ACRL Committees
ACRL has more than 30 standing committees created by the Board of Directors, each with specific functions, goals, and interests. Chapter three of the ACRL Guide to Policies and Procedures contains information on ACRL committee structure, the establishment of new committees, committee appointments, and more.
If you're interested in volunteering for a divisional committee, please complete the online committee volunteer form (note that the annual deadline for volunteering to serve on committees is early December).
Below is a list of current ACRL committees. For complete rosters of the committees, go to the Directory of Leadership. (Note: Rosters in the Directory of Leadership are accessible to ACRL and ALA members only. )
AASL/ACRL Interdivisional Committee on Information Literacy
Charge: The joint AASL/ACRL Joint Committee on Information Literacy will focus on how to prepare K-20 students to be information literate and will provide a channel of communication to the respective divisions. In general, this joint committee will be a forum for sharing ideas on information literacy in K-20 environments and a source of professional development opportunities in this area.
Roster (members only)
Academic or Research Librarian of the Year Award
Charge: To recognize an individual member of the library profession who is making an outstanding national or international contribution to academic or research librarianship and library development.
Roster (members only)
ACRL/LAMA Interdivisional Committee on Building Resources
Charge: To continuously update the "Guide For Planning Higher Education Library Spaces" resource guide for planning library buildings and learning spaces, using existing resources such as those available from ACRL, ARL, LAMA, EDUCAUSE, and other organizations as appropriate. To suggest additional tools as appropriate that might help those planning library and learning spaces. To scan related professional organizations annually to determine and implement the most effective and appropriate places and methods for promotion of the guide. If resources are needed requests must be made to the ACRL and LAMA Boards.
Roster (members only)
Advocacy Coordinating Committee
Charge: The Advocacy Coordinating Committee is responsible for coordinating a broadly defined range of advocacy efforts throughout ACRL including those informing the advocacy agenda and those engaging in advocacy. The committee will organize these efforts into a coherent and effectively implemented set of programs and initiatives that more closely align to the strategic plan. The coordinating committee regularly scans the association and the profession for new initiatives that support the association's strategic advocacy objectives. The committee enables communication with the Board of Directors on advocacy strategies and issues at all levels of ACRL and will make recommendations to the Board regarding the most effective and efficient committee structure to achieve these ends.
The Copyright, Government Relations, Intellectual Freedom, International Relations, Marketing Academic and Research Libraries, Standards and Accreditation, and Status of Academic Librarians Committees and the Council of Liaisons are component committees of the Advocacy Coordinating Committee.
Roster (members only)
Appointments Committee
Charge: To recommend to the president-elect appointments to ACRL divisional committees for the year of his or her term of office.
Roster (members only)
Assessment Committee
(a component committee of the Research Coordinating Committee)
Charge: The Assessment Committee is responsible for designing and implementing outcomes-based evaluation and other assessment programs in support of the ACRL Strategic Plan. The committee will stay informed about outcomes-based evaluation design and implementation and will manage ongoing evaluation projects designed to assess effectiveness of ACRL programs supporting highlighted, high priority areas of the strategic plan. The committee will focus on assessment priorities as established by the Board of Directors.
Roster (members only)
Hugh C. Atkinson Memorial Award Committee
Charge: To honor the life and accomplishments of Hugh C. Atkinson, and to recognize outstanding accomplishments of an academic librarian who has worked in the areas of library automation or library management and has made contributions (including risk-taking) toward the improvement of library services or to library development or research.
Roster (members only)
Budget & Finance Committee
Charge: To submit annually a recommended budget for the ACRL division (including division publications, the Choice budget, and the allocation of Long Term Investment fund income) to the ACRL Board of Directors for action. To assist the Board in aligning the budget with the strategic plan. To review contributions to ACRL, including contributions to the Friends of ACRL, and recommend to the ACRL Board of Directors the allocation of these contributions to suitable ACRL projects and programs. To advise the ACRL Board of Directors on questions regarding all fiscal matters of the division or its publications, including dues levels and fundraising, especially as they relate to the strategic plan. To represent ACRL at all meetings of the ALA Planning and Budget Assembly and the joint BARC/Division meetings.
Roster (members only)
Friends Fund Subcommittee
Charge: To raise funds in support of ACRL initiatives that are not otherwise funded by ACRL operating funds. It accomplishes his goal by: 1. Working with the Budget and Finance Committee to ascertain and articulate the ACRL Board's annual fundraising goals and objectives. 2. Seeking out, developing, and nurturing relationships with individuals, with a particular emphasis on ACRL membership. 3. Developing and managing mechanisms for Friends donor recognition and acknowledgement. 4. Communicating its fundraising progress to the Colleagues Committee and the ACRL Budget and Finance Committee and the ACRL Executive Director.
Roster (members only)
Friends Fund Disbursement Subcommittee
Charge: To review requests for funding from Friends donations and recommend to the ACRL Budget & Finance Committee which requests should be funded. Funding decisions will be based on the goals and objectives set by the Board and ACRL's Strategic Plan.
Roster(members only)
Bylaws Committee
Charge: To study and review current policies and activities of ACRL in order to propose necessary revisions in the ACRL Constitution and Bylaws; to review the bylaws of ACRL units; to draft proposals for revision of the ACRL Constitution and Bylaws upon request of ACRL units, staff, and members; to monitor proposals and changes in the ALA Constitution and Bylaws and to alert ACRL if it may be affected.
Roster (members only)
Colleagues Committee
Charge: To raise funds in support of the ACRL National Conference. It accomplishes this goal by: 1. Seeking out, developing, and nurturing relationships and sponsorship opportunities with private sector companies, corporations, agencies, organizations, and groups interested in supporting ACRL's mission and mission-related activities. 2. Conducting stewardship activities that involve Colleagues in ACRL's programs and projects. 3. Communicating the results of its fundraising efforts with the Friends Fund subcommittee, the Budget and Finance Committee, the ACRL Executive Director, and the ALA Development Office.
Roster (members only)
Conference Program Planning Committee
(a component committee of the Professional Development Coordinating Committee)
Charge: To plan for the ACRL Conference Program for the year in which the chair is ACRL President; to review and advise on section committee and discussion group conference program proposals; and to make recommendations to the ACRL Board concerning requests for funding and meeting space for conference programs.
Roster (members only)
Copyright Committee
(a component committee of the Advocacy Coordinating Committee)
Charge: To elicit the concerns of ACRL members on copyright and gather information about copyright issues that impinge upon academic libraries; to bring before the ACRL Board issues and problems that may require legal action or interpretation on the part of ACRL; to represent ACRL when necessary in forums about copyright; to work with and appoint liaisons to ACRL Legislation Committee, ALA's Copyright Subcommittee, and, when appropriate, other library or education copyright organizations. The Committee will make formal recommendations to the Government Relations Committee, prior to Midwinter, for the ACRL Legislative Agenda.
Roster (members only)
Visit the Copyright Committee's Web site
Council of Liaisons
(a component committee of the Advocacy Coordinating Committee)
Charge: The Council of Liaisons will carry out a program of in-depth liaison activities with targeted professional associations. Liaisons are to help organizations understand the value-added asset libraries can bring to their respective missions and goals. Further, liaisons bring information and higher education issues of other associations to the attention of the ACRL Board and membership; develop strategies on issues of significant importance to the profession and implement them among the named liaison organizations; and annually advise the Board on desired changes in the target association list or needed changes in the direction of the program.
Roster (members only)
Visit the Council of Liaison's Web site
Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship Committee
Charge: To select a doctoral student in the field of academic librarianship whose research indicates originality, creativity and interest in scholarship. The purpose of the fellowship is to foster research by encouraging and assisting doctoral students with dissertation research.
Roster (members only)
Effective Practices Review Committee
(a component committee of the Professional Development Coordinating Committee)
Charge: To recognize effective practices at academic libraries in areas such as programs, services, facilities, technology, and initiatives.
• The Committee shall review Effective Practice Proposal Forms submitted quarterly by academic libraries. Four submission deadlines will be set: December 1, March 1, June 1, and September 1.
• The Committee shall use established criteria to evaluate the proposals to determine eligibility for inclusion on the Effective Practices website.
• The Committee shall periodically review and deselect practices.
Roster (members only)
Visit the Effective Practices Web site
(Committee on) Ethics
Charge: To increase awareness of professional ethics in academic librarianship to enhance awareness of the ethical context of service in an academic library; to educate academic librarians on how to address ethical issues effectively; to articulate core ethical principles that define the interpretation of ethical issues in the workplace; to clarify professional issues relating to ethics in a way that reflects many perspectives; to promote awareness of academic librarianship ethics on the part of the communities served; to advise the ACRL Board of Directors on issues relating to professional ethics; through its work, to improve the quality of academic library service and of the atmosphere in which it takes place. The Committee will stay aligned with ACRL's Intellectual Freedom Committee and serve as ACRL's link to the ALA Committee on Professional Ethics.
Roster (members only)
Excellence in Academic Libraries Award (Nominations)
Charge: To publicize the award through various means including specific solicitation from individual libraries and ACRL leaders; upon request interpret submission and eligibility criteria; generate and collect nominations by ensuring completeness of documents; and submit nomination packets to the ACRL office by December 5th for duplication and dissemination to the award selection committee. The chair will provide a report to the Board annually indicating the number of applicants and nominees. The Nominations committee will meet at ALA Annual Conference, conduct its work in the fall of the year and present a slate of nominated libraries to the Selection Committee prior to Midwinter Conference (December 5th).
Roster (members only)
Excellence in Academic Libraries Award (Selection)
Charge: Review and evaluate documentation presented by the nominations subcommittee and rank and select outstanding academic libraries that have excelled in furthering the educational missions of their institutions.
Roster (members only)
Government Relations Committee
(a component committee of the Advocacy Coordinating Committee)
Charge: In consultation with the ACRL Board and staff, to take a direct and active role in formulating an ACRL Legislative Agenda seeking formal input from the Scholarly Communications Committee, the Copyright Committee, and other committees and ACRL leaders as appropriate. The Legislative Agenda will be prioritized and include objectives for legislative action at the national level on issues that may affect the welfare of academic and research libraries. The Committee will recommend to the Board at Midwinter Meeting an ACRL legislative agenda; to keep the ACRL Board up to date on the activities and discussions of the ALA Committee on Legislation; to assist the ACRL Board in efforts to incorporate the ACRL legislative agenda into the ALA legislative agenda; to play a liaison role with the Chapters Council in developing mechanisms for stimulating grassroots action on behalf of the ACRL legislative agenda. The Committee will monitor the Legislative Advocacy Plan and make suggestions for improvement as needed. In addition, the Committee will support the ACRL Government Relations Specialist to ensure success of that position. Members of the GRC may be asked to write position papers expanding on Legislative Agenda items. The Chair of the ACRL Government Relations Committee will serve as the liaison to the ALA Committee on Legislation and is expected to take a leadership role in recruiting librarians to the ACRL Legislative Network (legnet), plan the ALA National Library Legislative Day events that ACRL offers, and attend the ALA National Library Legislative Day.
Roster (members only)
ACRL Legislative Agenda
Information Literacy Advisory Committee
Charge: To monitor developments in the field of information literacy and work with interested parties to develop appropriate activities within the Institute for Information Literacy or the ACRL Instruction Section. The committee is advisory to the Institute for Information Literacy, Instruction Section, AASL/ACRL Interdivisional Committee on Information Literacy, and ACRL Board of Directors.
Roster (members only)
Visit the Information Literacy Advisory Committee's Web Site
Institute for Information Literacy Executive Committee
Charge: To act as an oversight council for the Immersion Program; to review Immersion workshop applications; and to develop a plan for other activities under its responsibility.
Roster (members only)
Visit the Institute for Information Literacy Web site
Intellectual Freedom Committee
(a component committee of the Advocacy Coordinating Committee)
Charge: To serve as liaison between ACRL and the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee, and all other groups within the association concerned with intellectual freedom; to advise ACRL on matters relating to intellectual freedom, including matters pertaining to the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the ALA Library Bill of Rights and their implication for academic library collections, services, and programs, and to make recommendations for action to the ACRL Board as appropriate; to prepare and gather materials which will advise the academic librarian of available services and support both in formulating policies of intellectual freedom and for resisting any pressure or action designed to impair the rights of users.
Roster (members only)
Intellectual Freedom Principles for Academic Libraries
International Relations Committee
(a component committee of the Advocacy Coordinating Committee)
Charge: To encourage international cooperation and understanding among academic librarians and educators worldwide; to lead and coordinate the international relations activities of the ACRL and to improve communications regarding these activities; to advise the ACRL Board on international issues related to academic libraries; to cooperate with ALA/IRC and other divisional IRCs; to coordinate ACRL section nominations to IFLA section standing committees and recommend the nominations to the ACRL Board for approval; to make recommendations for knowledgeable and qualified individuals to serve as representatives of the ACRL Division to attend other international associations or meetings as requested; to engage in outreach activities with counterpart groups of librarians and educators abroad; and to carry out international academic library activities recommended by the ALA/IRC and the ACRL Board.
Roster (members only)
(Dr. E. J.) Josey Spectrum Scholar Mentor Committee
Charge: To administer the ACRL Dr. E.J. Josey Spectrum Scholar Mentor Program whereby academic and research librarians would be recruited to serve as mentors to Spectrum Scholars; linking mentors with specific scholars; preparing guidelines and an information program to assist mentors in working with scholars; and sponsoring and co-sponsoring programs on mentoring and collecting feedback on the programs.
Roster (members only)
(Samuel) Lazerow Fellowship Award Committee
Charge: To foster advances in collections or technical services by providing a fellowship for research, travel, or writing to a librarian currently working in acquisitions or technical service sin an academic or research library.
Roster (members only)
Leadership Recruitment and Nomination Committee
Charge: Identify and assess a diverse pool of potential candidates, and select nominees for ACRL Vice- President/President-Elect, ACRL representative on the ALA Council (as necessary), and Directors-at-Large (as necessary). Report to the Board of Directors annually on composition of the candidate pool.
Roster (members only)
Marketing Academic And Research Libraries Committee
(a component committee of the Advocacy Coordinating Committee)
Charge: To address the marketing and promotion of academic and research libraries.Responsibilities for the committee may include the following assignments. 1. Solicit ideas/updates for the Academic and Research Libraries Campaign Toolkit and serve as the editorial board for the toolkit. 2. Update the ACRL @your library website 3. Provide ongoing training opportunities through workshops, preconferences, and program-possible Preconference at ACRL National Conferences and ALA Midwinter Meetings and Annual Conferences. 4. Maintain a pool of trainers who will be available to assist librarians in developing local marketing plans 5. Establish liaison with other appropriate committees throughout ALA, including the ALA Public Awareness Advisory Committee and possibly in related library and higher education organizations such as ARL, ACE, etc. 6. Monitor ACADEMICPR electronic discussion list for marketing/promotion ideas that should be given a wider audience. 7. Conclude an evaluation of committee activities after 4 years.
Roster (members only)
Membership Advisory Committee
Charge: To serve in an advisory capacity to ACRL staff on matters relating to association recruitment and retention objectives detailed in the strategic plan; to provide input to the ACRL staff or ACRL Board on membership issues as appropriate.
Roster (members only)
National Conference Coordinating Committee
Charge: Take responsibility for the content of the national conference by overseeing the planning of the program and social activities; generate enthusiasm for the conference; promote the national conference and work at keeping the conference uppermost in the minds of ACRL members and leaders.
Roster (members only)
Visit the National Conference Website
Note: Charges and rosters for National Conference component committees are available in ACRL’s Directory of Leadership.
President’s Program Planning Committee
(a component committee of the Professional Development Coordinating Committee)
Charge: To assist in the planning of the ACRL President's Program and to handle all local arrangements.
Roster (2008) (members only)
Roster (2009) (members only)
Professional Development Coordinating Committee
Charge: To be responsible for coordinating a broadly defined range of professional development efforts throughout ACRL and to organize these efforts into a coherent and effectively implemented set of programs and initiatives that more closely align to the strategic plan. To regularly scan the association and the profession for new initiatives that support the association's strategic professional development objectives. To enable communication with the Board of Directors on professional development strategies and issues at all levels of ACRL and to make recommendations to the Board regarding the most effective and efficient committee structure to achieve these ends. To raise awareness of, and to promote lifelong learning as the cornerstone of professionalism. To study and review the educational needs of the association. To identify, assess, and recommend programs that enrich and enhance the professional skills of ACRL members enabling them to turn development activities into improved service. To publicize best practices in professional development. To manage the scholarship application and selection process for the ACRL/Harvard Leadership Institute. To manage the solicitation, application, selection and funding process for annual conference programs.
The Conference Program Planning, Effective Practices, and President's Program Planning Committees are component committees of the Professional Development Coordinating Committee.
Roster (members only)
ACRL Statement on Professional Development
Publications Coordinating Committee
Charge: To oversee and coordinate the ACRL publishing and information dissemination activities in all formats; to consider suggestions for publications, and to advise as to means and format of publishing; to maintain publishing standards; to review the work of the various publications and their boards; and to stimulate and encourage research and writing which might lead to publication under ACRL auspices. Core Responsibilities:
The C&RL, C&RL News, CHOICE, CLIP Notes, Publications in Librarianship, RBM, and Resources for College Libraries Editorial Boards and the ACRLog and New Publications Advisory Boards are component committees of the Publications Coordinating Committee.
Roster (members only)
Racial and Ethnic Diversity Committee
Charge: To initiate, advise and mobilize support for appropriate action related to issues of racial and ethnic diversity in academic librarianship including recruitment, advancement and retention of underrepresented groups to academic librarianship and the promotion of quality academic library and information services for members of racial and ethnic groups.
Roster (members only)
Visit the Racial and Ethnic Diversity Committee's Web Site
Research Coordinating Committee
Charge: The Research Coordinating Committee is responsible for coordinating a broadly defined range of research initiatives and programs throughout ACRL, including those designed to support one or more identified research agendas. The committee regularly scans the Association and the profession for research initiatives that support the Association's strategic objectives. The committee enables communication with the Board of Directors on research strategies and issues at all levels of the Association and will make recommendations to the Board regarding the most effective and efficient committee structure to achieve these ends. The Assessment, Research Planning and Review, and Research Program Committees are component committees of the Research Coordinating Committee. The Research Coordinating Committee may also charge Task Forces, as needed, to accomplish well-defined initiatives in support of its charge to coordinate and support research initiatives and programs across the Association.
Roster (members only)
Research Planning and Review Committee
(a component committee of the Research Coordinating Committee)
Charge: The Research Planning and Review Committee is responsible for the design and development of documents to be regularly provided to the Board of Directors as part of ongoing planning activities, e.g., the "Annual Assumptions" and the "Environmental Scan." The "Annual Assumptions" document is compiled annually based on member feedback during the Spring and Summer, and provided to the Board as background to the Fall meeting of the Executive Committee. The "Environmental Scan" is compiled by committee members, and through input from ACRL Committees and Sections, and provided to the Board biennially for presentation at the National Conference. The committee will collaborate, as appropriate, with research committees and planning committees across the Association at the Division and Section level in the development of these documents.
Roster (members only)
Research Program Committee
(a component committee of the Research Coordinating Committee)
Charge: The Research Program Committee is responsible for the development of programming for presentation at meetings of the American Library Association and the Association of College & Research Libraries aimed at the development and improvement of research skills among academic librarians, and discussion of peer-reviewed, research-based presentations. Research programs may be presented in face-to-face or virtual learning environments, may take the form of presentations, workshops, or pre-conference programs, and may be presented at the national, regional, or state level. The committee will work through the Professional Development Coordinating Committee and National Conference Coordinating Committee to design, deliver, and assess the impact of research program presentations, and may collaborate with Chapters Council on the development of programming appropriate for delivery through Chapter programs.
Roster (members only)
Scholarly Communication Committee
Charge: To formulate and advance ACRL’s scholarly communications agenda, which is designed to help reshape the system of scholarly communication in partnership with other library and higher education organizations; to address educational programming, advocacy, coalition-building, and research in scholarly communication; to work with the ACRL Board, other ACRL units, and ACRL staff to accomplish the objectives of the agenda; and to inform and advise the ACRL Board on issues related to scholarly communication. The Committee will make formal recommendations to the Government Relations Committee, prior to Midwinter, for the ACRL Legislative Agenda.
Roster (members only)
Scholarly Communication information on the ACRL Web site
Standards & Accreditation Committee
(a component committee of the Advocacy Coordinating Committee)
Charge: This is an umbrella committee to which the ACRL Board of Directors has delegated the responsibility for the development of standards and guidelines adopted and promoted by the Association, and for establishing and maintaining appropriate liaisons with accrediting agencies and other organizations that monitor and evaluate the performance of academic libraries. The authority to adopt, revise, or rescind standards and guidelines documents resides with the ACRL Board of Directors.
Tasks:
• Monitors existing ACRL standards and guidelines and recommends revision or recession when appropriate to the ACRL Board.
• Recommends new standards or guidelines as needed.
• Assist units of ACRL in developing standards and guidelines.
• Maintains a manual of policies and procedures related to the development of standards within ACRL.
• Recommends to the ACRL Board the acceptability of proposed standards, guidelines, and related documents.
• Guides and monitors the solicitation of member comment on ACRL standards and guidelines through email distribution lists (listservs) before they are recommended to the ACRL Board.
• Holds or delegates the holding of open hearings on ACRL standards when this option for gather member comments is employed.
• Develops and implements plans to improve the quality of academic libraries through the publicizing and implementation of ACRL standards and guidelines.
• Works with organizations and accrediting bodies to strengthen and sustain the quality and significance of academic libraries.
Roster (members only)
Complete list of ACRL Standards & Guidelines
Sources of Information on Performance and Outcome Assessment
Statistics Committee
Charge: Define the statistical needs of academic and research libraries; examine whether or how these needs are now being met; suggest ways ACRL could aid academic and research librarians and the profession by generating and/or disseminating these statistics; suggest applications of statistics for interpretation and analysis of library operations.
Roster (members only)
(Committee on the) Status of Academic Librarians
(a component committee of the Advocacy Coordinating Committee)
Charge: To recommend appropriate policy and/or action on matters in academic libraries insofar as such matters affect the status of academic librarians; to be informed on all aspects of the status of academic librarians; to develop standards, guidelines, procedures and programs for the attainment and protection of appropriate status.
Roster (members only)
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