TO:

TASK FORCE ON INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES REPORT, 2002. ANNEX 1: SUMMARY OF COMMENTS MADE BY TASK FORCE MEMBERS

1. Report all international activities

· How best to capture, communicate what is being done by the units of SLA of an international nature and assist support for international members & the information profession on a broader scale (Wilda)

· Clarify goals and roles (Karen, Jesus)

· Adopt the 1992/93 model for developing a five-year plan for tracking international activities & support active communication (Wilda)

· KIIE website is relevant: great starting point (Dee)

· Make KIIE the foundation of the communication plan to international members (Dee)

· Have one central point/clearinghouse that maintains a one-stop shopping website (Karen)

· Create a section on the web for all known initiatives to be linked (Doug)

· Hard to get units to report their international activities (Dee)

· Add one or more questions on the units’ Annual report regarding international activities (Dee)

· Request more information based on Annual reports (Dee)

· Each September, SLA or IRC should contact units and get information on a continuous basis (Ann)

· Develop guidelines for submitting information (Doug, Nancy)

· Have all units IRC Chairs constitute an Advisory group to contribute to the clearinghouse, advice on web resources, etc. (Karen)

· Create an international discussion list (Ann, Karen)

· Offer a discussion list and/or bulletin board to enhance information posted on KIIE website (Dee) [this already exists and is being used by KIIE members]

· Better communication between all players could be the answer to get a clear picture of international activities and keep motivated members (Dee)

2. Establish better visibility (partnerships within SLA)

· Make relationship between KIIE and IRC close (Dee)

· Co-brand KIIE, IRC and discussion list (Dee)

· Role of KIIE should be to assist Divisions and Chapters and offer communication channels (Wilda)

· Should not be the role of IRC or anyone else to interfere with the work of a Chapter or a Caucus in determining their communication (Wilda)

· How to link KIIE, IRC. DC Chapter: must stand test of time (Dee)

· Clarify all the relationships: KIIE, IRC, DC/SLA, PAM, etc. (Karen)

· Take the opportunity of this Committee to assist the SLA governance process by offering a recommendation to the Board that the IRC be disestablished (sunset) leaving the international activities to SLA members working directly with a point of contact at HQ (Wilda)

· Clearinghouse should identify all stakeholders, coordinate work done at various levels and establish partnerships (Karen)

· Identify best practices in various international activities throughout the association (Karen)

· If the units have no IRC, have them connect their website to the clearinghouse and provide information on clearinghouse on what they can do to join in international activities (Karen)

· More publicity for specific international programs such as SLA/DC twinning project: sponsored members could write on their experience (Dee)

· Be careful on terminology used across cultures: use international partnership rather than twinning (Karen) (Suggestion will be communicated to DC Chapter Intl. Project Committee Chair)

· Connect all unit IRC members and chairs to the clearinghouse through listserv? (Karen)

· No need to create another listserv. SLA has many listserv already easy to join anywhere in the world (Wilda)

· Information on international programs planned at Annual conference should be sent by Conference staff to IRC and actively promoted on online conference planner (Ann)

· Promote international information on SLA website, in Information outlook and on discussion list (Ann)

· Handouts of all international conference programs should be available and advertised at International reception (co-sponsored by Social Science Division) (Ann)

· Create an international column in Information outlook to highlight international activities not associated with the Annual conference (Ann)

· IRC should organize an annual session at Conference to meet with current and incoming unit IRC Chairs and share information (Ann)

· Information about international participants should be communicated to the organizers of the International reception at Annual conference to arrange individual invitations (Ann)

3. Partnerships outside of SLA

· Identify all international groups attending Annual conference and let Social Science Division know, so it can send them invitations to the International reception (Ann)

· SLA President should acknowledge international participants at opening session of Conference, more particularly special groups such as Dept. of State overseas librarians, international sponsored members, etc. (Ann)

· Solicit other international library associations to participate in Annual Conference and other international SLA activities (Ann)

· Organize joint training courses at library conferences (Jesus) [Could be proposed to Professional Development Committee]

· International Library Resource list should be continuously updated (at http://www.sla.org/content/memberonly/electrinfo/internat.cfm) (Ann) [This could be done at HQ by Knowledge Center]

· Allow other language professional associations to translate and publish some of SLA publications to give SLA more visibility on international scene (Jesus) [Could be done with Association Information Services Caucus in cooperation with Public Relations Committee]

· Translate some portions of SLA website to provide other language capsules of information (Jesus)

· Explore joint memberships with various country professional associations (Jesus)

4. Funding and sponsors

· In defining SLA goals, consider lowering membership fees if international recruiting is at top and highlight what to offer to international members (Jesus) [A list of national and international fees in other professional associations was compiled by the Knowledge Center and is available for further consideration]

· SLA should consider offering additional options besides virtual subscription (Jesus)

· Development of SLA membership & of SLA as a more compelling professional organization for the library and information profession throughout the world - more dynamic, responsive & flexible organization (Wilda)

· Expand recommendations of Partnership Task Force to cultivate sponsors for international members (Jesus)

· Fundraising – Is there a person who could do it? To get corporate support for international members to attend Annual conference or join the association, we need to find someone with passion and initiative to carry out the project for a few years as it involves building relations (Dee)

· Ensure cultivating the skills of a successor for international fundraising (Dee)

· Cultivate sponsors for international members (Nancy)

· Work with SLA Fund development staff on developing sponsorships (Nancy)

· Use personal stories of sponsored members to find more sponsors (Dee)

· Logistics of handling money raised needs to be addressed: SLA staff could help (Dee)

· Offer association service relevant to international community. Paper is important in developing countries. Brainstorming is needed on this (Jesus)

· Allow international subscribers to pay for the Annual Conference at regular members’ rate (Jesus)