LAUC-LA Chair 2001/2002
Mid-Year Report

Thus far, 2001/2002 has been an active year for LAUC-LA. During this time, LAUC-LA has met its regular responsibilities for Peer Review, the Fall and upcoming Spring membership meetings, the awarding of professional development funds, and the selection of a Distinguished Librarian of the Year (to be announced at the Spring Membership meeting). The LAUC-LA Executive Board has concentrated on issues of concern to all librarians and has worked to promote LAUC-LA's advisory role. The Board was strongly supported in these efforts by the Committee on Plans and Policies, the Committee on Programs, the Committee on Research and Professional Development, the Nominating Committee, and the membership at-large.

In September 2001, the Electronic Resources Database (ERDb) was announced. In response to membership requests, a "Lunch with LAUC" forum was organized to facilitate discussion between the AULs and the LAUC-LA membership regarding the ERDb. The Committee on Plans and Policies followed up with a letter to the Library Administration expressing the concerns of membership regarding implementation of the Electronic Resources Database. This letter and the lively dialogue from the forum served as the sources that ultimately inspired the creation of the Ad Hoc Task Force on Communication. [http://www.library.ucla.edu/committees/laucla/02reports/02adhoccomm.htm]

My thanks go Elaine Adams and the Committee on Plans and Policies for their diligence and to Joan Flintoff Lopear and the Committee on Programs, which took care of the arrangements for this and all "Lunch with LAUC" meetings.

In our constant efforts for improved and continuing communication, I am pleased to report that the University Librarian, Gloria Werner, attends the last hour of the monthly LAUC-LA Executive Board meetings to discuss issues of mutual interest with the Board. These meetings are open to all LAUC-LA members and I would encourage you to attend and take advantage of these opportunities for direct communication with our University Librarian.

To further ensure that LAUC-LA's advisory role to the University Librarian is acknowledged, LAUC-LA will be put on the Library's organizational chart with a "dotted line" between LAUC and the University Librarian. This is especially important because we will soon have a new University Librarian.

This, of course, brings me to what might well be the biggest issue to face LAUC-LA and the entire Library this year, Gloria Werner's retirement and the hiring of a new University Librarian. As has been announced, the UL Search Committee, chaired by Rory Hume, is already at work. Eleanor Mitchell is serving as the LAUC-LA representative to that Committee. I thank her for her hard work and enthusiasm.

Thanks to Joan Flintoff Lopear and the Program Committee for planning the membership meetings and for organizing a variety of interesting programs. Thanks to Elaine Adams and the Committee on Library Plans and Policies for handling difficult issues so expertly. Thanks to Rita Costello and the Nominating Committee for doing a phenomenal job of putting together a great slate of candidates for our annual election. Thanks to Adrienne Adan and the Committee on Research and Professional Development for efficiently administering local funds and for participating in the selection of projects to receive statewide funding. Thanks to Lise Snyder as Past Chair for her continuing wisdom. Thanks to Ruby Bell Gam and the Committee on the LAUC-LA Distinguished Librarian Award. We look forward to hearing their selection. Continued thanks to the members of all of the committees for a job well done. Please take the time to read their mid-year reports so that you can appreciate their work as well. [http://www.library.ucla.edu/committees/laucla/02reports/02midyear_reports.htm] And if you have questions, comments, or want to acknowledge their efforts, come to the Spring Membership meeting and let them know.

Our local representatives to the statewide LAUC committees should also be recognized: Judy Consales on the Committee on Cultural Diversity, Ken Wade on the Committee on Committees, Rules and Jurisdiction, Janice Matthiesen on the Committee on Research and Professional Development and Rhonda Lawrence on the Committee on Professional Governance.

My thanks also to David Cappoli, who does a sublime job of maintaining the LAUC-LA website and who has plans for future website enhancements. The website is an invaluable resource for us all.

Last, but not least, I would like to thank the Executive Board for their assistance and support in carrying out the important work of LAUC.

Respectfully Submitted,
Maureen Russell
LAUC-LA Chair 2001/2002