtables comment (?)

Proliferation of discussion groups—meet elsewhere? Don’t schedule.

Discussion groups are where the new thoughts/ideas are.

Some discussion groups are tiny.

Strategic Planning again!?

UK checks action items every time they meet, if no one has addressed it is stricken from list

NA—don’t review every 3 years (too close together), more of an evolving doc.

3 Goals—recurring, only action items would change

Action items—doesn’t see a problem having 180 items.

Leadership prioritize items

Streamlining action items will help us focus on big issues.  ARLIS spends too much time on the business of society; purpose of society should be the focus.

Hone plan down to the essentials

2002 VRA joint conference should focus on that and not another strategic plan.

ARLIS—“inbred”—are there people/organizations outside of ARLIS that can help us do our work.  Find those links.

First plan—focus on conference

Second plan—fostered cooperation among different ARLIS groups

Declining membership—why? —Have we asked why individuals have dropped out?  A non-renewal list will be generated.  Responses—moved jobs, retirement, etc., “normal.”

Effects—will lose sponsors, etc.

Back to membership efforts, and support of non-ARLIS members participating in programs very important; fresh perspective on what we do that will translate into how we do what we do.

Value added electronic service to our members; conference may no longer be major draw to our services

Student voice—pleased about mentoring, out-reach to library schools in draft plan—need more of both internships

Students don’t know about ARLIS

Don’t have the visibility we need—more workshops outside of conference needed to reach out to students, etc.  Get the word out to educators of future librarians.  Work with larger library organizations to show our expertise. (IFLA, ALA, pre-conference workshops, etc.)

Better get act together to bring in new people and also better change vision—do the best we can do for the remaining conference.

Reduced membership for other organizations: we are probably not the only organization experiencing membership problems—open dialogue for new possibilities

Acknowledge the changes in the profession, responsibilities multiplying, and choices more difficult.  Think of young beginning person and many options available to them.  Not linear choice to become art librarian—would look at many choices.  Not simple.

Look at educational possibilities for members and others.  Education officer.  Possible established liaisons to specific schools, regular reps?

How to address problem of Librarianship school’s resistance to offering art librarianship courses.  Outreach to Librarianship schools—careers day, etc.  Suggestion for action plan.

Concrete and relevant action items needed

Role of Librarian and ARLIS in accreditation process

Notify Librarianship School students at beginning of their education.  Continuing education person—continued education workshops offered at different places throughout the country.

VRA—continued education task force, original goal was to work with ARLIS.

Local chapter membership but not national conference—“If can’t go to conference, why bother.”  Need to develop other activities that would give reasons for national membership.

Chapter could offer opportunities during regional library meetings.

Shorten conference and make richer, then create the regional opportunities.

Chapter coordination needed and some assurance that action is being taken.

Be more inclusive—we are experts, but why don’t others know?

Try to intersect with like organizations—ex. Music Lib. Association

Excluding entry-level people because of conference expense.  Choose hotels where less expensive hotels are located.

Profession—we can now employ ourselves in commercial world for more money.  Promote to raise awareness of importance of librarians, result—higher salaries.

Why does ARLIS stay at more expensive hotels? And, why so long?  Alternatives.

However, ARLIS members have cultural expectations of conferences.  Content is becoming more important in terms of funding for travel so this may help if less cultural venues are used.

Submitted by
Jane Carlin
University of Cincinnati