ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries


158

News From the Chapters
The spring conference of the New England 

Chapter of ACRL met on April 2-3, 1976, at 
the Sheraton Islander in Newport, Rhode Is­
land. In her opening remarks, Diane Lutz, 
chapter president, elaborated on the theme, 
‘‘People Power: Management of Human Re­
sources Development.” She noted the impact 
of budget reductions on library staffing patterns 
and the resulting necessity to review both the 
problems and development of existing staff.

William Hunzeker, assistant professor of 
management information science at New 
Hampshire College, put things in perspective 
as he discussed the role of the library as it re­
lates to the mission of the university which, in 
turn, relates to the total system of society. He 
stressed the importance of academic libraries 
setting their goals in support of the larger sys­
tem.

Sheila Creth, assistant director for personnel, 
University of Connecticut, imparted her en­
thusiasm for staff development programs. First 
noting the difference between staff develop­
ment programs and continuing education pro­
grams, she went on to discuss the steps in­
volved in the “in-house” design of a staff de­
velopment program. In relating the quality of

the staff to the library’s mission to provide qual­
ity services, she pointed out the critical im­
portance to the staff and the institution of effec­
tive programs of staff development.

Job design was the focus of remarks by Mary 
Chatfield, associate librarian, Harvard Business 
School, as she discussed “Personnel Utilization 
Management in the Academic Library.”

At the business meeting, ACRL/NEC offi­
cers for 1976 were introduced: Diane Lutz, 
president; Irma Johnson, vice-president/presi­
dent-elect; Anne Conway, secretary; Roberta 
Beverly, treasurer; and Mary Thatcher and 
Joan Stockard, members-at-large.

The Saturday morning session opened with 
a presentation by E. J. Josey, chief, Bureau of 
Academic and Research Libraries, New York 
State Education Department, concerning affir­
mative action in academic libraries.

The conference concluded with some obser­
vations by Eric Moon, president, Scarecrow 
Press. In his discussion entitled “A Potpourri 
of P’s,” Mr. Moon covered aspects of profes­
sionalism and personnel. All presentations were 
taped during the conference. Anyone interested 
in obtaining a copy of the tapes should con­
tact Diane Lutz, New Hampshire College. ■ ■