Social Science Division
Special Libraries Association
Annual Business Meeting
Monday, June 9, 2003
Marriott Marquis Hotel
Columbia Room
New York, NY

Present: Iris Anderson, Hetty Barthel, Cy Behroozi, Susan Berg, Bruce Calvin, Vicki Dawson, Terry Dean, Joann Donatiello, Roger Haley, Beth Hansen, Sally Henderson, Joe Hovish, Ann Kelly, Michael Kolakowski, Lynne McCay, Cybele Merrick, Ashley Mibbare, Lyle Minter, Nancy Minter, Tara Murray, Takako Nagumo, Daille Pettit, Jean Porter, Linda Richer, Alix Salinas, Karen Shaines, Marcia Sprules, Ann Sweeney, Pamela Tripp-Melby, Chengshi Wang, Jan Watterworth, Heidi Yacker. SLA Board Proctor Karen Kreizman Reczek.

The meeting was called to order at 7:40 a.m. Over a delicious breakfast, Chair Ann Sweeney welcomed the attendees. She thanked everyone for all their hard work and assistance throughout the year and for their dedication and enthusiasm.

The minutes from the 2002 Annual Business Meeting in Los Angeles were approved.

Treasurer’s Report. Heidi Yacker submitted that, as of May 31, 2003, there was $13,466.73 in the treasury. She proposed two possible budgets (one which assumed a merger with the Geography and Map Division (DGM) and one which assumed no merger), both of which would result in a balance in excess of $9,000. After a discussion, the budgets were accepted. She reported that, at the Board Meeting on Sunday, we had named a committee to investigate possible opportunities to make use the part of this money once an appropriate amount is set aside as a cushion against unforeseen expenses. The committee members are Beth Hansen, Linda Richer, Ann Sweeney, and Heidi Yacker.

Membership Report. Chair-Elect Beth Hansen reported that, as of December 31, 2002, our membership stood at 346. Although the numbers decreased slightly in January and February, they had risen to 349 by April 2003. Personal welcome letters were sent to 80 new members that included a survey form, information on the discussion list, and information on our possible restructuring. About 35% of the surveys were returned; half of those were student members. Those forms which indicated interest in holding office or writing for the Bulletin were forwarded to the appropriate people. Prior to the Annual Conference, Beth personally invited many of the 35% to attend DSOC events at the conference and to remind them to consult the Web site and discussion list.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Fundraising. Past Chair/Fundraising Chair Hetty Barthel expressed thanks to our vendors for their sponsorship of our events at the conference. Beginning next year, fundraising will be a “team” operation, including the new section chairs as members of the fundraising committee.

New York Conference Planning. Conference Planner Nancy Minter handed out a listing of DSOC programs at the conference and reported that our Division had 128 people registered as attendees. This was up from 56 in 2003 and 73 in 2001. The International Reception held Sunday night had approximately 400 attendees (100 more than we had expected). Due to its popularity, we had to raise the allowed number of participants for the Vestpocket Parks Walking Tour from 40 to 70. A number of great sessions were planned, including the third annual One Dot Shopping and the first of what we hope will be an annual session: Spotlight: The Best Social Science Web Sites. We anticipated a successful conference.

Social Science Division Discussion List. List Owner Linda Richer reported on the past year’s activities. A new software (Lyris) was introduced by SLA last summer to which all lists were converted. In September, Linda made sure all of our members were included on the list and in October, Ann Sweeney sent the first message to the 377 subscribers announcing the list and encouraging discussion. There was debate on whether to post job openings and resumes on the list; we decided that openings could be posted, but not resumes. The list was used to conduct a survey regarding the establishment of sections within the Division to replace the roundtables. Our list parameters were set so that survey replies went only to Ann Sweeney. In January the parameters were reset so that replies go to everyone on the list. As of June 2003, there are 324 subscribers. Linda plans to update the list to include all members, and add DGM members if the decision is made to merge with them.

Nomination/Election of 2003/2004 Officers. Nominations Committee Chair Michael Kolakowski introduced the nominee for the 2003-2005 Chair-Elect/Chair: Nancy Minter. He highlighted her extensive accomplishments in our Division as well as those at the Chapter and Association levels. Her professional life and community activities have demonstrated a commitment to the social sciences and especially urban issues. Ann Sweeney asked for nominations from the floor; there were none. Nancy was unanimously elected to office.

NEW BUSINESS

Decision on Creating Sections. Ann Sweeney reported that she has received sufficient petitions from the membership to consider the creation of three new sections to replace the current roundtables. Scope Notes and sign-up sheets for each section were on the tables. The new sections would be International Relations, Nonprofit Sector, and Public Policy; scope notes describing the sections were available for everyone. A discussion of the issue followed. Each section would have a chair, but no board. The chair would assist in fundraising and program planning. The sections, unlike the roundtables, would be listed on the SLA Web site and would provide potential members with a better understanding of what our Division’s interests are. We voted unanimously to create the new sections. Sign-up sheets for each section were circulated.

Merger of Geography Map Division (DGM) into Social Science Division. Ann Sweeney introduced Karen Kreizman Reczek, the SLA Board Proctor, who discussed the merger. In recent years, DGM has experienced some financial problems and a drop in membership. They face the possibility of ceasing to exist. Some felt that a merger with DSOC would be a good fit, and Ann approached Anita Oser, chair of DGM, and extended the invitation for DGM to become the fourth section within DSOC, the Geography and Map Section.
At this meeting we had to vote on whether to send a ballot to all the DSOC members regarding whether to go forward with the merger. A discussion of this issue ensued. There has been indication that some DGM members might prefer to merge with a pure science division, rather than ours. That issue will be resolved at the DGM annual business meeting, scheduled for Monday afternoon, where they will also vote on the ballot question.
A motion was made to instruct the DSOC Board to send a mail ballot to the membership to decide on merging DGM into our Division as the new fourth section. The motion was carried unanimously.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The highlight of the International Reception was the presentation of the Gale Group Murray Wortzel Award to Michael Kolakowski in recognition of his tireless efforts and accomplishments within the Division. At the meeting, Anne recognized and congratulated Mike for winning the Award.

Two of our Division members are running for office within SLA. Lyle Minter is running for a seat on the Board of Directors and Daille Pettit is running for President.

Terry Dean is looking for a new Chair and another member for the Gale Group Murray Wortzel Award Committee. Laura Bender from the University of Arizona will remain on the committee.

Archivist Joe Hovish will retire from his position soon and needs a replacement. He will stay on to partner with the new archivist. He sees challenges ahead in archiving the electronic data we are accumulating, such as our emails and our Web site and Bulletins.

REMARKS OF INCOMING CHAIR

Ann Sweeney passed the gavel to our new Chair, Beth Hansen.

Beth remarked that Ann would be “a difficult act to follow” and acknowledged her accomplishments in establishing the new sections and beginning the procedure for merging DGM into DSOC.
She looks forward to:
• A smooth transition with the sections
• More involvement with the Discussion List
• Possibly initiating a Twinning Project. Our Division has strong international ties and we could build on this.
• Archiving our electronic materials
• Merging the Geography and Map Division into ours
• Expanding the Bulletin
• Revitalizing the Web site

Her watchword will be to “try to make the Division irresistible” to potential new members. She sees herself as sandwiched between outgoing and incoming stars.

Further announcements:

We need someone to chair the International Relations Section. Iris Anderson, Chair of the former roundtable, will step down due to her new duties as DSOC Program Planner for the 2004 Annual Conference in Nashville.

The programs for Nashville are well set. The keynote speakers will be Carl Ledbetter with Novell who will talk about information technology issues and Bill Ivey, a copyright expert. The events will be held at Opryland, a huge facility housing conference facilities, hotels, and shopping.
DSOC programs planned so far are:
• One-Dot Shopping, covering China, India, and the U.K., cosponsored with Business and Finance Division
• Best Social Science Web sites (Nancy Minter will arrange this program)
• Three Pillars: managing the library, archives, and records
• International education policies and issues, cosponsored with Education Division
• An Open House cohosted by Education and Museums Divisions
• International Reception on Monday evening
• Archiving e-journals
• Tours: the Hermitage, cohosted by the Military Division
All new sections are encouraged to plan additional programs.

Jean Porter, the DSOC representative to IFLA, will be attending the meeting in Berlin this summer. She welcomes any input from the membership. She will be rotating out of this position in August.

We want to revitalize our public relations efforts. We have one volunteer to serve on a committee and need others.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 a.m.

Heidi Yacker
Secretary