The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is seeking proposals for 2013 SPEC survey topics. For 40 years ARL has gathered and disseminated data through the SPEC survey programme to assist libraries in the continuous improvement of their management systems. Proposals for topics for the 2013 SPEC survey cycle are now being sought.
Each year, ARL works with librarians in the US and Canada to develop six surveys of the ARL membership on 'hot topics' related to research library policies and practices. Survey authors do not need to work at an ARL member library, but only ARL libraries are surveyed.
Criteria for selecting a survey topic include its currency and insightfulness, its importance to research libraries, its relevance to ARL's three strategic directions - Influencing Public Policy, Scholarly Communication, and Transforming Research Libraries - or its programmes that promote diversity or assessment, and whether resources that illustrate current policies and practices can be gathered from survey respondents.
For consideration for 2013, proposals must be submitted at http://www.formstack.com/forms/?1209368-E484NalvQ5 by July 22, 2012. Proposals will be reviewed and successful authors will be notified by August 24, 2012.
