Nancy Simon, Denver Art Museum and Co-Moderator of the Museum Libraries Division opened the meeting by introducing the current co-moderators and the 2000-2001 officers:  Meg Klinkow, Co-Moderator, Toni Reese, Vice-Moderator-elect, and Kaylyn Hipps, Update Column Editor. Past division moderators from 1976 to the present were recognized.  Peter Blank, ARLIS Secretary, announced deadlines for session proposals by the Division.   The Museum Libraries Division sponsored sessions for the 2000 conference were announced.

 The minutes of the 1999 Division Meeting were approved.  Nominations were then taken from the floor for the vice-moderator position.  None were made.  A motion was made and seconded to nominate Toni Reese to the position of vice-moderator.  The motion passed.

 Mary Galvin gave a report on the Statistics Task Force.   A questionnaire is being designed to gather data for funding statistics.

OLD BUSINESS
 

ARLIS/NA Strategic Plan:  The co-moderators of the division received no input this year from the division members, therefore the goals and action steps of the existing plan were affirmed.  Nancy Simon announced that the Task Force recommended limiting the division to 3-5 action steps that would fulfill the broader goals of the Strategic Plan.  Rosemary Haddad, representing the Task Force, commented on the major goals of the Strategic Plan:

1. Develop opportunities, awards, grants
2. Develop stimulating conference programs
3. Exert influence on the external forces that affect our profession
4. Develop programs that promote leadership

Issues that affect museum librarians:
ARLIS/NA should develop and foster advocacy for funding and support for the arts and museum libraries.

1. There is a need for standards for information systems, staffing, salaries, space, etc.
2. RLG and its relationship to small museum libraries

1. Our members are in a unique position to interact closely with our museum co-workers, especially curatorial and education staff.  (shorter chain of command than our colleagues in colleges or university settings).
2. Our staffs are small and we can easily be isolated or out of the loop, unless we are very proactive and assertive.
3. We have limited financial resources, therefore limited access to new technologies.
4. We have a limited teaching role in library usage and research in our institutions.
5. We are part of AAMD and AAM accreditation.  ARLIS should promote itself through these channels.  It is important to get the attention of professional museum organizations to increase our visibility within our institutions.

Debbie Smedstad made an announcement about the 2001 Conference in Los Angeles.  Joan Benedetti proposed that the Museum Libraries Division sponsor a session at the 2001 Conference, “Native American Art Now—Reflecting Contemporary Realities.”  The Division members unanimously supported the session proposal.

Respectfully submitted by Jolene de Verges