Minutes
Reference Roundtable Executive Board
TLA Annual Assembly	
1985	
		

The Annual Assembly Executive Board meeting of the Reference Roundtable was
held in Austin July 19, 1985.  The meeting was called to order by Antonio Martinez.  
Also present were Charles Smith, Margaret Rose, Virginia Harrell, Don Frank, 
Sarah Wohlshlag, and Deborah Duke.

TLA Program, 1986 Conference

Antonio Martinez reported that the TLA Program Committee had asked if the Reference 
Roundtable would like to co-sponsor a speaker on laser disc technology.  A similar 
program had been very favorably received at an earlier CULD meeting in Denton.  
Advantages of co-sponsoring this program were the large audience-drawing potential 
with no cost to the Reference Roundtable.

The board voted to co-sponsor the speaker, and to hold a separate business meeting 
during the conference.  A discussion followed concerning the need to identify 
the interests and expectations of the Reference Roundtable members.  It was decided 
to bill the business meeting as an open forum to get input from the members on 
their concerns for reference service in the 1980s, and to define goals for the 
Reference Roundtable.  The business meeting was tentatively titled, "Getting Our 
Priorities Straight: Let's Explore Alternative Futures for the Reference Roundtable." 
Charles Smith suggested we invite Margaret Nichols to open the meeting by speaking 
briefly about issues facing reference librarians in the 1980s.

Budget

Antonio Martinez reported a balance of $1410.38 as of June 30.  The board discussed 
the problems of printing Texas Reference Sources.  Copies are selling for $6, a 
price that will not let the roundtable profit from the sale.  It was unknown how 
many copies were printed for the $496.90 printing costs recorded in the ledger.

Publications

The board discussed the status of Texas Reference Sources and the Red River Index.  
Charles Smith reiterated the high printing costs of Texas Reference Sources, and 
pointed out that there is no mechanism for updating it.  The Publication Committee 
had considered producing an entirely new, updated edition.  Don Frank mentioned 
that although Lois Bebaut is currently involved in the Texas List project, she 
is still very interested in continuing with Texas Reference Sources.

Antonio Martinez reported that Andrew Peters, editor of the Red River Index, had 
asked the Reference Roundtable to suggest periodicals to include in the index.  
The request had been referred to the Publications Committee.  Don Frank reported 
that Peters is considering stopping the index after this year.  There are problems 
with equipment, money and manpower.  He has a list of volunteers, but the lack of 
guidelines leads to inconsistencies in the quality of the indexing.  Peters has 
attended many Reference Roundtable meetings, and we have approached private 
companies about continuing the index.  The future of the index and the roundtable's 
relationship with it is still up in the air, because we are unsure what kind of 
help Peters needs with it.  General concensus was that the Reference Roundtable 
could not assume sole responsibility for the index.

As soon as Marta Lange appoints a new Publications Committee, both Texas Reference
Sources and Red River Index will be turned over to them for consideration.

Other

Virginia Harrell reported that the TLA membership goal for 1986 was 5000.  TLA 
is printing and selling facsimile Republic of Texas money for $4.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.


Submitted,

Deborah C. Duke
Secretary-Treasurer
Reference Roundtable

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