Greetings Colleagues, I trust you're well. Today I'm celebrating the 1868 founding of Hampton Institute (VA) by General Samuel Chapman Armstrong. The school's purpose was to train selected Negro youth to teach and lead by example. Expanding Library Support for Faculty Research This project is the Alliance's second direct grant award, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The project's goal is to assess and strengthen library services in support of faculty research and involves a partnership with the HBCU Faculty Development Network. Library Survey The library survey was distributed yesterday to institutions with research in their mission, with a response date of Tuesday, April 15th. This purpose of the survey is to gather information regarding library current services, capacity and needs around faculty research support. Faculty Survey The purpose of the faculty survey is to gather input from faculty that can assist libraries in understanding faculty research interests, plans, challenges and support needs. Statistician Sharon Freeman, Mississippi Valley State University, and the Faculty Library Advisory Committee continue their work on the draft survey. 2014 Membership Meeting The 6th Membership Meeting is scheduled in Atlanta Sunday through Tuesday, October 26-28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Downtown, 275 Baker St NW. Your support of this meeting is encouraged as we celebrate, collaborate and strategize future directions. The Membership Meeting is open to directors, as well as other library staff. If you have not done so, paste this link http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2014meeting-form.html into your address bar and register. Consider, if applicable, using end of year funds or Title 111 funds for Membership Meeting fees. Show your support of the 6th Membership Meeting by registering as soon as possible. As done in 2012, Decade of Investment supporters will be acknowledged at the Membership Meeting and listed in the Program Booklet. Invest by August 31st to have your listing included. Visit the Alliance's website, www.hbculibraries,org<http://www.hbculibraries,org>, and click on the PayPal link to make your investment. Department of Interior - Priority Needs Survey More than forty members responded to Vice-Chair Mantra Henderson's February survey. Board Chair Cynthia Henderson, Vice-Chair Mantra Henderson, Fundraising Chair Mary Jo Fayoyin and I discussed priority needs with Advancement Advisor Ron Blakely and Mark Oliver, Senior Advisor on Education and Community Partnerships, U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary. We are planning a face-to-face meeting in Washington to continue discussions. March 27, Board Meeting Highlights: Sustainability - Seventy-eight members have remitted FY 14 Membership dues. The Fundraising Committee is reviewing committee composition of the Alliance's Fundraising Initiative, The One Hundred Plan. The Board discussed the need to solicit and identify sustainable activities. The Fundraising Committee is currently reviewing possible partnership opportunities. Phase IV Leadership Program -The final report has been submitted and acknowledged by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Since 2005, this successful program has trained librarians to better integrate library services into teaching and learning. Phase IV ends Mellon Foundation funding for the Leadership Program. Increasing Library Support for Faculty Research - Survey development continues. The Library Survey is ready for distribution; Faculty Survey is in draft format. Wayne State University Partnership - The Increasing Diversity of Librarians (iDOL) project goals are to recruit, mentor, and deliver an online MLIS degree to ten students from under-represented groups in order to achieve greater diversity among library professionals. Mentor Consultant Marvelyn Thomas, Atlanta University Center Woodruff Library (GA) and selected Leadership Institute mentors will travel to Wayne State University (MI) in August for training. Paste this link http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/waynestate.html into your address bar for application information. Concluding Comments Thanks to everyone for their continued support of the HBCU Library Alliance. Contact me directly if you have questions or need additional information. 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!