Help RUSA With Their Name Change Task Force

Today I have something boring but important to share with you.  The arm of ALA that encompasses the work we Readers’ Advisors do is RUSA- Reference and User Services Association. As you can see already, that name is not only kinda boring, but also it does not accurately describe the fun scope of our work as adult public service librarians anymore. And it definitely does not reflect the dynamic and exciting  RA focused work being done specifically by the CODES section.

So RUSA wants to know if they should change their name and they want your help.  Since I am a member of RUSA I received the link to the survey, but the leadership is actively trying to reach everyone who could possibly be represented by the organization. Member or not, please share your thoughts.

So to help the future of library workers as they serve adults at a public desk, I am giving over today’s post to RUSA. Please read their plea below for your input, and click on the survey link.

They really want to know what you think, good or bad. They truly want to make the organization more helpful and useful. They have worked hard to keep up with the swiftly changing landscape of serving adults at the library in practice, now they need your help making their name reflect their awesome work.

Thank you in advance for taking the survey. It really will help you to do your job of helping adult leisure readers better.

Does RUSA Need a New Name?

The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) is considering a change in the name of the organization to ensure the continuous support and representation of its current and future members' needs and interests. RUSA members represent a wide variety of interests and professional activities, including readers’ advisory, interlibrary loan, genealogy, user experience and all kinds of library public services. Many once identified as reference librarians, but now recognize that the membership is changing in addition to new professional roles; members are questioning how best to brand themselves and the services they provide.

Conducted by the RUSA Name Change Task Force, RUSA members and nonmembers are encouraged to participate in a lively conversation about the future of RUSA. Take the short survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YK3ZK9R no later than July 15. Join the conversation online and share by using #nameRUSA on your favorite social media site.

Follow the conversation on Twitter with hashtag: #nameRUSA

The RUSA Name Change Task Force includes Ed Garcia and Nancy Cunningham (Co-Chairs), Michelle Roubal, Viccy Kemp, Elizabeth Lane, Marlinda Karo, M. Kathleen Kern, Paul Brothers, Melissa Del Castillo, Nancy Abashian, Jeannette Pierce, John Dove.

The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association, represents librarians and library staff in the fields of reference, specialized reference, collection development, readers’ advisory and resource sharing. RUSA is the foremost organization of reference and information professionals who make the connections between people and the information sources, services, and collection materials they need. Learn more about the association at www.ala.org/rusa.