ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries 192 / C&RL News ACRL issues for th e 9 0 s ACRL s two presidential candidates offer their views on the Association's future. Barbara J. Ford Patricia A. W and T his presentation of statem ents from ACRL’s candidates for Vice-President/President-Elect is an information service for ACRL members. Many of the issues and concerns facing ACRL are discussed informally at meetings, but this does not provide a national forum available to all members. These statements provide the basis for an informed choice when you receive your ballot next month. Barbara J. Ford: ACRL is a lively, dynamic, and effective organi­ zation due to the work of members, elected and ap­ pointed officers, and staff. Building on the past, we must continue ACRL’s leadership role as we make the planning and policy decisions which will carry us into the next century. Importance of librarians We must emphasize the importance of librarians in our academic institutions including our knowl­ edge, experience, and advocacy relating to access to information, intellectual freedom, and censor­ ship, and our role in preserving the records of cul­ ture and history. The tw o priorities the ACRL Board has set for 1990 and 1991 are especially im­ portant. They are: continued advocacy and liaison work to make ACRL and academic librarianship more visible among academic administrators; and recruitm ent to the profession of academic librari­ anship. Since libraries no longer have a monopoly on the collection and distribution of information, we need to develop inventive ways to effectively compete for scarce resources and to meet the challenges of technological developm ents. L ib ra ria n s have unique skills and abilities to assist students, faculty, and staff to utilize resources in academic and re­ search libraries. Efforts by ACRL to assure that li­ brarians are recognized as full partners in the aca­ demic enterprise continue to be im portant. The role of ACRL ACRL must stay in the forefront of major profes­ sional issues and values such as access to informa­ tion, library services, information literacy, legisla­ tiv e issues, in te lle c tu a l free d o m , social responsibility, and equal opportunity. ACRL must continue to be a catalyst for the development of li­ brary philosophies and ethics as well as of stan­ dards and guidelines for library practice and proce­ dures. Providing high quality professional develop­ m ent opportunities, including conferences, pro­ grams, journals, and other publications should continue as a priority. Using these vehicles, we need to seek innovative ways of addressing issues of concern such as the price of materials, changes in government publishing, technology, the recruit­ ment and retention of quality librarians, and the changing and expanding role of libraries and li­ brarians. As an officer of ACRL I would actively work w ith all units of ACRL including chapters, sec­ tions, discussion groups, com m ittees, editorial March 1989 / 193 boards, and other units and serve as a speaker and advocate for academ ic libraries and librarians. Through appointm ents, I would work to increase the involvement of members who m ay offer inno­ vative solutions to problems and deal directly with major issues confronting libraries and librarians. Upholding the values of the profession and associa­ tio n , a n d b a la n c in g b etw een c o n tin u ity and change as ACRL responds to changes in academic libraries and librarians, would be priorities. Working w ith ACRL members, leadership, and staff, I would support the goals of ACRL outlined in the strategic plan. These goals are: contribute to the professional development of academic and re­ search librarians; enhance the capability of librari­ ans to serve the needs of users; promote and speak for the interests of librarianship; and prom ote study, research, and publication relevant to aca­ demic and research librarianship. We also need to m aintain and build links and connections to other units in ALA and higher edu­ cation and support ALA’s mission, priority areas and goals. In addition, I would focus attention on two other areas: international perspectives as tech­ nology and other political and economic forces re­ move national barriers; and education for library and inform ation science. ACRL and ALA As a p art of ALA, ACRL has the opportunity to build on the issues shared by librarians regardless of roles or functions or type of library. W ithin ALA we can support each other’s efforts and work to­ w ard common priorities to provide better library service for all. O ur challenge is to identify and p u r­ sue the choices th a t best serve the needs of our members. As a major ALA division, w ith more than 10,000 members, we must balance membership priorities, financial considerations, and the needs of sections, chapters, and other groups. ACRL and ALA face challenges in allocating resources and addressing a variety of needs. Just as academic librarians should continue to utilize National Library Week, Banned Book Week, Freedom of Inform ation Day, and other similar events to build coalitions, so should ACRL continue to work w ith other ALA units to forge cooperative efforts to w ork on m utual inter­ ests. As libraries have sought new creative and effec­ tive means for providing services, so has ACRL. Strategic planning, financial planning, operating plans, adoption of m arketing strategies, policy statements, and other techniques have been used effectively by ACRL officers and staff. While we cannot ignore internal politics and the ongoing is­ sues of finance, we need to continue to reach be­ yond this to focus on emerging and substantive is­ sues affecting the future of library programs and service and access to information. In conclusion I am honored to be part of a long and proud tra ­ dition of academic and research librarianship and to be nom inated for office in ACRL. I have been involved in ACRL for a num ber of years and I have served as a member of the ALA Council for eight years. In ACRL and ALA I have worked on a vari­ ety of issues, in c lu d in g a c c re d ita tio n , b ib lio ­ graphic instruction, government documents, inter­ national relations, library education, membership, personnel, planning and budget, public services, social responsibilities, and status of women. I welcome the opportunity to serve as president of ACRL as we address the challenges and opportu­ nities facing ACRL and academic and research li­ braries and librarians in the years ahead. Barbara J. Ford is Associate Director, Trinity Uni­ versity Library, San Antonio, Texas. Patricia A. Wand: As chair of the Budget and Finance Committee from 1986 to 1988,1 served on the ACRL Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. Over the past decade, I have held offices in tw o sections, a chapter, several committees and have been a mem­ ber of task forces and discussion groups. Currently I am also actively engaged at the University of O re­ gon L ibrary w ith th e challenges of offering all types of lib rary services, selecting and training staff, developing well-rounded collections, plan­ ning building projects, and implementing an auto­ m ated and integrated library system. From my perspective as an ACRL m em ber and a practicing librarian, I see numerous issues facing us in the 1990s and will touch on some of the more prom i­ nent ones. Issues facing the Association fall into two catego­ ries: those affecting most academic libraries in the U .S., and those p a rtic u la r to th e operatio n of ACRL. Because ACRL attempts to deal w ith the professional needs of academic and research librar­ ians as a whole, w hether or not they are ACRL members, it must address both sets of issues. Issues generic to the profession In this set of issues I include those concerns shared by academic librarians even if they are not members of ACRL. Because ACRL attem pts to represent all academic librarians, it must be alert to concerns of the profession as a whole and address them in some way. The first issue is th at of hum an resources for the profession. W e must continue to develop new tal­ ent, to work for broader representation of all races and ethnic groups in the profession, to rew ard in­ formation providers who perform well, and to stay competitive w ith salaries. This is the inform ation age and more people th a n ever before are engaged in inform ation- 194 / C&RL News related occupations. Academic librarians have a unique opportunity to contribute: they combine technical skill and m anagerial expertise w ith a long tradition of providing information service. It is this combination th a t can put them into leadership po­ sitions in an academic community. The unfortu­ nate fact is th at many librarians themselves are un­ a w a re of th e ir p o te n tia l a n d h e n ce a re n o t actualizing it. Collectively we should work to ex­ pand our thinking about our roles. This leads to a second issue: visibility. O ther sec­ tors w ithin higher education frequently are un­ aw are of the role of libraries in the scholarly com­ m unication process. ACRL has addressed this issue for m any years and will continue to do so. It is one, like publicity for good library programs, th at will never be finished; instead, it must be creatively ap­ proached w ith renewed vigor every year. W e need to work in a variety of strategies to assure th a t pro­ fessional organizations of other sectors in higher education include representation from libraries. The third issue is the pace of technological devel­ opm ent and its application to library service. The fundam ental question is how can librarians con­ tinue to juggle the pressure on the one hand to m aintain traditional services and formats and on the other to introduce new formats and enhance services utilizing new technology? Are we position­ ing ourselves well for technologically linking into the scholarly processes of the 1990s? C an ACRL do m ore to p a rtic ip a te in th e developm ent of the scholarly workstation? The rising cost of library materials constitutes the fourth issue. Every library is facing this serious problem and ACRL m ust face it too. How can ACRL act on behalf of its m any members to m od­ ify this trend? A final issue is th a t of operating our libraries in compliance w ith the Library Rill of Rights. This powerful docum ent can serve as a mission state­ m ent for every academic library. The problems of censorship are always w ith us but because of tech­ nology, new services, rising costs of materials, and scarcity of publishing in certain areas, we are vul­ nerable in new ways. Issues particular to ACRL Although nearly transparent to the rank-and-file ACRL m ember, an im portant issue now being ad­ dressed is th at of ACRL’s relationship w ith its p a r­ ent organization, the American Library Associa­ tio n . T h e “ O p e r a tin g A g re e m e n t” is b e in g developed and encompasses nearly every aspect of the working relationship between ALA and its di­ visions, of which ACRL is the largest w ith over 10,000 members. The agreement lists basic services provided by ALA as distinct from those offered by its divisions, and spells out who is financially responsible for each. It covers such managem ent concerns as how dues revenue may be spent, w hat activities will be charged overhead, who underwrites which parts of M idwinter Meetings and Annual Conferences, the disposition of division fund balances, who covers direct and indirect costs, and under w hat circum­ stances endowments may be established. This analysis of ALA m anagem ent concerns will affect the ACRL budget, which constitutes the sec­ ond issue I wish to address. In 1987 the Budget and Finance Com m ittee alerted the ACRL Board th at revenue from dues was no longer able to support member activities and recommended th at a task force be charged with exploring sources of revenue outside the dues structure. T h at task force m et for the first time at the 1989 M idwinter Meeting in W ashington, and I predict th at its recommenda­ tions will figure prom inently in budget planning during the coming years. The Board, at the same meeting, decided th a t the dues increase should ap­ pear on the ballot. The issue of sufficient revenue to u n d erw rite th e cost of th e m any program s of ACRL is very significant. The third issue I see is th at of the strategic plan. The five-year plan was approved by the ACRL Board, w ent into effect in 1986, and is due for re­ view by 1991. W e have m oved over half-w ay through its im plem entation and must begin to con­ sider the methods by which it will be reviewed. The fourth issue, which is closely linked to the member-driven strategic plan, involves meeting member needs. I see this as the single greatest chal­ lenge to ACRL. I refer to meeting needs of both in­ active and active members. Inactive members are those who pay dues but initiate no other contact w ith ACRL. They w ork in libraries or related fields and need the support of a professional association even though they m ay not articulate th at need on a regular basis. Active members pay dues, attend na­ tional or regional conferences, and participate in committee, section or chapter activities. These are the members w ho usually articulate the needs of the profession and simultaneously stimulate ideas for projects th a t cost money! The challenges are ob­ vious: how to learn of the needs of inactive mem­ bers and how to meet the needs of all members while operating w ithin the budget. Western N ew York/Ontario Chapter Fall Conference On September 26, 1988, ACRL’s W estern New York/Ontario C hapter held its Fall Con­ ference at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Nine papers were presented, one of w hich, by Joan O rm ondroyd of Cornell on “Making Real Changes: Course-Intregrated In ­ struction,” was the winner of an all-expenses paid trip to the ACRL National Conference in Cincinnati. Two runners-up and a door prize winner received free registrations. The keynote speaker was JoAn S. Segal, A C R L executive d ire c to r. March 1989 / 195 How am I prepared to address these issues? If I am elected to the position of vice-president, president-elect, I will depend heavily on ideas from members for ways in which we can meet the chal­ lenges of the 1990s. I am committed to the concept of a member-driven organization. At any time, I welcome comments and suggestions from members (active or inactive) about how ACRL can address these issues. Because I have participated in every type of unit operating in ACRL, I understand fully how ACRL works. I also understand the im portance of leader­ ship to the organization. I am prepared to provide th at leadership in addressing these issues and repre­ senting ACRL. Patricia A. W and is assistant university librarian fo r public services at the University o f Oregon, Eugene. ■ ■ L ibraries a n d teleco m m u n ica tio n s tech n o lo g ies B y L in d a B ig e lo w Project Consultant Northern Illinois Learning Resources Cooperative a n d A lic e C a la b r e se Project Director Northern Illinois Learning Resources Cooperative A survey of the literature, with an emphasis on networks. W h a t are the new telecommunications technol­ ogies and how well have they been adapted to the needs of libraries? These tw o questions were the fo­ cus of a recent survey of the literature as p art of an LSCA Title III grant project funded by the Illinois State Library. The purpose of the grant was to re­ search the requirem ents for a statew ide library telecommunications network in Illinois. Telecommunications technology The convergence of telecom m unications and technology was frequently cited in the literature as the driving force behind today’s telecommunica­ tions trends. Goldstein (1988) saw this convergence as both “confusion and opportunity” (p.36). Noam (1987) described in detail the resulting shift in the concept of public telecommunications from a cen­ tralized, hierarchical, universally accessible net­ work (characterized by AT&T before divestiture) to “a new one th a t is open and loosely intercon­ nected, resembling a federation of subnetworks much like the system prevailing in transportation” (p.30). The shift tow ard an information-based ser­ vice economy has created great user demands for high-speed, low-cost telecommunications at the same time th at decentralized services have reduced the former economies of scale th a t increased tech­ nological options are available. West (1984) commented on the trend tow ard distributing powerful information processing ca­ pacity to individuals and connected this decentral­ ization to “increasing dem and to link this dis­ persed... power via a digitized, integrated (voice, video, and data) telecommunications network so th a t in d iv id u als can co m m u n icate w ith each other” (p.2). The integration of voice, video, and data was one of the prim ary trends found in the literature. Integration was discussed on several levels. In 1984, West was calling for colleges and universities to w ork to w a rd in teg ratio n of com m unication