Council of Liaisons Sample Application Content
NOTICE: The Council of Liaisons has been superseded by the Liaisons Coordinating and Component Committees. These policies and procedures govern only individual liaisons whose terms end in FY11 or FY12.
AERA Liaison Proposal
(Submitted in September 2007)
Target Organization Application Form
ACRL Council of Liaisons<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Application submitted by: Carmelita Pickett, Chair of the African American Studies Section & Thomas Weissinger, Vice-Chair of the African American Studies Section.
Contact Information:
Emory University
Robert W. Woodruff Library
540 Asbury Circle Atlanta GA 30322
Email: removed or Phone: removed
Name/Title of Organization/Association, etc;
The Association for the Study of African American Life & History, Inc.
Organization Mailing Address:
C.B. Powell Building
525 Bryant Street, Suite C142
Washington, DC 20059
Phone: (202) 865-0053
Fax: (202) 265-7920
Email: info@asalh.net
Organization Web Address: http://www.asalh.org/index.html
Contact within Organization (if applicable): Sylvia Cyrus-Albritton, Executive Director, executivedirector@asalh.net or Karen M. May Publication & Exhibits Coordinator, kmay@asalh.net
1. How was this organization identified for the ACRL Council of Liaisons application?
In June 2006 during ALA annual in New Orleans, the AFAS Executive Committee discussed possible partnerships to pursue that promote the discipline of African American Studies. Prior to this I had an opportunity to meet Syliva Albritton, Executive Director of the association during her visit to Emory in May 2006. Dr.Carter G. Woodson created the association in 1915 to promote, preserve and disseminate information about African American history and culture. The association currently sponsors annual conferences and has its own peer-reviewed journal, Journal of African American History which is oldest periodical dedicated to the research and study of African American history and culture.
2. In what ways does the target organization reflect a direction of ACRL as articulated in ACRL’s Strategic Plan (Be specific, citing Plan statements).
Pursuing a partnership with the Association for the Study of African American Life & History, Inc., (ASALH) reflects the following goal and strategic areas:
A. Goal Area: Scholarship
Strategic Area 4: Strengthen ACRL's relationships with learned societies.
B. Goal Area: Advocacy
Strategic Area 2: Increase ACRL's communication on major trends and issues in libraries.
Strategic Area 3: Strengthen partnerships with other organizations.
C. Goal Area: Leadership
Strategic Area 1: Empower members to communicate the value of their contributions to learning and scholarship.
Strategic Area 2: Increase recognition of the value of libraries and librarians by leaders in higher education, information technology, funding agencies, and campus decision-making.
3. Describe the alignment in the vision, strategy, and goals between the target organization and ACRL?
In line with ACRL’s responsibility for positioning academic and research librarians and libraries as indispensable in advancing learning and scholarship, an affiliation with ASALH will increase the value and recognition of libraries and library resources for the association and the numerous academics comprising its membership. The association itself is the premier black heritage learned society in the United States, and its aims are similar to our own-to create and disseminate knowledge about African American history and culture and to connect academia with the global public.
4. What current issues does the target organization and ACRL share? In what ways will this organization advance academic library issues?
ASALH and ACRL both share the following issues:
Scholarly communication. The mission of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) is to promote research, preserve, interpret and disseminate information about Black life, history and culture to the global community.
Information literacy as it relates to African American Studies. Sponsors graduate and undergraduate essay contests and co-sponsors with the National History Day organization, Carter G. Woodson awards to high school students for winning projects, papers, or performances relating to African American History.
Library resources and access. Publishes the Journal of African American History (formerly the Journal of Negro History), and the Black History Bulletin (formerly the Negro History Bulletin), and publishes Black History products that promote the annual Black History theme.
5. How does this relationship position ACRL/academic libraries to address and prepare for future issues facing the library and information profession and/or related professions?
A relationship with ASALH supports ACRL’s belief that it is a leader in “building collaborative relationships”. It also furthers ACRL’s initiative to have influence in the scholarly community and learned societies. In recent years several AFAS members have participated in and presented their research at ASALHs annual conferences, generating a better understanding of the connection between our work and that of their members. A continuance and strengthening of this relationship with ASALH ensures that libraries, and the work and research of librarians (present and past) will reach both well known and new scholars in the field of African American Studies. In addition, academic library issues can be advanced through various projects that ASALH sponsors. For example, the association sponsors several book awards with the National Education Association and the American History Association, and sponsors specialized professional development workshops, institutes, and seminars. Overall ASALH supports the study of African American history in homes, schools, colleges, churches, organizations, businesses, and government.
6. What are the specific goals and outcomes of the liaison relationship with the target organizations?
Goal 1: Promote the scholarship of African American studies via partnerships with learned societies.
Outcome: Build a sustainable partnership with the Association for the Study of African American Life & History that would attract other partnerships with learned societies.
Goal 2: Increase the organizational membership for the African American Studies section (AFAS) of ACRL.
Outcome: Promote the uniqueness of AFAS to garner support for the current issues facing African American studies librarianship.
Goal 3: Engage scholars regarding trends that impact the dissemination of African American Studies research.
Outcome: AFAS will collaborate with ASALH to promote issues facing scholars in the 21st century. This would include publicizing current issues affecting scholars at the ASALH annual conference and the societies’ publications.
