Reaching Out

The ARL Statistics and Measurement Program recently hosted the 
first meeting of ARL library survey coordinators.  The gathering 
was in conjunction with the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia, 
and was attended by more than 70 representatives from ARL 
libraries.  William Crowe, Chair of the Statistics and Measurement 
Committee and Dean of the University of Kansas Libraries, opened 
the event by describing recent developments in the program.  The 
appointment of a full-time program officer and the adoption of a 
new, ARL strategic objective Òto describe and measure the 
contribution of research libraries to teaching, research, 
scholarship, and community service,Ó signify an increased 
commitment to the program.  He also noted that the program has 
operated very successfully because of the major contribution of 
the two consultants, Gordon Fretwell, University of Massachusetts, 
and Kendon Stubbs, University of Virginia.

Mr. Crowe then introduced Stanley Wilder, Assistant Dean for 
Financial and Technical Services at Louisiana State University 
Libraries, who is currently serving as a Visiting Program Officer.  
Mr. Wilder presented an overview of his study to understand the 
demographic patterns of librarians and project retirement 
patterns.  Preliminary results indicate that librarians are much 
older than faculty, and ARL female librarians are older than male 
librarians.  This project is expected to be completed this year.

Martha Kyrillidou, Program Officer for Statistics and Measurements 
highlighted some of the changes that are under discussion within 
the program and asked for survey coordinator feedback.  

Plans call for organizing another meeting in Chicago, in 
conjunction with the ALA annual conference.