Please excuse duplications via cross-posting. Regarding time and funding available for participation in/attendance at professional activities - how is your institution's policy on this defined? Such activities would range from attendance at/participation in local or non-local meetings to editing newsletters to researching and writing for publication to..... A colleague who works for a state agency related to history/archives is interested in what criteria are used, e.g. - position you hold, length of time employed, interest shown and willingness to do it, or...? If money is available to support travel to meetings, registration costs for meetings and/or training, on what basis is it allocated? Do you have a written policy? For purposes of this question, I think it would work to not include the complexities of tenure issues at educational institutions. My colleague is hoping to help develop a policy statement regarding such participation and financial support. Thanks for your help. Please post comments, etc. to the list - I'm assuming others are interested in the topic - and I'll forward them. Carol Edwards Carol A. Edwards, Head U.S. Geological Survey Field Records Library MS 914, Box 25046, Federal Center Denver, CO 80225-0046 phone: 303/236-1005 fax: 303/236-0015 email: [log in to unmask] "Round up the usual disclaimers..."