Annual Report (2001)
Public Library Division, ARLIS NA
Jeffrey Stephens, Moderator/Update column editor
jstephens@queenslibrary.org
phone: 718 / 515-0420
At the division business meeting at the annual conference in Los Angeles,
Jeffrey Stephens was re-elected as Moderator/Update column editor for another
year. Division member attendance at the conference was less than the previous
year as nine members attended. Fewer attended the discussion group
directly following the business meeting as it conflicted with panel sessions
that members wanted to attend.
Members discussed the cancellation of the public library tour. There was
extreme disappointment that the tour had been scheduled for Wednesday after most
public librarians would probably have left because of lack of travel funds to
stay the extra day. There were also other day long tours that conflicted,
making it impossible that enough people would sign up to make enough money to
cover the cost. Members were left to visit the three major public
libraries in the Los Angeles area on their own time.
There was discussion about the St. Louis Conference. Suzy Frechette of the
St. Louis Public Library urged everyone to attend. Members discussed
proposals for the conference regarding digital imaging projects in public
libraries and internet filtering. Members agreed that internet filtering
probably pertained more to public than academic or museum libraries.
Members discussed the fact that conference travel funds are scarce for public
librarians and raised the possibility of a travel award for a member of the
division. This would have to be funded by a sponsor most likely.
Membership in the Public Library Division remained about the same as in previous
years. At the upcoming conference in St. Louis there should be
further discussion on how to increase the membership. There also needs to
be more communication among members which shouldn't be difficult since most of
us have e-mail.
Other issues which need to be addressed are collecting more news from
members for the Update Column, getting more Public Library Division
session proposals off the ground, and how the division can work more closely
with the other divisions on art librarianship issues.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeffrey Stephens