Library directors representing liberal arts colleges from around the country will gather at Hope College on Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 7-9, for the annual meeting of the Oberlin Group.

A total of 74 liberal arts colleges are members of
the Oberlin Group, which first met in 1986. The
association's annual meetings provide an opportunity for the
colleges' library directors to discuss issues of common
concern, to share information and to establish an atmosphere
of mutual encouragement and support.

Institutions participate in the group by
invitation, with the maximum set at 75. The idea for the
group grew out of conferences held in 1984 and 1985 at
Oberlin College for the presidents of 50 liberal arts
colleges that produced an exceptional number of alumni who
later earned doctorates in scientific fields. Library
directors from the 50 institutions were invited, as were
representatives from other selective liberal arts colleges.

Hope was a charter member of the group. The 1986
meeting was held at Oberlin College, providing the group
with the name.

The group has met around the country, including in
California, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Texas and Virginia. This year marks the first time that the
group has met at Hope. The meeting is sponsored by the four
colleges from Michigan that are members: Albion, Alma, Hope
and Kalamazoo.

The topics featured during the Oct. 7-9 meeting
include new standards set for college libraries by the
Association of College and Research Libraries; instructing
students in using the library for research; effects of the
Internet on college libraries; and recent rapid increases in
serial prices.