[sigCR] SIG/CR: Update on the Workshop and Plans for the New Year

[Grant Campbell]

Good afternoon, everyone.

As the incoming Chair of the SIG/CR, I'd like to send a few messages along to SIG/CR members.

First, I'd like to thank all who made the Classification Research Workshop a success on Saturday, Nov. 2: speakers, registrants and the Program Committee. The Proceedings will be mounted at Advances in Classification Research Online later in the year, and I'll pass on the URL when they're up and ready to read. We had 11 presentations, and 39 attendees, and we all had an interesting and productive day.

Second, I'd like to relay some of the issues that are facing SIG/CR this year, and to ask for your feedback. At our meeting yesterday, two ideas were presented as real options for SIG/CR in the future:

1. That we extend the term of the SIG officers from 1 year to 2 years. This gives the members more time to implement fresh ideas and see them through; it also limits the amount of arm-twisting we have to do within our small community to get people to serve on the committee.

2. That we hold the Classification Research Workshop every 2 years rather than annually, and that we schedule the workshop in even-numbered years, to prevent overlap with ISKO-Canada/US. This would hopefully prevent the two events from draining each other, particularly during times when getting funds for conference travel is becoming more difficult; it would also mean that the same executive does not have to plan two consecutive workshops.

Opinion around the table yesterday was decidedly in favour of keeping things the way they are. But I wanted to solicit feedback from the SIG as a whole, to get your thoughts, particularly on Item #2. Feel free to relay your thoughts, either to the group, or to me individually.

Third, I'd also like your thoughts on other activities that the SIG might do, not just at the ASIST meetings but throughout the year. If we opt not to do a workshop every year, we should consider alternative activities that involve our members, feed into the classification research community, and also hopefully promote ASIST and ASIST membership. We had suggestions around the table that included teaming up with another SIG to do something together; putting a greater kick into our Web presence, and making classification-related resources available through the website.

Finally, we're probably committed to doing the Classification Research Workshop in 2014, since it's an even-numbered year. So I'd love to get your ideas on a theme. Please send it along.

Many thanks once again to those who have worked so hard in the past to make SIG/CR work, and who have steered the SIG through the various changes through the years. And a special cyber-hug to Jane Greenberg, for her dedication and enthusiastic leadership over the past year.

All the best,
Grant

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D. Grant Campbell
Associate Professor
Faculty of Information and Media Studies
University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario
N6A 5B7
519-661-2111 ext.88483