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Iowa Academic Library Alliance

Initial Taskforces (see Committees tab on the left for current Committees)

The Iowa Academic Library Alliance got its start as the Academic Library Summit in the fall of 2014.  Some of the academic libraries in Iowa were experiencing leadership changes during this time and all were looking for creative ways to collaborate.  The group of individuals who initiated this movement represented various types of academic libraries in the state of Iowa:

  • Rod Henshaw  Drake University
  • Richard Fyffe  Grinnell College
  • John Culshaw  University of Iowa
  • Chris Cox  University of Northern Iowa
  • Candace Havely  Hawkeye Community College
  • Paul Waelchli  Cornell College
  • Rebecca Funke  Des Moines Area Community College
  • Arron Wings  Kirkwood Community College
  • Curtis Brundy  Wartburg College
  • Pamela Rees  Grand View University

A year later in the fall of 2015, the group formally adopted the name Iowa Academic Library Alliance, and ratified key components of a basic governing structure.  

Charge:  Determine the form for our collaboration

  • Research other consortia and how they are organized
  • Make a proposal regarding name of the group, mission, vision, bylaws, leadership and organizational structure of the group and processes by which decisions get made
  • What does it mean to be a member of this group?
  • Interim role of group:
  • Oversee the work of the task forces
  • Organize the next get-together of the group in  spring 2015
  • Create a communication vehicle for the group

Task Force Membership:

Curtis Brundy      Wartburg College
Karen Davidson   Northeast Iowa Community College
Rebecca Funke    DMACC
Richard Fyffe       Grinnell College 
Karen Lawson      Iowa State University
Pam Rees            Grand View University
Cheryl Talbert      Indian Hills Community College

Charge: Create state-wide collaborative purchasing agreements for electronic resources (databases, journal packages)

  • Identify what resources all libraries currently acquire or would like to acquire
  • Explore options for collaborative purchasing
  • Expand IPAL program
  • Research other consortia contracts outside of IPAL open to expansion (Examples: GWLA, CIC, Minitex)

Task Force members:

Chris Cox                 UNI
Kevin Engel             Grinnell College 
Natalie Hutchinson   Des Moines University
Paul Mattson            Luther College
Paul Waelchli            Cornell College
Arron Wings             Kirkwood Community College

Charge: Establish a courier service to move print collections around the state

  • Explore various methods to determine costs
  • ILL shipping through UPS, Fed Ex
  • Joining other consortia - Möbius, Colorado Alliance, MidAmerica Alliance, Amigos
  • Research best practices, identify roadblocks and recommend policies or identify
  • Make a recommendation to the whole – could be in the form of an RFI

Task Force members:

Candace Havely     Hawkeye Community College
Mary Heinzman      St. Ambrose University
Michael Scott         State Library of Iowa
Carrie Wade          Graceland Univesity

Charge: Create an interest group of libraries wanting to migrate to a new ILS

  • Identify those libraries that are ready to move to a new ILS in the next 3 years. 
  • Plan a sub-summit to determine the process by which:
  • Products would be explored
  • A group RFP could be generated
  • If all libraries in this group move to the same system, this could serve as a pilot for all Iowa libraries to share an ILS

ILS Task Force members:

Michelle Bailey         Scott Community College
Mara Egherman       Marshalltown Community College
Rebecca Funke        Des Moines Area Community College
Julie Hansen             William Penn University
Mary Heinzman        St. Ambrose University
Rod Henshaw           Drake University
Jill Jack                     Coe College
Elizabeth McMahon    Central College
Julie Meyer               Southeastern Community College
Paul Soderdahl         University of Iowa