Creating the Digital Future
Toronto, Ontario
May 23–25, 2001

Seven years ago this spring, the reports and recommendations from the Association of American Universities Research Libraries Project were released and endorsed by AAU and ARL. Underlying all the recommendations was a call for active pursuit of the opportunities presented by networking technologies to exploit the potential for positive transformation of the system of scholarly communication. As a strategy to encourage innovation and contain costs, research institutions were urged to encourage and support not for profit organizations to engage in electronic publishing. These organizations included research libraries, university presses, societies, and partnerships among these and similar organizations that share the same objectives in supporting knowledge creation, quality control, preservation, and dissemination at reasonable, sustainable costs. The 138th Membership Meeting of ARL presents an opportunity to take stock of how research institutions are moving to support the transformations in scholarly communication that were envisioned in those recommendations.

Kate Wittenberg, Columbia University Press, will open the program by describing how Columbia University's electronic publishing and digital library initiatives have enriched the content and functionality of "publications" and how new relationships among scholarly communication players have evolved.

In a panel called Research Libraries21, four directors of research libraries have agreed to open Program Session II with a discussion of institutional responses to strategic challenges that confront research libraries as they create a digital future. The panel will begin in plenary session and then relocate to smaller rooms where the audience will be invited to select one of four topics and engage in a similar discussion with colleagues.

Following these discussions is the Federal Relations luncheon program where speakers will address distance education as well as the development of a digital infrastructure and preservation program.

Program Session III turns the spotlight on an array of digital materials that are of value for teaching and research. Brewster Kahle of the Internet Archive will speak to his interest in partnering with research libraries to devise and test new strategies for integrating quality web resources into library discovery and delivery programs. Will Thomas from the Virginia Center for Digital History will describe the powerful reach and influence of digitizing primary source material and presenting the results on the web in support of teaching curriculum.

Friday morning opens with a discussion led by University of Montreal Professor of Comparative Literature, Jean Claude Guèdon who will begin with his observations on the implications of the previous day's discussions. Professor Guedon is editor of an electronic journal and is an active agent in other important e-initiatives including the Canadian National Site Licensing Project and the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations. His views are informed both in terms of the potential of the digital future and the practical challenges that our communities face.

Narrowing the focus to one key discipline, Program Session V will take stock of the scholarly communication transformations underway in the biosciences. BioOne's Heather Joseph will bring the audience up to date on BioOne as well as PubMedCentral and other e-publishing alternatives in the biosciences. University of Toronto Libraries Warren Holder will describe BioLine, an initiative to deploy the full potential of electronic "publishing" capabilities internationally not only via dissemination and delivery but especially in terms of promoting the discovery of international resources.

Canadian Association of Research Libraries

The meeting is being held in conjunction with the Canadian Association of Research Libraries. There will be many formal and informal ways for ARL member representatives to meet and exchange ideas with library directors representing academic and research libraries in Canada.

Luncheon Programs

On Wednesday, Deb DeBruijn will provide a briefing on the Canadian National Site Licensing Project. This is a three-year project to secure pan-Canadian licenses for electronic journals and databases, primarily in science, health, engineering, and environmental disciplines. On Thursday, the Federal Relations Luncheon Program will present speakers on distance education and on developing a digital infrastructure and preservation program.

Welcome to ARL

On Wednesday, immediately following the Luncheon Program, ARL will host a Welcome to ARL session. All directors new to ARL, alternate representatives, and CARL directors attending their first ARL Membership Meeting are encouraged to attend this informal gathering to meet colleagues and ARL staff.

Receptions

The University of Toronto has planned two special evenings for members and guests. The Opening Reception, on Wednesday evening will be held in the University of Toronto Fisher Rare Books Library. University of Toronto President Bob Birgeneau and Chief Librarian Carole Moore will introduce a celebration of the 100th Year anniversary of the University of Toronto Press. On Thursday evening, CARL, the University of Toronto Libraries, and ARL will host a reception in the Royal Ontario Museum. The museum will offer simultaneous twenty-minute tours of three collections—Canadian, Egyptian, and European. Both reception venues are located within walking distance of the hotel, restaurants, shopping, and theaters.

Library Tours

During the day on Wednesday and also during the afternoon on Friday, the University of Toronto Libraries will offer self-guided walking tours of five recently renovated libraries. Maps will be available at the ARL registration table.

Business Meeting

The ARL Business Meeting, for member representatives only, will take place Thursday afternoon.