An article by a team (A. Click, M. Stöpel, M. T. Alam, S. Kreidieh, D. Flanagan, N. F. Foster, K. Ray) of librarians at 4 AMICAL institutions, with University of Rochester Libraries anthropologist Nancy Foster, recently published in International Journal of Library Science [subscription required]: Abstract Librarians often feel that we understand the needs of our undergraduate users. Isn’t it possible, however, that we make incorrect assumptions based on our perception of these learners? In 2009, representatives from four American style universities, the American University in Cairo, the American University of Sharjah, the Lebanese-American University, and the American University of Paris, conducted an ethnographic study on their respective campuses. These librarians undertook the project in order to learn more about how students use library and campus spaces for learning, and how they conduct academic research. For the mapping study, students marked a campus map as they moved throughout a typical class day, and then explained their movements in an interview with a librarian. In the photograph study, students responded to a series of prompts by taking a series of photographs and then described the significance of each in a follow-up interview. Librarians assessed the data and identified assumptions, surprises, and overall themes. Each library then developed action plans to address the needs of the users, and to make necessary changes. The study demonstrates the usefulness of ethnographic research in developing library policies and services. It also identified the differences and commonalities between individual students, and the specific cultures in which they are situated, both academically and socially.

The schedule of presentations and events for the upcoming AMICAL Conference can now be viewed in a provisional version of the full conference program. For a detailed view of presentations, including abstracts, you can also see AMICAL 2012 Conference Sessions and Abstracts. For other information about the conference, see the conference site.

The American University of Sharjah has launched the conference site for the Ninth Annual AMICAL Meeting and Conference. AMICAL members and invited guests may now register. Information about registration, who should attend, and available support for attendance, can be found on the site. Program information will be posted shortly.

FOR AMICAL MEMBERS - a reminder that proposals are due 31 January 2012 - see guidelines below: Call for proposals AMICAL's annual conference is the one opportunity each year for you to meet with colleagues from the other American international universities, learn from them, share your own work, and hear from some of the best thinkers in library and information services. This year's conference bears the theme: "The value of library and information services - Sharing data and assessing impact," and helping frame our discussions around that theme will be our invited keynote speakers: Lisa Hinchliffe - Coordinator for Information Literacy Services and Instruction, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and past President, Association of College and Research Libraries Malcolm Brown - Director, EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative, and former Director of Academic Computing at Dartmouth College The program will bring focus to other topics of particular interest to AMICAL members as well, including a full-day workshop on institutional repositories with Abby Clobridge (Clobridge Consulting). The draft program, which will evolve according to your input and the proposals received, shows the general shape we're expecting the conference to take. The success of an AMICAL conference depends on your participation, and we welcome proposals from all AMICAL members forpresentations to be included. Presentation proposals If you have an idea for a presentation related to the conference theme, or on a topic that would be of likely interest to AMICAL members, please send the following to Jeff Gima (jgima@aup.edu) no later than 31 January 2012: your name, job title, institution, email and telephone number a presentation title a one-paragraph abstract of the presentation your preferred format for the presentation (see below for presentation formats) Presentation formats accepted for this year's conference: Lightning talks (10 minutes): short, focused presentations structured around 20 slides, each shown for 30 seconds Presentations (20 minutes) Panel presentations (1 hour max): short presentations and/or discussion by several participants centered on a common theme Workshops (1 to 2 hours max): hands on, participatory session focused on helping participants build practical skills on a given topic Technology showcase - demonstrate or present an interesting technology-based project you've implemented at your institution, related to libraries, information services, teaching, learning, etc. Some of the possible topics that have been suggested so far include: Measuring and demonstrating value - successful methods at AMICAL institutions Designing Effective Learning Spaces Effective blended learning environments Assessing the use of campus information systems (Library, Registration, Course Management, Portals) Benchmarking options for libraries, IT services, and institutions Evidence-based practice in libraries and learning technologies Assessment of specific programs (information literacy, digital collections and repositories, collections and collection management, etc.) Usability of online information services Assessment of/with OCLC tools (e.g. Resource Sharing, Collection Analysis, etc.) Discovery tools: How well do they respond to libraries’ and users’ needs? However, any topic of clear interest to AMICAL members is potentially acceptable. Travel support for attendance will be available for those whose presentation proposals have been accepted by the Program Committee, but this will depend in part upon receiving your proposal by 31 January. Further information about travel support for AMICAL members generally is available on the conference website. Note that we are also looking for suggestions for Interest group (roundtable) discussion topics, and facilitators forthose topics -- especially if you have a particular interest and/or expertise in the area. Please send this and any other feedback on the conference program to us as early as possible.

The next AMICAL Annual Meeting and Conference will be held 4-7 April 2012 at the American University of Sharjah. The working theme of the conference is "The value of library and information services - Sharing data and assessing impact." Initial program details and a call for presentations will go out to AMICAL members in December.

The American University of Armenia this month celebrates its 20th anniversary with a program of events at AUA, in Yerevan, and in the U.S.: A Celebration of Education September 26-October 1

Cendrella Habre (Riyad Nassar Library Director, Lebanese American University) was recently named to the OCLC EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Regional Council as Executive Committee Member without Portfolio to represent the interests of OCLC member libraries in the Middle East and India. Her role will involve: Participation in Regional Council and Executive Committee meetings Planning the EMEA Regional Council Annual Meeting and meetings for OCLC members in the Middle East Participation in the EMEA Regional Council Nominating Committee (for delegates to represent the region at OCLC Global Council) and election process Promotion of OCLC membership to libraries in the Middle East / India The Regional Councils provide a means for member libraries to make their voices heard in the governance of OCLC, through the Delegates that they elect to represent them at OCLC's Global Council, but also through the Regional Council committees that help to ensure that OCLC is in touch with its members' interests. AMICAL is proud to have one of its most active library leaders representing OCLC members from the EMEA region.

Elisabetta Morani (Head Librarian at John Cabot University) and Berj Gatrjian (Director, Information Technologies and Communication Services at American University of Armenia) have been elected Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively, of AMICAL's Coordinating Committee for the two-year period 2011-2013. The Coordinating Committee provides operational oversight, approving policies and directions for the consortium's activities throughout the year. Morani was the subject of a related news article on the JCU website, where she noted "AMICAL has been instrumental in creating a networking framework for the Frohring Library, essential for keeping it up with academic library standards. Along the years it has become a lively, well integrated group of people (about 90 librarians, information technologists, and faculty attended its last meeting in Beirut) enthusiastic and committed to sharing their experiences to build academic excellence, innovation and collaboration."

Looking for a robust, usable, standards-compliant system for managing your institution's collections of images and other digital objects? Webinars have been scheduled specifically for AMICAL members on 7, 8 and 16 June to learn more about two leading systems, CONTENTdm and Insight+LUNA. For details and to sign up, see the email distributed 30 May on AMICAList, or contact Jeff Gima (jgima@aup.edu).

The AMICAL Conference just held in Beirut at the Lebanese American University is covered in a substantial article in LAU News. Photos capture highlights from the conference.