The History & Future of NCCCLRA

1. The History & Future of NCCCLRA

2. 1985 - History of Libraries and Librarianship Class at Columbia University Assignment“ LRA: A History of the North Carolina Community College Learning Resources Association”

3. Read the existing official records of LRA Microfilm, 1967-81Print records, 1981-85These sent to me by a member of LRA - wish I could remember who and thank them today!

4. Establish Context - Definition An organizational unit within some community college typically organized into library, audiovisual, instructional components including testing centers, learning labs, self-instructional courses, or some mix of these. It has an administrative head such as a dean or director and is staffed with librarians, audiovisual specialists, instructional designers, testing staff, technicians, clerks, administrative assistants or other staff as defined by a college’s structure for Learning Resources.

5. December 15, 1967The Association of Community College Librarians Begins

6. 38 librarians from 33 of the 49 institutions5 reps from the Department of Community Colleges meetOfficers elected for one year and directed to develop bylaws and constitution

7. Mertys Bell - Rockingham CC - presidentMargaret Fulk of Western Piedmont CC - secretary/treasurer3 directors, one for each of the geographic divisions of the stateEastern Division - Mable Howell, Lenoir CC Central Division - Edna Lorenz of WW Holding TI (now Wake TCC) -Western Division - Fay Byrd, Wilkes CC

8. Issues at 1st Meeting Task force to study the “feasibility of returning to a 5-part ‘book’ order form”Need for microfilm shelf list at “Library Services”LC or Dewey classification systemsQuality of catalog cards

9. RemarkableAlready an Office of Library Services providing centralized ordering and processing of all library books for the colleges and institutes and the Department of Community Colleges had only been formed in 1963 - just four years before!

10. July 19, 1968 Second Full Meeting of NCCLAApproved the conversion to LC from DeweyDiscussed extending membership to AV personnel Approved first set of Bylaws with this purpose:To provide for the closer cooperation among librarians for the benefit of the Department of Community colleges, to further the cause of librarianship and to provide opportunity for social contacts among librarians.

11. Nov. 1968 - Third Meeting of NCCLAOperations and services changes in Office of Library Services Quality of services provided by the Office of Library Services Need for a professional librarian to administer the Office of Library ServicesStaffing shortages in libraries

12. May 22, 1969 Renamed the Educational Media Association of the Department of Community CollegesPurpose changed in Bylaws:The objective of the Educational Media Association is to promote closer cooperation among all persons concerned with production, distribution, and administration of educational media.Members approved a bylaws change to rename the organization. Those bylaws state that the objective of the Educational Media Association was to promote closer cooperation among all persons concerned with production, distribution, and administration of educational media.

13. October, 1969 Librarian Appointed Vera Melton, a librarian, named as the new head of Library ServicesLibrary Services section will help community college member libraries and does not intend to dictate, but to advise.

14. May 8, 1970 - Renamed the Educational Media Association of the North Carolina Community College System Swapped “the Department of Community Colleges” for the “NC Community College System”Officers terms extended from one to two years

15. 1969 - 1972Organization concerned with refinement of services by various library/media programs in the system.Film loans, INWATS reference service and interlibrary loan beganAnnual conferences were institutionalizedNewsletter began1972, discussion about changing the name again and who should belong to this organization. Committees appointed to address these two issues.

16. April, 1973, EMA Becomes North Carolina Community College Learning Resources Association, NCCCLRA

17. NCCCLRA 1973 - 1985

18. STAFF DEVELOPMENTConferences First NCCCLRA Conference - 1974A learning and information forum for new developments and ideas for professional growth of membersGuest speakers - issues of national, state and college-level importBanquets, vendors, exhibits. And always fun and food

19. STAFF DEVELOPMENTConferences1970 - president broke a tie vote about whether or not to hold a spring conference speaking of the “need for keeping the members together and stimulating the interest that has been created.”1979 - Illinois LRA asked NCCCLRA to host its 14th Annual Community College Learning Resources Conference - 315 registrants from 25 state and 58 vendors

20. STAFF DEVELOPMENTDistricts and District MeetingsJim Foster, president from 1976-77, recognizing the value of their communications function, made sure that each district reported on its activities for the past yearMade professional development accessible and convenient to members

21. Staff DevelopmentScholarshipsMertys W. Bell Scholarship - was first NCCCLRA Scholarship1979 - first committee appointed1980 - placed $2000 in an interest bearing account 1980 - first $150 scholarship awarded to Janet Atwood 1984 - renamed upon Mertys’ retirement from GTCC

22. Scottie W. Cox Memorial Scholarship Established in 1981 at death of Scottie, president from 1975-76For a community college LRA employee pursuing graduate or professional level work

23. Staff DevelopmentCommunicationsNCCCLA Newsletter first published in 1969 - their only publicationEMA published 3 newslettersLRA - first newsletter in April, 1973 named the “Mediator”Union List of Serials - published in 1975, an association projectWebsite

24. Computerization of Library OperationsAugust, 1979 - LRA Automation Committee of Media Processing Services and the librariesStandardization of cataloging practices to conform with principles MARC II and AACR2System wide retrospective conversion project Automation of cataloging and processing by Media Processing

25. COMPUTERIZATION 1983 - Media Processing joins SOLINET1983 - COMCAT Project begins - retrospective conversion of catalogs of 10 colleges. LRA gave $500 to this project

26. Erosion of the LRC ConceptIn 1981, System President Larry Blake did a major reorganization the System Office. Office of Educational Resources abolishedSaw some local college reorganizations. Ernie Tompkins, president in 1981 said, “One of the serious issues facing us this year is how to deal with the continual removal of learning labs from the LRC organization

27. The Future and other Things I want to say about LRA

28. LRA has been a useful organization for the staff of community colleges libraries and learning resources programs as shown by the history of its first 25 years.

29. RETHINKING LRAWhat do we want LRA to be in the next five years? What is its purpose? Who are our members?Should we change the name?

30. Consider the purpose of the organization. Is it relevant, clear? "The mission of the North Carolina Community College Learning Resources Association is to advance the goals of the membership."

31. Is there a more suitable name of the organization based on a new purpose? We have a strong heritage of changing the name of this association Do we already have a new name? The website is instructive about a new name

35. What about the logo?

36. Continue conferences and increase staff developmentLook to NC LIVE, the State Library, and organizations outside the state for assistance in these matters

37. Increase the awards and scholarship program

38. Work with studentsDeliver services they wantGet them involved in advisory groupsMake students, friends of the libraryMake your students your advocates

39. Work with your presidentWhatever it takes and however you can, do it.For as difficult as it may seem, keeping president informed and aware and even valuing libraries continues to be our challengePerhaps a useful staff development program would be about how to work with and influence your local college president.

40. Preserve our history, Collect all the records and put them in a safe place And, for goodness sakes, get someone to write the history of LRA for the past 25 years!