Colleagues, I trust you're well. Allow me to share a few brief updates on the work of the HBCU Library Alliance since the August Board call. Strategic Plan The Board has begun crafting a new strategic plan that will reinvigorate the mission that prompted creation of the HBCU Library Alliance. The new plan will include a vision and message to attract potential external individuals and organizations. Sessions will be scheduled to gather member input. The Campaign for the HBCU Library Alliance A three-item survey has been forwarded to the membership requesting contact information for HBCU presidents, alum, authors, distinguished scholars, thought leaders and other notables who use our collections. Their values statements will be added to the HBCU Library Alliance's website and other fundraising materials. The original survey e-mail is attached to this message. Members are responding to this survey expressing interest in assisting in this very important initiative. Continuing Education The membership was surveyed regarding training needs and interests. A training calendar is in the development phase. Look for registration information this week for a September 26 "Cybersecurity and the Academic Library - Circulate Information Resources Not Malware" webinar to be presented by Kevin Banks, CIO/IT Director of the Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library. A session on metadata standards as well as a session on digitization techniques has also been confirmed. Board members will present sessions on topics including utilizing library collections to support test preparation, fundraising for collections preservation, advocacy for HBCU libraries, establishing a friends/fundraising board and a grant writing webinar. The Board is committed to sharing their expertise with the membership. Digital Library Federation/HBCU Library Alliance Pre-Conference and Forum The HBCU Library Alliance is in partnership with the Digital Library Federation (DLF), a community of practitioners who advance research, learning, social justice through the application of digital library technologies. The DLF/HBCU Library Alliance Pre-Conference is scheduled on Sunday, October 22 in Philadelphia, PA; forum is scheduled October 23-25. DLF Executive Director Bethany Nowviskie and I are Co-PI's on the Pre-Conference. Loretta Parham, AUC Woodruff CEO and Library Director, is keynote speaker for the Pre-Conference. IMLS funding has been approved to provide fellowships to selected attendees. I was pleased to serve as a member of the fellowship selection committee. The DLF is confirming acceptance with fellowship recipients now; a press release is forthcoming. Contact me directly if you have questions or need additional information. Stay tuned! Sandra SANDRA M. PHOENIX HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta, GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org/ sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org%3cmailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org>> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/