Federal and Armed Forces Libraries Round Table Board Meeting

ALA Annual Conference, 2004
Renaissance Resort Hotel, Orlando, FL
Monday, June 28, 2004 Attendees: Mary Boone, Margaret Groner, Andrea Gruhl, Georgette Harris, Shirley Loo, Gloritha Mercer, Marie L. Nelson, Fran Perros, Maria Pisa, Jewel Player, Donna E. Ramsey, Linda Resler, Lucille M. Rosa, Reginald Scott, Jane Sessa, Joan R. Taylor, Eileen Welch
  1. The meeting was called to order at 9:35 a.m. by Margaret Groner, FAFLRT President.
  2. Old Business. Regarding the writing of Standard Operating Procedures for FAFLRT, it was proposed and approved that a committee be formed to study the SOPs of the two previous organizations that merged to form FAFLRT, and write a new SOP. Margaret Groner, Jewel Player, and Jane Sessa will work on this committee.
  3. New Business
    1. Andrea Gruhl proposed that FAFLRT nominate Ross Shimmon, Secretary General of IFLA, for ALA Honorary Member status. The Board voted and approved. Andrea will compile the ALA nomination package and submit it before the September 1 deadline.
    2. It was suggested that a committee be established to be in charge of vendor advertising contacts, including contacts regarding the annual program, newsletter, scholarships, receptions, breakfasts, etc.
    3. It was suggested that it would be beneficial to have a Conference Arrangements person, in charge of all conference activities, such as sponsors, reception, etc.
    4. For future consideration, it was questioned whether or not to do a joint reception with GODORT; and if so, on which evening?
    5. It was suggested that we consider alternating an evening reception and the breakfast, in order to keep costs down.
    6. Since program planning had been removed from the President's duties, a revision of the Bylaws is required. The Board voted on and approved that the following change to the Bylaws be placed on the ballot: In Article 4, Governance, Section 3, Duties of the V.P/President Elect, change the word "shall" to "may" be responsible for chairing the FAFLRT Program Committee for the Annual ALA Conference.
    7. Discussion regarding our newsletter, Federal Librarian, took place. Items brought up were:
      • Possibility of simultaneously publishing it in print and electronically via email as a trial.
      • Print has advantages, because not everyone is online or reads their email, and it gives us visibility, announcing the upcoming meetings in a more prominent manner.
      • Perhaps have three issues instead of the current quarterly ones. However, vendors have paid for four issues, so any changes would need to be made in a new volume year. Also, the timing of the issues would be critical in promoting our meetings at the ALA conventions, i.e.: the summer issues have been published shortly before the Annual ALA conferences.
      • Some people's emails aren't capable of receiving large attachments.
      • We need to find out if the advertising revenue has been credited to FAFLRT's account yet.
      • Jane Sessa will have a discussion meeting about the newsletter with the Washington ALA office.
      • Any decisions about the newsletter have been postponed until FAFLRT's Midwinter Board Meetings, at which time the budget for the next year must be submitted.
    8. Jane Sessa proposed that FAFLRT join GODORT in co-endorsing the resolution to have ALA reinstate its affirmation of support for accountability in government and to reinstate whistle-blower protection. This was voted upon and approved by the FAFLRT Board.
    9. The FAFLRT Board also voted to support the resolution on reinstatement of support for the ALA Administrative Conference.
    10. Donna Ramsey is the program chair for the 2005 Annual Program. Discussion on topic suggestions took place. The Board decided on the topic "Outsourcing; The Federal Experience and What It Means to the Citizen." It will probably consist of four panelists from diverse sectors of federal libraries affected by outsourcing. (The other topic suggestion that was suggested is how federal and armed forces libraries and services support American objectives and efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, library service for these areas is primarily handled by contractors, such as Brown and Root. Also LC is working with the Iraqi National Library in conservation and restoration efforts.)
    11. Mary Boone announced that FLICC has a new Human Resources Working Group website: http://www.loc.gov/flicc/wghr.html
  4. The gavel was passed to the incoming President, Linda Resler, and the meeting adjourned at 11:17 am.
Respectfully submitted, Marie L. Nelson
FAFLRT Secretary