The Electronic Communications Committee began as the ILA/ACRL Ad Hoc Web Committee in 1996. This Committee established the Association's Web site, which currently is found at: http://www.iowaacrl.org. In 1997 the Association also created a mailing list, and the Committee's name was changed to ILA/ACRL Ad Hoc Electronic Information Committee. In 1998 ILA/ACRL changed its bylaws and made this committee a standing one. Beginning with 1999, this new standing committee, named the Electronic Communications Committee, is responsible for the tasks formerly performed by the Ad Hoc Committee.

Responsibilities

As of 2003, the ILA/ACRL mailing list is run by Steve Ostrem at the University of Iowa Libraries. The e-mail mailing list is designed to quickly disseminate information to ILA/ACRL members who have subscribed to the mailing list. 

The ILA/ACRL Web site is found at http://www.iowaacrl.org/. In order to make changes on the Web site, a user must be given the role of ECC member for the website. Committee chairs and officers also have the ability to create and modify content specific to their committee.

The Committee is responsible for running the mailing list and maintaining the ILA/ACRL Web site and social media to include Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. This involves adding new information to the Web site and pushing it out via social media, as needed, updating existing information, deleting or archiving old information, improving the design of the Web pages, and general maintenance of the pages. Changes on the Web site are generally made by the Chair, but can also be made by other Committee members designated by the Chair.

Information on the Web site which must regularly be updated includes: the Iowa Academic and Research Libraries Directory, the list of Officers and Committees, the Membership Roster, the Strategic Plan (if changed), the Bylaws (if changed), the Volunteer form, upcoming conferences, scholarship information, and information relating to the ILA/ACRL portion of the ILA fall conference and to the ILA/ACRL spring conference. The ILA/ACRL Newsletter is published electronically and needs to be added to the Web site as soon as it is ready (may be added by newsletter chair). It is usually published three times a year, in March, July, and November. Selected pictures from the ILA/ACRL spring conference are usually added to the Facebook page.

In order for the electronic information to be posted on the Web site in a timely manner, it is crucial that the Committee Chair work together closely with the ILA/ACRL President and the other Committee chairs, in particular the chairs of the Directory Committee, the Newsletter Committee, the Fall Program Committee, the Spring Conference Program Committee, and the Awards Committee (announcements of scholarship opportunities).

Social media use began in 2010 to get information out to our members. Our LinkedIn group is called ILA/ACRL. Facebook page is ILA ACRL. Our Twitter hashtag is ILAACRL. Our established pattern thus far has to post each newsletter to the LinkedIn group and Facebook page, and tweet about conferences with an established hashtag for the conference. Retweet ILA (IowaLA) tweets as appropriate. Leading up to conferences, we have been promoting main speakers via social media to attract additional conference attendees. Following conferences, announce when speakers' or presenters' handouts, slides, Prezi shows, etc are available, hosted either on our website or elsewhere (slideshare, etc).

Schedule of Activities

November
Plan to attend the ILA/ACRL Executive Board Planning meeting. Other Executive Board meetings may be called during the year. Plan to attend them. Helpful to also attend ILA annual planning meeting if you haven't in the past, to understand relationship between ILA and ILA ACRL. Update the information on ILA/ACRL Officers and Committees on the Web site. Place the November Newsletter issue on the Web site. If newsletter committee chair doesn't send out via listserv, send out and also via social media.

December
Communicate with the members of your Committee. Has been done primarily via email. Acknowledge their appointments and outline the work that will be done and their expected contributions. Chair or outgoing chair compose Annual Report of committee activities for President.

January/February
Place call for contributed papers for the ILA/ACRL Spring Conference on the Web site. If conference comm chair doesn't send out via listserv, send it out. Also push out via social media. [FOLLOWING MAY BE REVISED...TO JUST LOOKING AT EACH COLLEGE/UNIV LIBRARY'S WEBSITE ONCE PER YEAR, MAKING SURE OUR LINKS WORK AND CORRECT LIBRARIANS' NAMES ARE LISTED FOR EACH LIBRARY.] Obtain from the Directory Committee Chair all the changes that have to be made in the electronic version of the Iowa Academic and Research Libraries Directory. It is a good idea to communicate with the Directory Chair prior to this and discuss the best way of making the changes in the electronic Directory. Make the changes in the electronic Directory (this is usually a very time consuming process). Note that changing the electronic Directory might occur later in the year, depending on when all the necessary information has been put together by the Directory Committee (in other words, depending on when the print edition of the Directory is ready to go to the Printer). At this time also update the ILA/ACRL Membership Roster and the schedule of upcoming conferences. Push out conference schedule via social media.

February/March/April
Place information regarding the ILA/ACRL Spring conference on the Web site. This information will come from the Chair of the Spring Conference Committee and/or from the President. This information will include a conference registration form (place on Web site in February), a preliminary program, and information about the host college/university and city.  Place information about scholarship opportunities for the ILA/ACRL Spring conference on the Web site (obtain information from Awards Committee Chair).  In March, add the new issue of the ILA/ACRL Newsletter to the Web site.  Update ILA/ACRL Volunteer Form. Push out all content via social media.

April/May
Place last minute updates regarding the ILA/ACRL Spring conference on the Web site and push out via social media (if there are any).

June
Post conference pictures on Facebook page. Archive (on the Web site) information regarding the Spring conference.

July
Place the July Newsletter issue on the Web site and push out via social media.

September
Place information about the ILA/ACRL programs at the fall ILA Conference on the Web site and social media.

October
Clean up the Web page as necessary. Delete outdated materials. Archive older materials which need to be used again the following year. Make changes in design and layout, if desired. Write thank you letters to Committee members. Revise this information about your Committee for the Organization Manual.

The Electronic Communications Committee Chair

1996 Barbara Allen, University of Northern Iowa
1997 Barbara Allen, University of Northern Iowa
1998 Barbara Allen, University of Northern Iowa
1999 Megan Adams, University of Northern Iowa
2000 Megan Adams, University of Northern Iowa
2000 Chris Neuhaus, University of Northern Iowa
2001 Chris Neuhaus, University of Northern Iowa
2002 Chris Neuhaus, University of Northern Iowa
2003 Chris Neuhaus, University of Northern Iowa
2004 Chris Neuhaus, University of Northern Iowa
2005 Ryan Gjerde, Luther College
2006 Ryan Gjerde, Luther College
2007 Ryan Gjerde, Luther College
2008 Ryan Gjerde, Luther College

2009 Ryan Gjerde, Luther College

2010 Sara Scheib, Kirkwood Community College

2011 Mara Egherman, Central College

2012 Dan Chibnall, Grand View University