OUTREACH/ADVOCACY COORDINATOR'S REPORT
Ian Fairclough
May 22, 2003
OLAC Brochure
Thanks to numerous people who have helped with the creation and development of the brochure since its first appearance in 1995--most recently, OLAC webster Sue Neumeister; also, Lowell Ashley, Richard Baumgarten, and Kay Johnson. The OLAC Brochure is now available on the OLAC Website <http://www.olacinc.org/about.html>. Persons wishing to make a copy for their own use can print it; they can also download it, either as a .pdf file or a Word document. Some people may like to edit the brochure further; to do so, right-click on the .doc link, then select "Save Target As ..." The document will then be available for local edits in Word. OLAC members making presentations or attending workshops, are invited to duplicate and distribute the brochure. Other agencies with whom OLAC has a relationship, such as OCLC networks, might wish to reformat the contents according to the design format of their own set of brochures.
OLAC member Linda Owen has suggested preparation of a public relations package, for which the brochure can serve as a central element. In January, Robert Freeborn brought to the Board's attention the fact that Music OCLC Users Group (MOUG) has set up an agreement with Cafe Shops.com <http://www.cafeshops.com/moug> for selling basic MOUG merchandise (such as mugs and mousepads). OLAC might pursue this idea with a view to developing OLAC merchandise to feature in the public relations package.
OCLC-OLAC Relationship
Last Fall, initial contact was made with representatives from various OCLC regional networks. Since then, some follow-up has taken place. Prof. James Maccaferri (Clarion University) presented a workshop with PALINET, at which he distributed copies of the OLAC Brochure. SOLINET representative Marlee Dorn and BCR's Linda Gonzalez have expressed interest in helping with distribution of the brochure and past issues of the OLAC Newsletter. Hopefully, all those persons who provide instruction in cataloging Internet and AV media resources in workshops offered through OCLC regional networks will receive invitations to participate in the forthcoming OLAC Conference, as presenters, as workshop participants, in some other official capacity, or simply as conference attendees. I suggest that OLAC consider a waiver of registration fee for such persons and that they be strongly encouraged to attend the plenary session on outreach/advocacy.
Successor as Outreach/Advocacy Coordinator
At the time of my appointment in January 2000, no terminal date for the period of service was fixed. Believing a timely rotation of positions to be in the association's best interests, I therefore suggested to the OLAC Board that they consider seeking another person as Coordinator. The position announcement states that the incumbent will serve as an ex-officio Board member, a status I did not have, but one which in my opinion will result in closer harmony with the Board's vision for outreach and advocacy. My best wishes to the next Coordinator!
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Last updated: September 3, 2003
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