Strategic Plan

for the Computing Services Special Interest Section of the American Association of Law Libraries (1999-2001)

The Strategic Planning Committee of the Computing Services SIS has developed a strategic plan for the coming two years. The plan is intended to address the interests, needs, and talents of members of the Computing Services Special Interest Section. It was presented for discussion and adopted at the CS-SIS business meeting at the AALL Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. We are most interested in the reactions of CS-SIS members to this draft strategic plan. Please send your comments to Sheri Lewis at lewis_sh@mercer.edu.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Computing Services Special Interest Section of the American Association of Law Libraries is to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, information and knowledge concerning computer-related technology among law librarians and to serve a leadership role in the ongoing professional development of law librarians as they evaluate, implement, and use computer-related services.

STRATEGIC DIRECTIVE #1: REVITALIZE THE LEADERSHIP AND INVOLVEMENT OF THE CS SIS MEMBERSHIP

Specific Action #1: Amend the bylaws to add two members at large to the executive board.

Implementation: Assign the task of drafting the amendment to the executive board or a committee of its choice. The PLL Strategic Plan could be used as a resource for this amendment.

Anticipated completion: Annual Meeting 2000

Specific Action #2: Establish a formal mentoring system of older and newer members within the section based on type of library, geographic location, areas of interest and expertise.

Implementation: Assign this task to the CS SIS membership committee to put the plan in place and then assign responsibility for administering this program to one of the members at large.

Anticipated completion: Annual Meeting 2000

Specific Action #3: Conduct brief, annual surveys of the CS SIS membership via electronic mail concerning reactions to the recent activities of the section and what their expectations and needs are from membership in the section.

Implementation: Assign this task to the CS SIS membership committee.

Anticipated completion: Annually, beginning in the fall of 1999

STRATEGIC DIRECTIVE #2: ESTABLISH THE CS SIS AS A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR THE CONTINUING EDUCATION OF THE AALL MEMBERSHIP IN THE AREA OF TECHNOLOGY

Rationale: The knowledge base of the section's membership is vast and relatively untapped. The CS SIS membership survey from 1996-7 indicates that section members are concerned with professional development and list web documentation as the most valuable method of delivery.

Specific Action #1: Create a list of experts within our section who are knowledgeable in various areas of technology and willing to share their expertise with others.

Implementation: The experts list will be created and updated as part of the CS SIS membership committee's annual survey.

Anticipated completion: annually, beginning in the fall of 1999

Specific Action #2: Develop a library of technology-related documentation at the CS SIS web site (and linked from AALLNET).

Part of this library would include the CS SIS newsletter and articles therein.

Implementation: Assigned to one of the members at large (as webmaster) along with a publications committee appointed by the executive board.

Anticipated completion: Ongoing, beginning in the fall of 1999

Specific Action #3: Establish a half-day event each year at the AALL annual meeting during which some "experts" from our section offer demonstrations/mini-workshops/presentations on various technology.

Demonstrations of the CS SIS web site would be one of the ongoing offerings. This event would be similar to a "vendor" room with both various ongoing demonstrations and formal presentations as well as refreshments.

Implementation: Assigned to the vice-chair, chair-elect soliciting the assistance of the AALL Professional Development Committee and (perhaps) vendors for sponsorship.

Anticipated completion: First half-day event to begin at Annual Meeting 2000

STRATEGIC DIRECTIVE #3: PROMOTE A GREATER PRESENCE OF THE CS SIS AT AALL's ANNUAL MEETING AND AT MEETINGS OF REGIONAL CHAPTERS

Rationale: Relatively low involvement of section members compared to size of membership such as poor attendance at section meetings and events, lack of response to solicitations for participation, and lack of volunteerism.

Specific Action #1: Same as Specific Action #3 for DIRECTIVE #2.

Specific Action #2: In addition to the business meeting, schedule a second event for the section membership at the AALL annual meeting.

This would be a breakfast event (ideally paid for from section membership dues and perhaps vendor sponsorship) which would include a featured speaker.

Implementation: Assigned to the vice-chair chair elect to coordinate.

Anticipated completion: Annually, beginning with Annual Meeting 2000

Specific Action #3: Schedule a social event, such as a no host dinner, of CS SIS section members at each of the meetings of regional chapters of the association.

Implementation: Assigned to the Chair who, in working with the membership committee, will identify section members within each regional chapter to organize these social events.

Anticipated completion: Ongoing, beginning in the fall of 1999

Strategic Planning Committee Sheri Lewis, Chair
Don Arndt
Mary Cornaby
Tom Fleming
Lyonette Louis-Jacques
Jim Milles
Evy Posamentier
Maureen Shepard
Genie Tyburski

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