President's Report
North Carolina Library Association
Executive Board Meeting
Friday, 19 April, 2002
Elon University

There's a Far Side cartoon that shows one airline pilot saying to the other, "Let's get this baby off the ground." Of course, they're sitting on the forehead of a giant baby. That sort of describes the last few months with NCLA, as we rebuilt the organization's administrative functions in preparation for an exciting biennium.

It gives me great pleasure to write this report, because the news is all good -- very good. The association is making great strides in its reorganization of the administrative office, and this success is about to be impressed on all NCLA members.

First, Cathy Rocco has taken the position of interim administrative assistant. This job is all about herding cats, and she's doing a great job. Cathy, who lives in Cary, is a former reference librarian with Wake County Public Library and an indexer for the Brooklyn, New York, library.

Meanwhile, Secretary Martha Davis has finished the job of reconstructing the membership database. Right now, we're considering as members anyone in the database from 1999 to 2002, as even older databases previously were used for mailings and renewal requests. There seem to be many loyal members who have not received notices to renew over the past couple of years, and we want to reach out to everyone we can with NCLA's new initiatives.

The first step was the blue postcard most of you have received. It has paid dividends in terms of the number of address corrections returned, which will ensure that as many people as possible receive an even bigger mailing in preparation now.

This is the renewal mailing, but it will go in an envelope with five pieces. It will include conference issue -- the final print issue -- of North Carolina Libraries; a membership brochure; an invitation to renew from me; and a renewal form. That's four; the fifth piece merits special note.

It's the premier issue of the revived newsletter, Tar Heel Libraries. Kevin Cherry and Frannie Ashburn of the State Library pulled this 8-page extravaganza of people and places together in two short months. They had a wealth of information and had to save much of it for later issues in order to bring the publication in on budget. But I can tell you now that THL will be a great success and an exciting means of enhancing the sense of community among librarians, libraries and library supporters in North Carolina.

All elements of this major effort were to be delivered to the North Carolina Libraries mailing firm in Greenville on Wednesday, April 17, so as you read this the mailing is in the works. A slightly different version presently will go to those who already have renewed for 2002, with a personalized welcome letter and membership card replacing the renewal requests.

I'm very proud of the strides NCLA has made just since the January board meeting. And I haven't even covered the upcoming activities of the sections and round tables, and ongoing work of the committees.

This nearly 100-year-old baby is flying high.

--Ross A. Holt
President, NCLA