Military Librarians Workshop, 18-20 Nov 97, Dayton Marriott Hotel, Dayton, Ohio

I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving: To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it - but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.

Air Force libraries are consistently being bombarded with pressures from outside the organization, and even from within - pressures, challenges, and opportunities are unending. Yet, despite these overwhelming pressures, our Air Force librarians continue to "stand in the gap" and provide access to information resources. In these days, I'm reminded of yet another quote by an anonymous pundit: "A diamond is a chunk of coal that makes good under pressure." We are looking forward to finding the diamonds.

Of course the most pressing issue in Air Force libraries is that of outsourcing. As I mentioned last year, the Air Force Library Steering Committee developed an outstanding Performance Work Statement template that was eventually released to the field in January 97. Officials outside of library circles have marveled at the thoroughness and completeness of the document. Since my last presentation, 10 general libraries have been turned over to commercial firms. I'm pleased to report that these librarians have hit the ground running, and are providing good customer service. I'm also pleased that three libraries (Maxwell, Dover, and Andrews) remained in house. We hear rumblings about outsourcing technical libraries, but the issue seems to be on hold for right now.

New variations of the outsourcing concept are under way. One major command is studying a "Multi-Wing" concept in which a group of libraries at different bases undergo a cost comparison study. Yet another command is using the "Commercial Services" method, in which a base can buy library services "off-the-shelf" from an experienced library contractor.

The Air Force has initiated a program called Jump Start, in which libraries are identified as cost comparison candidates. My office is working closely with the Air Force Center for Quality Management Innovation to develop a standard Most Efficient Organization (MEO) template to streamline the outsourcing process even further and also to look at the Quality Assurance Evaluator issue.

Outsourcing is here to stay. While I am concerned about outsourcing, I am more concerned about the threat of library closures by those whose idea of a library is a library of children's books run by little old ladies with hair buns.

We've seen several incidents crop up where a commander on a base with a library outside the gate has simply "decided" to close a library for a number of reasons. Reducing APF positions seems to be the largest factor in the closing rationale. Fortunately, when confronted with the facts that Air Force libraries:

1. Are determined to be among the most necessary facilities on the base;
2. Are among the heaviest used facilities on the base; and
3. Provide the highest level of customer service of any Services activity

Some commanders will change their tune, especially with a little "prodding" by outraged library customers. A quote by Casey Stengel illustrates these situations: "The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided."

Even with all these issues, we have continued to make major accomplishments this year.

Our new Air Force Instruction, AFI 34-270 was finally published on September 1. Some changes our Steering Committee made from the previous instruction were:

1. Clarification of the role of Air Force libraries in the global information network;
2. The use of electronic research;
3. The applicability of the American Library Association Bill of Rights, the Privacy Act, and the Intellectual Freedom Manual;
4. Outsourcing; and
5. Inactivation schedules for BRAC libraries.

The Air Force has decided to centralize its personnel system at the Air Force Personnel Center located in San Antonio. The Air Force believes all personnel actions can either be done via voice mail, e-mail, computer response system, or via the world wide web. We've worked with the Air Force Personnel Center in developing core personnel documents to assist bases in developing position descriptions for library personnel. So far, we've completed core documents for technician positions graded at the GS-4 through GS-7 level; and librarian positions at the GS-9 and GS-11 levels. There will be no core documents for GS-8 and higher 1411s nor GS-12 and higher 1410s because these grades are based on very specific requirements. We're also working on publishing 10 new and updated training aids for library directors and their staffs to use in the day-to-day operation of their libraries.

On the service front, formal library service is breaking out into new frontiers. Thanks to open-ended operations in place in Southwest Asia, we have new library services operating at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. We are currently examining possibilities for enhancing library services to facilities in Southwest Asia under a new initiative for "Productive Use of Deployment Time," especially education and distance learning support.

The Air Force Library Central Procurement Program continues to produce amazing results. In fiscal year 97, the program saved $2.2 million, with an average savings level of 35.7% above and beyond individual library discounts. We were able work on the following standardization projects:

1. Purchase 94 of 99 titles on our core reference list (a $1 million project);
2. Revise and implement the new 50-title core periodical list;
3. Purchase sufficient copies of the Air Force Chief of Staff Professional Reading Program for officers, enlisted, and civilian members for all Air Force libraries; and
4. Currently, we are developing a core professional development collection for Air Force librarians with projected delivery in FY98.

In automation, we had a busy year. My "Director of Information Delivery Technologies" has been glued to his seat with the following projects:

1. Installing and upgrading CD-ROM LANs in over 40 libraries in 1997. By February 1998, we will have standardized CD-ROM LANs in over 80 libraries.
2. Establishing 7 separate listservs for Air Force library staff members to exchange ideas and solutions to library problems. We've established listservs for all AFLIS libraries, all general libraries, all academic libraries, all technical libraries, all contract libraries, STINFO specialists, and even a listserv for job announcements in Air Force, other services, Federal, and non-Federal libraries. Six of the seven are available for any subscriber.
3. Developing a home page for AFLIS libraries. As we speak, our home page is currently under review. As soon as it is published, we'll announce its address over the AFLIS listserv. Our libraries will be able to get up the minute procurement status reports from the home page as well as our central procurement guide, software manuals, and other documents.
4. Monitoring the controversial issue of public Internet access in Air Force libraries. Some of you may not be aware that our friends in the SC-community do not want Air Force libraries to utilize the base's communications infrastructure to provide public access to the Internet for "security reasons." We've been able to get the AF/SC folks to clarify their position, and now, library staff members can use the Internet to perform their jobs - which wasn't clear in the original regulation. We've also been able to get them to permit libraries to contract with local, commercial Internet Service Providers for their public access - at least, until a permanent solution is reached.
5. Beginning the development of our Library Electronic Ordering System (LEOS) which will completely automate the entire central purchasing program for libraries and organizations.
6. Acquiring new CD-ROM databases, expanding access to online reference materials, and providing new sources of information retrieval for all Air Force libraries.

Air Force libraries have met challenges before and, on the other side, emerged triumphant and stronger than ever. I have no doubt we will weather this current torrent of challenging winds. As Eleanor Roosevelt wrote in You Learn by Living:

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, "I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along." ... You must do the thing you think you cannot do.

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