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FACRL Interest Groups

Any group of ten or more members of the Chapter, representing a field or activity of interest and within the scope of the Chapter’s field of interest, may organize a group upon receiving approval from the Board of Directors. Interest groups shall be open to all members free of charge and composed only of Chapter members.

Potential interest groups (IG) are encouraged to contact the current FACRL president with the purpose, scope, and a list of active members in order to establish an IG.  The president will forward the request to the Board of Directors for approval.  A newly formed IG should elect a convener and a co-convener (if desired) for a fixed term, as determined by members. IGs should regularly elect conveners at the end of terms or when a position is vacant.  The names of all conveners should be sent to the FACRL board for approval and to be posted to the FACRL website. A board liaison may be appointed by the board if needed. 

Upon establishing an IG, every June the FACRL board will include a recruitment call for interest group members with their regular volunteer recruiting, but members can join at any time. 

Any requests for funding from FACRL should be forwarded to the board for review and approval. 

The IG will submit an annual report and any meeting minutes to the FACRL board in October, which may be posted on the FACRL website. If the IG shows no sign of activity for two years, it will automatically cease to exist and be removed from the list of active IGs.

Although there is no expectation that an IG will create a proposal for the annual conference, host a meeting at the annual conference, or sponsor a workshop, members are encouraged to consider those possible activities as effective vehicles for sharing expertise and providing leadership opportunities. An IG could form simply as a way for association members to converse with each other about their specialties.  Conveners should reach to the FACRL communications chair if they want to explore a way to communicate beyond e-mail.

Members should follow the ACRL Online Code of Conduct https://connect.ala.org/acrl/codeofconduct and reach out to the FACRL board with any concerns or questions.

    How to join an interest group:

    • Confirm that you are a current member of FACRL. ACRL members who live in Florida are automatically members of FACRL. A non-ACRL membership option is also available for a $30 annual membership fee. (Join here)

    • E-mail the convener of the group to be added to the group email list and get notified of upcoming events. You can join with your professional or personal email. 


    How to start an interest group:

    • Contact the current FACRL president with the purpose, scope, and a list of ten (10) active FACRL members in order to establish an IG. The president will forward the request to the Board of Directors for approval.  
    • Once approved, elect a convener and a co-convener (if desired) for a fixed term, as determined by members. IGs should regularly elect conveners at the end of terms or when a position is vacant
    • Work with the FACRL Communications Manager to setup a group email list and Google Drive folder for sharing materials. 


    Current Interest Groups

    Private Academic Librarians Interest Group (PALIG)

    PALIG provides librarians at private institutions an opportunity to share experiences and strategies on many issues, including promotion guidelines, professional development opportunities, ideas for funding, as well as unique approaches to serving our communities. We have monthly virtual discussions that address various topics related to librarianship within private institutions, and aim to create a network of professionals for library-related expertise, opportunities for collaboration, and general support in Florida private libraries.

    Convener:
    Helen Morey
    Bethune-Cookman University
    moreyh@cookman.edu


    AI Exploration Interest Group (AIEIG)

    The FACRL AI Exploration Interest Group is dedicated to delving into the dynamic intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and library sciences. We are interested in exploring how to use AI technologies to enhance library services, streamline information retrieval processes, and adapt information literacy sessions to incorporate AI literacies. This group provides a collaborative space for sharing insights, resources, and best practices. Join us as we navigate the evolving landscape of AI in libraries and empower ourselves as information stewards in the digital age. (As befits an AI group, this description was first generated by ChatGPT and then edited).

    Convener:
    Diana Matthews
    Santa Fe College
    diana.matthews@sfcollege.edu



    The Florida Association of College & Research Libraries (FACRL) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

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