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Newsletter Spring 2000

Election Time!

TLA Conference 2000

NMRT Conference Programs and more

Call for Volunteers

ONLA Information and Nomination Form

Ballot for 2000-2001 Officers

Thanks from the Chair

Election Time!

The time is now for electing the 2000-2001 New Members Round Table officers. A ballot is available here for your convenience. The new officers will be announced and take office at the TLA Conference 2000 in Houston.

The following information about each candidate is provided to help you with this important decision.

Vice Chair/Chair-Elect: This position is open at this time.
Contact Ed Kownslar (kownslar@falcon.tamucc.edu) if you are interested in running for this office.

Secretary/Treasurer

Damon Jaggars
I've served as Head Librarian, Undergraduate Library Services Division, The General Libraries at the University of Texas at Austin since August 1999 after serving in the position on an interim basis.

Previously, I served as Head, Reference and Information Services at the Undergraduate Library; and before coming to UT Austin in 1996, I served as Coordinator of Information Technology at Iona College in New Rochelle, New York. I received an M.S. in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of California at Davis.

Gay Woods
Gay Woods is in her fourth year as a Reference Librarian in the Science and Technology Library at the University of North Texas. As a NMRT volunteer she provided publicity for the Endowment Committee in 97/98 and served as Chair of the Orientation Committee in 98/99. She is currently serving on the TLA Ad Hoc Highsmith Award Committee. Although still a beginner as a librarian, she is a "mid-life career changer" and has previously worked as director of a non-profit corporation and as a faculty member teaching special education courses.

District Meeting Coordinator: Mary Rausch
I have been involved with NMRT since I moved to Texas in 1997. I have served as newsletter editor and as the District Meeting Coordinator last year. I look forward to serving NMRT for another year. (Mary is currently Catalog Librarian at West Texas A&M University at Canyon.)

Completed ballots must be postmarked by March 17, 2000. Please mail, fax, or email ballots to Ed Kownslar, Nominating Committee Chair. His mailing address, fax number, and email address are listed on the ballot. Vote today!

TLA Conference 2000

The TLA Conference 2000 entitled Teaching Learning Advancing will be at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston, April 11-14, 2000. The conference endeavors to highlight the instructional role of the library in the community. In the words of the current TLA president, Gleniece Robinson, "As an institution, the library belongs to the community as a whole and also to the individuals who use its services and to the staff who provides those services. Indeed, it is your library:

your library for Teaching skills and facilitating instruction,
your library for Learning processes and discovering answers, and
your library for Advancing knowledge and expanding horizons."

The 2000 conference is sure to offer many programs and exhibits to renew your skills and commitment.

NMRT Programs at TLA Conference 2000

Beyond Boolean
Does the array of search engines throw you off track? Are you crazed by the number of false hits you get? There IS a better way! NMRT is sponsoring a program called Beyond Boolean: Advanced Internet Searching Techniques to help you with these and other internet mysteries. Dr. Hal Erickson will teach you to use new advances in search engines to perform very precise searches. He will also show you how to exploit html tags to approximate subject search, look for specific types of information like images or government documents, and much more. Mark your conference program for Thursday, April 13th, from noon-2pm for this important program.

Get the Most Out of Conference 2000
Are you new to TLA's annual conference? Or, feeling overwhelmed by all that's available? On Wednesday April 12 NMRT will host a program to help all attendees navigate the conference maze. This event will feature a preview of programs and events, tips for viewing the exhibits, and hints on Houston attractions. Come meet the NMRT mentors and congratulate the winners of the Outstanding New Librarian Award and the NMRT/Quality Books Professional Development Grant. We'll also be giving away lots of free goodies and some nice door prizes. Spread the word! Everyone is welcome!

Bag Booth
NMRT will again offer a bag check booth at the TLA Conference. You can check all those heavy bags for $1 each on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Besides saving your back and shoulders, your $1 fee goes directly to supporting NMRT conference programs, travel grant/endowment, and other services.

NMRT Needs Volunteers!

NMRT is seeking volunteers to staff the bag check book for one or two hour shifts. If interested, please contact Leigh A. Kilman (lk02@swt.edu). It's a great way to meet people and participate in a service that conference goers really appreciate. Or just drop by and join in the fun. If you're already looking ahead to next year and would like to volunteer to work on one of NMRT's many projects, feel free to contact either Leigh Kilman or Chair Elect Ed Kownslar (kownslar@falcon.tamucc.edu). If you attend the Annual Conference in Houston, consider attending the NMRT meeting that will immediately follow the "Make the Most of the Conference" program on Thursday.

Thanks from the Chair