AAS/SCMS

[Maureen Donovan]

The recents posts on AAS/SCMS have been interesting.

What I have noticed in many years of attending AAS meetings and being 
involved in AAS in various ways, is that it is actually an umbrella 
organization under which many small organizations operate.  In addition to 
the divisions of AAS themselves (NEAC, CIAC, SEAC, SAC), there is a 
multitude of other societies, committees, councils, etc that meet during 
the AAS meeting, each with its own schedule of speakers, panels, and so on. 
For 3 years I was chairperson of one of them (CEAL -- now called Council on 
East Asian Libraries).  The AAS newsletter includes a list of many of these 
organizations once a year and those listed there send an annual report to 
AAS. A special supplement of the AAS program lists the 
panels/programs/events happening outside the context of the AAS panels, and 
meetings of these various organizations are also listed in the program.

These organizations also have the opportunity of "sponsoring" a panel 
proposal to the main AAS conference.  This is why almost every year there 
is a panel on Okinawan studies and one on Mongolian studies, etc, etc. 
During my term of office in CEAL we sponsored specific submissions of 
library- and information-related panel proposals and I think most of my 
successors in CEAL have also submitted such proposals.  Of course, 
sponsoring a proposal does not necessarily mean it will be successful, but 
my impression is that the chances of success are better.  It is also 
possible to get multiple sponsorships.  The sponsoring organization is 
listed in the program.  In cases when a proposal is not successful as part 
of the AAS program, the sponsoring organization has the option of offering 
the panel as part of its own schedule of activities.  This is especially 
reassuring when inviting foreign panelists.

One nice thing is that AAS provides a meeting room for these organizations 
to hold their own programs as well.  Of course, the rooms are only 
available when panels are not meeting in them (early mornings, evenings, 
etc.).  CEAL convenes on Wed and Thu prior to AAS, to take advantage of the 
availability of such meeting space.

Well, I just thought I would offer this background information based on my 
experience with AAS.  I should note that my term in CEAL was 1991-94, so 
things might be different now.  However, I organized a small discussion 
group on Japanese company histories three years ago which -- although very, 
very small -- has assumed a regular presence under the AAS "umbrella" and 
will be meeting again this year.

Perhaps there is a need for one or more organizations addressing film, 
popular culture, media, etc. -- or even a Kinema Club presence -- within AAS?

Maureen Donovan
(provider of the Ohio State connection for KineJapan)



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Maureen Donovan,M.A., M.S.
Japanese Studies Librarian/ Associate Professor
Ohio State University Libraries
328 Main Library, 1858 Neil Avenue Mall, Columbus OH  43210 USA

Aug 2003 - July 2004:
Visiting Research Scholar
International Research Center for Japanese Studies
3-2 Oeyama-cho Goryo Nishikyo-ku Kyoto 610-1192 Japan
+81-(0)75-335-2127    Fax:  +81-(0)75-335-2090
http://www.nichibun.ac.jp/research/staff3/Maureen_DONOVAN_e.html

email: donovan.1 at osu.edu
OSU Japanese Collections web: http://eas.lib.ohio-state.edu/eaj/
Japan Specialist, Portal to Asian Internet Resources: 
http://pair.library.wisc.edu/
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