MAHSLIN: 2025 Annual Meeting

Maureen Sullivan is a widely recognized leader and educator in the library and information professions. Her career has included positions as the human resources administrator at two major research libraries - the University of Maryland and Yale University. She was a consultant and trainer with the Association of Research Libraries has served as a consultant to numerous organizations on the development of their strategic plans and their programs to redesign work and create organizational systems and cultures which support people at work and ensure organizational effectiveness. She has designed and led numerous leadership development programs, including ALA’s Leading to the Future Institute, the New England Library Leadership Symposium (NELLS), and the Leadership Institute for Academic Librarians (LIAL) at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Maureen served as the 1998-1999 president of the Association of College and Research Libraries and as the 2012-2013 president of the American Library Association. During her presidency she helped to launch a partnership with the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation to provide resources and learning experiences to position libraries and their leaders for effective community engagement. She served as a consultant to The Aspen Institute on their major work to Rising to the Challenge: Re-Envisioning Public Libraries.

Embracing Change:

Resilience Strategies for Tumultuous Times

Tuesday, April 22nd

9 am to 1 pm

Virtual Meeting

Registration Now Open

Attendance free to all MAHSLIN members: please register to receive meeting link

Possible new structures for MAHSLIN:

1 - Transitioning into a NAHSL Special Interest Group (SIG), following in the footsteps of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island.

Some items to consider:

1. What would membership want to see continue in a potential new form as a NAHSL SIG? What can MAHSLIN let go of in lieu of evolving to something new?
2. What would membership want to see happen to MAHSLIN’s funds?
3. Who in membership could help drive a streamlined committee to continue MAHSLIN as a SIG, should we collectively decide to take this route?

2 - Dissolution of MAHSLIN. It is always discouraging and sad to see the end of an important organization that has impacted our lives and careers, but this is an option on the table. In fact, the Special Libraries Association has decided to dissolve after 116 years of service. Although this is likely not most people's preference, it should be considered.

Some items to consider:

1. How do you feel MAHSLIN’s identity is best served/preserved? Evolving into something else, or an honorable retirement, so to speak?
2. While MAHSLIN’s financial health is strong, the biggest issue at hand is engagement and time commitments to keeping MAHSLIN going. How do you feel MAHSLIN’s funds would be best distributed or reallocated if the group collectively decides in favor of dissolution? This could be a scholarship fund, a donation to a non-profit organization, etc.
3. If you feel strongly against dissolution, are you prepared to speak as to why? This is important to the legacy of MAHSLIN and to facilitating an effective discussion.

3 - We remain essentially “as is.” This organization has been a staple of the profession in Massachusetts (and wider!) for many years, and it is not our goal to prematurely end this legacy. However, if membership collectively decides not to change our organizational model, there are considerations that need to be taken into account in order to preserve momentum and longevity.

Some items to consider:

1. Given shrinking budgets, staff, and being asked to do more with less time, it has become increasingly difficult to maintain MAHSLIN on a volunteer basis. How can we best juggle the growing demands of our profession with active engagement in this community? This could look like a complete reorganization of the Board, the addition of new committees, new initiatives, etc.
2. If we want to maintain MAHLSIN, how can we best inspire a new generation of professionals to reinvigorate our group? While we have dedicated board members who have given a lot of time and energy to their roles, it is increasingly difficult to find new volunteers for board positions. Are you willing to volunteer? If not, why not?

Discussion of the future of the organization, with facilitator Maureen Sullivan. See Points for Discussion on this page.

8:00 - 9:00        Coffee Hour

9:00 - 9:30        Business Meeting

9:30 – 9:45        Address from the President

9:45 – 10:00     Break

10:00 – 11:30     Guided Discussion: Our Aspirations for MAHSLIN with Maureen Sullivan

11:30 – 12:00    Q&A and Initial Thoughts

12:00 – 12:05     Break

12:05 – 1:00     Discussion of MAHSLIN’s Future

Anna Dorste, MLIS, MAHSLIN President