College & University Libraries Division

TLA/CULD Newsletter Fall 2002
 

Notes from the Chair…

by Martha Tarlton

This is a very critical time for college and university librarians in Texas. As you are probably aware, TIF and TexShare funding will be addressed in the next legislative session.

Funding is a matter of vital importance to all academic librarians, regardless of whether they are employed at public universities,
community/junior colleges, or private colleges and universities.  Your CULD Legislative Committee, chaired by Maurice Fortin, is monitoring legislative activities and reporting back to the CULD membership via the listserv. If you have not already subscribed to the listserv, I encourage you to do so via the “Members Only” section of the TLA website.

The Division has recently established a new scholarship program for library school students planning to pursue a career in academic librarianship.  Sue Sappington is chair of the Ad Hoc Scholarship Committee.  Please help get the word out about this among support staff in your libraries and any other interested individuals.  To reflect the new scholarship program, Ed Kownslar has worked with the Executive Board on preparing proposed changes to the CULD bylaws. These changes should be available for a vote in the spring.  Also the Nominations Committee, chaired by June Koelker, is busily at work.

CULD will be sponsoring several programs at the annual conference next spring in Houston.  Melody Kelly as vice-chair and program chair is arranging for a program on virtual reference by Joe Janes of the University of Washington.  The Community/Junior College Group is sponsoring programming and CULD will be co-sponsoring a program with the State Library.  More details on conference programs will appear in the spring newsletter.

Sign up for the CULD listserv!

As you all probably know by now, the wonderful people at TLA have set up a CULD listserv.  Subscribing is voluntary, but we hope you will sign up and stay current with CULD issues, and issues affecting academic libraries in Texas and the nation.  It’s easy to sign up and post to the list:

 1.  On the TLA web page (www.txla.org), click on "Members Only Section."

 2.  The next screen will ask you for your user name and password. If this is your first time, click on "Setup Login Account" and
    then type in your TLA member number.

3.  On the next screen, click on “Member Distribution Lists."

4.  When the next screen appears, click on "Lists for TLA Divisions.

5.  Click on "College and University Libraries."

6.  On the next screen, click on “Subscribe to CULD.

7.  The next screen will ask you for your full email address and name. When you have typed this information and have set your
preferences, click on "Save." You will receive confirmation that you are now subscribed through email.

8.  At this point, you may use the options or click on the "Home" key on the browser’s toolbar to exit.

9.  The next time you access the CULD membership list, you only need to type in your email address.

Once you’ve signed up, you can post to the list, and you also have the option of receiving messages in digest form.

Minutes from Annual Assembly, 22 July 2002

I.  Call to Order and Introductions.

Martha Tarlton, Chair, called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m. There were approximately 20 members and guests
present for the meeting.

II. Approval of Minutes.

The group approved with minor corrections the minutes from the Executive Board meeting of 24 April 2002 held at Annual
Conference. The group also reviewed the minutes from the CULD business meeting held on April 25th. Again the group
noted and made minor changes. The business meeting minutes will receive formal approval at the 2003 Annual
Conference.

III. Financial Report.

Maurice Fortin, Secretary/Treasurer provided information from the latest  “Statement of Revenues and Expenditures,”
7/1/2001 through 6/30/2002. The statement indicated CULD had a balance of $8,742.95. The problems with the unit
allotments were corrected by the TLA Office. As of June 30th, CULD received $5,111.40 in its unit allotment.

[Martha Tarlton submitted a budget indicated anticipated expenditures for FY 03 of $4,620. This included $1,000 for
scholarships, $700 for Legislative Day, and $500 for TALL Texans. After the meeting, a reminder was sent to the chair
about supporting the legislative efforts of TLA during this difficult, upcoming legislative session. Anticipated revenues
(unit allotment) for CULD will be over $5,000. CULD should have more than enough funds to provide a contribution to the
legislative efforts. The Secretary/Treasurer suggest a contribution of $750 to $1,000.]

IV. Executive Board Liaison Report.

Jill Zimmerman served as the liaison from the TLA Executive Board. She reminded everyone of President Bishop’s
ABCDs: Advocacy, Best Practices, Collaboration, and Dollars. One of the primary focuses for the organization is the
future of TIF and TexShare. All librarians are asked to gather “stories” concerning the importance and positive outcomes
from TIF funding of databases, discounts, and grants. These stories need to be sent to the TLA Office. Additional
information concerning TIF is available from the TLA Web site. One member asked Jill if anyone has approached First
Lady Laura Bush about writing a letter of support for TIF. Jill will pass along the suggestion. Legislative Day is scheduled
for 12 February 2003. Please remember to bring administrators and advocates. The Executive Board also thanked
membership for approving the dues increase. Work with the Education Commissioner (?) is also underway to try to
organize a conference on Texas school libraries.

V. Councilor’s Report.

Diane Downing serves as CULD’s councilor. Diane reported she attended a meeting of the Continuing Education and
development Committee. This committee felt that TLA members do not know about their committee or the purpose of the
committee. They asked that the “word” be gotten to all members. Diane felt the committee’s goals were closely related to
those of CULD.

VI. Committee Reports.

A. Vice-Chair and Conference Program Planner.

Melody Kelly reported she reviewed CULD’s program offerings over the last five years. She committed to at least two
programs on the following topics for the 2003 Annual Conference. One program will concern the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools’ (SACS) new criteria for accreditation and the new process for accreditation. (Program # 319,
Wednesday, April 2nd, 10:15 to 11:50 a.m.) Melody is hopeful to attract one or two representatives from SACS to be
speakers at the program. The second program will have Joe James on some aspect of distance learning. (Program #365,
April 2nd, 2:00 to 3:50 p.m.) This program will also include the CULD business meeting. The Executive Board will meet at
either noon or 1:00 p.m. on the 2nd.

Melody also reported that CULD will co-sponsor a program on grant writing for the Texas Treasures program, the annual
TexShare program with the State Library, and Documents Round Tables’ program entitled “Access Denied.” The
co-sponsorships will be at no cost to CULD.

B. Community and Junior College Discussion Group.

Jon Luckstead, Chair, indicated this group planned to meet later that day.

C. Information and Membership Committee.

Ed Kownslar reported he had updated the Web page. He requested any changes in contact information or updating of
content on the pages. He would like to reconstruct his subcommittee. It is too difficult to try and obtain one member from
each district. This also made the subcommittee to large. He requested that instead the CULD chair would appoint the
subcommittee chair. This subcommittee chair would then appoint enough members for a working group. There was a
suggestion for a set number of subcommittee members. This will require a change to CULD’s by-laws. There was also a
discussion on how to distribute (print or electronic) the CULD Newsletter. This could require changes in the ballot
process. There will be a reminder in the next Newsletter to have members check the appropriate box on their membership
renewal concerning receiving information in print or electronic formats.

D. Grants Committee.

Sue Sappington distributed a proposed flyer and application form for the CULD scholarship. The group then reviewed
these documents and approved them. The group also reviewed and discussed by-laws changes to make this the
“Scholarship Subcommittee” and minor changes to the documents. Martha Tarlton will check with the TLA Office to
determine if it is possible to award the scholarship before the formal by-law changes go through the approval process.

E. Legislative Committee.

Maurice Fortin also serves as chair of this subcommittee. Other members include Sherilyn Bird of SMU, Cary Sowell of
Austin Community College, and Karen Hopkins of UT Arlington. Maurice was waiting on contacting his subcommittee until
after Annual Assembly. He had little new to report from when the TLA legislative Committee met at Annual Conference.
The doom and gloom concerning the looming deficit in the State’s budget is growing doomier and gloomier. Although the
legislative Committee met twice at Annual Assembly, there is not a formalized legislative agenda. This will be developed
and distributed in the near future. More than likely the following issues will be included in the proposal.

   TIF renewal and continued support and expansion of TexShare.

   Opposition to the passage of UCITA.

   Watch for and oppose filtering legislation.

    There is a possibility of state initiatives similar to the USA Patriot Act.

   Support of school library funding ($1 per student), the Lone Star Library Program.

Each division and unit within TLA was asked to make membership aware of the TIF issues and the need for grass root
support for this program and its benefits to the citizens of Texas.

VII. Old Business.

None.

VIII. New Business.

Martha Tarlton will appoint a nominating committee.

IX. Announcements.

None.

X.  Adjournment.

Martha Tarlton adjourned the meeting at 9:13 a.m.

Minutes submitted by Dr. Maurice G. Fortin, Secretary/Treasurer, CULD.

The minutes are also available from the CULD web site at:http://www.txla.org/groups/culd/AnnualAssembly2002.html

Candidates for Office

The Nominating Committee has been hard at work selecting excellent candidates to run for CULD offices.  Many of the
biographies and statements of concern appear in this issue of the newsletter, with the rest appearing in the Spring
newsletter.  Be sure to keep this issue until you cast your ballot in the Spring!

Theodore E. Drake:  Candidate for Vice Chair/ Chair Elect

Ted Drake is the Director of Library Services on the South Campus of Tarrant County College, where he has served since 1981. He has taught as an adjunct professor at the University of North Texas School of Library and Information Studies and currently teaches as an adjunct professor at Texas Woman's University School of Library and Information Science. Ted has served on the Executive Board of TLA, Chaired District 5, co-chaired the Local Arrangements Committee for the 1997 TLA Conference in Fort Worth, and has served on numerous other TLA committees including the Conference Program and TLA Publications. He is a frequent and popular speaker at TLA Conference and District 7.

Statement of Issues:  Texas college and university libraries have made tremendous strides in the past few years thanks to generous funding from the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Board. Today we face the very real possibility that TIF may end and we could witness the crumbling of the world-class services we now provide. It is imperative that CULD takes an active role in efforts to save TIF and to work with the Texas State Library to ensure continued funding of the TexShare databases.

Gilda Baeza Ortego:  Candidate for Vice Chair/Chair Elect

Bio: Gilda Baeza Ortego has been the Library Director at Texas A & M University - Kingsville since 1999. From 1992-1999 Gilda was the Dean of Library and Information Technologies at Sul Ross State University. She received her PhD from Texas Woman's University in 2001. Within TLA, she is the current Chair of Library Services for the Spanish Speaking, was the Chair-elect and Program Chair for 2001-2002, and Treasurer for Library Services for the Spanish Speaking from 1995-1997. She is a current member of TLA's Cultural Diversity Committee, was a TLA District IV Delegate to TLA Legislative Day in 2001, and was on the Texas-Mexico Relations Committee from 1998-2000. She is active in the American Library Association, recently serving two terms on ALA's Committee on Education. She was the National President of REFORMA in 1994-1995. She is a current member of the Texas Council of State University Librarians and completed a five year term on the Advisory Board for TexShare Resource Sharing Program in 2001.

Statement of Issues:  The contemporary academic librarian is challenged by many issues.  I welcome the opportunity to assist librarians to meet these challenges. My aim is to provide CULD the leadership to address issues such as merging technologies, mandates for providing quality services to diverse student populations and faculty research/teaching interests, and the escalating costs of resources in the face of state-wide budget constraints.

Mark McCallon:  Candidate for Secretary/Treasurer

I am currently serving as Assistant Director and Periodicals Librarian at Abilene Christian University.  I joined the library faculty at ACU in 1991.  I have served on several TLA Committees, including Secretary Treasurer for District 1.  I am currently serving on the TLA Bylaws and Resolutions Committee.

Statement of Issues:  I am honored to be considered for the position of Secretary-Treasurer.  My goal as Secretary Treasurer is to serve the membership by keeping records of the meetings and accurate financial reports for the division.  Also, I will be a proponent of CULD initiatives and promote the key role that CULD plays in TLA.

More on Electronic Stuff from TLA and CULD

Our website, maintained by Ed Kownslar, is located at: http://www.txla.org/groups/culd/index.html.  Everything you ever
wanted to know about CULD is here.  Of special interest is the application for the TLA/CULD scholarship, the bylaws, the
minutes from Annual Assembly, and the latest issue of the newsletter.

A brand new service provided by the wonderful people at TLA is electronic distribution of several TLA publications,
including TLACast and division and round table newsletters.  This will not only save trees, but it will also save your division
money!  If you do need to receive these publications in print, you will need to check the box for that in the “Please indicate
preferences” section on your membership renewal form.  This is right under the section for your personal information.  If you
do want to receive everything electronically, you don’t need to check anything.  You may also renew your membership
online in the Members Only section of the TLA web site.

Did you Know …

That the Texas Library Association is the largest state library association in the United States?

That the College and University Libraries Division has almost 700 members?

That TLA’s Annual Conference is often the second largest meeting of librarians, after ALA’s Annual Conference?

That the first library in Texas was established in 1839 in Austin?

TLA/CULD Scholarship for 2003

The TLA College and University Libraries Division invites applications for a scholarship to be awarded in the spring of 2003 (please consult the CULD web page for more information)

Scholarship Information and Guidelines

• $1000
• Texas Resident
• Concentrating studies in academic librarianship
• Attained at least a B average during the last two years of a baccalaureate program
• Accepted as a graduate student to a Texas ALA-accredited library education program

CULD Home Page  

Send comments to: Edward Kownslar

Copyright 2003, TLA College & University Libraries Division.
Last Updated on January 6, 2003.