Greetings Colleagues, I trust you're well. Today I'm celebrating the HBCU Library Alliance Board of Directors. The Board provides strategic leadership, proposes policy based on issues affecting the membership, and monitors fiscal activities. The purpose of this e-mail is to share notes from the March 12th face-to-face meeting Board Meeting held at LYRASIS (GA). I'll share minutes once finalized. Expanding Library Support for Faculty Research in HBCU's The project aims to assess and strengthen library services in support of faculty research and involves a partnership with the HBCU Faculty Development Network. A no-cost extension has been approved by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation through August 2015. The project funds 75% of the Executive Director's salary. Remaining grant funds total $45,505.66 as of February 28. Sub-grant webinars are being scheduled, educational programming has begun. Preservation of Photographic Images and Magnetic Media The Mellon-funded project aims to support preservation of local photographic and magnetic media collections, increase their use in scholarly endeavors and encourage student engagement. The opening session was held January 12 through 16 at Woodruff Library. Project participants AUC Woodruff (GA), Fisk (TN), Hampton (VA), Johnson C. Smith (NC) and Tuskegee (AL) are creating work plans and budgets. The Steering Committee will review plans; $50K grants will be awarded in April. Wayne State University "Increasing Library Diversity" The Alliance is partnering with Wayne State on a 2013 Laura Bush 21st Century Library Program for the project "Increasing Library Diversity." Mentors have been recruited from the Alliance membership. Marvelyn Thomas, AUC Woodruff HR Director, is mentor consultant. As this is the mid-point of grant activities, what's working well and concerns will be documented and shared with project partners. 2015 Board Election The Board will seek nominations for the following three positions: One private - held by Cynthia Henderson, Howard University (DC) One public - vacated by Jerome Offord, Lincoln University (MO) One at-large - held by Monika Rhue, Johnson C. Smith University (NC) Mary Jo Fayoyin is Nominating Committee Chair and will forward communication to the Membership. New Board terms will begin July 1, 2015 and end June 30, 2018. Membership Dues and Account Balance Sandra Phoenix reported on membership dues. By February 2014, 76 members had remitted dues totaling $73,448.36. Total FY14 dues amounted to $79,330.36 from 82 members. As of February 28, 2015, 61 members have remitted FY15 dues totaling $62,881.06. Members with outstanding dues have been contacted. There was discussion and agreement that dues must be current before applying for Alliance programs. The HBCU Library Alliance SunTrust account balance as of February 28, 2015 is $112,367.00. HBCU Library Alliance Cash Position Kate Nevins shared information on the Alliance's cash position. Based on discussions with Sandra Phoenix about current project funding ending in August 2015 and membership dues remittances, there are three scenarios for the Alliance. 1. Obtain additional grant funding for a strategic initiative: one that arises from the strategic plan - a project of impact, sharing an important story 2. Look to the Alliance membership for a home institution that could help finance the Alliance operations - identify specific criteria, required services 3. Focus Alliance programs as outlined in the draft Strategic plan (professional development, sustainability) and re-scope the Executive Director position to half-time. Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Funding Founding Director Loretta Parham asked to attend the meeting to brainstorm funding opportunities and share information on Mellon Foundation funding. Mellon will need to review the final report of current grant to determine the likelihood of funding another round. The results, the insights from the existing project as determinants are important. Motions Passed by Board The Board approved the following 3 motions: 1. Obtain additional grant funding for a strategic initiative that arises from the strategic plan 2. Look to the HBCU Library Alliance Membership for a home institution that could help finance operations according to established criteria* 3. Beginning August 1, 2015 (end of current grant funding) until January 31, 2016, fund the Executive Director position. As of February 1, 2016, if no other funding sources are in effect, fund the Executive Director position at 50% until August 1, 2016. *Loretta Parham announced that Woodruff Library will serve, if necessary, as a home institution for the Alliance providing a base for operations. Draft Strategic Plan The Board edited, based on member feedback, the draft Strategic Plan. The document will get forwarded separately. Brainstorming and Action Items for April Board Meeting There was a lively discussion on project ideas to support Alliance activities. Several are detailed below. Mary Jo Fayoyin and Mantra Henderson 1. Open Education Resources as a funding opportunity for the Alliance Marilyn Gibbs 2. Inclusion of HBCU Library Alliance staffing/resources in an institutional proposal 2nd ground grant. Cynthia Henderson 1. IMLS Mentorship proposal, recruitment guide proposal outline and identification of funding source Tasha Lucas-Youmans 2. CLIR Digitizing Hidden Collections and Archives proposal Loretta Parham 3. Mellon Foundation planning grant 4. HBCU Library Alliance statistical data to support inquiries, grant writing Sandra Phoenix 1. CLIR Project communication 2. Criteria for HBCU Library Alliance home institution 3. Board assessment tool 4. Communication to members with outstanding dues 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.