NASIG Newsletter

OPENING SESSION
Reported by Jennifer O’Brien

This year’s 23rd annual NASIG conference opened with an introduction by President Char Simser, who welcomed this year’s first-timers, delighted in the air of volunteerism among all NASIG members, and shared a bit about her recent visit to the United Kingdom Serials Group, UKSG, meeting in Devon, United Kingdom.  Paul Harwood, Chair of the UKSG, chose to attend this year’s NASIG conference and took a moment to discuss his organization’s ongoing work.  The UKSG’s 31st Conference was held this past April, and was very successful.  Seven hundred fifty delegates, including a number of NASIG members, were in attendance.  UKSG’s conference included a number of very interesting and timely programs on a wide array of topics.  It was his hope that the NASIG conference would be both successful and enjoyable.  Every year, NASIG awards several student awards and scholarships.  Clint Chamberlain, and Patrick Carr, co-chairs of the NASIG Awards & Recognition Committee, announced this year’s award winners.

•    Fritz Schwartz Serials Education Scholarship – Alena Jewel Rucker
•    Horizon Award – Betsy Appleton
•    Marsha Tuttle International Award – Stephanie Schmitt
•    NASIG Conference Student Grant – Eugenia Beh, Barbara Birenbaum, Kathryn Machin, Jason Ronallo, Pegeen Sever, Nancy B. Thomas
•    NASIG Conference Mexican Student Grant – Armando Avila-Gonzalez
•    Serials Specialist Award – Marie Peterson

Paul Harwood, UKSG chair

Sandra Wiles and Cory Tucker, Conference Planning Committee co-chairs, provided attendees with both  informative trivia about Phoenix, Arizona, and additional information about the conference schedule.  After the awards’ announcements, Sandra introduced the guest speaker, Don Dedera.  Mr. Dedera, a local historian, editor, and award-winning author, treated conference-goers to a richly detailed description and history of the Arizona he knows and loves so well. He also included a great anecdote about libraries, librarians, and the expectations of bird-loving children. Char was pleased to announce that NASIG now has organizational sponsorships; donated funds provided by EBSCO, Elsevier, Annual Reviews, Sage, Springer and Wiley supported this year’s events and activities.  Further information regarding the sponsorships would be discussed during the business meeting. Drawings for conference registrations for Asheville 2009 will be held after everyone has had the opportunity to participate in the online conference evaluation/survey.  Anyone wishing to contribute to the conference blog or photoshare may do so online at www.nasig.org, or may upload photos to www.flickr.com.  Further details may be found on the NASIG website.  Lastly, any profits from NASIG swag, available for purchase via Cafepress, will be folded into the annual awards and scholarships funds.

Don Dedera, Arizona author and historian, and life-long library patron