ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries 4 6 6 /C & R L News In the News Hot and humid weather did not dampen the enthusiasm o f those ACRL members attend­ ing ALA’s Annual Conference in Miami Beach. Over 100 members began their conference by attending ACRL’s Leadership Session. Dadie Perlov, the consultant who advised ALA’s Self- Study Committee, challenged ACRL leaders’ assumptions about their organization and in­ vited them to improve it. Participants were in­ vigorated by Perlov’s presentation; many pro­ claiming it one o f the best ever. One o f her many insightful comments re­ garding the appropriateness of ACRL’s mission statement and strategic plan was taken to heart by ACRL Board members in attendance. At their Tuesday meeting they suspended use o f the existing strategic plan, adopted a statement of priorities for 1994-95, and developed a pro­ cess for revising the strategic plan and for giv­ ing the Board more responsibility for planning. ACRL’s programming at the conference was also invigorating. Following then-president Tom Kirk’s vision o f a conference-within-a-confere nce covering the topic of networking, ACRL committee and section members presented pro­ grams on networking and the Internet ranging from basics to incorporating the Internet into the curriculum. ACRL’s Education and Behav­ ioral Sciences and W om en’s Studies sections examined the gender differences in Internet communications. Apparently even the relative plainness o f the typed word on a computer screen does not escape the effects o f the gen­ der that input it. The Science and Technology Section suc­ cessfully attempted one of the most challeng­ ing programs— an all-day training session on the Internet using live Internet connections, at­ tended by standing-room-only crowds. Summaries o f many o f ACRL’s conference programs appear on pages 4 8 2 -4 9 0 . Many thanks to all o f the special correspondents who provided these reports. — Mary Ellen K. Davis E d itor & P u b lish er mary. e llen. davis@ala.org