(via Hannah Gascho Rempel, Oregon State University)
Are you a librarian with responsibilities or interests in the sciences? Do you have ideas and opinions on the different formats (e.g., virtual, in person, different timings) or other creative solutions that the ACRL Science and Technology Section (STS) can use for meetings, events, and gatherings moving forward? On behalf of the STS Future Modalities Task Force, we invite you to join a focus group to share your views.
Who: You do not need to be a member of STS to participate – our only criteria is that you have an interest in STEM librarianship. We are especially interested in getting feedback from folks who have the following identities and experiences: folks with caregiving responsibilities; folks from marginalized groups; folks with accessibility needs; graduate students interested in science librarianship; early career librarians; librarians on the tenure track; folks from a variety of types of institutions.
What: Focus groups will be virtual, 90 minutes in length, and approximately 8 participants and 2-3 moderators will be present for each session. The meetings will not be recorded because we value your privacy, though (anonymous) notes will be taken on topics discussed. Feel free to check out the list of questions that will be discussed during these sessions. We plan to share a report of the findings from the focus groups with the focus group participants, STS leadership, and the STS membership at large.
When: Many dates and times are available throughout January and February 2023 – please let us know up to three dates/times that work for you on the sign-up form.
Why: The last few years have brought up lots of questions and options regarding conferences and other forms of professional gathering. As we move forward, the STS Future Modalities Task Force is charged with: gathering information, interrogating the benefits and costs of many different options, and ultimately proposing evidence-based modalities and best practices for STS to use for meetings, programs, and social events in the future. Our ultimate goal is to propose a plan that creates space for all STS members and the broader STEM librarianship community that reflects our STS values. For more information on the task force, see our charge. We want our efforts to be very informed by our community, which means we need your participation!
We hope to hear from you soon! If you have questions, please email the task force chair, Hannah Gascho Rempel at hannah.rempel@oregonstate.edu. And if you’d like to submit feedback but cannot make it to any of the focus group times, please submit responses to the focus questions via this form.
Thanks in advance for your creative and thoughtful input.
STS Future Modalities Task Force
Jodi Coalter, Chapel Cowden, Emily Gorman, Nicole Helregel, Tara Radniecki, Hannah Gascho Rempel