The 1998-99 year is not yet over, but as I look back it is extremely gratifying to see what our organization has accomplished. We have done this because everyone has been willing to pitch in and help where needed, fulfilling my prophecy at last Fall's general membership meeting, that "many hands make light work."

This year, for the first time we scheduled a meeting at the IUPUI campus in addition to our Fall membership meeting and Holiday luncheon at Bloomington. I hope that future boards consider making the holiday lunch a tradition, for I think members enjoy seeing one another in a social setting as well as participating in discussions and hearing speakers. As Andrea Morrison, past president told me, "don't forget to have fun in the organization." The meeting at IUPUI was not well attended--there was some last-minute confusion when the board meeting on the same day was canceled and the meeting was not--moreover, we are all busy librarians and the laws of physics do not allow us to be in two places at once! I do thank those members who travel from IUPUI and other campuses to attend meetings of InULA wherever they are, for I have spent many hours on I-69 and know the weariness of travel. On the up side, though, I have found it gives me three and one-half hours each way to think or digest and absorb what I have heard and discussed with colleagues from around the state.

The workshop scheduled for April 23 on standards for academic reference librarians has been well received by IU librarians from all over the state as well as other academic librarians in Indiana and Illinois. Carol Rusinek, Cindy Szymanski, Michelle Russo and Lila Fredenburg are to be commended for their work organizing this workshop. The Program and Social Committee led by Erla Heyns and Charlotte Hess has put together an outstanding, first-class Silver Anniversary Celebration in Bloomington for May 21 where we hope to see everyone. We have guests coming from out of town and librarians who were formerly active in InULA but have gone on to other libraries or careers. It would be unfortunate to miss the opportunity to renew old acquaintances and meet our colleagues in a gala social event. I look forward to seeing everyone there.

At the time of writing this, the annual fund-raising book sale is organized and set to go on April 18-19. We believe it will be a success and will report elsewhere in this issue on the sale itself. Again I want to thank the membership and friends of the organization, as well as the Library Administration for its support of this event. It is gratifying to have such a cooperative group of librarians who help one another in many ways.

InULA this year has continued its support for IU librarians through research and incentive funds. It has sponsored or agreed to sponsor four professional development projects that benefit IU librarians. The Board decided to award no scholarships this year; the Executive Board felt that the applications this year did not meet the expected standards of excellence.

Behind the scenes and less visible but certainly of value to the organization has been the work of the Communications Committee headed by Celestina Wroth who have kept the InULA web pages updated, added to them, and made a number of enhancements. Moira Smith chaired an ad hoc committee which developed an on-line membership list, which was recently brought up for the membership to comment upon before it is put into its final form. We have still not been able to sort out the details of electronic balloting. Technically it is possible, but the security ramifications are stumbling blocks of a major kind.

My only disappointment this year was the organization's inability to get the required number of votes to amend the Constitution and By-Laws. This matter will be taken up at the Spring Business Meeting scheduled for May 24 from 3:30-5:00 in the Library Third Floor Staff Lounge. The Committee worked extremely hard last year putting the amendments together and reviewing them, and it was unfortunate that we could not get either a positive or negative vote on them because of a return that was far below the majority required by the current Constitution.

The Nominations Committee is currently soliciting nominees for next year's officers. I hope that if you are contacted you will seriously consider running for office. The organization is fiscally sound, has a purpose that benefits IU librarians and is a great group of people with whom to work. I have been a member of many groups in my lifetime and would rank InULA as one of the top three.

In closing my message I want to thank each of you for your many, varied and positive contributions in 1998-99.

Larry W. Griffin
InULA President
email: griffinl@ipfw.edu