November proved to be a busy and challenging month for the libraries.

The Libraries' Progress Report for 1999-2000 has been presented to the Board of Trustees and the Board of Overseers. Both groups were impressed with our many accomplishments in terms of collection growth and use. They were especially impressed with the fact that the Association of Research Libraries has decided to evaluate the UofL libraries for membership in the summer of 2001 instead of 2002. We are beginning to prepare for that evaluation visit by sprucing up our facilities, looking at additional collection growth and highlighting our special collections and rare materials. We are also documenting any scholarly activities accomplished by library faculty and staff.

The Libraries' book sale was held November 17-19. Income generated was $11,255. Many persons, faculty, staff and volunteers worked very hard to make this event a success. Special thanks and appreciation go to the team who worked very hard all year to prepare for the sale. Members of this team were Alice Abbott-Moore, Gail Gilbert, Michael Johmann, Dave Loeffler, Dave Meyer, Diane Nichols and Elaine Wise.

November 10, I attended the meeting of the Association of Southeast Research Librarians in Atlanta, Georgia. Our action-filled agenda dealt with new software developments for virtual reference and interlibrary loan. Discussed were physical document delivery possibilities among libraries in several states in the southeast and other resource sharing opportunities. Also on the agenda were proposed competencies for academic and research librarians.

On November 13, the Gutenberg Printing Press Exhibit opened in the Louisville Free Public Library main branch. It is a most historic event worth seeing. The 600-year old press certainly revolutionized the production of books and has much historical value for libraries. Furthermore, Louisville is the only site outside of Mainz, Germany where this exhibit will be displayed. The exhibit will be here until the beginning of January.

On November 16, we hosted the Metroversity Faculty Awards ceremony in Bingham Poetry Room. Approximately 50 persons attended and the majority of the awards went to UofL faculty members.

On November 20 another historic event occurred, Beth Mattingly-Denham started her work at UofL as the first full-time Development Officer for the Libraries. As Beth becomes oriented to the University and the Libraries I hope you will get to meet her and to know her. She has two degrees from UofL and was the Cardinal Bird for three years.

--Hannelore Rader, University Librarian