(via ACRL Chapters Council)
Please join ACRL Chapters Council for a webinar on unique or interesting projects by state and regional ACRL chapters. The webinar will take place on Tuesday, July 9, from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM CDT. Information on the two presentations is below. Each presentation will last up to 45 minutes, including time for questions.
Access information will be available closer to the date. Membership in Chapters Council or ACRL is not a requirement to attend.
Title: “From Sidelines to Spotlight: Elevating Poster Sessions at a State Library Conference”
Presenter: Brianna Hughes, STEM Reference and Instruction Librarian, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Summary: The Maryland Chapter of ACRL, a dynamic division of the Maryland Library Association, has historically played a crucial role in organizing the Maryland and Delaware Library Associations’ Annual Conference, particularly the poster sessions. In recent years, however, these sessions faced challenges such as declining submissions and low attendance. In response, ACRL-MD’s executive board decided to overhaul the format in 2023, aiming for a stronger return in 2024 with goals to enhance the quality and number of submissions, improve accessibility, and boost attendance. This presentation will review the impact of the revised approach at the 2024 meeting.
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Title: “Breaking Old Habits: How Professional Library Organizations Can Serve their Members”
Presenters: Maria Deptula, Health Sciences Collections Librarian, Rutgers University; Gary Marks, Reference and Outreach Librarian, William Paterson University; and Nicole Potdevin, Associate University Librarian for User Services, Fairleigh Dickinson University
Summary: The NJLA College & University Section/Association of College & Research Libraries-NJ Chapter’s Membership Assessment Task Force undertook a year-long study to learn more about how NJLA CUS/ACRL-NJ can best serve our NJ community of academic librarians. This presentation reports on the Task Force’s findings and makes recommendations for how professional library organizations of all kinds can stay relevant into the future.