Mission
Research Instruction & Patron Services Special Interest Section (RIPS-SIS) activities focus on substantive issues related to public services, including reference, research instruction, circulation, interlibrary loan, and the impact of technology and electronic resources on patron services in all types of law libraries. Our mission is to organize programs and provide a forum for discussion of these and other topics relating to research instruction and services provided to library users.
History
The Research Instruction and Patron Services Special Interest Section RIPS-SIS) was established in 1979 as the Reader Services SIS. Reader Services focused on services to patrons including circulation issues, legal research, and bibliographic instruction. In 1995 Reader Services merged with the Research Instruction Caucus, primarily a private law library group, to become the Research Instruction & Patron Services SIS. The merger was a good fit for both groups because of the overlap in interests and diverse library types of RIPS-SIS members.
Governance & Meetings
RIPS is governed by an executive board consisting of six officers: a chair, vice chair, secretary/treasurer, two members at large, and the immediate past chair. Elections are annual, and the section breakfast and business meeting is held during the AALL Annual Meeting. View the list of current officers.