We can begin by sharing our knowledge and expertise. The ACRL Washington Board sent a call to librarians working in any and every type of academic library in our two states, asking you to share your tricks of the trade. Twenty librarians accepted the challenge and presented 8 sessions that ranged from instruction to reference to collection development.
We also need to discuss the realities of academic librarianship. Yes, information literacy is important, but let’s talk about how to make instruction sessions more fun for librarians and students. Yes, collections are the center of an academic library, but let’s commiserate about how difficult it is to provide what our users want as the purse strings are pulled tighter and tighter.
97 librarians from a variety of academic institutions – 2 year and 4 year, public and private – gathered, presented, and discussed our realities at the 2005 joint conference of the Washington and Oregon ACRL chapters. The meeting rooms, dining hall, and party room vibrated with voices from registration to the final lunch as people connected and shared enthusiastic conversations with new and familiar colleagues.
While I regret that every academic librarian could not attend the conference, I won’t attempt to describe what you missed. I encourage you to read the conference reports submitted by the two conference scholarship winners, Jennifer Ander and Kiki Tommila, included in this newsletter issue. The membership meeting minutes, as well as the Power Point slides and notes from several presentations have been posted to the conference website.
On behalf of the Washington ACRL Board, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the 49 individuals who filled out the conference registration form. Here’s a sampling of your responses, comments, and suggestions.
• How do you rate the conference facilities?
12 – Excellent; 29 – Good; 7 – Average; 1 – Fair
• How do you rate the housing you stayed in?
6 – Excellent; 32 – Good; 3 – Average; 2 – Fair
• 9 people wrote that they like Pack Forest. No one suggested that we find a new location for the conference.
• Several people commented about the food. Some said it was “so so” while two people appreciated the fact that Pack Forest will accommodate all special dietary needs.
• “Great conference. I had heard bad things about Pack Forest, but I *loved* it. The sessions were of a really high quality and the topics were great. I liked the absence of a keynote. The fun videos started the conference out on a high note. Closing keynote is a good idea.”
• “It would be great to diversity the speakers a lot more – bring in people from more different institutions, focus more on community college librarianship.”
• “Keep it at Pack Forest and Menucha – allow time between each session instead of a long break between the first and second and no break between the second and third sessions on Friday morning.”
The ACRL Washington Board values your comments and suggestions. We will make sure that the Board planning the conference in 2007 receives all of your feedback. The list of topics and speakers you recommended will be useful for years to come. Combine that with the conference planning toolkit that the Board is creating and planning the 2007 conference should be easier than ever before.
Speaking of planning the next conference, please consider running for Vice-President/President e-elect of ACRL Washington during the Spring election. Contact Maureen Nolan (nolan@u.washington.edu) if you’re interested.
I will close by personally thanking all of you for attending the 2005 joint conference of the Washington and Oregon Association of College and Research Libraries, “Academic Librarians Unplugged: The Realities of Academic Librarianship.” You climbed aboard, plugged yourselves in, and sent me back to work with renewed energy and inspiration.