You have no excuse now. Years ago, it was because you weren't sure what to research or what topic to write about in the area of technical services law librarianship. We created the Research and Publications column which appears in each TSLL issue with tons of ideas. Then you wished you had some kind of annual forum to discuss issues of research and publications. Five years ago we created the annual AALL OBS-TS Research Roundtable. Then you made faces because you and/or your organization didn't have money to support the research you needed to do so that you could write about some burning issue in our field. Now we've created the JRGC.

What is JRGC? It's okay to pronounce JRGC like the word "jerk." The concept is to JERK you into becoming an author and to make a contribution to our literature of our profession. (You can read about it on page 28 in the October 1997 issue of SPECTRUM). JRGC is our new OBS-TS Joint Research Grant Committee (JRGC). It has wings thanks to OBS and TS members who voted unanimously in favor of creating a joint committee for the purpose of awarding funds to AALL members who seek help to support their research activities. Applicants must qualify for the grants of up to $1,000 per year (with equal allocations coming from OBS and from TS per grant) and the research must benefit technical services law librarianship.

JRGC's six members are Brian Striman, Chair; Sue Welch and Georgia Briscoe, representing OBS; Corinne Jacox and Julie Stauffer, representing TS; and Richard Amelung, Member-at-Large (but he's gonna work as hard as the rest of the members). The purposes of the Committee are:

» to promote the grant;
» to review applications;
» to help applicants with the process of the terms of the grant and to understand the guidelines and deadlines of their project to the final submission of publication;
» to award the grants.

In the case of multiple grant applications, there will be selection guidelines, including a project's potential audience (projects should have wide appeal). These projects will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis. Preference will be given to OBS and TS members, but shall not be limited to those SISs. However, applicants must be members of AALL. The final copy of the completed work must be in English. Applications must be submitted to the Committee on the official grant form, available from Brian Striman. Grant agreement and application forms will be available on a Website to be announced in TSLL.

Oh, I guess I forgot about the other excuse, that you just haven't the time to research and go through the hoops to get published, and your institution won't grant you the work time you need for research and writing projects. Yeah, that's a tough one. Look at it this way. You get an idea about a topic, you apply for a research grant, the JRGC finds that you meet all the criteria and you filled in all the forms, and we approve the grant. Imagine the great leverage of that grant when you go your employer and say, "Hey, look, I got awarded a grant to do research. Can you help me out by giving me some time to complete this worthwhile project?" It might just be the ticket to getting you the time "off" from your normal busy schedule to do some research and writing. Think about it.