Message from the President

June 2008

Angels in Waiting

All of us at ULC are gearing up for our annual Membership Breakfast, Strategy Group sessions and Executive Board meetings in Anaheim later this month.  If I can swing it (no pun intended), I’m going to get tickets to the Monday evening baseball game between the Angels and the Oakland A’s at Anaheim Stadium.  In my experience, there’s nothing like attending a major league baseball game to get a flavor of the local population.  Baseball fans may not realize that some 20,000 librarians are camped out at the Magic Kingdom, but I will.  By Monday evening, I should be able to relax because all ULC membership and board activities will be over.  But I’m getting ahead of myself, aren’t I?

Here’s a preview of what ULC has in store for you in Anaheim. On Thursday, June 26, ULC will host its conference, Fast Forward – Imagine, Learn, Innovate Faster.  The conference will focus on the future of learning. 

Strategy Groups (for Directors only) will meet on Friday.  The sessions have been staggered to make it possible to attend at least two meetings if you’d like.  (See the enclosed insert for specific meeting times and locations.)  During the Strategy Group sessions we’ll collect your opinions regarding the structure and organizing themes of the groups.  Remember, historically, Strategy Group discussions have had a leading role in defining ULC initiatives.  Now is the time to make a contribution to the future direction of ULC.

Saturday the ULC Executive Board meets.  Any member is welcome to attend.  Later that evening the ULC Membership Committee will host a reception for new ULC members and new directors of ULC member libraries.  ULC membership now stands at 190 organizations!

Finally, beginning at 8:00 am on Sunday, ULC will host its annual Membership Meeting Breakfast and Awards Ceremony.  During the meeting the board will announce the new membership dues program.  The new program is a major paradigm shift for us.  Beginning in 2009, dues levels will be tied to a five-tiered structure based on the size of the library’s budget, replacing the two-tiered structure that has been in place over the last decade.  The new program is also based on a new, inclusive philosophy that says “a member is a member.”  In other words, all future programs, conferences and events will be open to all members of ULC, regardless of their membership level.  The Membership Committee worked very closely with staff over the last eighteen months to create a program that is more equitable and predictable for members.  It also enables ULC to continue to deliver timely research, events and conferences that are important to members.

Also, during the annual meeting we will elect new officers and board members for the coming year and honor the winners of the ULC Highsmith Award, the ULC Urban Player Award, as well as the 2008 recipient of the Joey Rodger Fund for Library Leadership Award.  The city that has been selected to co-host our December 2009 Partners for Success conference will be announced as well! 

We hope to see you in Anaheim.  Play ball!