OBS-SIS/TS-SIS Joint Research Grant Committee
2011-2012 Annual Report
By Hollie White
This year the Joint Research Grant Committee decided to expand its web presence by developing its own AALL Community page and attempting to implement a new online grant application submission form. The Joint Research Grant Community page was created in Fall 2011 and includes a blog to which many JRG committee members contributed. Members from both TS and OBS have joined this community.
Work to create an online grant application submission form began with the committee consulting both the OBS and TS Web editors. After that, AALL headquarters was approached to help with the project. AALL Headquarters IT staff refused to assist in the project and placed the project in the hands of the OBS Web editor. A few mock-ups were presented and refined. By early 2012, it was discovered that full implementation of an online web form would not be possible by the Spring 2012 grant deadline. This project will have to be delayed for another year with possible implementation by Spring 2013.
The Joint Research Grant was advertised in local chapter newsletters, on the TS and OBS email lists, the Technical Services Newsletter, and multiple times in the AALL President's E-Newsletter. Again, despite these advertising efforts and the new online presence, there were no applicants for this year's grant. Promotion and work for the Fall JRG deadline will continue this summer into the fall.
The committee has developed a survey that will help determine why people are not applying for the grant. The survey will be sent to a University-based Institutional Review Board for approval and distributed to TS and OBS member in the upcoming year.
The Joint Research Grant Committee members continue to see the value of the OBS/TS SIS Joint Research Grant as well as the research it attempts to support.