Greetings Colleagues, I trust you're well. Today I'm celebrating Mary Frances Berry, the first woman of any race to serve as chancellor of a major research university (University of Colorado in 1976), and a member of the United States Commission on Civil Rights. She is also a past president of the Organization of American Historians, the primary professional organization for historians of the United States. Strategic Assessment of Library Services - Free Face-to-Face Session I'm excited to announce the Strategic Assessment of Library Services component of the HBCU Library Alliance Leadership Program! As a means of supporting current leaders in efforts to strengthen libraries, this component includes a free 1.5 day training session scheduled in Atlanta on Monday and Tuesday, October 24-25. All HBCU librarians are invited to attend, with a maximum of 60 participants. Libraries are allowed to send up to two librarians to build knowledge and capacity to strengthen assessment services. Travel, conference materials and conference meal expenses are covered by Andrew W. Mellon grant funds. The free training session will provide theory and context for user assessment, an introduction to LibQUAL+(r), and case studies from HBCUs that have used LibQUAL+(r) focused on process, outcomes, and impact. Martha Kyrillidou, Senior Director, Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Statistics and Service Quality Programs, and Consuella Askew, Associate Dean For Public Services, Florida International University Libraries, will conduct this dynamic training. Additionally, the grant provides four HBCU libraries with $7,500 each in mini-grants to support implementation of LibQUAL+(r). Libraries intending to apply for mini-grants are required to attend the training session. Only libraries that have not used LibQUAL+(r) in the past are eligible for the mini-grants. Registration Registration is required for the October 24-25 free training. Forward your contact information to me directly to apply. Registration opens today and will end when the class size reaches 60 librarians. I'll post an announcement to the list when registration closes. Logistics All travel arrangements will be managed by the HBCU Library Alliance. Once registration closes, Etta Royster, erosyter@hbculibraries.org<mailto:erosyter@hbculibraries.org>, will contact you to process travel accommodations. Participants will fly in on Monday, October 24th. The training session will begin at noon on Monday with lunch and end with a group dinner. Tuesday's session will begin with a breakfast buffet at 8:00 and end with lunch at noon. Hotel Information Atlanta Airport Marriott 4711 Best Road Atlanta, GA 30337-5606 404-766-7900 Etta will forward a rooming list to the hotel and provide participants with a hotel confirmation number. Contact me immediately if you have questions or need additional information. I'm excited about this training opportunity to increase your knowledge of library assessment and to hear from members who have implemented the LibQUAL+(r) tool. Register as soon as possible as seats will fill quickly! Respectfully, Sandra SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.