Maureen
Burns, Chair
Education Committee (EdComm)
3 July 2005
Mid-Year Report
Current Charge
To engage in
research, build accessible resources, and share information about educational
and professional development opportunities for the VRA membership by remaining
in contact with appropriate members of related professional organizations and
educational institutions. To regularly solicit information from the VRA membership
about interests and educational concerns in order to develop supportive programming
at the annual conference and as other opportunities arise.
Accomplishments
A productive committee
meeting took place in Miami, including discussions of: changes in the committee
leadership and composition, a work timeline, the ARLIS/NA-VRA Summer Educational
Institute, connecting with affiliated and like-minded professional organizations
and monitoring/forwarding information from listservs, the strategic plan and
distance learning, internships, the Education Committee (EdComm) Web site, workshop
ideas for EdComm to sponsor in Baltimore, encouraging our chapter officers to
take advantage of free workshop stipends, and the role of EdComm chapter liaisons.
Carolyn Lucarelli summarized the possibilities and led a discussion on the EdComm
e-mail list about workshops the committee might sponsor at the Miami conference.
After contacting several potential speakers and discussing ideas on the listserv,
the following six workshop proposals are being sponsored by the EdComm for Baltimore
2005: Managing a Digitization Project by Howard Brainen; Strategic Planning
by Trudy Levy; Educating the Educators by Jenni Rodda and Eileen Fry; Cataloguing
Boot Camp based on Baltimore Collections by Ann Woodward; Cataloguing Cultural
Objects by Elisa Lanzi and Ann Whiteside; and Visual Images and Copyright by
Carl Johnson and Donna Ferullo.
Leah Theis continues to efficiently manage and develop the EdComm website, and is making quarterly contact with VRA members, via the listserve, to initiate feedback on EdComm issues. We are very appreciative that Leah continues to fill this important role for EdComm, and by extension, for our organization.
Jeanette Mills although no longer be on the EdComm, we are grateful for her continued support of the EdComm listserv.
Betha Whitlow stepped down
as EdComm co-chair, but continues to interact actively as the new Board liaison.
Matt Cook stepped down from the EdComm due to other professional obligations.
The EdComm is happy to welcome three new members have joined: Nicole Finzer,
Wendy Holden, and Ann Woodward.
Goals
Continue to discuss and implement educational recommendations from the VRA Board
and membership from ongoing online surveying and the strategic plan.
Work with the timeline and annual calendar for EdComm task and hone it over the year to standardize when certain events, discussions, and reporting should take place.
Update Chapter liaisons and listserv monitoring to adjust to committee composition changes and include new EdComm members
Continue to communicate
with the ARLIS/NA-VRA Summer Educational Institute Implementation Team regarding
EdComm issues and concerns. Consider ways to collaborate on future planning.
Continue to forward the subsidized workshop stipends to regional Chapter officers
by providing more announcements and lead time for registration. Continue to
encourage workshop attendees to share the information acquired with all the
members of the region at Chapter meetings.
Continue a quarterly dialogue between chapter liaisons and regional chapters,
which will include discussions of the educational needs of regional chapters
and chapter members.
Further discuss and consider the issue of distance learning opportunities for our membership and determine whether a membership survey might be an appropriate way to obtain the information we need.
Discuss ways to call attention to the EdComm Web site and consider information enhancement and dynamic links.
Continue to follow up with related organizations like SAA, MCN, EDUCAUSE, ARLIS/NA, ARLIS/NA and CAA regarding potential shared educational opportunities. Continue to communicate with the Membership Committee about these organizations and their contacts, as well as to share our priorities. Invite representatives of these organizations to the EdComm committee meeting in Baltimore.
Develop a list of online
educational opportunities, particularly online MLS/MLIS programs.
Board Action Requested
Continue the existing
process for providing subsidized workshops to regional Chapter leaders at annual
VRA conferences.
List of Committee Members
Maureen Burns, Chair
Nicole Finzer
Wendy Holden
Carolyn Lucarelli
Madelyn Millen
Joy Robinson
Jenni Rodda
Susan Sanders
Leah Theis
Jodie Walz
Karin Whalen
Betha Whitlow, Executive Board Liaison
Ann Woodward
Respectfully Submitted,
Maureen Burns, Chair