Circulation SIG????

Circulation SIG????

Mary Carmen 1180463031|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Is anyone here a member of LAMA or more specifically the Systems and Services Section? I am asking because I just joined ALA a month ago after not being a member since library school, and I chose to join LAMA because I am in management, and because I read that SASS is supossed to be the ADS component of the group, but it seems very inactive or at least quiet.

I am toying with a blog post that will be sort of an open letter to Jim Rettig (ALA preseident elect) about how ALA really needs an ADS/Circulation SIG or committee because I feel that our needs are not being met. Before I post something like that I wanted to know if anyone has any info about any of the exisiting ALA avenues that sort of address ADS and circulation.

Do they work? Do they meet our needs? I am inclined to say no since I don't ever hear anyone speaking or writing about them.

Any thoughts?

Re: Circulation SIG????

kglover 1180634041|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

I am also very disappointed in the activity (or lack of) in LAMA and SASS. I do not see too much going on. I am on a list and I read the blog but there is never anything remotely applicable to Circulation. I have toyed with the idea of trying to start a new ALA committee or group or whatever dedicated solely to our Access Services but am clueless as to how to go about it. I think the issue is apparent in this wiki. We have so many individuals who say "yeah, what I do matters" but when it comes down to it, do not participate. I am not sure what the factors are that prevent participation but I am very curious about it. One of the article links has an article from the editor of Reference and User Services Quarterly and she mentions that those in Access Services are not active enough with publishing. It might be a self-esteem issue or a time-management issue but whatever it is, I think we need to find a way to get out there and advertise for our field. I also think that many Access Services departments are flooded with individuals who are in a job and not a career. Many do not see Access Services as a career choice and administrators do not require an MLS for most positions. Is it worth having a group if no one is willing to participate and make it something truely effective? I am willing to fight with you for the cause though.

Re: Circulation SIG????

Mary Carmen 1180644728|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Karen,

I am in agreement with your assessment. So I wonder if we need to start so big? Why not try something on a regional level first? When I was working in NY, the Nassau and Suffolk County library associations hosted an "All Island Circ-Heads Meeting." It was one of the best half day affairs I have ever attended. It was open to anyone who was a circulation head, not just librarians, and all types of libraries. I wonder if we could do something regionally like a South East circ heads meeting, or something of that ilk. I really believe that if we got some face time, it would help invigorate the movement. All I know is that I am DYING to discuss all things ADS with people who can feel my pain and pride first hand.

Re: Circulation SIG????

tadawes 1188170823|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Greetings,

Sorry this response is so late; I suppose I should check the posts more regularly. LAMA SASS does have the Access Services Committee which does a lot of program planning. At ALA Annual 07, for instance, there was a program planned by this committee entitled, "Access Services: It's Not Just Circulation Anymore." this program looked at the changes in Access Services over the past 15 years. In my biased opinion (I was one of the presenters), the session was good; it was certainly well attended for a Monday afternoon at conference.

LAMA SASS also has the Circulation/Access Services Discussion Group. This group usually mets on Sunday mornings at the conference. This is a more open forum for information sharing and the topics vary as widely as the tasks we all perform in access services.

You are correct that this is the only committee (well, there is now a joint LAMA/RUSA committee that deals with Access issues) that is specifically for access services practitioners. Perhaps the group needs to do more publicity on the activities and programs and if you all don't mind, I'll share this discussion with the current chair (once I figure out who that is)!

Trevor

Re: Circulation SIG????

Mary Carmen 1188218396|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Hi Trevor,

Thanks for all the info. I think you hit the nail on the head when you wrote that the group needs more publicity. I am a member of LAMA and SASS (joined this year) and have not heard about any of the programming the group does.