Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA) Midwest Chapter Annual Program, Bloomington IN, May 13-14, 2005

President Report

Dear CALA Members and Friends,

I would like to take this opportunity to briefly report on the 2005 CALA Midwest Chapter Annual Program, which was held from May 13 to 14, 2005 in Bloomington, Indiana. More than 40 members and friends attended the program.

The theme of this year's program is "What Makes a Successful Chinese American Librarian: Positioning Ourselves for the Future." Two keynote speakers and nine panelists shared their research, experience, and successful stories in professional librarianship, library services, and publication.

The program started on May 14 at 9:00 AM. Suzanne Thorin, Dean of the Indiana University Libraries, made a welcome speech.

Sally Tseng, one of the keynote speakers and the CALA Executive Director, gave a speech titled "Planning a Successful Library Career." She described "six strategies" to reach this goal. These six strategies are: competencies and quality of performance in your position, understand organizational culture, planning, professional activates and services, professional growth, and research and publication.

Another keynote speaker, Dr. Marcia Lei Zeng, Professor of Library and Information Science at Kent State University, shared her success in library and information science education and many library organizations such as the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).

The presentations made by nine panelists followed the keynote speakers. Jen-Chien Yu and Ning Zou presented "Becoming a Librarian: a Beginner's Guide to Academic Librarianship;" Liana Zhou presented "Collection Management of Special Libraries: An Experience With the Kinsey Institute Library;" Jian Anna Xiong presented "Becoming a Professional Librarian or Faculty Member in an Academic Library;" Haiwang Yuan presented "Becoming an Author: A Beginner's Guide to Landing a Book Contract;" Lisa Zhao presented "Classify Ourselves: Being a successful cataloger/librarian;" Jian Liu presented "Will Google replace libraries: Relationship Between Google and Libraries;" Wen-ling Liu presented "Career Development in a Changing Library Environment;" and Lian Ruan (Minjie Chen made the presentation in her absence) presented "Courage to Lead."

The program's attendees and some of their family members had dinner at Mark Pi's China Gate restaurant on the evening of May 13th. After dinner, everyone introduced themselves to the group. Then we held a scheduled business meeting . Li Fu (Program Committee Chair and Archive Committee), Wen-ling Liu (Local Arrangement Committee Chair), Lisa Zhao (Treasurer and Webmaster), Ning Zou (Membership Committee member), Haiwang Yuan (Public Relations Chair), and Shixing Wen (Nomination Committee) reported their recent activities.

In the afternoon of May 13th, Liana Zhou led two groups of attendees to visit the Kinsey Institute, the Library, and the Museum. Jian Liu and Wen-ling Liu showed the main library, including the East Asian Collection and the Tibetan materials, to the visitors.

The 2005 CALA Midwest Chapter Annual Program was very successful. The topics of the keynote speakers and panelists attracted people, especially current library and information science students. Eight students from Illinois University at Urbana-Champaign rented 2 cars and drove 3 hours to attend the program. Four students joined CALA and became the CALA members just before the end of the program. Many attendees said they would attend the CALA Annual Program in Chicago in June during ALA. Most people said they will attend next year's Midwest Chapter Annual Program again and pass the program information to their colleagues and friends.

I would like to thank the keynote speakers and panelists who contributed to the program and all of our members and friends who made an effort to come to the program. I would also like to thank the committee leaders and committee members who worked hard for months to make the program successful.

More detailed information and photos about the Program will be available soon on the CALA Midwest Chapter's website at: www.uic.edu/depts/lib/projects/resources/calamw/annual2005. Please check back for further information.

Xudong Jin, President
2004/05 MW Chapter
May 19, 2005