Dear LAUC members,

Once again, I am happy to submit an update to you on LAUC activities and projects since the Fall 2002 President's Report. Please let me know if you have any questions about this report, either in person at the Spring Assembly (UCSD, May 30th), or by email estherg@library.ucla.edu.

Last Fall I said that I was glad to report that the relationship between LAUC and the ULs was on the upswing, and I hoped it would result in improved two-way communication. We're making strides toward this goal, as three of the ULs will be with us at the Spring Assembly to talk with us about a number of important issues. I have also been forwarding important LAUC announcements to Gerry Munoff to be shared with all of the ULs, and we have been in touch on other issues as they come up, such as appointments. I'm hoping that LAUC/UL communication will continue to improve for the benefit of us all.

Following is an update on specific LAUC activities and projects since the 2002 Fall Assembly.

INFORMATION LITERACY AND UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATIONAL POLICY (UCEP)
As I reported in an earlier message to all LAUC members, Carol Hughes, Chair of the ULs' All-Campus Group on IL and I attended a meeting of the statewide UC Academic Senate's University Committee on Educational Policy. I did a presentation and Carol and I answered questions about the topic of information literacy and the need for an information literate UC community. The Chair and members generally recommended that we work with faculty at the local campus level to bubble up the issue of information literacy to the statewide Academic Senate. Beth Dupuis, our hardworking and very able Web Manager, has posted a copy of the text of my presentation to UCEP on the LAUC web site.

Subsequently, the LAUC IL Task Force requested a change in its charge and an extension of its end date to Fall 2003, both of which were approved. Their second charge now reads: "Identifying key issues to consider in developing information literacy initiatives on the UC campuses." The change to the Task Force's charge, however, does not change the thrust of the resolution passed by the LAUC Assembly in Spring 2002, which reads as follows:

"That the LAUC President appoint a systemwide task force to work with faculty, students and administrators to develop a partnership for defining, assessing and implementing an Information Literacy policy for the University of California."

In the interim, however, Amy Wallace (SD), one of the excellent IL Task Force co-chairs, has gotten another job and will be leaving UC as of May 29th. We are fortunate to have Stephanie Davis-Kahl (I) replace Amy in this position. Stephanie will join our other excellent Co-Chair, Sarah McDaniel (B) in leading this important Task Force in the remainder of their work.

LAUC AND UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY (UCOL)
Since early Fall 2002, I have tried to contact the Chair of the statewide Academic Senate's UCOL, repeatedly, and in late April found out that a Chair had just been appointed. I had wanted to discuss the topic of information literacy with UCOL as well as with UCEP. When I looked at the UCOL roster, newly posted on the UC statewide Academic Senate's web site, I was delighted to discover that the LAUC President is listed as a Consultant for this committee.

So, I immediately emailed the Chair, Professor Afifi (LA), provided copies of previous emails with background information on IL, and asked if I could meet with UCOL to talk about IL and about how LAUC can best provide advice to UCOL. Professor Afifi responded very quickly with a positive message, and I am now on the agenda for the June 9th UCOL meeting to discuss the two topics of LAUC and information literacy. I have asked if Linda Kennedy could join me at this meeting, as she will soon become LAUC President, and am waiting for UCOL's response.

FACULTY STATUS POLL
Last Fall the LAUC Executive Board discussed and prioritized LAUC Committee charges, including five specific charges for the Committee on Professional Governance (CPG). The first charge was put on hold pending local Division discussions on the proposed revisions to LAUC Position Paper #1, and a vote on these proposed revisions at the Spring 2003 Assembly. The second charge was put on hold after Executive Board and local Division discussions.

We decided to do a straw poll of the LAUC membership on whether or not they wanted CPG to address its third charge:

"3. Develop and administer a survey (to be approved by the LAUC Executive Board) to gauge LAUC member interest in investigating the issue of faculty status for librarians at the UCs, and investigating the issue further if there is sufficient interest."

Results indicated that the majority of those voting were not in favor of having CPG pursue this charge, so it too has been dropped.

The Executive Board will discuss the last two CPG charges for 2002/2003, and will clarify for CPG on which charge to focus for the remainder of its term. This decision will depend partly on the results of the Position Paper #1 discussion and vote at the Spring Assembly.

REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITIES (RLF) TF APPOINTMENT
We are happy that Sheryl Davis (R), our LAUC SRLF Representative, has been appointed to this new UL Task Force, and look forward to providing feedback as needed, as the Task Force works on its charge.

LAUC POSITION PAPER REVIEW TASK FORCE
The Task Force has been appointed and has begun its work. At the Spring Assembly we will find out whether or not the Assembly delegates will vote to approve or disapprove the proposed changes to Position Paper #1 or will vote to refer this Position Paper to the TF for review along with the other Position Papers. We are fortunate to have an outstanding group of Task Force members who reflect a range of experience in the profession and in UC. We can all have confidence in their skills and abilities to review the LAUC Position Papers in depth and to solicit input widely.

LAUC STATEWIDE COMMITTEE OPENINGS
Colby Riggs (I) is the current LAUC Rep to the Library Technology Advisory Group (LTAG), one of the ULs' all-Campus advisory groups. Their charge begins as follows:

"Shares information and develops consensus regarding the application of information technology to library activities." (details)

Colby's term expires this year, and LAUC will then need to send a slate of three nominees to the ULs, one of whom will be selected for this position for a 3-year term, commencing October 1, 2003. Please consider applying for this position when the call for applicants is announced.

In addition, many positions on important LAUC statewide committees will be open for 2-year terms, beginning October 1, 2003. Check to see which LAUC Committees will have openings for representatives from your campus. Then contact the incoming LAUC Chair at your campus as soon as possible to apply for these positions.

LAUC ASSEMBLIES
Traditionally, LAUC Assemblies have been held twice a year, in the North in the Fall and in the South in the Spring, and have rotated among all of the nine campuses. Santa Barbara has alternated between being considered a Northern and Southern campus. We will have ten campuses when Merced opens in 2004. Given the number of UC campuses, the great variation in size and number of staff to handle large events, and a flat LAUC budget, we may want to reconsider Assembly location and scheduling. We may still want to alternate between North and South for each Assembly, but hold Assemblies at fewer, larger campuses in cities which are cheaper to fly into, and may ask campuses to help each other by co-sponsoring Assemblies. We will discuss this at the May 29th Executive Board meeting and at the Assembly on May 30th.

IDEAS FOR ATTRACTING AND RECOGNIZING LAUC PARTICIPATION
Many UC librarians will be retiring over the next five to ten years. This exodus will deplete the ranks of experienced UC librarians. The ULs and other UC library administrators are well aware of this and some campuses have already been trying to recruit and hire at entry levels for any open librarian series positions. It is very exciting to see this influx of new librarians who bring with them a variety of new and different experiences and training. Generally, however, these new librarians are not familiar with the function and purpose of LAUC. So, I proposed that we offer a travel award to new LAUC members (those who have been employed as UC librarians for 2 years or less), on a trial basis. This travel award will pay full travel expenses for travel, room and board to attend the May 29th LAUC Executive Board meeting and the May 30,2003 LAUC Spring Assembly. Applicants were required to write a brief application essay indicating why they want to attend these meetings, and the awardee will need to write an additional essay indicating what s/he gained from attending these meetings. Four new LAUC members from three campuses applied for this first LAUC Travel Award, and Marie Bronoel (R) has been selected for the Award. Her application essay has already been posted on the LAUC web site, thanks to the diligent efforts of our excellent Web Manager, Beth Dupuis. After the Assembly, we will mount Marie's follow up essay on the LAUC web site, as well. I hope this and other approaches to wider and more open communication about LAUC will encourage wider participation in LAUC among new and experienced librarians alike. [Essays removed 6/20/2005 by Marie's request]

I also proposed that LAUC consider establishing a LAUC Member-of-the-Year Award or a LAUC Lifetime Achievement Award. A Member-of-the-Year Award could be similar to the CARL Member-of-the-Year Award, which recognizes individuals for their substantive contributions to the organization. Again, this is somewhat related to the issue of pending retirements of highly dedicated and experienced LAUC members, a number of whom, I believe, deserve recognition for their extensive LAUC support and participation over the years. The LAUC Executive Board will discuss this proposal at the May 29th Executive Board meeting, and it will be on the agenda for the Spring Assembly as well.

LAUC WEB SITE REDESIGN
Beth Dupuis and I are discussing how best to go about reviewing the LAUC Web site in order to make suggestions for changes. We would welcome any suggestions for changes from LAUC members as this large task begins.

LAUC HISTORY ONLINE
We are in the process of scanning and mounting on the LAUC web site a copy of LAUC, the First 25 Years : a History of the Librarians Association of the University of California, 1967-1992, edited by Judy K. Horn and Jefferson P. Selth. I'll notify you when this project has been completed.

PRIVACY LINKS-LAUC WEB SITE
We have added to the LAUC web site several important links related to privacy issues, on the recommendation of our UL Privacy Liaison Group Representative, Susana Hinojosa.

On a related note, LAUC-R has proposed a resolution related to the USA Patriot Act. We will be discussing and voting on this resolution at the Assembly.

LAUC PRESIDENT'S VISITS TO CAMPUSES
In recent years, the LAUC President has traveled to each UC campus to visit with local LAUC members and to meet with the UL. This year we experimented with a different approach. I asked that those campuses interested in having the LAUC President visit, issue an invitation along with a list of one or more topics they would like the LAUC President to address. The following campuses asked me to visit and provided quite a range of topics and questions they wanted me to address, though common to all were the topics of Information Literacy and the purpose and function of LAUC: LA, Irvine, Berkeley, Riverside, and Santa Barbara. I think this arrangement has worked out quite well, as it provided LAUC members with an opportunity to ask questions about issues of concern to them, and it provided me with an opportunity to talk about LAUC's function and purpose with librarians and ULs who are new to UC, when asked to do so by LAUC Divisions.

LAUC'S ADVISORY ROLE
The Executive Board has had continuing discussions on how LAUC can best fulfill its advisory role to the Office of the President (UCOP), to the ULs and to local campuses. I have asked LAUC representatives to various committees to take a more active role in identifying issues of potential concern to LAUC members, to share agendas, documents and meeting minutes, and to request feedback from LAUC members or the Executive Board when necessary. Our representatives have been working hard at this intensified approach, and as a result, we have been able to provide feedback on many important issues in a more timely fashion.

LAUC members very much value the many opportunities we have to provide advice on library-related issues. However, on the advice of two successive LAUC representatives to the CDL Users Council, the Executive Board decided that LAUC did not need a representative to this important group, as it deals with implementation rather than policy issues, and has ample LAUC member representation from the various campuses. The Executive Board will be discussing how best to provide advice to the CDL on a policy level, and will be investigating other options.

LAUC ELECTED OFFICES & NOMINATIONS
For the past few years LAUC has only been able to attract single candidates to run for the office of Vice-President/President-Elect. This is a three-year term, consisting of one year as Vice-President, one year as President, and one year as Past-President. This year LAUC came close to dissolving as an organization, as the Nominating Committee had an extremely difficult time finding even one candidate to run for this office. We were very fortunate that an excellent candidate agreed to run at almost the very last possible moment, or we would have had to ask for a vote of the LAUC membership to suspend the bylaws while we made more attempts to solicit at least one candidate for this office.

As I've visited various campuses to speak about LAUC, I have said repeatedly that LAUC is your organization, and that it can only function well if you participate. I'll extend that now and say that it can only continue to function at all as an organization if you are willing to participate in it.

So, I'm ending this report with a call to all of you to think about what you value in LAUC--peer review; opportunities to provide input on significant library-related issues at UC; the opportunity to network, exchange professional views, and learn from your colleagues at other UC campuses; opportunities to work on issues and projects that have direct relevance to your work and that of your colleagues; opportunities to advise ULs, CDL, systemwide library planning, and UCOP--and consider what your professional lives at UC would be like without LAUC. I urge you to consider saying "Yes" instead of "No" when asked to serve LAUC as Vice-President/President-Elect. Your colleagues and the University need your expertise, your knowledge, your skills, and your abilities. Think about it...

Sincerely,

Esther Grassian
LAUC President 2002/2003