Message from the President
March 15, 2019
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Eric Edwards, Illinois State Library
Hope everyone’s 2019 is off to a good start. Now that the weather is finally starting to warm up (at least somewhat), it’s also time for IACRL’s activities for the year to get underway.
As you are aware, this year’s Illinois Library Association Annual Conference, themed “Shift: Where Will You Grow?”, will take place in Tinley Park, from October 22 to 24. The IACRL Luncheon and Business Meeting are slated for Wednesday, October 23. Remember that this is the one opportunity IACRL members have each year to meet as a group. Watch for more details, including a possible guest speaker.
Need more reasons to attend ILA? IACRL will once again hold its participant-led “Unconference” for academic librarians. If you would like to know what types of projects or research other Illinois academic librarians are conducting, make sure to attend some of the presentations on the IACRL@ILA program track. Or, if you have an idea of your own for a poster session, please watch for the call for proposals. Check the ILA website (www.ila.org) for more details.
Not sure if you can attend this year’s ILA Annual Conference, or looking for a chance to become more involved in IACRL before then? RAILS and IACRL are currently planning two networking events for April or May. Also, the University of Illinois Springfield has expressed interest in hosting an ACRL webinar viewing at some point in the spring. Please check the IACRL website (www.ila.org/forum/1/illinois-association-of-college-research-libraries-forum-iacrl) for more information as it becomes available.
Know an academic or research librarian in Illinois who has made a lasting impact? Consider nominating the person for an ILA award. Although IACRL co-sponsors the Illinois Academic Librarian of the Year Award, please note that there are a number of other awards for which academic and research librarians are eligible. To see the full list of awards, and for more details on the nomination process, please go to www.ila.org/about/awards-and-scholarships.
Finally, don’t forget to vote in the IACRL elections. Voting opens April 1 and lasts through April 30. All current IACRL members should receive a ballot via e-mail. If you would like to learn more about the candidates ahead of time, please read their biographies in this issue.
As always, if you have any suggestions or ideas for activities or ways to improve IACRL as an organization, please do not hesitate to e-mail me, at eedwards@ilsos.net. Thank you very much, and I look forward to 2019’s being another productive and successful year for IACRL.
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