Charge: To issue calls for, review, and select proposals; communicate decisions to all applicants; serve as liaison to each discussion group; provide guidance and support to conveners as needed; ensure that digests are completed and uploaded to the IS web site for each discussion group; maintain tip sheets for selection of proposals and facilitation of discussions; and refine criteria for selection of proposals as needed. This committee does not propose any discussion groups of their own. Selection of topics twice a year will stagger the committee's work, provide more flexibility in timing for people proposing topics, and help ensure the freshness of proposals. Beginning with the 2006 ALA Annual Conference, these discussion groups will replace the discussions (Bright Ideas and Brainstorming) currently hosted by IS standing committees at conferences, and ideally would include at least one online discussion between each conference once the ALA online community software is available and deemed stable.
Membership: The committee will consist of 4-6 members (including the co-chairs), and will have an IS Executive Committee liaison. The IS Vice-Chair appoints the members of the Discussion Group Steering Committee. The IS Vice-Chair also appoints the discussion group conveners to a special committee for a one-year term.
Recent Annual Current Issue Discussion Digests
- Teacher Proficiencies: Applying Proficiency Standards for Instruction Librarians in Your Library (2009)
- Using Discovery-Based Learning to Engage Students with Information Literacy (2009)
Previous Current Issue Discussion Forum Digests
Call for Proposals: Current Issue Discussion Groups Annual 2010 (deadline Nov. 2, 2009)
Tips for Discussion Group Conveners
Options for Possible Discussion Formats
Discussion Group Steering Committee members and terms of appointment (ALA Members only)
Questions and comments may be sent to Carrie Forbes (carrie.forbes@du.edu) and Merinda Kaye Hensley (mhensle1@illinois.edu), 2009-2010 Discussion Group Steering Committee Co-Chairs.