RUSA Executive Director Report, October 15, 2014

Budget Overview: A 4th close was added this year and just came out on Tues. I will analyze it and send an overview before our November meeting. The overall deficit came in at about $65,000.

Financial Literacy Guidelines and Best Practices: The guidelines and best practices were completed and announced. A launch webinar took place on Sept. 25. It can be accessed here: https://ala.adobeconnect.com/_a1087453682/p2juv3wv4la/? launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal. It was sold out within 24 hours, but only about 30 people showed up. 5 more webinars will be planned, as laid out in the grant, for 2015. Smart Investing @Your Library Webinars: The FINRA Foundation will sponsor 3 free webinars this fiscal year on financial literacy education (FLE). The first one took place on Oct. 9. This was also sold out within 48 hours. About 60 people showed up for it. Nominations: Only two sections have not completed their slates, due Sept. 15. They are History and STARS. I have sent notes inquiring if they need assistance. The biographical database closes Dec. 1 for RUSA. Online Learning: From the Professional Development Committee: 2 webinar proposals were not approved, and 3 were withdrawn. 10 webinar proposals were approved, including the Book Annotation webinar sponsored by NoveList. The NoveList webinar is being advertised right now; RUSA chairs of book award committees are being offered the webinar free-of-charge. All others will pay. We hope to have at least one more session this year. One online course proposal was not approved and 2 course proposals were approved. Andrea is notifying all program presenters, contracting with them and setting up dates for all the approved proposals; and Marianne is planning marketing timelines for each. A second call for proposals will not go out for this fiscal year; our capacity has been reached with these and the FLE webinars. RUSA Student Sponsorships: Marianne sent notes to the ALA new member roundtable and student chapter staff liaisons about the free Student Sponsored members on Tuesday. So far 8 students have asked for student memberships and are qualified. Meeting and Program Scheduling for Conferences: Scheduling of meetings has been going on for several weeks. Leighann has suggested ways to improve scheduling so that it’s not such a burden on members and staff, and to eliminate some of the mass chaos we encountered this year. She talked to the other medium sized divisions, LITA, LLAMA, and ALCTS, for ideas. We will implement these ideas for 2016 since it’s too late for 2015. Still In-Progress:  RUSA Master Calendar  Process for Each Section Allotment of $1500

Submitted by Susan Hornung, October 14, 2014