Colleagues, The HBCU Library Alliance Board of Directors met on Tuesday, August 15 via GoToMeeting. Contact me directly if you have questions. Highlights: New Board and Officers This was the first meeting of the newly elected and appointed Board of Directors. Board members are: Monika Rhue, Chair, Johnson C. Smith University (NC) Jean B. Greene, Vice-Chair, Hinds Community College, Utica Campus (MS) Morgan Montgomery, Secretary, Claflin University (SC) Deanna Marcum, Treasurer, Ithaka S+R (NY) Immediate Past Chair, Mantra Henderson, Mississippi Valley State University Debbie Hess Norris, University of Delaware Tasha Lucas-Youmans, Bethune Cookman University (FL) Adrienne Webber, University of Maryland Eastern Shore Board members introduced themselves, spoke of the value of the HBCU Library Alliance, spoke of their commitment to HBCUs and expressed the honor to serve on the HBCU Library Alliance Board. Board Chair Monika Rhue highlighted the "working" HBCU Library Alliance Board and the need to embrace the HBCU Library Alliance mission and vision. Membership Dues The HBCU Library Alliance operates within the July 1 through June 30 fiscal year. Members are billed either in July or October. Total FY17 membership dues collected by June 2017 from seventy-five members totaled $77,878.00 as compared to total FY16 membership dues of $80,412.18 collected by June 2016 from eighty-two members. Dues collections were more challenging this past year. There was discussion on fiscal-year versus calendar-year billing. As of July 30, 2017, fifteen members have remitted $15,723.36 as compared to July 30, 2016 where twenty-one members had remitted $19,708.00. Board members agreed on the need to immediately identify other sources of funding to support HBCU Library Alliance operations. Priority Initiatives The top 3 priority initiatives for FY18 are: 1. Strategic Plan 2. The Campaign for the HBCU Library Alliance 3. Opening Membership: individual members and non-HBCU libraries by-invitation-only Strategic Plan An improved strategic plan is a priority for FY18. The Board agreed that the current plan must be replaced with a plan which is more focused on the purposes, audiences, and aspirations of the Alliance. The plan should accomplish these critical areas: * Represent a platform and aspirations that all members and potential members can buy into ("I have to be a part of the HBCU Library Alliance.") * Reinvigorate the "common cause" that prompted the creation of the HBCU Library Alliance; eliminate a perceived disconnect some members feel * Include a vision and message that will attract potential external individuals and organizations to the work and purpose of the Alliance. The new strategic plan will drive the fundraising campaign and all other initiatives of the HBCU Library Alliance. Campaign for the HBCU Library Alliance Fundraising is critical to the operations of the HBCU Library Alliance, which now operates exclusively on membership dues and minimal donations. A $2.5M, 5-year campaign is in the planning stages. A draft case statement has been developed and twenty-one values statements have been gathered from the membership. There was discussion on the campaign, development of the goal, and how the plan will be implemented. A Board team will meet later this month to discuss finances, the fundraising campaign and development of a process for the strategic plan. Board members were encouraged to forward comments on the draft case or values statements. Individual Members and By-Invitation Only Non-HBCU Library Members Members in good standing approved opening the membership to individuals, and to non-HBCU libraries by invitation only. Draft language has been developed regarding benefits of membership for these categories. It is imperative that the Board articulate the benefits of membership, as this initiative has an impact on the local and broader community. A dues structure must be established. New individual memberships will be processed online. The non-HBCU library by-invitation-only category will require personal handling. Board members were encouraged to review and offer comment on the draft benefits of membership document. HBCU Library Alliance Digital Initiatives Committee Janice Franklin and Cedric Davis, Alabama State University, and I presented at the Black Caucus of the American Library Association's National Association of African American Library's annual conference. The presentation "The HBCU Library Alliance Digital Collections: Establishing Community, Strengthening Bonds, and Enhancing Visibility" was hosted on Friday, August 11 and was well received by meeting attendees. Mantra Henderson has developed a draft toolkit to support the project. One training session has been hosted. Training sessions related to digitization techniques and metadata standards are in development. Digital Library Federation The HBCU Library Alliance has entered into a partnership with the Digital Library Federation (DLF). The DLF is a community of practitioners who advance research, learning, social justice, and the public good through the creative design and wise application of digital library technologies. The HBCU Library Alliance is serving on the Planning Committee for the DLF's October 2017 Un-Conference. My role is Committee Co-Chair. Loretta Parham, AUC Woodruff CEO, has agreed to keynote the session. DLF's Executive Director Bethany Nowviskie and I have submitted a proposal to IMLS for funding for HBCU institutions to attend the October 2017 Un-Conference. IMLS will announce decisions later in August. Follow this link https://www.diglib.org/groups/liberal-arts-colleges/ for more information. Members are encouraged to register and participate. The HistoryMakers Monika Rhue reported on her advisory role with The HistoryMakers. The HistoryMakers is committed to preserving personal stories of African Americans and holds the largest video and oral history archive in the world. A small number of HBCUs are subscribing to The History Makers. The HBCU Library Alliance is awaiting receipt of a draft consortium agreement for Board consideration. Johnson C. Smith University will host the MARC records. Upon Board approval, membership in The History Makers will be extended to HBCU Library Alliance members. There was additional discussion on taking advantage of consortium agreements. Board members should have an initial discussion with potential vendors and follow up with Monika and me for further consideration. Northern Illinois University - Digital Powrr The HBCU Library Alliance was contacted by Drew VandeCreek, Director of Digital Scholarship at Northern Illinois University Libraries, in late 2016 regarding a partnership opportunity in support of their Digital POWRR IMLS proposal. Drew informed us that IMLS will award funding for this project. The proposal addresses cultural heritage institutions and their information professionals' need for improved awareness of and skills relating to the standards, processes and tools used to curate and preserve digital materials. The HBCU Library Alliance will host an institute in Atlanta in conjunction with the 2018 Membership Meeting. Board Chair Monika Rhue will present at the October 2018 Session. Re-affirming Members The HBCU Library Alliance is strongest if it includes every HBCU in its membership. In this way, the HBCU Library Alliance takes action on behalf of all HBCUs. There is expertise, collections and connections within the current membership. By enfranchising all members, there are greater opportunities to strengthen individual members, thus ultimately strengthening the entire membership. A draft concept paper is near completion on this initiative. A dues structure using a minimalist approach will be developed to allow those institutions, primarily smaller institutions, to re-engage. Continuing Education This initiative is highly valued within HBCU Library Alliance Membership. There is a need for a series on advocacy for our community. The Board is encouraged to present hot topics to the membership. A training calendar is underway. HBCU Faculty Development Board of Directors I'm serving on the HBCU Faculty Development Network (FDN) Board. The HBCU FDN served as project partner for the HBCU Library Alliance's Andrew W. Mellon Foundation funded Expanding Library Support for Faculty Research project. The first Board meeting was held on May 19 in Houston, Texas. Agenda items included the FDN's November 2-4 annual conference in Crystal City, Virginia. The conference theme is Creating Deep and Lasting Learning; grant funding may be available for travel. The HBCU Faculty Development Network is committed to promoting effective teaching and learning through a variety of collaborative activities designed to make connections between teaching, research and service. There was discussion of the HBCU FDN hosting their 2018 annual conference in conjunction with the HBCU Library Alliance's Membership Meeting. 2018 Membership Meeting The HBCU Library Alliance will host its 8th Membership Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. A theme, planning committee chair and members will be identified to organize the meeting. With no further business, and with great appreciation shared amongst the full Board, the meeting was adjourned at 11:15. 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/