Executive Committee
The Executive Committee provides leadership, coordination, and direction for the Section and acts for and by the authority of the Section during the period between meetings of the Section.
Objectives:
- Build and support membership across all aspects of history librarianship, academic, genealogy and local history librarians, and archivists
- Explore online educational opportunities through our new adhoc Webinar committee
Academic Librarians Committee
This committee will serve as a forum to address the professional needs and concerns of history and humanities librarians working in academic institutions. It will focus on issues of interest such as instruction and information literacy, collection development and assessment, digital pedagogy and scholarship, and mentoring for new librarians.
The committee comprises four subcommittees which will focus on the following areas:
- Ad Hoc Subcommittee to Adapt the Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education for Undergraduate History Students
- Continuing Education Subcommittee
- Mentoring Program Subcommittee
- Website Resources Subcommittee
Gale Cengage History Research and Innovation Award Committee
The committee administers a $2,500 award granted to an MLS degreed librarian from an ALA accredited school to facilitate and further research relating to history and history librarianship.
Genealogy/History Achievement Award Committee
The Committee administers an annual award of $1,500 to a librarian, library, or publisher to encourage, recognize, and commend professional achievement in historical reference and research librarianship. The recipient must be a RUSA member and shall be selected for exceptional accomplishment related to bibliography, book reviewing, indexing, professional association leadership, programs, and training.
Objectives:
- Evaluate and standardize the language of the Award in all published places.
- Seek individuals as recipients.
Genealogy Committee
The Genealogy Committee provides a forum serving the interests of librarians whose work is in or related to the field of genealogy. Committee members represent large and small genealogical collections in public, special, university and society libraries. Its objective is to train and assist librarians serving genealogists.
Objectives:
Review of Guidelines:
- Guidelines for a Unit or Course of Instruction in Genealogical Research at Schools of Library and Information Science
- Guidelines for Developing a Core Genealogy Collection
Historical Materials Committee
The Committee seeks to improve the usefulness of bibliographies and indexes in the field of history through the evaluation both of specific publications and the pattern and effectivenss of coverage in all fields of history. Each year the Committee compiles and publishes its “Best Historical Materials” in RQ. In addition, the Committee promotes enhanced availability of historical works and information and serves as a liaison among bibliographers, indexers, publishers, and professional associations.
Local History Committee
The Committee offers an opportunity to discuss issues and concerns related to the management of local history services and collections. Activites include writing guidelines that address services, collections, and preservation of local history materials. Programs sponsored by the Committee include newspaper indexing, house histories, and the care of photography collections.
Objectives:
- Developing a finding aid or other cataloging tool that will provide information on genealogy and local history books, oral and photo histories, and other similar materials which have been self-published by individuals or by small local or vanity publishers.
Membership and Communications Committee
The committee manages the section’s media outlets (including the web site, Connect, social media, and contributions to RUSA Update), promotes the Section’s activities and initiatives, and advises on other communication-related issues.
Nominating Committee
The Committee identifies a slate of candidates for History Section offices.
Programming Committee
The History Section Programming Committee provides leadership in the coordination of History Section programming, including planning and organizing at least one program for the Annual Conference. The Committee supports both section and individual members in the development, implementation, and evaluation process, and provides a centralized area for all communication around History Section programming at both in-person meetings, conferences, and online and distance learning.