Info Newsletter Index

From the Editor: In this issue of SIS INFO, we bring you information about our next meeting, an article by Madison Mosley, Jr., news about librarians in our region, and notes from the last meeting. I invite you to submit articles for future issues of SIS INFO -- a great way to communicate with local colleagues in all types of libraries! You may e-mail your submissions to me at aliciae@tampabay.rr.com . Thank you! - Alicia Ellison

Next Meeting: October 14, 2003

WHEN and WHERE. Tuesday, October 14, 2003, 6:00 - 7:45 p.m.
Louis De La Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, http://http://www.fmhi.usf.edu/
13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33612-3899
813-974-4471

PROGRAM. Ardis Hanson of the Florida Mental Health Institute Library is coordinating a panel on services to persons involved in mental health - either as providers, researchers, or consumers. Yvonne Frazier will speak about using the "Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders : DSM-IV-TR" as a reference tool. Pending final arrangements, other panelists may include an advocate for persons with mental illnesses, a lawyer who advises on mental health law, a wellness management coordinator who will speak on managing mental illnesses with alternative/wellness therapies, and a person with a mental illness who is willing to speak from a personal viewpoint.

REFRESHMENTS. Tarek's Cafe, a small cafe on campus, will provide sandwiches (vegetarian and non-vegetarian), salad, chips, cookies, and drinks.

RSVP. Call Ardis Hanson at 813-974-4471, hanson@fmhi.usf.edu , by Thursday, Oct. 9. Please indicate your choice of vegetarian or non-vegetarian sandwich. Cost will be under $10, payable at the meeting. Please bring cash, or checks made payable to SIS.

DIRECTIONS. FMHI visitor instructions: http://www.fmhi.usf.edu/institute/visitor.html 

SIS President Anita Lindsay to Conduct Study for ACRL

The American Library Association - ACRL CLIP Notes Series Committee has accepted Anita Lindsay's (lindsaam@eckerd.edu) proposal for a survey of Marketing and Public Relations Practices in Academic Libraries.

Anita sent 291 surveys to libraries across the country during the middle of August. The purpose of her research is to determine the scope and effectiveness of marketing and public relations activity in academic libraries. Anita will compile the results, which will be published as a CLIP Note available for sale from ACRL.

According to Anita, "CLIP Notes provide an avenue to share (1) information gathered from surveys, (2) the analysis of the survey results and a review of relevant literature, and (3) sample documents pertinent to the CLIP Note project." For more information about CLIP Notes, see http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/ACRL/About_ACRL/Sections/College_Libraries/Publications18/CLIP_Notes.htm.

Guest Column

"What Ceremony Else...?

by Madison Mosley, Jr.
Law Librarian and Director of the Law Library
Stetson University College of Law
mosley@law.stestson.edu

A line in a familiar acquisitions textbook states, "Every library must have a carefully-thought-out selection policy . . ." (Robert Broadus, Selecting Materials for Libraries, New York, H.W. Wilson, 1973, p 27).

As I grow older, I am beginning to question the utility of collection development statements in a practical sense.

For instance, you do not collect materials in a foreign language. One fine sunny afternoon, a member of your organization's senior staff requests for her research, a title from Mexico that is only available in Spanish. Do you read her the collection development policy or do you simply purchase the title? If you make on exception, how do you justify not honoring subsequent requests that do not follow the policies?

Furthermore, if we establish levels at which we will collect (basic, advanced, research), how can we tell from reading most reviews where the item falls along those categories? Most times it is impossible to tell.

These issues lead me to question the efficiency of a collection development policy when one of our major objectives is to support the research and reference needs of our users. I would like to hear from others on this issue.

Local Librarians on the Move

Nicholas (Nick) Jackson has joined the Stetson University College of Law Library staff as the International Law Specialist. He hails from the Republic of Panama by way of Michigan and has a B.A. from Michigan State, a J.D. from the Detroit College of Law, an LL.M. from Stetson University College of Law and an M.L.S. from the University of Arizona. Nick is a regular jogger, bicycle enthusiast, and the father of two adult sons.

Dorothy Clark, a former CFALL President, retired at the end of August from the Stetson University College of Law Library. Ms. Clark was the International Law Specialist.

(Submitted by Madison Mosley, Jr.)

Past Meeting: August 7, 2003, Safety Harbor Public Library

Notes from the meeting:

The August 7th, 2003 meeting of the Suncoast Information Specialists was held at the Safety Harbor Public Library. Approximately 18 participants were present.

The meeting began around 6:30 PM. President Anita Lindsay opened the meeting by reminding all present that the election nominating committee, Madison Mosley, Jr. (mosley@law.stetson.edu) and Beatrice Nichols (Beatrice_f_Nichols@yahoo.com) will present a list of candidates for the two positions of vice-president/president elect and secretary in September through the SIS listserv. Please contact either of these individuals if you would like to nominate anyone or would like to propose yourself for any of the offices. Candidates will be elected at the October meeting by a majority vote, and proxy votes are accepted. Officers will be invested at the December meeting and will assume their positions on January 1, 2004.

There was no new business. Anita then introduced our hostess and SIS vice-president Robin Leigh, who then presented our guest speaker Rosa Rodriguez, coordinator of the Pinellas County Deaf Literacy Center. Ms. Rodriguez spoke about the beginnings of the deaf literacy center. She received funding for the center by a LSTA grant and worked with the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative to achieve this goal. Literacy, sign language, and computer classes are offered to both staff and customers. Rosa was very appreciative for the Pinellas Library Cooperative's assistance in creating and enhancing the services offered to deaf individuals, and stated that the library was a bridge between the two communities. She then introduced a panel of five deaf persons who shared their diverse life stories and the challenges they overcame in living in a hearing environment. A sign language interpreter facilitated commmunication between them and the hearing audience. The communication barriers offer the biggest challenge for deaf persons. Some suggestions in dealing with deaf patrons are to treat them as you would anyone else, not to panic or hesitate in assisting them, not to pity them, and to have patience. Written communication is oftentimes necessary. Although deaf persons are often better lip readers than hearing people, they still can only understand a limited amount of a conversation, even under ideal circumstances.

The meeting ended at around 7:45.
(Submitted by Paul Wetmore, SIS Secretary.)