Summary of Programs
September 2005

PDF Version of Overview
Cooperative Virtual Storage
According to an ASERL study, on average ASERL members need room for 300K volumes currently.  ASERL has considered many options on how to address this shared need (building a structure, brokering discounts with other providers, etc.) but too many obstacles.  The issue of ARL volume counts was a barrier, too.

In 2001, Paul Willis & Paul Gherman championed idea of “virtual” storage, based on holdings at other libraries.  In Fall 2004, OCLC conducted overlap study of nine ASERL libraries that held 100,000 monographs or more in remote storage.  Those libraries are:
o    Duke University
o    Tulane University
o    University of Alabama
o    University of Georgia
o    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
o    University of South Carolina
o    University of Virginia
o    Vanderbilt University
o    Virginia Tech

The results showed relatively little overlap in the stored collections (117K volumes -- 7% of titles at 3 copies) - a surprise!  But they still indicate that libraries could deaccession significant number of books in their circulating collections.  Vanderbilt estimates it could remove 88,000 titles from its main circulating collection alone.

ASERL has recently joined with the Center for Research Libraries to foster a national consensus on how to create a nationwide network of regional repositories based on this concept.  A Steering Committee will meet in October 2005 to identify relevant issues and plan a national meeting of stakeholders, to take place in April 2006.


Preservation of ETDs
Eight ASERL libraries are working to develop a new method for archiving Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) held at each other’s libraries.  Based on the LOCKSS concept (“Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe”) originating from Stanford University and using OAI-PMH technology, the new system will help ensure longtime access to these often-unique research materials.  Once tested, it will be made available for use by other research libraries via the LOCKSS plug-in repository.  The participating ASERL libraries are:
·    Florida State University
·    Georgia Institute of Technology
·    North Carolina State University
·    University of Kentucky
·    University of Miami
·    University of Tennessee
·    Vanderbilt University
·    Virginia Tech

See http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/ETDsASERLLOCKSS20050711PR.pdf for additional details.


Training for Non-MLS Library Managers
ASERL's Competencies for Research Librarians
In June 2000, ASERL received funding from the Council on Library & Information Resources (CLIR) to draft guidelines for the competencies that would be needed by research librarians in the near future. The document, published as "Shaping the Future," describes six competency areas that ASERL members believe are key to success in research libraries. The publication has been distributed widely among ASERL libraries, LIS schools in the region, accreditation agencies, and other library networks and associations.

In May 2001, ASERL library directors met with the deans from the region's 13 Schools of library & information science to discuss incorporating the ASERL Competencies into LIS curriculum. In January 2002, ASERL's Education Committee presented the Competencies at the Association of Library & Information Science Educators (ALISE) national conference.

ASERL’s Education Committee also surveyed ASERL members to determine how the Competencies have been used at ASERL sites. Based on the results, sample language was distributed to ASERL members to promote use of the Competencies in recruiting/promoting library staff and in other HR processes.

ASERL’s Education Committee is currently proposing a means for providing additional background on library traditions and workings for management staff working in research libraries who do not come from a library background (communications, HR, facilities, fundraising, etc.)  The overall goal is to create ongoing learning & networking opportunities for non-MLS managers to continue to learn about research libraries and form their own peer networks.  The Education Committee is proposing to host the first event in May 2006 as a pre-conference to the SOLINET Annual Membership Meeting in Atlanta. Additional details will be forthcoming.  Lou Pitschmann of the University of Alabama and Charlene Hurt of Georgia State University are the Co-Chairs of the ASERL Education Committee.


Digital Collections
ASERL is examining areas of mutual member interest in the field of digitization. Based on research led by Eileen Hitchingham of Virginia Tech, ASERL has created a wiki-style online directory of digitization projects underway at member libraries.  (Go to www.aserl.org and click on “Digital Directory"). 


Virtual Reference
ASERL's online reference service, called Ask A Librarian, began in February 2004 and provides 84 hours of service per week during the school terms (slightly less during break periods).  Staffing for the service is provided by the participating libraries (see below).  See www.ask-a-librarian.org  for additional information, or visit the website of any participating library for access to the service.

Participating v-Ref Libraries
·    College of William & Mary
·    Florida State University
·    Mississippi State University
·    University of Alabama
·    University of Central Florida
·    University of Memphis
·    University of Mississippi
·    University of North Carolina at Charlotte
·    Virginia Commonwealth University

ASERL Collection Development Initiative
Working in conjunction with SOLINET’s Program Development team, ASERL is working with collection development officers at ASERL libraries to identify products and services that are of common interest to member libraries.  Once identified, SOLINET will  facilitate group licensing and pricing offers with selected vendor partners.  Tim Cherubini is leading this effort for ASERL.  Interested ASERL collection development officers are encouraged to participate.


Kudzu Catalog
Started in January 2001 and based at Vanderbilt University, Kudzu is ASERL’s shared catalog system.  Kudzu allows users to search the catalogs at 17 ASERL member libraries via a single interface.   Perhaps more importantly, the project includes expedited delivery of requested ILL materials and common policies for system usage to ensure very quick delivery of items to patrons.  Current Kudzu participants are
 
·    Auburn University     
·    Clemson University     
·    East Carolina University     
·    Mississippi State University     
·    Tulane University     
·    University of Alabama     
·    University of Alabama at Birmingham     
·    University of Kentucky     
·    University of Louisville     
·    University of Memphis     
·    University of Mississippi     
·    UNC Charlotte     
·    University of South Carolina     
·    University of Tennessee    
·    Vanderbilt University  (main and law libraries)
·    Virginia Commonwealth University     
·    Wake Forest University.     
     
Dale Poulter at Vanderbilt University is in charge of the technical operations of the Kudzu search system.  Various staff at Kudzu libraries are coordinating other aspects of the project; John Burger is ASERL's staff contact person.


ASERL's Reciprocal ILL Agreement
Throughout its history, ASERL has been committed to improving resource sharing in the Southeast. It has demonstrated this commitment through such activities as the founding of SOLINET, obtaining grant funding to support massive retrospective conversion of cataloging records, providing a forum for the regular exchange of ideas and information, and developing a system to share information about expensive serials. For many years, ASERL members have provided no-fee interlibrary loans and expedited processing to other ASERL libraries. Read ASERL's Reciprocal ILL Agreement to find out more about this program.


Document Delivery
Since May 2002, ASERL has provided 2- or 3-day ILL document delivery services at flat-rate monthly prices though a contract with Lanter Delivery Service. Participating libraries include
 
·    Auburn University     
·    Clemson University     
·    Mississippi State University     
·    Tulane University     
·    University of Kentucky     
·    University of Memphis     
·    University of Mississippi     
·    University of South Carolina     
·    University of Tennessee     
·    Vanderbilt University     
·    Virginia Commonwealth University
·    Wake Forest University
     
John Burger is the ASERL contact person for this effort. Delivery questions can also be submitted to Sherry Tichenal of Lanter Delivery Service at titch52@aol.com or 618/452-5300 x241.


2004 National Diversity in Libraries Conference
ASERL was proud to join with SOLINET, the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Library Alliance, and the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) in co-sponsoring the 2004 National Diversity in Libraries Conference, held May 4 – 5 in Atlanta. This 2004 conference attracted a record crowd – nearly 300 librarians from across the country – and focused on recruiting and retaining diverse library staff, developing collections that reflect the experience of diverse communities, and working with diverse user populations.  Conference materials and photographs can be found at www.librarydiversity.org.


AmericanSouth.org
The AmericanSouth.org project, supported by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, created an experimental online portal of databases focusing on the culture of post-Civil War southern history and culture. It was one of the first feasibility tests of the Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting (OAI-PMH). The participating databases – housed at nine ASERL libraries – received technical assistance to ensure compliance with the Open Archives Initiative (OAI) standard. This permitted the generation and harvesting of improved metadata, thereby improving searchability and access to these valuable digital resources. The project also supported the work of a Scholarly Design Team to provide annotations and contextual comments on each data source as needed to ensure high quality and usability of the metadata.

Project management for AmericanSouth.org was led by Emory University Libraries. ASERL will use the results of the Digitization Surveys (see above) to determine how to continue the project in the future and identify options for including additional data sources from other ASERL libraries.  Additional studies are underway at Emory to further refine the searching capabilities.

The initial participants in the AmericanSouth.org project are:
·    Auburn University
·    Emory University
·    Louisiana State University
·    University of Florida
·    University of Georgia
 ·    University of Kentucky
·    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
 ·    University of Tennessee at Knoxville
 ·    Vanderbilt University

Sandy Nyberg at SOLINET served as the project coordinator for ASERL on this effort.  Martin Halbert was the project’s principal investigator at Emory University.


Member Networking, Information Sharing, Publicity
ASERL members meet three times a year to share information about current activities and emerging trends, manage cooperative activities, and provide mentoring activities to colleagues. These “intangible” benefits resulting from ASERL membership are often rated as among the most important by ASERL library directors.

ASERL also develops news releases and other promotional materials to highlight the benefits of ASERL programming. This publicity emphasizes the value and results of ASERL’s collaboration to university administrators, faculty, students, and funding sources.


ASERL Staffing
The Association of Southeastern Research Libraries is based at SOLINET in Atlanta, Georgia, and has access to the significant staffing resources available from SOLINET on an as-needed basis. ASERL’s staffing includes the following services:
·    Executive Director – 100% staff time (John Burger)
·    Program Director – 20% staff time (Randy Walters)
·    Virtual Reference Project Coordinator – 50% consulting time (Rosalind Lett)
·    Website Developer – as needed (Clayton Kopp)
·    Program Development – as needed to identify/secure desired products/services for ASERL (Tim Cherubini & staff)
·    Member Services – as needed for project coordination (Julie LaDell-Thomas & staff)
·    Grants Manager – as needed for funding, grant management (Sandy Nyberg)
·    Executive Staff – as needed for general oversight, financial planning (Kate Nevins, Natalie Chase)
·    Fiscal Affairs – as needed to manage accounts payable/receivable, track expenditures, etc. (Anita Johnson & staff)
·    Communications – as needed for press releases, graphic design, etc. (Michael Williams & staff)
·    Information Technology – as needed for website maintenance, listserv management, etc. (Carol Smith & staff)

Electronic Resource Offers Available from SOLINET
As part of an on-going relationship with the Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET), several electronic resources are offered to member libraries within the consortia.  Visit SOLINET's Electronic Resources to find out more.

ASERL
The Association of Southeastern Research Libraries
1438 West Peachtree Street, N.W., Suite 200
Atlanta, Georgia   30309-2955

404.892.0943 -- voice
404.892.7879 -- fax
800.999.8558 -- toll-free