General Guidelines
The ACRL Instruction Section (IS) does not issue endorsements external to ACRL, but may make recommendations to the ACRL Board of Directors concerning such endorsements and other forms of support. (From the ACRL Board of Directors Guide: USE OF ACRL’s NAME, Note: “The Board of Directors is the voice for the association. Sections, committees, and other established units are not authorized to speak for the association except through the Board. This is to say that unit leaders should refrain from issuing statements, taking positions, or endorsing any statements or positions except with Board approval.”)
The IS Executive Committee will review all requests for endorsements or other forms of support and, if deemed appropriate, will submit a recommendation in writing to the ACRL Board that it endorse or otherwise support the request. In making its decision, the IS Executive Committee will consider how well the request meets the following criteria:
- Supports the mission of the ACRL Instruction Section
- Benefits the membership of the ACRL Instruction Section
- Advances the strategic directions of the ACRL Instruction Section as outlined in its Strategic Plan
In addition, the Committee should consider the financial impact of the request on the resources available to the Instruction Section. Recommending support for requests that might negatively impact the resources available to IS may be allowed if it is decided that the benefits outweigh the costs.
IS may issue endorsements or provide other forms of support to units within ACRL without prior Board approval. These requests will be handled according to existing ACRL policies and procedures, but will be judged upon the same criteria as all other requests.
Types of Requests to be Considered
Types of requests that the ACRL Instruction Section may consider for recommendations for endorsement or support may include but are not limited to the following:
- Co-sponsorship of programs with other ACRL or ALA units, or with outside organizations. Co-sponsorships may be in name only, or with shared planning and financial responsibilities
- Letters of support for grant proposals
- Endorsements or support for special projects, initiatives or products
The ACRL Instruction Section may not recommend that the ACRL Board endorse publications ( ACRL’s Guide to Policies and Procedures 13.2, “ACRL should not endorse any book or other publication and only free materials produced by librarians should be announced. Other people making such inquiries should be advised about how to rent ALA/ACRL mailing lists.”Source: ACRL Executive Committee, October 1982)
Procedures
Requests for endorsement or support will be submitted to the IS Chair.
External Requests:
- Upon receiving a request from an individual or group external to ACRL, the IS Executive Committee will review the request in accordance with this policy.
- If the Committee decides to support the request, it will submit a recommendation in writing to the ACRL Board. This recommendation will include both the rationale for the recommendation and a draft of the endorsement or letter of support. The Committee will notify the requester in writing of the Board’s decision.
- If the Committee decides not to support the request, it will notify the requester in writing. The Committee may cite this policy in explaining its decision.
Internal Requests:
- Upon receiving a request from a unit within ACRL, the IS Executive Committee will review the request in accordance with this policy.
- If the Committee decides to support the request, it will follow existing ACRL policies and procedures for providing such support (including ACRL’s Guide to Policies and Procedures 8.3 on co-sponsorship proposals).
- If the Committee decides not to support the request, it will notify the requester in writing. The Committee may cite this policy in explaining its decision.
Approved by IS Executive Committee, March 2006.
