Greetings Colleagues, I trust you're well. Today I'm celebrating sculptor William Ellisworth Artis, born February 2, 1914 in Washington, DC. Educated at Syracuse University and a student of Augusta Savage, his works were exhibited at Atlanta University, the Whitney Museum, the Two Centuries of Black American Art exhibit and collected by Fisk University (TN), Hampton University (VA), the North Carolina Museum of Art, and private collectors. Board Meeting Highlights The Board of Directors met via conference call on January 19, 2016. The HBCU Library Alliance was approached by the Journal of Library Administration to submit an article on the Expanding Library Support for HBCUs project. The draft article has been submitted for peer review, comments are expected in early March. IMLS announced in January a funding opportunity for the Laura Bush 21st Librarian program. The concept paper "Raising the Bar: A Model Program for Continuous Education of HBCU Liaison Librarians has been submitted and acknowledged by IMLS. The proposed $250,000.00 project supports the IMLS priority of advancement of learning in libraries. This project would; (1) increase the visibility and importance of the liaison librarian role on not only HBCU campuses, but also non-HBCUs as well;( 2) help to close the gap in library literature around training for liaison librarians, especially in the context of mid-size universities and liberal arts colleges, (3) provide a blueprint for other libraries to help build stronger connections with faculty; and (4) establish and promulgate a model that supports mentoring and the continuous education of liaison librarians in an effort to keep pace with the ever-changing needs of the 21st century library user, especially academic faculty members. Activities are on target for the Preservation of Photographic and Magnetic Media Images and HBCUs project. A portion of reallocated unspent project funds will pay for 2 days of additional consultation for participating instituions AUC Woodruff (GA), Fisk (TN), Hampton (VA), Johnson C. Smith (NC), and Tuskegee (AL). Each is currently contracting with or searching for a consultant. The project interns are preparing to create an online exhibition and conduct outreach at each participating institution. Sixty-nine members have remitted FY16 membership dues totaling $68,808.18. This is ahead of last year's January remittance of $62,649.28 by sixty-five members. Members with outstanding dues are being contacted. The HBCU Library Alliance SunTrust bank balance of $120,000.00 covers all personnel and operating expenses. Board Chair Mantra Henderson appointed Mississippi Valley State University Vice President of Academic Advancement Veronica Cohen as Advancement Officer. Veronica facilitated the September 2015 Board Retreat and presented strategies to develop and implement a 5-year $1M fundraising campaign. Veronica is a seasoned fundraising professional with over 30 years' experience in higher education. She is a multi-talented professional with a strong academic background and expert qualifications in planning and directing large-scale projects. A case statement is being developed to support the campaign. The HBCU Library Alliance website is under re-design, the Facebook page is being created and articles are being submitted for PULSE, the official blog of the HBCU Library Alliance. More information is forthcoming. The Board discussed the 2016 Membership Meeting. To minimize meeting, travel and lodging expenses, the meeting will be hosted in Atlanta. Tentative agenda is that Day 1 will begin at 1:00 ending with a reception at 6:00. Day 2 will begin at 8:30 and end by 3:00 allowing members to return home that evening. Classes are underway to support members through continuing education. February classes are: Rethink: Reimagining the Library as a Place - Wednesday, February 24, 1:00 ET, Jamaal Fisher, Lemoyne-Owen College (TN) Open Educational Resources: SUNO in the Movement - Thursday, February 25, 2:00 ET, Jacqueline Keleher, Southern University at New Orleans March classes are: Microsoft Office 365 Apps: Improving Communication and Collaboration - Tuesday, March 1, 2:00 ET, Erik Pattison, University of the Virgin Islands The Hip Hop Symposium: Rhythm 'n Instruction - Thursday, March 3, 2:00 ET, Rinalda Farrar, Lincoln University (MO) That's What "Friends" are For: Connections to Donors, Promoting Use, Preserving Knowledge - Tuesday, March 8, 2:00 ET, Mantra Henderson, Mississippi Valley State University Classes to be scheduled are: Grooming the Next Generation of Librarians and Archivists - Tasha Lucas-Youmans, Bethune Cookman University (FL) We Can Work Together: The Multi-Generational Workplace - Marvelyn Thomas, Atlanta University Center Woodruff Library (GA) Contact me directly if you have questions or need additional information. Stay tuned! Sandra SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-592-4820 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ 1438 West Peachtree 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.