ACRL CLS Membership Committee College Libraries Section

As I mentioned during the conference call how can we help define what CLS does for new members.  What do new members want to know about.  How are we different from the other sections?  Things to include in the new member letters and the welcome back letters.

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The letters are a little long.  Do we need to break them up into 3 mailing?  Perhaps have the first mailing highlight some of the unique programs of CLS, the second letter could be about volunteering for the section, the third letter could be about new features of CLS.

Will these letters be sent out by snail mail? Will it be feasible to send them out by email? Since the letters have URLs, I think members are more likely to visit them as an active URL in an e-mail. Otherwise, if they aren't in front of a computer when they read the letter, they might toss it aside and forget about it (that's the case with me anyway.)

I agree with highlighting the benefits of joining CLS. I'm not sure that it's necessary to highlight the differences between CLS and other committees. I think the benefits alone should be convincing enough.

I do think the letters are a bit lengthy. Perhaps we can condense them into bullet points? Do we need the general ACRL information in the letter?

I've uploaded a draft with the previous points in mind. Please feel free to share your feedback.

I would definitely think that these would be sent out by email rather than snail mail; since we do not have a budget for sending out materials via snail mail. 

I agree that the letters are length; but the content makes it worthwhile to send out. It is probably possible to shorten it as you suggested Joni. What do others think?

We could shorten it, or send three shorter letters, as someone had suggested. If we do the latter, it will help keep us visible and in the forefront of members' conciousness, so to speak! Just a thought...

Hi everyone. This is Dee sorry for missing the first conference call. As I told Sally, I was in the woods cooking for 50 freshman for 3 days. (I'm much recovered now!)

As for the letters, Joniclare, I like what you have done. I agree that the beginning of the letters have too much about volunteering, committee work, and ACRL. As I new member I'd want to know what the section does and what it can do for me then I'd want to hear about volunteering etc. I think you followed that format nicely with your new version.

If we stick to something like Joniclare's version, I don't think there is a need for 3 welcome letters, however, as I was saying to Sally, it might be nice to do something similar to what New Members Round Table does with their listserv by each month offering a new discussion for members to contribute to or perhaps a new issue to think about or a new part of CLS to highlight in more depth. It doesn't even have to be on the listserv....though it might give the listserv a jump. Perhaps it could be an ALA connect thing or just an update email.

Though this might be straying a little from the letters, I think having something to focus on each month would be great whether it be an issue/question to pose for discussion or highlights of the section and what it can do.

I'm not sure as to format. On the one hand, I get so many emails, things in print tend to catch my attention. But if we don't have the money, perhaps email is the way to go.

dee

I also like Joni's revisions and I agree with Dee that one letter should be sufficient. Perhaps we could, as was suggested during the conference call, send out a follow-up letter letter in few months, perhaps in Jan. or Feb., as a reminder to people. I think that the welcome back letter could also follow the same format and use most of the same wording as the welcome letter. Should we include the link addresses for Facebook, Twitter, and ALA Connect to the Connect & Communicate section? It might be helpful and make it convenient for people to have the link available in the letter, especially if we send them out by email. Just a few thoughts. Thanks.

Samantha

Hi Dee,

This past Spring, the Professional Development Committee tried posting monthly discussion topics on Collib-L related to professional development issues but had limited success. Not to say that we couldn't try something like that again--perhaps the timing wasn't right or the topics we picked weren't of interest to people. The NMRT online discussions have been quite successful so maybe we just need to find the right niche.

Samantha

Since Gloria has posted revised letters I would like everyone to take more more look and give your approval or final changes by Wed. September 8th.