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FAQs


What is ELD?
ELD is the acronym for the Engineering Libraries Division of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). The division consists of librarians and information professionals concerned with the support of engineering education. We are involved in the provision of library services and the development of innovative approaches to networking information services. Our division exists to promote and strengthen the role of the library as an integral part of engineering education. ELD serves as a forum for engineers who believe that information access lies at the heart of engineering education.


What are the benefits of joining ELD?
Besides getting the opportunity to interact and work with a dynamic and dedicated group of engineering librarians, membership in ELD entitles you to receive the ELD newsletter, receive discounted registration fees for ASEE conferences, help plan programs of interest to engineering librarians, and/or serve on various ELD and Society committees. Find out more about the benefits of joining ELD.


As a faculty member, I am interested in my university’s library. Would membership in this Division benefit me?
Yes. This Division has members who are deans, faculty, and corporate representatives. They share with librarians the understanding of how information issues such as copyright, plagiarism and the acquisition and dissemination of information impact the engineering profession.

What are ELDNET-L and ELD-L?
ELDNET-L and ELD-L are electronic discussion lists sponsored by the Engineering Libraries Division (ELD) of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). Both lists reside at the University of Washington.

ELDNET-L is an electronic discussion list addressing issues related to or of interest to engineering and related subject area libraries and librarians. The membership of ELD constitutes the core of ELDNET-L, but subscription to the list is open to non-ASEE/ELD members as well. While subscription to ELDNET-L is open, the list IS edited/moderated. Messages sent to the list are reviewed by the list editor, who then distributes messages on appropriate topics to the list subscribers.

  • One can subscribe to ELDNET-L by sending an e-note to listproc@u.washington.edu, leaving the subject line blank, and including the following as the text of the message:subscribe eldnet-l yourfirstname yourlastname.
  • ELD-L is an electronic discussion list designed exclusively for use by the members of the Engineering Libraries Division (ELD). It was created for information dissemination within the Division and for discussion of Division-specific issues that in the past could have been discussed only at the annual conference. Those members of ELD who have e-mail addresses constitute the entirety of the ELD-L subscriber list. Subscription to ELD-L is closed, with new subscribers added to the list only by the list owner(s) or editor(s).


I am registering for the ASEE Annual Conference–any tips?
There are some meal events that may require an additional fee. One that is useful for ELD members is the ASEE Society-Wide Picnic, the first official event of the conference and held on Sunday evening. The picnic is usually very well attended; ELD members gather at the tables with the “maroon and gold” balloons provided by the Membership Committee. Two meal events that do not require a fee are the ELD Welcome Reception, usually held on Monday evening, and the ELD Banquet, usually held on Tuesday evening.

ELD usually has some informal activities planned as well. Typically, if you arrive early on Saturday evening, there will be a group going to dinner. And if you are still there on Wednesday evening, another dinner or event will be announced. Typically, these events are posted to ELDNET-L prior to the conference under such perfectly reasonable headings as “Completely Unofficial Early-Birds And Leftovers Line-up Squad”: “CUEBALLS” or “EARLY BIRDS” or “LEFTOVERS.”

And please plan to attend the ELD Special Interests Group Meeting (formerly Get-Acquainted) . This is usually the first ELD session of the conference, and provides attendees the opportunity to introduce themselves, and in turn meet other ELD attendees. Announcements specific to ELD activities and sessions are also made at this time.

Non-members who want to attend the ASEE Conference should join ASEE and ELD before registering for the conference. This will ensure the member rate for registration without any confusion of membership status. It is strongly recommended that membership application be processed by ASEE at least 2 months before conference registration opens so that you can take advantage of early bird registration rates, which offer significant savings.

How do I get more involved in ELD activities/committees?

  • Take a look at the ELD Committees (See ELD Organizational Structure, with Descriptions of the Duties of Officers and Committees at the end of this document). Is there one you are interested in? In the May ELD Newsletter, the Officers and Committee Chairs summarize the activities of the year in an annual report. There may also be information in the annual business meeting minutes, usually published in the September ELD Newsletter. Note those committees that interest you, then take a moment to inquire of the Committee Chair about the need for new members on that Committee.
  • Consider being a part of the annual ELD conference program as a moderator or presenter. Program planning begins at the prior year’s annual conference. Let the program chair know if you are interested in moderating a session. In particular the Poster Session or the Special Interest Groups Session are excellent moderating opportunities for members who are new to ELD. Submit an abstract if you have an idea for a presentation or poster. The program chair will issue a call for abstracts to be submitted in early fall for the conference that takes place the following year. Once your abstract is accepted, you will have the opportunity to present at the ELD program and you may decide to submit a paper for publication in The ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings. The Proceedings provide a peer-reviewed forum for publication.
  • Consider running for office. A Call for Nominations will appear in the ELD Newsletter. The Director position is well suited for newer members, as well as those who have been active in the group for a while.
  • Contribute items of interest to the ELD Newsletter.

How is the ELD program determined?
Usually, the Program Chair for the NEXT year’s conference will solicit ideas just before the conference. That person will also request ideas from attendees at the conference. Part of the Extended Executive Committee’s meeting on the last day of the conference will cover the program ideas, and determine the top priorities. Committee members will also identify possible moderators and speakers. The Program Chair follows through on these suggestions. The Program Chair may also send out a call for papers, particularly on the identified topics. ASEE sets the deadlines– by September session moderators are identified, by December most presenters are identified.

To view this year’s ELD program, visit http://sites.asee.org/eld/conference-info/

To register or see the full ASEE conference information, visit http://www.asee.org/conferences-and-events/conferences.

What is the difference between the Director and the Division Chair?
The Director provides guidance to the Division. You might think of the two Directors as advisors, although as members of the Executive Committee they do have “voting rights” on issues that come before that Committee, as well as the Extended Executive Committee. The junior Director helps the Program Chair by coordinating the Division’s annual banquet.

The Division Chair is the lead person for the Division. S/he is the spokesperson for the Division to outside entities as well as to ASEE Headquarters and ASEE elected officials. The Chair maintains contact with the committee chairs, and communicates with the membership through a column in the ELD Newsletter, as well as through messages on the ELD discussion lists and web site, as appropriate.

What about other officers and committees?
See below for information on officers, committees, and other positions in ELD. This is a condensed version, with some modifications, of the information in the ELD Bylaws and the Officers, Committees and Appointed Positions Descriptions.

What is the PIC IV?
As with any organization, there are structures that carry out administrative duties, and carry forward the membership’s concerns. In ASEE, the Professional Interest Councils function at this level. There are five Professional Interest Councils, or PICs, each with selected Divisions as members. ELD is a member of the PIC IV. Other Divisions with us in the PIC IV are: Computers in Education, Educational Research and Methods, Experimentation and Lab-Oriented Studies, Graduate Studies, International, Minorities in Engineering, New Engineering Educators, and Women in Engineering. The ELD Chair attends the PIC IV meetings at the Annual Conference and brings back relevant news to ELD. Occasionally, the PIC IV Chair will make a brief appearance at the ELD Business Meeting at the Annual Conference. The PIC IV Chair is elected for a two-year term and is our Division’s representative on the ASEE Board of Directors. S/he joins the other ASEE elected officials to determine policy and administrative issues within ASEE. Some of the PIC IV Chair duties include allocating the Operating Account funds to the Divisions under their leadership, administering the one-day passes for non-member speakers at the conference, and being the “spokesperson” for the PIC IV Divisions at the Board of Directors’ annual October conference planning session when programs requests are confirmed.

ELD Organizational Structure, with Descriptions of the Duties of Officers

Executive Committee
There are five members of the ELD Executive Committee. These members are individuals who have been elected to be your representatives: Chair, Program Chair/Chair Elect, Secretary-Treasurer, Director (senior) and Director (junior).

Elected Positions
Each year, a Secretary-Treasurer is elected. After a year as Secretary-Treasurer, this individual becomes the Program Chair/Chair Elect for one year, then Chair for one year, then Past-Chair/Chair of the Nominating Committee. So the Secretary-Treasurer position is only the first year of a four-year commitment.

Each year, a Director is also elected. This is a two-year position.

All positions take office immediately after the Division’s annual business meeting at the annual conference.

The Chair is the spokesperson of the Division to ASEE and other groups. The Chair presides over the Extended Executive Committee meeting held the day after the annual business meeting. Old and new business of the Division is conducted at this meeting, often involving issues carried over from the annual business meeting. Program planning is also begun at this time. During the year, the Chair contributes columns to the Newsletter and maintains contact with ASEE Headquarters, ELD officers, committee chairs and members, and other divisions as needed. The Chair presides over the annual business meeting at the end of his/her term.

The Program Chair organizes the ELD program for the following annual conference. Ideas for the conference program are discussed at the Extended Executive Committee meeting during the annual conference. The Program Chair follows through on these ideas, identifying moderators and potential speakers for sessions. Once moderators are identified, the Program Chair is responsible for all communication with them regarding conference planning. The Program Chair must set deadlines and receive information back from moderators and their speakers, coordinating sessions within the time frame set by ASEE Headquarters. The Program Chair publicizes the ELD Program through the Newsletter and ELD electronic discussion lists. The Program Chair trouble-shoots during the conference to make sure all things are running smoothly.

The Secretary-Treasurer takes minutes at the Extended Executive Committee meeting and at the next annual business meeting the following year. The minutes of the annual business meeting are published in the ELD Newsletter. The Secretary-Treasurer maintains the Division’s financial records, fills out forms for payment of outstanding bills or reimbursements, discusses any discrepancies in the ASEE quarterly accounting reports with ASEE Headquarters, and submits an annual treasury report to be published in the May ELD Newsletter and updated at the annual business meeting.

The Directors provide overall guidance to the Division. They infuse new ideas, keep the Division on a positive track, and ensure the vitality of the organization under the guidance of its officers. In addition, the first-year Director coordinates the Division’s annual banquet, working with the Program Chair and ASEE Headquarters. The second-year Director works with the IEEE liaison to plan to ELD Welcome Reception and prepares a report to be published in the May ELD Newsletter.

Extended Executive Committee
The Extended Executive Committee consists of the Executive Committee, the immediate Past-Chair, the Editors, the Webmaster, the Archivist, Committee Chairs and Subcommittee Chairs.

Past-Chair, Editors, Webmaster and Archivist
The Past-Chair provides advice to the current Chair and serves as the Chair of the Nominating Committee.

The Editors include the Newsletter, Membership Directory, and electronic discussion lists Editors.

The Newsletter Editor provides a publication timetable and solicits articles/news from officers and members. S/he is responsible for preparing and electronically distributing ELD Newsletter.

The Membership Directory Editor reports to the Membership Committee Chair and is responsible for editing and producing the Directory of Members and Resource Guide. The Editor maintains updates and changes on the master list. This Directory is available to all members and is now maintained electronically.

The Electronic Discussion Lists Editor operates and maintains ELD-L (limited to Division members only) and ELDNET-L (open to all). The Editor routinely forwards appropriate list submissions to all list subscribers, adding editorial instructions where appropriate.
The Editor adds new subscribers to the list, sends a welcome/informational message to all new subscribers, and troubleshoots any problems with the lists or with the addresses of its subscribers.

The Webmaster operates the Division web site, creates web pages for the Division, provides server space for the site, responds to new suggestions and projects, and communicates with ASEE headquarters so that the links and pointers between the Division and Society sites are current and accurate.

The Archivist maintains the archival materials for the Division. The Archivist assembles all non-current materials from retiring officers and chairs, and provides information as needed from the archived materials.

Standing Committees
Committee Chairs include Accreditations and Standards, Awards, Development, Membership, Mentoring, Nominating and Publications.

The Subcommittee Chairs include Literature Guides and Union List.

Accreditations and Standards Committees has goals to 1) Establish standards which can be used to assess the quality of library resources and services in support of engineering programs, and 2) Improve the accreditation process for engineering libraries. Core to these goals are identifying comparable statistics for use in defining the standards and, for the accreditation process, focusing on ways in which libraries enhance or strengthen engineering programs.

The Awards Committee solicits nominations for the ELD Awards, selects award recipients, and arranges for the presentation of the award(s) at the annual conference. The awards include the Homer I. Bernhardt Distinguished Service Award, Best Publication Award and the Best Reference Work Award.

The Development Coordinator, in consultation with the Program Chair, identifies sponsorship opportunities within ELD. The Development Coordinator in conjunction with the Development Liaisons is also responsible for fundraising activities, and solicits in-kind support for ELD activities, primarily but not exclusively the ELD activities and functions at the annual ASEE conference.

The Membership committee is responsible for recruitment of new members and hospitality. Typical committee activities have included developing invitational flyers for prospective members, sending welcome letters, asking lapsed members to rejoin, hosting the reception at the annual conference, and identifying prospective new members. The committee also watches for new members at the conference, includes them in social activities, and arranges for special identification for them, e.g. badges, ribbons, etc. Committee members also submit new member bios to the ELD Newsletter.

The Mentoring Committee has the goal of facilitating mentoring and networking among ELD members. The Mentoring Chair is responsible for coordinating activities such as recruiting experienced librarians to act as mentors; creating mechanisms for the matching of mentors to mentees; the creation and maintenance of a web site of potential mentors, creation and maintenance of a database of members’ fields of expertise, and providing a short information resource on the process of mentoring.

The Nominating Committee prepares a slate of candidates for election at the annual business meeting. Typically the positions to be filled are Secretary-Treasurer and Director.

Publications Chair oversees ELD publication activities and coordinates a peer review process for papers submitted for publication in the annual conference proceedings. ELD publications include the Union List of Technical Reports, Standards and Patents in Engineering Libraries and various subject-specific Literature Guides. Members of the Publications Committee include an at-large member, the Chair(s) of the Subcommittee on Literature Guides and the Subcommittee of the Union List, and the Editor of the ELD Newsletter.

Chair(s) of the Literature Guide Subcommittee is (are) responsible for soliciting ideas and drafts of Literature Guides in various subject areas, having them reviewed by members of the subcommittee, ensuring quality and standardized format through enforcing compliance with guidelines when editing the final version, and sending them to the ELD Publications Chair for publication. Members of the Literature Guides Subcommittee may also review papers submitted for the annual conference.

The Chair of the Union List Subcommittee is the Editor of the Union List of Technical Reports, Standards and Patents in Engineering Libraries. The Editor updates, publishes and distributes the list periodically, as called for by the Publications Committee.

Task Forces and Other Initiatives

Some of the current task forces and initiatives include:

  • The Task Force on Virtual Conference Participation, formed in September 2011, is exploring the possibility of allowing members to participate virtually in the ASEE annual conference.
  • The Task Force on Revitalizing the ELD Information Literacy Wiki, also formed in September 2011, will evaluate the IL wiki and develop recommendations for its future.
  • The Best Practices for Electronic Resources Task Force is informing content providers of the preferred practices in scholarly publishing with regards to quality, stability, and accessibility of electronic resources, and to open a dialogue with content providers on these issues in order to effect positive change.
  • The Information Literacy Special Interest Group is focusing on issues related to information literacy and library
    instruction within engineering libraries or engineering disciplines.
  • Other projects are posted in the ELD Newsletter, and on ELDNET-L or ELD-L, so watch those avenues for further information.