ASDAL Action

In This Issue

JUNE 22-25, 1997

La Sierra University, California

FROM THERE TO HERE: DOCUMENT DELIVERY IN THE ELECTRONIC AGE

Conference Program

Adventist Resources Section Pre-Session

School Librarians' Pre-session

Transportation

Please note that Ontario is the closest airport (18 miles) to La Sierra University. It will almost certainly be the best option for those traveling within the United States. Those traveling internationally may need to fly into Los Angeles.

All services need to be booked in advance.

Per Lisle is Library Director at Newbold College, England, and Chair of the Conference Planning Committee. Carolyn Gaskell is Director of Libraries at Walla Walla College, College Place, Washington, and Coordinator of the Adventist Resources Session. Chris Cicchetti is Reference/Curriculum Librarian at La Sierra University, Riverside, California, and Coordinator of the School Librarians' Session.

Seeds for the Adventist Resources Section (ARS) were sown at the 5th Annual ASDAL Conference in 1985 (Andrews University) where Harvey Brenneise reported a need for a group which would facilitate communication between universities and colleges, the White Estate, and G.C. Archives. ASDAL members agreed with the idea and created an Ad Hoc Program Planning Committee which consisted of Jim Nix, Jim Ford, and Gary Shearer. Their charge was to develop a workshop on Adventist Heritage resources. It was to be held at the next ASDAL conference.

Another landmark event occurred at the 1985 conference. Keith Clouten broached the idea of developing an SDA Bibliography. Suggestions for its placement included a supplement to the SDA Periodical Index or a supplement to ASDAL Action. Last year at the 1996 ASDAL/ARS meetings, Marilyn Crane outlined the possibilities of making the developing bibliography available in electronic format. Harvey Brenneise and Gilbert Abela have undertaken the task of making that possibility a reality.

To explore the extent of interest in an Adventist Resources column, in November of 1985, ASDAL Action carried a questionnaire which asked about features that could be covered by the section such as: (1) tips on rare books, (2) listings of new theses and dissertations about Adventism, (3) books and articles by non-SDA's about Adventists, (4) feature articles about SDA collections at various colleges, (5) tips on care and preservation of rare materials and archival supplies, (6) tips on non-print SDA resources, and (7) creating a separate newsletter instead of a column. Due to reader interest, the Adventist Resources Column in ASDAL Action was born. Gary Shearer acted as the coordinator until the Fall of 1993 when Marilyn Crane assumed the post.

A historic day-long Adventist History Seminar was held at Atlantic Union College in 1986, just prior to the 6th ASDAL conference. It was "open to all who were interested in the preservation of our Adventist past." Jim Nix, chair of the program committee elected the prior year, coordinated the seminar. There is evidence that, due to the success of the workshop, the ARS was voted into existence at the 1986 ASDAL Conference. (The June 1987 revised ASDAL Bylaws list it as an established section, presupposing an action taken at the 1986 conference). The seeds had sprouted.

The first official ARS session was held in 1987 at Pacific Union College. Attendees focused on two sessions: (1) "Collecting and Preserving Adventist History," presented by Jim Nix and (2) a session outlining methods of preservation including document enclosures, cleaning, and repair presented by Randy Butler. Jim Nix was the first chair of the new ARS.

By 1988, the ARS was firmly rooted in ASDAL. The preliminary program information contained in the Spring 1988 ASDAL Action included topics such as: (1) the Obituary project, (2) copyrights and variants, (3) developing a "Guide to Resources Aids to SDA Materials," (4) SDA holdings in small libraries, (5) reference librarians and research points of view, (6) an Adventist Historical Society, (7) White Estate & CD-ROM, (8) the new hymnal of early Adventist hymns, and (9) a clearinghouse for SDA materials.

Continuing the tradition began in those first few years, ARS has consistently held pre- or post-sessions in conjunction with ASDAL. The one notable exception was the conference held at Newbold College in 1995 when ASDAL held a special international session jointly with the directors of the E. G. White Research Centers in lieu of the traditional ARS workshop.

Projects started by ARS over the past decade include the Obituary Index, the ARS column in ASDAL Action, cooperative collection development, guides to SDA resources, and the SDA bibliography. Through the years ARS has been an important forum for addressing preservation and access issues for Adventist historical resources. ASDAL and ARS members can feel proud of the Section's accomplishments over these past ten years and should look forward to continuing success.

Carolyn Gaskell is Director of Libraries at Walla Walla College, College Place, Washington.

During the past 20 years, Andrews University (AU) has developed affiliation agreements with more than a dozen Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities outside North America. The affiliation relationship is designed to assist overseas institutions in their academic growth, and allow their students in specified programs to graduate with AU degrees, until such time as the institutions themselves gain a university charter or degree-granting status from their national governments.

Throughout this time, James White Library (JWL) has been actively involved in providing several forms of help to the libraries of affiliated schools. Assistance has included preparation of core bibliographies in certain disciplines, ordering and cataloging of books when requested, handling of periodical subscriptions, and site consultation visits. Library staff have somehow managed to fit these projects in their already busy schedules.

In 1994, I was given the opportunity to talk to presidents of a dozen affiliated schools while they were on the campus for meetings. They shared some of the urgent needs of their libraries, while expressing appreciation for whatever help AU librarians had been able to provide. A year later, when the presidents were meeting at Newbold College, I discussed with them a proposal for setting up within JWL an office for the purpose of providing some specific services to affiliated schools. The proposal was enthusiastically received, and so SAIL was born in the fall of 1995. Originally standing for Services to Affiliated Institutional Libraries, SAIL has since been expanded to provide Services to Adventist International Libraries, whether or not the institutions are affiliated with AU.

Membership in SAIL costs a one-time institutional fee of $100, and enables the member library to take advantage of core services, as needed -- (1) availability of free books and periodicals, donated to the program; (2) fast book ordering service; (3) periodical subscription service; and (4) site consultation service. SAIL publishes a biannual newsletter which shares information about the services, news about SDA libraries and ASDAL, special offers of free or low cost books and other resources. In order to use the book or periodical ordering services, member institutions must open a library deposit account at AU. In the case of the book ordering program, libraries receive the benefit of vendor and publisher discounts, less 10 percent to assist JWL in operating the SAIL program. For the periodical subscription service, libraries are charged the often significant difference between domestic and foreign subscription rates. These charges help to offset SAIL expenses in placing orders, renewals, check-in of issues, claiming non-arrivals, and preparing periodicals for shipment to the overseas libraries. Requests for site consultation services are handled at the presidential level, and all travel and accommodation costs are met by the applicant school.

The SAIL program was begun late in 1995 under the direction of Dan Drazen, SDA Periodical Index editor, who gave eight hours a week to SAIL in exchange for 15 hours of student assistance with the Index. Within a year, however, the use of the service was growing so rapidly that it was necessary to allocate more time than Dan was able to devote to the program. In January 1997, the direction of SAIL was given to Carol Tasker as a half-time staff position. Carol is assisted by one student worker, and more help may be necessary as the demands on the program grow.

By April 1997, SAIL has 21 institutional member libraries on four continents. At that time 12 libraries were using the book purchasing service, and four were using the periodical subscription service. During the first three months of 1997, 70 boxes of donated books (approximately 2,800 volumes) were shipped to member libraries at their request. At JWL, Wolfhard Touchard (Reference Librarian) led in the preparation and publication of a core bibliography of theology materials which has been well received by overseas libraries. During the past year, JWL provided site consultation visits to schools in Jamaica, Peru, Mexico, and Nigeria. Additional visits to schools in Zimbabwe and Kenya were made in conjunction with a week-long seminar for librarians in the Eastern Africa Division.

The SAIL office welcomes donations of new and used books that are of current interest to SDA colleges and universities overseas. Before shipping them to AU, please contact Carol Tasker by phone (616-471-3164), fax (616-471-6166), or e-mail: ctasker@andrews.edu.

Keith Clouten is Library Director at Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan.

By Moses Golola

Bugema University, a Seventh-day Adventist liberal arts college, is located 32 km. north of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. The mission of Bugema University is to prepare graduates to carry out the gospel commission by proclaiming the good news of salvation through quality service primarily in the Uganda Union. Graduates are prepared for leadership in the Ministry, Education, and Business.

Bugema University was until 1994 known as Bugema Adventist College. It has a student population of about 200 undergraduate students and faculty of about 25 members. The number of students is increasing every year. Courses offered include: Bachelor of Arts degrees in English, Religion and History; Bachelor of Business Administration degrees with majors in Accounting and Management; Bachelor of Theology; and Diploma in Education which is done concurrently with the B.A. degrees. Soon to be launched are the following degree courses: Home Economics, Computer Science, Information Systems, Journalism and Mass Communication.

The purpose of Bugema University Library therefore, is to support the philosophy of the institution as well as its policies of providing current relevant resource materials. The library also endeavours to support the curriculum by providing students and faculty with materials that keep them abreast of developments in their areas of specialisation.

The present library has a collection of at least 12,000 volumes and subscribes to 30 periodicals. It has a sitting capacity of only 50 students. Since the present status of the library is far from ideal, the University Administration has launched an extensive building program of a modern library that is estimated to cost one million US dollars. The library is to be built in three phases. The first phase will seat 256 students. When completed, the library will be able to seat 416 students which is a third of the projected number of students that the university is envisaged to have in ten years' time. The new library is expected to be fully computerised and connected to world wide networks of libraries. A media centre with modern equipment is also to be housed in the same buildings.

The major setback that is being experienced at the moment is the lack of adequate funds. The university will greatly appreciate receiving donations in the form of either books or cash to help complete the new library. If you wish to send assistance, please contact the president at phone number 256-75-706529, fax number 256-41-245597, or write to:

The President
Bugema University
P.O. Box 6529
Kampala, UGANDA.

Moses Golola is President of Bugema University, Uganda.

By Sabrina Pusey

It's 2:00 am and the telephone is ringing. I groggily pull myself out of my warm bed and pick up the receiver. "Sabrina, this is John. I'm sorry to wake you, but...uhh...I locked the library key in the desk so now I can't lock the library for the night." I am dumbfounded. I have been sick for three days and trying to train a new library assistant at the same time. In my feverish state I cannot fathom how he managed to lock all the keys in a desk that can only be locked with a key. The library was supposed to be closed at midnight. Why did he wait until this time to call me for help? As I pull on a pair of jeans, I remind myself that this is the good part of library school.

My life as a Residence Hall Head Librarian (HL) began in August 1996 when I moved to Ann Arbor nearly a month before classes began. I enjoy the job. The independence of running my own library; the challenge of managing my own staff; planning the programming; buying books, CD's and videos; stretching my meager budget as far as possible; and all the other tasks provide me with a sense of purpose and accomplishment. That I have made wonderful friends among the other resident staff and happen to have the nicest staff apartment in the building are just perks. Bonding with the other resident staff, the HL's from other buildings, and my own staff has given me support and a sense of identity in the swarming masses of nameless students here at the University of Michigan. I've desperately needed that support.

Classes started near the end of August at the School of Information and I immediately began to wonder what I was doing here. The advisor assigned to me was a professor from the School of Public Policy. He told me he knew nothing about librarianship and that I was talking to the wrong person. This professor is part of the library school's new focus on technology, its relationship to humans, and its impact on society. These ideas are in the process of becoming the School of Information's much trumpeted new curriculum.

I soon found a new advisor. She was professional and gave me good advice, but she was also professionally cool. I sometimes wondered if she even remembered my name.

I arrived at my first class, SI523 the most basic class offered by the school, to learn that I am required to know HTML. I soon learned that many of the professors expect their students to already know HTML when they walk in the classroom, yet this is not a prerequisite to acceptance in the program nor is it taught in any class.

Three weeks before the end of the term, another professor (this one with a computer science background) announced that our next assignment was to create a web page which included JavaScript. We were to figure out JavaScripts on our own. The entire class was outraged, but what choice did we have?

Things are much better now. Perhaps I have finally adjusted to my new environment or perhaps the environment has changed. I like my classes this second semester. They are taught by real librarians who make the effort to learn my name. Their assignments are practical applications of what they expect us to learn. I am also discovering a natural affinity for management and a deep appreciation for the people skills necessary for working at a public service desk. I am more comfortable with the technology element of the school now. The curriculum committee has reassured us that they are not going to forget about librarians with the new program which will start next fall. When my advisor passed me in the hall the other day, she recognized me. Perhaps she knows my name after all!

For those interested in learning more about the School of Information or The University of Michigan's Residence Hall Libraries program, you are welcome to visit these sites on the World Wide Web: http://www.si.umich.edu/

http://www.rhl.housing.umich.edu/rhl.html.

Sabrina Pusey is an MILS student at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

From Isolation to Cooperation: School Libraries in the Southeastern California Conference

Part 2

Nancy Kim, Coordinator and Author

Now what was I to do?

To start, the Southeastern California Conference (SECC) Office of Education assigned one of the Associate Superintendents of Education, Janet Mallery, to work with me to implement the plan I had presented. Janet and I met before school started, discussed several possibilities and then came up with a plan that divided my responsibilities into two basic categories: traditional library services and technology in the library. The category of traditional library services would include ordering, processing and getting materials to individual schools; consulting with principals, teachers and librarians; assessing the existing school library to determine needs; and basically offering whatever assistance possible. Under the technology category, I would work to promote the benefits of technology in education, assist in acquiring computers for individual schools and networking, help schools connect to the Internet, facilitate purchasing software for library automation, and philosophically help schools make the change from library to information center.

Next came just plain nitty-gritty hard work. I equipped myself with a list of all the conference schools and their phone numbers and started calling. The first six calls I made were not very promising. Either I left a message on an answering machine or there was no answer, except for one. And I would rather have had an answering machine or no answer than the one I got. A very punctilious voice informed me that their school was not interested, they did not need any help, they had volunteers taking care of everything. Things did get better after that. The seventh school was definitely interested, set up an appointment, and gave me directions. This phone call seemed to be the turning of the tide. After that, I made enough appointments to fill up my calendar through December. I kept so busy it was incredible.

What kept me busy was not necessarily what I had envisioned or expected but worth it just the same. In fact, not one school showed any interest in a central purchasing and processing service. Katye Hunt, director of the ANGEL program in the Southern Union, told me that the conferences must be required to participate in the program in order for it to be successful. She was right. There were a number of schools, however, that needed to have either the entire collection or just recent acquisitions processed. A lot of weeding also needed to be done at many schools. One school with a collection of approximately 1,000 titles had no acquisition records or a shelflist of any kind. Working there was truly starting from the very beginning. I didn't do any purchasing but I did a lot of processing. At one school where the library had been locked up tight for about five years, I participated in a work bee. Along with a group of parent volunteers and the Home and School leaders, I dusted, straightened books, read shelves, and weeded materials. By the end of the evening, the school had a functioning library, one that still needs a number of improvements, but that at least is open now.

Most of the schools in the conference, even the smallest ones I found, had at least one computer equipped with a CD drive. Teachers and students were using CD's for research as well as for supplementing the classroom curriculum. None had Internet connections. However, all the principals, teachers, and librarians with whom I talked were willing to do what they could to connect and use this resource for research as well as communication with the conference office, with teachers at other schools, and with the world in general. Some principals and librarians also started working on the idea of library software.

Working with the larger schools with a librarian on staff presented a different set of challenges and tasks. The librarians did not need any help with purchasing and/or processing but they were definitely interested in assistance with computers in the library for both student use and for basic library services. I was able to help some of these schools with software purchases and the transition to automated services. One of my favorite services for the school librarians was inservices specifically for them. At our first inservice, we shared our biggest frustrations and greatest joys in being the librarians in our schools. Many were common to the group especially the greatest joy, that of being instrumental in getting children and books together. The owner of a local children's book store presented the second inservice at which she shared about 30 books that she has found to be especially good for young adults.

On a more administrative level, I compiled a conference list of all the "techies" at each school site, wrote an acceptable use policy and contract, visited some technologically enhanced public schools, wrote several articles and spoke at a number of different meetings: Home and School, principals, etc.

A surprise aspect of my consulting position was a lot of listening as I visited each school and met the librarians, teachers, and principals. Many expressed frustration they had felt because they recognized the need for better library services but did not know what to do to make a change. Some were looking forward to better evaluations when it was time for reaccreditation because they could indicate that they had a librarian--a conference level library consultant/ coordinator. I often found myself staying an hour or so longer than I had planned or expected just chatting about or discussing each unique school situation and not necessarily just the library services.

From isolation to cooperation? Has it really happened in the SECC? Yes, I think so. At least it has begun to happen. Questions, requests, referrals continue to come from all over the conference, even outside the conference and I continue to be busy, incredibly busy.

Nancy Kim is Librarian at Redlands Junior Academy, Redlands, California and Library Consultant at the Southeastern California Conference, Riverside, California.

Matas, Carol. After the War. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996. 116 p. Fiction.

Wilkomirski, Binjamin. Fragments: memories of a wartime childhood. New York: Schocken Books, 1996. 155 p. Non-fiction.

The fiftieth anniversary of World War II and the opening of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum have contributed to the recent influx of books on World War II in general and the Holocaust in particular. This can be seen in books for adults and children. Both After the War and Fragments deal with the problems Jewish children encountered during and after the war.

Matas' book, a docunovel, was written for children of grades 6-10. The story is told by Ruth, a Polish teenager, who, in trying to find family members and adjust to life after the war, becomes part of a group of young Jews trying to reach Palestine. Flashbacks reveal the ordeals she has been through in the ghettos, transports, camps, etc. Suspense builds as throughout her search for her family and escape she also confronts her feelings. Historical facts are given flesh and feelings in this book for young adults.

Fragments is a memoir, written by a Latvian Jew trying to piece together his childhood. Unsure of even his name or age and with very few memories prior to life in a concentration camp, Wilkomirski reveals the strange world of a child who knows nothing else. The difficulties of survival in both camp life and "normal" life after the war are told in brief, poignant excerpts which echo the title. This is an exceptional book which is well written and touches the heart. Wilkomirski, a concert musician and instrument maker, lives in Switzerland. The book was originally published in German.

By Lauren Matacio, Catalog Librarian at Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan.

Breault, Marc and Martin King. Inside the cult: a member's chilling, exclusive account of madness and depravity in David Koresh's compound. New York: Penguin Books, 1993. 375 p.

Wright, Stuart A., ed. Armageddon in Waco: critical perspectives on the Branch Davidian conflict. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1995. 394 p.

Tabor, James D. and Eugene V. Gallagher. Why Waco?: cults and the battle for religious freedom in America. Berkeley: University of California Pres, 1995. 252 p.

The Waco tragedy stimulated books from dramatically told first-hand accounts to thoughtful analyses of scholars. I examined three of them. An account of a disaffected Adventist also caught my attention, the story of a French Canadian who led his band of followers into the woods of Quebec and Ontario.

Inside the Cult gives a former member's account of David Koresh's rise to power and control over the Branch Davidian organization. The authors are Marc Breault described as Koresh's right-hand man and Martin King, an Australian journalist who interviewed Koresh on the compound in January 1992.

King traces Koresh's biography from childhood to his winning the power in the Branch Davidian organization to its tragic end. While the first-hand account is impacting, King's journalistic style is less than objective. Highly charged language is unnecessary in recounting such events dramatic in themselves. A more measured account would have been more powerful and convincing.

More recently published scholarly contributions place the tragedy in context. Armageddon in Waco is a collection of essays examining the historical, publicity, legal, and sociological issues surrounding the event and Why Waco published by the University of California Press are both sharply critical of Breault's account. The unifying theme of both books is the "events were as predictable as they were avoidable." (XI)

Armageddon in Waco is divided into three parts. The first three chapters which constitute Part One examine the social and historical context of the Branch Davidians from documenting the marginalization of new religious movements throughout history to the specific account of the Davidians and Koresh's rise to leadership. Its case study of leadership in the Branch Davidians, thoroughly grounded in theory, is worth the effort.

Part Two shifts the focus from the Branch Davidians to public reaction to the crisis. Chapters four and five are perhaps the most scholarly chapters in the book. Why was such a small, unconventional group perceived as sufficient threat to warrant such a massive expenditure of resources, money, time, and lives? The answer framed in the constructive theory and in doubts of anticult organizations and deprogrammers is compelling.

The critical investigation of the child abuse allegations in chapter six is less convincing. After a long and weak discussion of the change in attitude toward children beginning in the early nineteenth century, the author can only suggest that the abuse allegations are not as straightforward as they appear, not that Koresh is cleared of them. He goes as far as to admit that perhaps Koresh did break some Texas statutory laws. What he does succeed in doing is showing that Koresh acted out of context that approves of corporal punishment, though he may have stepped beyond current culturally accepted norms.

Part Three discusses the role of the media of which the authors are unscathingly critical. Arguments are again carefully framed in well established theories of communication such as the "propaganda model" put forth by Chomsky and Herman. Common misconceptions placed beside the research findings provide strong support for the authors' interpretations.

Parts Four and Five examine the relationship between the group's apocalyptic vision and law enforcement actions. The government's need to be in control and Koresh's need for the fulfillment of prophecy fed on each other.

In chapter eleven, James Tabor argues that law enforcement would have learned information which would have helped them end the standoff peacefully had they worked within Koresh's apocalyptic understanding instead of dismissing it as "Biblical babble." Maintaining a pool of experts available to all law enforcement agencies and more cooperation between law enforcement and academics is proposed as a solution.

The sixth and final part discusses legal implications of the tragedy beginning with American repression of marginal religious groups, commonly violence between the twentieth century and more often bureaucratic harassment in recent times. Firearms violations and child abuse are not subject to protection on religious grounds. Yet the evidence for violations is sketchy. To what extent can the government interfere in the private lives of its citizens? Whose interests are most compelling, religious groups or individuals who may be harmed by them? Even granting the veracity of the charges, one author maintains that such extreme governmental action constitutes an unreasonable search. The section is strong with the exception of the last chapter's attempts at dramatics are unconvincing and annoying.

The book is unified in a theme. The tragedy was unnecessary. Most of the selections are strong. Occasionally unsupported statements weaken an otherwise strong text, such as in the second chapter where the author slips into rhetoric regarding gun control without offering supporting detail and recognizing the national culture which, he asserts, believes that "bullets should be as free as words." (14) However, such lapses are rare. Recommended for upper division undergraduates and above.

Why Waco, though written for a more general audience than Armageddon in Waco, shares a similar perspective. Indeed, one of the authors, James Tabor, is also a contributor to Armageddon in Waco. The authors challenge the popular stereotypes regarding cults. Beginning with a sympathetic portrayal of Branch Davidian history and David Koresh, the authors continue with a critique of Breault's reliability as a defector and cult buster. However, their most scathing criticism is reserved for treating the Davidians as a complex hostage/barricade rescue situation when government sources admit that many of the elements of such a situation were missing. An extensive discussion of Koresh's theology provides a richer understanding than is found in Armageddon at Waco. Pictures of Branch Davidians serve to humanize them.

By Sheila Clark, Access Services Librarian at Walla Walla College, College Place, Washington.

Recent Books, Theses, & Periodical Articles

Bainbridge, William Sims. The sociology of religious movements. New York: Routledge, 1997. 474 p. The book contains a chapter on the Adventist Movement.

Johnson, Doug R. Adventism on the northwestern frontier. Berrien Springs, MI: Oronoko Books, c1996. 174 p. ISBN:1883925126. $15.00. The history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church during the vibrant growth of the United States' northwestern frontier.

Jordan, William B. Index to Portland newspapers, 1785-1835. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, Inc., c1994. ISBN:0788401017. An index with approximately 30,000 entries for sixteen newspapers from Portland, Maine and surrounding communities.

McCormick, Sherman. The Seventh-day Adventist adult Sabbath School: its purpose as described and perceived. Andrews University, 1992. UMI Number:9235606. A School of Education dissertation which studies the role of the adult Sabbath School in the contemporary Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Melton, J. Gordon, Phillip Charles Lucas, and Jon R. Stone. Prime-time religion: an encyclopedia of religious broadcasting. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press, c1997. 413 p. ISBN:0897749022. The Voice of Prophecy and It is Written are mentioned.

North American Division. 1997 strategic planning. Available from the Division. The plan covers all departments, agencies, offices, and related entities of the Division.

Rodriguez, Angel Manuel. Esther, a theological approach. Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, c1995. ISBN 1883925037. The author addresses troubling theological concerns about the book of Esther.

Sanford, Ilou M. Membership records of Seventh Day Baptist Churches in Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania, 1800-1900. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, Inc., c1996. ISBN:0788404628. This is a useful source for the genealogical study of families from early Rhode Island, eastern New York, and New Jersey.

Ministry makers, the local chapter: train & mobilize your members. [Silver Spring, MD]: North American Division Adult Ministries Dept., c1997. A training manual for motivating and organizing "member involvement in productive ministry" at the local church level.

Marilyn Crane is Cataloging Librarian at Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California.

Driven by the spiralling cost of materials, scarce financial resources, and the rising expectations of our students, the decision was made to become the 21st member of the central Alberta library consortium known as NEOS. At present, the NEOS membership includes one university, six colleges, as well as several government and hospital libraries. The NEOS libraries' catalog, The Gate, is a guide to over three million items held by NEOS libraries. Local records are highlighted at each site. The NEOS system (DRA) also includes a shared patron file which allows registered patrons of each institution to borrow from all member libraries. A document delivery service supports interlibrary loan.

Thanks to the superb efforts of Carol Nicks (Technical Services Librarian) and Bernie Leavitt (Technician), along with extra students workers, we met the April 1 deadline for the close out of our MultiLIS file. Carol has now completed four full days of DRA cataloging training. Acquisitions training is scheduled for May and circulation training comes in early July. All this, and a whole lot more, is in preparation for going up live in the DRA system on August 1. Our setup will include eight public access workstations with new computers.

This whole consortium involvement is a big step for us. Our plans also include periodical database access through ALICE membership. In the fall, we'll let you know how it's all working!

Submitted by Joyce Van Scheik

Pacific Union College

We have made a decision to subscribe to the Dow-Jones database which covers all major national newspapers for five simultaneous users. The database contains 90% full text.

We have permission to purchase The Library Corporation software integrated system. We used to have the cataloging and circulation modules. By summer, we will have a fully integrated system.

Submitted by Adu Worku

Southern Adventist University

During Christmas vacation, the wall separating Periodicals from the main lobby area was moved out 55 feet in order to expand the area for Periodicals, placing the current, fiche, bound periodicals, and indexes in the same area, along with expanded study space for students. Moving everything around made for a working Christmas break, but both students and workers agree that the new arrangement has greatly improved efficiency.

Brian Jackson, who receives his master's degree in library science in May, will be joining our library faculty June 1. He worked for Kit Watts in Periodicals at Andrews University as a student, and will be the Periodicals Librarian. Although unable to attend ASDAL this year, he is anxious to become active as a member.

Ann Greer from Circulation has begun her doctoral studies through Nova Southeastern University. Much of her work is done via distance learning; therefore, she is continuing to work about 20 hours/week. Her doctorate will be in Computer and Information Sciences.

Submitted by Peg Bennett

Southwestern Adventist University

The Chan Shun Centennial Library (CSCL) at Southwestern has had an eventful and generally successful year to date. With the assistance of the 13 academic departments profiling their monograph needs, the library established an extensive Books-on-Approval program through the services of Baker & Taylor. The program has proven to be a huge success. Next year, the library will outsource approximately 85% of is cataloging with Baker & Taylor. Although the college recently changed its status to an accredited university, the library has not received additional funding from the administration. Enrollment increased again this year, but early returns show a leveling-off for next year. The library is proceeding to establish an Ellen G. White and SDA church history research collection in the office of former director Robert Cooper, now designated The Heritage Room. This project will take several years since the administration has refused additional funding; however, the Social Science and Religion departments have been very supportive.

On April 21, the library formalized its membership in the Llano Estacado Information Access Network (LEIAN). LEIAN is a three-year-old consortium of public and private colleges and universities in western Texas and New Mexico. The CSCL will make the 44th member of the consortium. Membership will enable our library to expand database services beyond Basic FirstSearch and CINAHL to include Periodical Abstracts, ABI/Inform, PsycInfo, and others still under review for a fraction of the cost over what we paid for just FirstSearch. All subscriptions include full-text. Full-text delivery remains an unsettled issue at Southwestern.

The new MBA program is going to use its start-up monies over the next two years to provide a delivery/copy account for students. The university administration is studying at what degree and depth it will subsidize document delivery for all students in the future. The Texas state legislature is currently considering a bill, which is likely to pass, that would create one giant state-wide consortium of public and private academic libraries using state funds to subsidize database subscriptions. Its passage will still leave the document delivery issue unresolved.

The most exciting library news for us to share is that the administration has agreed to purchase an OPAC, Library Solutions, from the Library Corporation (TLC) sometime in the next year. The current $85,000 bid is for a turnkey system. TLC is our current BiblioFile intelligent catalog provider. Our working relationship with TLC has resulted in substantial savings off the purchase price compared to other bids. The university does not presently have the money for the purchase, or have it budgeted for the next year; but the Foundation is seeking funds and the OPAC is now an official priority with a target date in mind.

The library continues to function with only five full-time employees: Randy Butler, Ph.D. and MLIS; Clinton Anderson, MAT; Sharon Wion, MLA; Donna Guerrero, M.Ed.; and Sharon Potter who is being raised to full-time next year. The library has been reorganized/restructured into four broad service areas with a "coordinator" as supervisor in each. A collection development policy has also been written and adopted. Although understaffed, the library has managed to expand its services, resources (CD-ROM's), and operating hours as a result of the dedication of the staff and the vital assistance of nearly 20 well-trained student workers.

Submitted by Randall Butler

Walla Walla College

April 3, 1997 was a high day at the Peterson Memorial Library. At 12:15 pm we officially went on-line with our new INNOPAC system. Faculty, staff, and students came to see, hear, and experience the new OPAC and on-line circulation system they had heard so much about and had been anxiously awaiting.

The festivities began with a fanfare on the French horn performed by one of our own student library assistants, Michael Peterson. Short speeches were given by Carolyn Gaskell (Library Director) and John Brunt (Academic Dean). Among those attending were W.G. Nelson (WWC President) and Mike Bell (former Campus Computer Center Director). Guests were then invited to participate in demonstrations of the systems capabilities as well as enjoy cake and punch.

Violet Maynard-Reid (Reference Librarian) and Rosa Jiminez (Public Relations) planned the celebration which included a lobby decorated with streamers and balloons, both of which caught students' attention and effectively pointed up the new OPAC. Stories about the new system were carried by the newsletter Inside WWC and the student newspaper the Collegian.

Prior to the celebration, library staff and volunteers completed bar coding 76,500 books in the library's circulating LC collection between October 2, 1996 and March 4, 1997. This was quite an accomplishment since the project took place while the College was in session. Retired librarians Lee Johnston and Elwood Mabley helped with the project as did retired library technicians Mary Schwab, Idana Noel, Edith McClain, and Maxine Hargreaves. Several spouses of our retired workers also contributed their efforts to completing the project. In addition, two students from Walla Walla Valley Academy used the opportunity to complete their community service requirements.

Work on the Reference collection is almost completed and there are plans to address the remaining two collections: Dewey (small) and Special Collections. The project was coordinated by Linda Hintz (Library Technician). The procedures, process, and bar coding handbook was developed by a student library assistant, Liz Albertson.

Submitted by Carolyn Gaskell

New Members

We welcomed Marge Seifert in our last issue but we did not have much information about her at that time. Marge has been at Collegedale Academy for 10 years. The first eight years were spent teaching Home Economics part-time and serving as librarian part-time. She began working full-time in the library last school year, 1995-96. She received her MSLS from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in August 1995. She has worked in a public library in California in the past and also at James White Library a number of years ago. Speaking of her interest in librarianship, she says, "I guess my library career started when I worked for Chloe Foutz at Union College while I was going to college." She enjoys walking, reading, and crafts, especially counted cross stitch.

Ballots

ASDAL President Chloe Foutz reports that she has received 60 ballots as of press time.

ASDAL Action Deadline

Deadline for submitting articles for the fall issue of ASDAL Action is Oct. 4, 1997. How about doing some writing in the summer and having something published in ASDAL Action? When sending articles, please include author's full name, position, and institution where employed. For book reviews, please give complete bibliographic information including total number of pages. Reviews of non-book materials may also be submitted with the necessary additional information, i.e. type of video, viewing or listening time, etc. Contributions are always welcome.

If you are sending articles via e-mail, please send them in ASCII files until such a time as the editor's Word Perfect gets upgraded beyond the 5.1 level. Articles coming from outside the U.S. will please be sent by fax. Postal mail is still accepted as long as the material gets to the editor's desk by the deadline.

Registration Form

Name________________________________________

Institution________________________________________

Address_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Telephone (____) _____- ________________________

E-mail____________________________________________

Registration Fees:

Member, before May 16 $40.00 $____________
Member, after May 16 $45.00 $____________
Non-member $45.00 $____________
Students $10.00 $____________

Pre-conferences:

School Librarians $12.00 $____________
Adventist Resources $ 5.00 $____________

Tours:

Saturday, June 21, tour to Joshua Tree $ 8.00 $____________
(Price does not include meal)

Tuesday, June 24, tour to Nixon Library /Birthplace Whittier College Archives/ Southwestern Museum/
Shopping/dinner at Olvera St. $40.00 $____________

Housing:

___Single Occupancy Per Night $22.00
___Double Occupany Per Night $25.00

(Please send deposit of $25.00 only.) $____________

Total $____________

Please reserve a room on circled nights

June 20 21 22 23 24 25

____I am arranging my own housing

Make checks out to: La Sierra University

Send forms and checks to: Virgina Orr, La Sierra University Library
4700 Pierce St.
Riverside, CA 92515
(909) 785-2397