Membership drive: Southern California representatives have been the most active in recruiting new members and/or generating interest in ALLIC activities.
Directory of Armenian publishers and bookstores: The directory will be web-based only. The existing information, initially compiled by Arleen, needs to be reviewed for currency, before being posted on the ALLIC web page. This information will also be available to Vladimir Wertsman, who is currently working on the 5th edition of the EMIERT-sponsored directory of ethnic publishers and bookstores. ALLIC Web Page and Cyber-Communication: Ani continues her meticulous work of maintaining the ALLIC page and cyber-communication as secretary of the ALLIC Executive Board. Ani, Ardem, and Sylva will serve as a Cyber-Committee, to update information on the ALLIC web page (currently on Ani's ATT server), when the EMIERT web page migrates to the ALA server. PRAXIS Program: SNM completed her PRAXIS pre-doctoral program and began the PhD program in Information and Armenian Studies at UCLA. She presented her research achievements at the 6th Annual Diversity Fair, 21 June 2003, and was a PRAXIS panelist on 22 June 2003; and will participate in the International Poster Session, 23 June 2003, with a presentation about the Calouste Gulbenkian Library of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.Library relationships
Armenia and Nagorno-Kharabagh:
South Caucasus Library Symposium, Spring 2005: The Carnegie Corporation funded the second South Caucasus Library Symposium, "Fostering Civil Society: Improving Access to Information in Academic Libraries in the South Caucasus," held in Yerevan, Armenia, September 26-30, with the participation of American Library Association, and the Library Associations of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. This initiated a 2-year collaborative program among the three State University Libraries (Yerevan, Armenia; Baku, Azerbaijan; Tbilisi, Georgia). The program was highly successful. ALA IRC's Eurasia subcommittee met on Saturday, 10 January, to discuss continuing plans for the third symposium in the cycle to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, in the spring of 2005. ALLIC/AAIP/Armenian Library Assn Library Travel Tour (Armenia): Plans for this have been postponed until October 2005.- ALLIC has become an affiliate of the Armenian Library Association (ArLA), and committee members are contributing toward the costs of publishing the official ArLA bulletin. The Association will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in October 2004.
- The city of Martuni (NKR) Library building is being privatized by the Shahan Natalie Family Foundation and will be rehabilitated to incorporate a community center, an Internet center, and library facility for its 5,000 inhabitants. SNFF is interested in completing the library building in a "Habitats for Humanity" style project, which will involve ALLIC and local participation.
- SNM participated as keynote speaker and workshop presenter in the celebration of Khngo Apor National Children's Library's 70th anniversary, 6 to 13 October 2003.
- During the same visit, SNM followed on American University of Armenia (AUA) commitment to develop a regional library and information science faculty and training center at this English-language institution in Yerevan. AUA is affiliated with the University of California University system. She is investigating curricular offerings of the two institutions and preparing a feasibility of a 3-phase program: continuing education; certificate program; and graduate degrees, M.A. and PhD.
Calouste Gulbenkian Library, Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem:- SNM returned to Jerusalem from 28 July to 5 September 2003. During that time, she continued preparatory work in the Library, preliminary to the installation of security, fire protection, and mobile shelving systems. Approval of funding from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is anticipated by the end of January 2004. Over the long term, ALLIC members may be involved in the Archives and Periodicals Conservation Project, a component of a larger archival program including the rehabilitation of the Mardigian Museum, the St. Toros Manuscript Library, and the Patriarchate's Armenian Genocide archives (the latter received a $20,000 contribution, which will enable collection and program development).
Future programs
- The Armenian Spirit Through its Folk Traditions, June 23-29, 2005, Chicago
- Secrets from the Armenian Kitchen, June 22-28, 2006, New Orleans
- Those Who Forget the Past…, June 21-27, 2007, Washington, DC (in collaboration with Armenian Genocide Museum)
- Music of Armenia, June 26-July 2, 2008, Anaheim, CA
Annual Conference 2004 Program Planning
Program: The People of Ararat: In Search of Our Armenian Roots, June 24-30, 2004, Orlando. Co-Sponsors: RUSA History Section Genealogy Committee; PLA International Relations Committee Track 2: Cultural and Heritage Programming Preferred Date and Times:Sunday, June 27: 1) 1:30pm to 3:30pm or 2) 4pm-5:30pm Purpose Statement: A panel presentation for librarians interested in genealogy, ethnic communities, cultural and diasporic studies, and those who serve the Armenian community, support Armenian studies programs, or have an interest in enhancing their knowledge, understanding and appreciation of Armenian heritage. Program structure, time allocations:
Time Activity Person(s) responsible 1:30-1:45 Welcome & introduction Sylva Manoogian 1:45-2:05 Tracing Your Roots Thomas Jay Kemp, Godfrey Memorial Library, Middletown, CT 2:05-2:25 Maps and Heritage Nancy Kandoian, NYPL 2:25-2:45 Questions & Answers Panelists 2:45-3:30 Discussion/Networking Participants
Audience: Librarians who serve the Armenian community, support Armenian studies programs, or have an interest in enhancing their knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the Armenian heritage Budget: $500 will be allocated for cost of audio-visual equipment, and miscellaneous expenses if needed; bibliographies and other handout type of materials will be posted on website. Program promotion: EMIERT, PLA, RUSA websites; Groong (Armenian News Network); Division listservs; Cognotes; American LibrariesUpcoming Projects
Book donation: The Lincy Foundation is making available 5,000 copies of Peter Balakian's The Burning Tigris (2003) for distribution to public libraries in the North America, and has asked ALLIC to coordinate the distribution. Clara Chu suggested that we set aside a number of copies for distribution at the EMIERT booth, 2004 Annual Conference, Orlando. It was decided we would set aside 25 copies for this purpose. We are investigating the most expedient way of securing mailing labels. SNM will follow up with Harout Sassounian, who represents the Foundation, regarding other details. There is no budgetary impact on EMIERT. Diocesan Library and Information Centers: Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, newly elected Primate of the Western Diocese (Armenian Church of North America), has asked ALLIC to develop a strategic plan for a Diocesan Library and Information Centers network, headquartered in the Aga-Sarkissian Library at the Diocesan Complex in Burbank, CA. ALLIC SoCal will schedule a working session to develop a review draft by mid-February.