PAM Three Year Strategic Plan Report (1999-2002) - Draft

Goal 1: Increase communication and networking among members.

1.1 Build on the strength and success of PAMNet.

The number of subscribers to PAMnet has increased 11% since June 1999.  We now have 494 registered subscribers (May 2002).  Likewise, PAMnet traffic continued to increase over the three-year period.  The number of unique messages (threads) grew by 10% per year from 1999-2001. PAM member Donna Cromer did an analysis about types of messages in 1999.

The PAM Bulletin has undergone tremendous change with electronic enhancements in design, content, and distribution. Cynthia Holt redesigned the web version starting with the August 1999 issue. The current Bulletin incorporates hyperlinked navigation, improved graphic design, and photos. In August 2000, the Bulletin was made available in pdf format.

The division continues to fund the distribution of the Bulletin in both print and electronic format to the membership.

Access to the PAMnet archives, current and past issues of the Bulletin, as well as information about the division and our activities are proved through the Division’s website.

Activities:

• The PAM Mentoring Sub-Committee facilitated contacts with students in at least 2 LIS classes from different universities.
• The PAM International Membership Award was established to provide travel funds for librarians in countries other than the U.S. to attend the annual conference. There have been three annual awards presented during this time period.
• The PAM - Asia Pacific Forum (PAM-APF) was established as a regional forum for librarians and information specialists with an interest in physics, astronomy, mathematics and computer science subjects. The development of this Forum is also supported by the Asia-Pacific Special Interest Group APSIG of the Australian Library and Information Association.
• PAM sponsored the SLA Global 2000 session  "Equity of Access to Information Resources: Problems and Possible Solutions in Developing Countries," to which we brought an expert speaker from India.

No activity.

1.5 Make the Division open houses more effective as networking opportunities.  Specifically, welcome new Division members as well as non-PAM members and communicate information on opportunities for involvement and leadership in the Division.

The Division’s open house at the annual conference has become a lively event that attracts members, potential PAM members, and representatives from our vendor community.  The informal setting facilitates personal communication and the exchange of ideas.  The sponsorship the Division has obtained for putting on the open houses has improved significantly over the past few years.

Goal 2: Plan focused, dynamic programming at the Annual Conference.

2.1 Keep providing strong discipline-focused and practical conference programs. Explore ways to make subject-based roundtables even more effective.

Roundtable moderator guidelines were revised as a result of the strategic planning process; collection and analysis of feedback from attendees of the sessions is ongoing.

2.2 Plan conference programming that deals with changing technologies and other topics specifically identified in the 1998 PAM Division Survey, e.g., management, supervision, funding, and licensing.

These topics, and others, were addressed in PAM-sponsored conference programs over the past three years.; Technological issues are also discussed in the roundtable meetings - which often generate ideas for the next year’s conference programs. A brief summary of conference programs include presentations on: Data mining, bibliographic instruction, collection weeding (1999); Electronic publishing, women in science, professional development (2000); Peer review in the sciences, economics of e-publishing, crystallography databases (2001); Information access in developing countries, assessing impact of e-journals, teaching science information, librarian’s image (2002). The Division has also sponsored continuing education courses at the annual conference on: Licensing Electronic Journals (2000) and Physical Science Reference Fundamentals for Non-Scientists (2002).

2.3 Explore and offer as appropriate a wider variety of regular conference program formats, including teaching/learning vehicles, e.g., panel discussions, workshops, tutorials, and seminars.

The division hosts usually hosts a panel discussion each year, such as 2001 E-journal Publishers Roundtable. We have added the “vendor update" as a means of providing information on new products and services.  We have started sponsoring continuing education workshops (mentioned in 2.2). In 2002, we are sponsoring a field trip to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

2.4 Publish or otherwise make conference proceedings available promptly on the Division web site, e.g., round table notes, program transcripts, overheads.

Reports on PAM sponsored conference events, along with business and treasurer’s reports, are provided in the August issue of PAM Bulletin. The Bulletin is archived on the Division’s website.

2.5 Explore sponsoring formal SLA continuing education (CE) courses.

“Licensing Electronic Journals" CE course in 2000 (26 participants); "Let's Get Physical! Physical Science Reference Fundamentals for Non-Scientists" offered June 2002.

2.6 Explore the possibility of providing financial assistance to members to attend the Annual Conference.

In addition to providing funding for our International Travel awardees, the Division approved more funding for officers' (chair, chair-elect) travel to required meetings, so that funding would not be such a barrier for people to be willing to take those offices.

Goal 3: Provide mentoring and professional development opportunities for all PAM members.

3.1 Establish a committee to facilitate mentoring activities and encourage member involvement within the Division.

The Mentoring Subcommittee was established as part of PAM's Professional Development Committee and has concentrated on establishing formal mentorships, developing the annual conference "Buddy Program,” and exploring the possibility of creating a divisional Expertise Database.

Details about the programs are given on the sub-committee’s website.

The Mentoring Subcommittee continues to seek volunteers to share their expertise with the next generation of PAM Librarians, as a Mentor, Guide to the Annual Conference, and/or self-identified Expert on a particular subject.

The sub-committee also sponsored 2000 conference program, "Developing Science Librarians.”

3.2 Ensure positive, productive experiences by first time conference goers by providing structured guidance and personal contact during and after the Annual Conference.

The "Conference Buddy" program was introduced by the PAM Mentoring Subcommittee in 1999.  PAM volunteers have served as knowledgeable guides to several new members and first-time conference attendees, providing advice on meeting attendance and introductions to PAM members, publisher representatives, and vendors.

3.3 Create an "expertise database" of members willing to share skills and serve as  resource people in specific areas, e.g., cataloging, management, fund raising, grant writing, and technology.

The feasibility of this project is under review by the Professional Development Committee.

3.4 Investigate low-cost distance learning opportunities, implementing those programs that are feasible and desirable. Exploit new technologies for outreach, e.g., courses offered via email or the web, video classes, electronic roundtables and chat rooms.

Nothing to report.

3.5 Investigate leadership training opportunities for all interested members. Follow up with members who have indicated an interest in being involved in leadership activities within the Division and facilitate their inclusion in, for example, new or standing committees as a first step toward future officer roles.

A study is proposed to find a quantitative measure for this point by checking the online Who's Who to see when current and recent past officers, committee chairs, and committee members joined SLA (e.g. x% of division staff had been members less than 5 years upon taking up their office or appointment)

Goal 4: Strengthen liaison relationships with vendors and publishers.

4.1 Continue to represent the interests of the library/user community to publishers and vendors. Keep members apprised of relevant developments.

PAM has formalized the structure for publisher liaisons and has increased the number of publishers involved. The list PAM/Publisher liaisons is available on the website. A meeting of the liaisons was held at the 2001 annual conference. The Division also co-sponsored the 2001 program, "Library Advisory Councils : Publishers Partnering with Libraries"

4.2 Provide more opportunities for librarians and publishers to communicate with and learn from each other, e.g., conference roundtables, liaison programs, joint library/publisher advisory boards.

Formalized PAM/Publisher Liaison activities

Provide the PAM Vendor Update sessions at the annual conference

4.3 Strengthen members' understanding of scholarly scientific communication and the issues that a changing, electronic environment presents to libraries, publishers, and other stakeholders.

The 2000 PAM Division Award was presented to editorial board of Journal of Logic Programming, with Editor-in-Chief Bruynooghe accepting the award. He also gave a presentation on the issues at the Mathematics RT.

The Division has sponsored or co-sponsored the following programs at the annual conference:

"Assessing the Impact of E-journals on Libraries and Users: What's Been Learned so Far." (2002);

"Peer Review in the Sciences: What's Going On?" (2001);

"Electronic Publishing and the Economics of Information." Carol Tenopir (2001)

The E-Journals Publishers Roundtable (2001)

E-Materials - Barriers to  Revolutionizing Scientific Information." co-sponsored (2000);

Greg Youngen, Chair, PAM Strategic Planning Committee

Page last updated: June 17, 2002