Greetings Colleagues, I trust you're well. Today I'm celebrating the Association for the study of African American Life and History (ASALH). ASALH's mission is to promote, research, preserve, interpret and disseminate information about Black life, history and culture to the global community. As the oldest organization dedicated to the study of Black history, ASALH holds firm the belief that Africans and people of African descent are makers of history. I wholeheartedly agree!! HBCU Library Alliance 4th Membership Meeting We're about 6 weeks away from gathering in Montgomery, AL for the 4th Membership Meeting. 94 librarians from 63 institutions have registered for this historic meeting, scheduled Sunday through Tuesday, October 24-26 in Montgomery, AL. "Looking Back, Moving Forward: HBCU Libraries Using Digital Technologies to Reach, Teach and Connect" is the conference theme; presentations have been designed to engage your thinking in the digital arena. Membership Meeting activities begin on Saturday, October 23rd with the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation sponsored "Pre-Conference on Advocacy." The pre-conference session, "U.D.E.A.L., Using Data to Enhance Advocacy for Libraries," is scheduled from noon until 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 23rd, and from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 24th. All are invited to attend U.D.E.A.L. I'm so pleased that the majority of Membership Meeting registrants have also registered for the U.D.E.A.L. session. Attendees will learn how to interpret statistical data to advocate for their libraries, discuss critical indicators for success in the HBCU library community and key outcomes they wish to strive for individually and as a group. The focus of the conference will be on advocacy and communication within the academic institution, and will include some discussion of advocacy within the broader library and educational communities. On Sunday evening, October 24th, a Reception/Vendor Fair is scheduled from 6:00 - 8:00. Join us to meet and mingle with our colleagues. In particular, I encourage you to visit the HBCU Digital Initiative exhibitor booth to get information and learn how you can become involved in this very important project. Monday, October 25th is dedicated to the business of the organization; Tuesday, October 26th is dedicated to presentations and sessions. Follow this link http://www.hbculibraries.org/images/2010agenda.pdf for a tentative conference agenda. And if you haven't done so, follow this link http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/meeting-form.html for pre-conference and Membership Meeting registration information. I look forward to seeing you in Montgomery on Saturday, October 23rd. Respectfully, Sandra SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 1438 West Peachtree Street 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/meeting-form.html for the October 24-26, 2010 HBCU Library Alliance 4th Membership Meeting and the "Conference on Advocacy" pre-conference in Montgomery, AL. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.