Much of the work of STS is carried on by committees. Except for the Executive Committee, which has been described previously and whose members are elected by the section membership, all committee members and chairs are appointed by the vice-chair/chair-elect of the section and serve for either one, two, or three year terms. All committee chairs serve on the STS Council, a forum for reporting committee activities, sharing ideas and developing policies for the section.
To serve on any committee within the Association of College and Research Libraries, you must be a member of the Association. It is American Library Association policy that no member of ALA may serve simultaneously on more than three committees, including division and section committees, unless membership is ex-officio. It is also ALA policy that committee members are to attend the meetings of the committee at both the Midwinter and Annual conferences of the Association. Neither ALA nor ACRL provides funds for committee members to attend these meetings.
All committee meetings, except meetings of the Nominating Committee, Research Committee, and some meetings of the Oberly Award, are open to all members of ALA.
Several committees are discussed in-depth in this manual due to the nature of their responsibilities and need to meet many ACRL deadlines in order to accomplish their work. The STS Organizational Chart provides the charge, composition and membership requirements and/or terms.
What is your name?
Marianne Stowell Bracke
What institution or company do you work for, and what is your job title?
Wayne State University, Research Data Librarian
What is the name of the STS committee that you'll be telling us about today, and what is your role on the committee?
Awards Committee, co-chair
Please give us a one sentence summary of what the main work of your committee entails.
Our work has changed a bit with the new ACRL awards policy changes, but in the near future we give out the Oberly Award, the Professional Development Grant, and the EDI Grant.
Describe the typical workload of your STS committee. How many hours do you spend on committee work each week/month/year?
Right now, we are in a holding pattern until ACRL makes all the policy changes and gives us the green light to start the awards back up. However, we are meeting a couple times per year to keep everyone up-to-date.
What skills or knowledge have you gained from serving on this STS committee?
Patience! As we wait for all the changes to move through all the steps.
What is the most fun or interesting thing you've done as part of this committee?
Gotten to work with my co-chair, Poornima Gunasekaran!
Share a link to a LibGuide, project website, or other link that gives additional information about your committee or examples of its recent work, and tell us about it.
https://www.ala.org/acrl/aboutacrl/directoryofleadership/sections/sts/acr-stsawoberly
What is your name?
Clarissa Ihssen
What institution or company do you work for, and what is your job title?
American University, Science Librarian
What is the name of the STS committee that you'll be telling us about today, and what is your role on the committee?
I am Co-Chair of the College Science Librarian Committee
Please give us a one sentence summary of what the main work of your committee entails.
My committee provides a space for librarians to come together and discuss various topics that interest them.
Describe the typical workload of your STS committee. How many hours do you spend on committee work each week/month/year?
I think the workload is pretty light! We mostly have planning meetings and event meetings, totaling about 1-2 hours a month.
What skills or knowledge have you gained from serving on this STS committee?
I have been able to network and meet other science librarians, which I think is the biggest benefit of being on this committee. As a Co-Chair I am also gaining some leadership and organizational skills!
What special projects or events is your committee currently working on?
We will have a Spring program in 2025!
What is the most fun or interesting thing you've done as part of this committee?
I love hosting and facilitating the discussion groups each semester! I learn so much by listening to other people and I get to practice my facilitation skills.
What is your name?
Erica Newcome
What institution or company do you work for, and what is your job title?
University of Miami, STEM & Interdisciplinary Research Librarian
What is the name of the STS committee that you'll be telling us about today, and what is your role on the committee?
Data Curation and Assessment Committee
Please give us a one sentence summary of what the main work of your committee entails.
To serve as a resource clearinghouse for survey, IRB, and data collection best practices for the Section and advise the membership and other committees on data management.
Describe the typical workload of your STS committee. How many hours do you spend on committee work each week/month/year?
5 hours/month
What skills or knowledge have you gained from serving on this STS committee?
Leadership
What special projects or events is your committee currently working on?
Reviewing the committee's charge and LibGuide.
What is the most fun or interesting thing you've done as part of this committee?
Creating webinars
What is your name?
Hannah Gascho Rempel
Jodi Coalter
What institution or company do you work for, and what is your job title?
Hannah: Oregon State University, Research & Learning Department Head
Jodi: Michigan State University, Life Sciences Librarian
What is the name of the STS committee that you'll be telling us about today, and what is your role on the committee?
STS Development Committee; co-chairs
Please give us a one sentence summary of what the main work of your committee entails.
We help make connections between STS projects that need additional funds and donor vendors (like EBSCO, Scopus, or Elsevier) who are willing to fund them.
Describe the typical workload of your STS committee. How many hours do you spend on committee work each week/month/year?
In general the workload is just a few hours a quarter, with episodic work when there are funding proposals to consider, donors to check in with, and ACRL administrative staff to work with on financial logistics.
We meet about twice a year, sometimes twice. Most of our work is via email. I would say we spend about 1 hour a month on Development issues.
What skills or knowledge have you gained from serving on this STS committee?
Navigating different perspectives across the STEM librarian community about the role of vendors in our professional association work.
I have a much better appreciation for vendor relations, as well as how long the process is for communicating with ALA. I also better understand how we all work and function together.
What special projects or events is your committee currently working on?
NA - this isn't really how we work
What is the most fun or interesting thing you've done as part of this committee?
Some members of our committee really enjoy the relationships they develop with vendors.
What is your name?
Aditi Gupta and Jeanne Hoover
What institution or company do you work for, and what is your job title?
Engineering & Science Librarian, University of Victoria Libraries; Head, Scholarly Communication, Academic Library Services, East Carolina University
What is the name of the STS committee that you'll be telling us about today, and what is your role on the committee?
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee, Co-Chairs
Please give us a one sentence summary of what the main work of your committee entails.
Maintain current awareness of the EDI environment, establish formal and informal relationships with EDI working groups external to the Section, and assist other STS committees and discussion groups with best practices to implement STS' EDI values.
Describe the typical workload of your STS committee. How many hours do you spend on committee work each week/month/year?
Approximately 0.5 hrs/week; 2-3 hours/month; 10-15 hours/year.
What skills or knowledge have you gained from serving on this STS committee?
Networking, working with STS Executive Committee, EDI issues in STEM librarianship, and management and communication skills.
What special projects or events is your committee currently working on?
Creating a list of resources on EDI in STEM librarianship; hosting a webinar panel and couple of different events during the year to bring STEM librarians together.
What is the most fun or interesting thing you've done as part of this committee?
Updated an extensive list of past initiatives.
Share a link to a LibGuide, project website, or other link that gives additional information about your committee or examples of its recent work, and tell us about it.
https://acrl.libguides.com/sts/edi/home
What is your name?
Dan Broadbent
What institution or company do you work for, and what is your job title?
Brigham Young University, Physical & Computer Sciences Librarian
What is the name of the STS committee that you'll be telling us about today, and what is your role on the committee?
Government Information Committee Meeting, Co-chair
Please give us a one sentence summary of what the main work of your committee entails.
We serve as a focus for STS member concerns about science and technology government issues and to cooperate with other ACRL and ALA legislative groups as appropriate.
Describe the typical workload of your STS committee. How many hours do you spend on committee work each week/month/year?
We meet as a committee once each month for an hour. We also formed 2 sub-committees this year to accomplish specific goals. Those committees meet each month for about an hour. To prepare for those meetings and to carry out action items takes about 2 more hours per month. So, about 4 hours per month is needed.
What skills or knowledge have you gained from serving on this STS committee?
I have learned about connections between libraries, technology, and government that I was not aware of before. Work on this committee has opened my eyes to new issues and ways of approaching my work. I also appreciate the professional connections I have made.
What special projects or events is your committee currently working on?
We are preparing webinars on two important topics: 1) Artificial Intelligence issues, STEM, and Government; and 2) Data Sovereignty and Governance Issues Related to Indigenous Tribes
What is the most fun or interesting thing you've done as part of this committee?
I helped organize last year's webinar on "Balancing Scientific Research with the Rights of Indigenous Peoples through a Mutuality Framework". This was rewarding and informative.
Share a link to a LibGuide, project website, or other link that gives additional information about your committee or examples of its recent work, and tell us about it.
https://acrl.libguides.com/stscomm/government/resources
What is your name?
Meg Frost
What institution or company do you work for, and what is your job title?
Life Sciences Librarian, Brigham Young University
What is the name of the STS committee that you'll be telling us about today, and what is your role on the committee?
Hot Topics, one of two co-chairs
Please give us a one sentence summary of what the main work of your committee entails.
Identifying and facilitating conversation about currents trends and issues of interest to science librarians
Describe the typical workload of your STS committee. How many hours do you spend on committee work each week/month/year?
As a co-chair, I put in about one hour/month on average. A little more when planning an event, then less once the event is over.
What skills or knowledge have you gained from serving on this STS committee?
I have learned about the efforts and logistics that go into setting up a virtual panel discussion. In the process, I have also become more aware of the work that many other science librarians around the country are doing.
What special projects or events is your committee currently working on?
We are developing a virtual panel discussion on AI and OER for early February.
What is the most fun or interesting thing you've done as part of this committee?
Getting to work with other science librarians
What is your name?
Michelle Mussuto
What institution or company do you work for, and what is your job title?
California State University Chico, Instruction Librarian
What is the name of the STS committee that you'll be telling us about today, and what is your role on the committee?
Information Literacy Committee, Co-chair
Please give us a one sentence summary of what the main work of your committee entails.
We maintain a LibGuide and plan journal chats (discussion group)
Describe the typical workload of your STS committee. How many hours do you spend on committee work each week/month/year?
This committee is divided into two subcommittees, one that works on the LibGuide and one that works on planning/organizing the journal chats. We meet monthly for an hour. Time spent on the subcommittees varies, but I'd say maybe a hour a month.
What skills or knowledge have you gained from serving on this STS committee?
I've learned about new resources and have a better understanding of how the administration side of ACRL works in relation to committees.
What special projects or events is your committee currently working on?
We don't have any special projects. Our subcommittee work is our project.
Share a link to a LibGuide, project website, or other link that gives additional information about your committee or examples of its recent work, and tell us about it.
https://acrl.libguides.com/sts/scienceinfolit/Instruction
This is the LibGuide we maintain. Our goal this year is to reorganize it and refresh its look. Last year we added information about artificial intelligence. Our intention is to update this tab with more current information.
What is your name?
Jennifer Long
What institution or company do you work for, and what is your job title?
Troy University, Science Librarian
What is the name of the STS committee that you'll be telling us about today, and what is your role on the committee?
Membership & Recruitment, Co-Chair
Please give us a one sentence summary of what the main work of your committee entails.
Organizing outreach and programming to recruit and celebrate STS members.
Describe the typical workload of your STS committee. How many hours do you spend on committee work each week/month/year?
Workload varies across the year but never more than 5 hours per month.
What skills or knowledge have you gained from serving on this STS committee?
Coordinating and leading meetings as well as learning about the structure and organization of STS.
What special projects or events is your committee currently working on?
Hosting webinar to encourage members to volunteer to serve on STS committees and offering membership networking events at conferences.
What is the most fun or interesting thing you've done as part of this committee?
Spotlighting new and current members which we hope to revive in the future. Recruiting new librarians, welcoming them to STS, and connecting them with a support network of colleagues is a rewarding aspect of this committee.
Share a link to a LibGuide, project website, or other link that gives additional information about your committee or examples of its recent work, and tell us about it.
Highlighting the work of various STS committees through the Year in the Life series published on the About Our Committees guide at https://acrl.libguides.com/stscomm
What is your name?
Bonnie Fong
What institution or company do you work for, and what is your job title?
Montclair State University, Head for Research and Reference Services
What is the name of the STS committee that you'll be telling us about today, and what is your role on the committee?
STS Nominating Committee, Chair
Please give us a one sentence summary of what the main work of your committee entails.
The committee seek nominations and recruits candidates to create a slate of candidates for the next ACRL elections cycle for open STS Executive Committee positions.
Describe the typical workload of your STS committee. How many hours do you spend on committee work each week/month/year?
The total time commitment for committee members is probably 10-12 hours, with the bulk of the work taking place from May to November. The Chair of the committee typically spends about 20 hours on committee work around the same time of year. There may be 1-2 meetings each year, with the majority of work completed via email or independently.
What skills or knowledge have you gained from serving on this STS committee?
Serving on this committee can give members insight into how the nominations and elections process typically works for ACRL Sections.
What is your name?
Katie Kohn
What institution or company do you work for, and what is your job title?
Claremont Colleges Library, STEM Librarian
What is the name of the STS committee that you'll be telling us about today, and what is your role on the committee?
Organization & Planning Committee Co-Chair
Please give us a one sentence summary of what the main work of your committee entails.
The committee facilitates the creation of the Science and Technology Section's report for the ACRL Plan for Excellence by soliciting the submissions of other committee chairs, as well as other organizational projects as needed.
Describe the typical workload of your STS committee. How many hours do you spend on committee work each week/month/year?
2-6 hours per semester
What skills or knowledge have you gained from serving on this STS committee?
The committee has helped me gain insight into the STS structure and ALAConnect
What is your name?
Lance Simpson
What institution or company do you work for, and what is your job title?
I work for The University of Alabama, and my title is Assessment Librarian.
What is the name of the STS committee that you'll be telling us about today, and what is your role on the committee?
Professional Development, co-chair.
Please give us a one sentence summary of what the main work of your committee entails.
The main work of the Professional Development Committee is to facilitate opportunities for STEM librarians to level up their skills, to connect with mentors, and to share their journey with librarians new to the profession.
Describe the typical workload of your STS committee. How many hours do you spend on committee work each week/month/year?
5-10 hours per month
What skills or knowledge have you gained from serving on this STS committee?
During my time with this committee, I've had an opportunity to help in pairing mentees and mentors based on common goals and interests, to help plan and facilitate a virtual event, and to keep up with professional development needs and opportunities for STEM librarians. It's a really fun committee to be part of!
What special projects or events is your committee currently working on?
We are currently preparing for an event in which our mentor/mentees can all come together virtually and talk through current topics within STEM librarianship that are important to them.
What is the most fun or interesting thing you've done as part of this committee?
I was very lucky to find this committee when I first became a STEM librarian. I participated as a mentee in the mentoring program, and found my experience to be invaluable in learning the field as a person who had transitioned from a very different role within librarianship. Now, I get to help in managing this program that has meant so much to me. I love getting to see how things progress for the mentoring pairs, and to hear from them in our annual event.
Share a link to a LibGuide, project website, or other link that gives additional information about your committee or examples of its recent work, and tell us about it.
https://acrl.libguides.com/sts_professional_development_cmt Included here is the link for our LibGuide with more information about the STS Events Calendar, and Professional Development Mentoring Program.
What is your name?
Elizabeth (Betsy) Sterner
What institution or company do you work for, and what is your job title?
Northern Illinois University
What is the name of the STS committee that you'll be telling us about today, and what is your role on the committee?
Publications; co-chair
Please give us a one sentence summary of what the main work of your committee entails.
The committee helps to manage the Section's web presence and to serve as a resource for the publishing needs of STS committees and other publication outputs like the STS Signal newsletter.
Describe the typical workload of your STS committee. How many hours do you spend on committee work each week/month/year?
Our committee’s workload varies depending on whether you are working on a project or not. Currently, we meet twice a semester, but this fluctuates depending on projects.
What skills or knowledge have you gained from serving on this STS committee?
I've learned a great deal about ACRL and STS publications of all types.
What is your name?
What institution or company do you work for, and what is your job title?
What is the name of the STS committee that you'll be telling us about today, and what is your role on the committee?
Please give us a one sentence summary of what the main work of your committee entails.
Describe the typical workload of your STS committee. How many hours do you spend on committee work each week/month/year?
What skills or knowledge have you gained from serving on this STS committee?
What special projects or events is your committee currently working on?
What is the most fun or interesting thing you've done as part of this committee?
Share a link to a LibGuide, project website, or other link that gives additional information about your committee or examples of its recent work, and tell us about it.
What is your name?
William Jacobs
What institution or company do you work for, and what is your job title?
San Francisco State University, STEM Librarian
What is the name of the STS committee that you'll be telling us about today, and what is your role on the committee?
Research Committee
Please give us a one sentence summary of what the main work of your committee entails.
The Research Committee organizes an annual program of talks on Science Librarianship related topics.
Describe the typical workload of your STS committee. How many hours do you spend on committee work each week/month/year?
We have a few meetings in the Fall to set up plans for the year, promote a call for proposals in the Winter, review the submissions in the Spring, and then organize a virtual mini-conference in the late-Spring/early-Summer. No more than a few hours work in each season for the average committee member.
What skills or knowledge have you gained from serving on this STS committee?
I had some previous experience running in-person poster sessions and conference programs, but this is the first time I've organized virtual sessions. I'm learning to deal with some new challenges in running them.
What special projects or events is your committee currently working on?
We will be presenting a series of talks and panels in mid-June. Keep an eye out for the call for proposals and details as they solidify!
What is the most fun or interesting thing you've done as part of this committee?
I really enjoy reviewing the proposals and seeing the final talks to learn what everyone is working on. It's satisfying to be able to help bring the sessions to our community.
Share a link to a LibGuide, project website, or other link that gives additional information about your committee or examples of its recent work, and tell us about it
https://www.ala.org/acrl/aboutacrl/directoryofleadership/sections/sts/acr-stsfstrr
What is your name?
Haoyong Lan
What institution or company do you work for, and what is your job title?
Engineering Librarian, Carnegie Mellon University
What is the name of the STS committee that you'll be telling us about today, and what is your role on the committee?
Scholarly Communication Committee, co-chair
Please give us a one sentence summary of what the main work of your committee entails.
To address ongoing, critical work in open access and scholarly communication, and will specifically address the following related areas: education, communication, advocacy, collaboration and other emerging areas.
Describe the typical workload of your STS committee. How many hours do you spend on committee work each week/month/year?
1 hour each week
What skills or knowledge have you gained from serving on this STS committee?
Hosting meeting and project management
What special projects or events is your committee currently working on?
Aligning collection budgets with values
Share a link to a LibGuide, project website, or other link that gives additional information about your committee or examples of its recent work, and tell us about it.
Sci Post Repository: https://acrl.libguides.com/scipost/1
What is your name?
Elliott Smith
What institution or company do you work for, and what is your job title?
Biology & Bioinformatics Librarian, University of California Berkeley
What is the name of the STS committee that you'll be telling us about today, and what is your role on the committee?
STEMM Librarianship Resources Committee
Please give us a one sentence summary of what the main work of your committee entails.
Our main work involves writing and publishing posts to the Inside Science Resources blog each month about interesting resources, issues, trends, challenges, and best practices relevant to science librarians and the communities we serve.
Describe the typical workload of your STS committee. How many hours do you spend on committee work each week/month/year?
As co-chair I’d estimate that I spend an average of about 4 - 6 hours a month on committee work. Members of the committee are asked to write two blog posts a year and attend a committee kick-off meeting in August, perhaps a total of 5 - 8 hours of committee work per year. So it’s a fairly light workload.
What skills or knowledge have you gained from serving on this STS committee?
The great thing about working on this committee is that each month I have the opportunity to learn about a database, tool, hot issue, or other topic from the new Inside Science Resources post. And having to write two posts a year motivates me to actively investigate new science-related resources and keep abreast of issues in the field of STEMM librarianship.
What special projects or events is your committee currently working on?
We did not plan any special projects or focus on specific themes this year, but we have done so in the past and may do so again in the future depending on the committee members’ interest and bandwidth.
What is the most fun or interesting thing you've done as part of this committee?
The most fun part of this committee is working with and learning from my incredible science librarian colleagues from across the country.
Share a link to a LibGuide, project website, or other link that gives additional information about your committee or examples of its recent work, and tell us about it.
The Inside Science Resources blog (https://insidescienceresources.wordpress.com/) is where we share useful knowledge, ideas and insights every month. We hope there’s something of interest for every science librarian.
