Greetings Colleagues, I trust you're well. Today I'm celebrating Sarah Smith Tompkins Garnet, the first African American female principal in the New York public schools. The eldest of eleven children, she was born Minsarah Smith in Brooklyn in 1831. Her parents, Sylvanus and Ann Smith, were farmers of African, European, and Native American ancestry. In the late 1880s, Garnet helped found the Equal Suffrage Club, a Brooklyn-based club for black women. She also served as superintendent of the Suffrage Department of the National Association of Colored Women. Garnet died at home at the age of 88. Expanding Library Support for Faculty Research project - Library Survey As you know, the goal of the 18-month project is to assess and strengthen library services in support of faculty research. The purpose of the library survey is to gather information to determine current services, capacity and needs regarding faculty research support. Results are in, and as expected, participating libraries supported the survey with a strong response. Of the 75 participating libraries, 71 responded providing quantitative and qualitative information to advance the project. I'll produce a summary of the results and share with the membership. Thanks to everyone who participated! Faculty Survey The next step of the project is the Faculty Survey, which will gather information from faculty that can assist libraries in understanding faculty research interests and plans. Statistician Dr. Sharon Freeman, Mississippi Valley State University, and the nine-member Faculty Library Advisory Committee have designed a survey that will provide a community-wide picture of faculty research among participating HBCUs. Dr. Freeman will contact participating library deans and directors to determine an appropriate communication structure. I look forward to sharing library survey results and gaining input on faculty research challenges and support needs. Respectfully, 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 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 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. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2014meeting-form.html for the October 26-28, 2014 HBCU Library Alliance 6th Membership Meeting in Atlanta GA!