VLA Newsletter

March 2002

 

Share Your Talents

It is already time to start thinking about the VLA Annual Conference scheduled for October 17-18, 2002 – especially if you are planning to be a presenter. Presenting a concurrent session is a great opportunity to share your talents and professional experiences with your fellow librarians and paraprofessionals. You probably have a special project, skill, or idea to develop as a presentation. Please consider sharing one of these with your colleagues at the conference.

The deadline for submitting your session description is May 1, 2002. The Concurrent Session Proposal form is included with this issue and is also available at http://www.vla.org. You may fax your proposal to Linda Hahne, VLA Executive Director, at (757) 583-0041, email it to lhahne@coastalnet.com, or mail it to her at P.O. Box 8277, Norfolk, VA 23503.
 
 

First VLA Council Meeting of 2002

The VLA Council met at Charlottesville on February 8, 2002, with Iza Cieszynski, President, presiding.

Executive Director's Report

Linda Hahne reported that VLA currently has 792 members, 109 of whom are new members. This means that 455 people have not yet renewed their memberships. Linda will send out second renewal reminders soon. She reminded all Council members to be sure to renew their memberships.

Linda also proposed that VLA hold its 2003 Annual Conference at the Homestead. The package the Homestead is offering seemed to be a good one, and the Council approved this as the 2003 Annual Conference location.

Treasurer's Report

Andy Morton, VLA's Treasurer, presented the 2001 income and expenses budget, and the 2002 proposed VLA budget. VLA's income exceeded its expenditures in 2001 by about $40,000, mostly due to a wildly successful Annual Conference. This money will be added to VLA's reserve fund which now totals about $170,107. Council approved the 2002 proposed budget.

Executive Committee Report

The Executive Committee has developed a matrix to track various VLA positions and responsibilities. This should help future Executive Committee members get up to speed on their responsibilities quickly. The Executive Committee also reported that Linda Hahne's contract as VLA Executive Director has been renewed. This met with a round of applause from an appreciative Council.

Legislative Committee Report

Despite the tight state budget, the Legislative Committee believes it will be possible to keep the cut in aid to public libraries somewhere under 20%. The governor's original proposal was a 25% cut. The Library of Virginia is probably going to take a pretty big hit. The Committee will be keeping track of several Internet related bills before the General Assembly. They reported that the Virginia Library Legislative Day held on January 24th had been a success. Governor Warner, Lieutenant Governor Kaine, and Secretary of Education Belle S. Wheelan all attended the reception that evening.

Conference Committee Report

John Moorman, 2002 Annual Conference Committee Chair, reported that plans are well underway for the Conference in Williamsburg. The Committee is in negotiations with possible keynote speakers. John would not say who they were, but did comment that "people will stay to hear them."

Federal Legislative Update

Skip Auld, VLA Federal Relations Chair, said that VLA plans to again charter a bus for Federal Library Day on May 7th. As it did last year, the bus will start out in Norfolk and make a stop in Hampton Roads and in Richmond. Skip also indicated that the Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization will be voted on in the fall of 2002. We should thank Senator Allan and Senator Warner for voting for the library portion of this funding and urge them to do so again.

Action Items

Council approved the 2002 VLA Designated Agenda, which will be posted on the VLA homepage at http://www.vla.org. Council approved renewal of Linda Hahne's contract. Council approved the proposed 2002 VLA budget. Council approved the Homestead as the site for the 2003 VLA Annual Conference.

--Barbie Selby, Co-Editor, Virginia Libraries
 
 

Have You Renewed Your ALA Membership?

If you have not already done so, please consider renewing your VLA membership. Your participation is important to VLA as it is what makes VLA strong. Membership information is available on the VLA Website at http://www.vla.org. While you are at it, you might want to browse the Website. It is full of information about VLA and its activities including a calendar of events, the 2002 designated agenda, the VLA jobline, links to other useful sites, and VLA’s own listservs. Webmaster Steve Helm has done an admirable job in pulling all of this together for us.

--Iza Cieszynski , President, VLA
 
 

Legislative Day 2002

The Library of Virginia was the setting for the FY 2002 Legislative Day. Sponsored by the Virginia Library Association, it was held on Thursday, January 24, 2002. Its goal was to educate members of the Virginia General Assembly as to issues of concern for Virginia’s libraries.

Former Governor Gilmore had proposed a 25% reduction in state aid for Virginia’s public libraries, a substantial reduction in funding for VIVA, and additional reductions in funding for The Library of Virginia. There was also legislation proposing filtering for "children’s PCs" in public libraries, declaring the public library no longer a "public forum," making it easier to eliminate public library boards, and imposing new procedures for tax exempt organizations (i.e., Friends of Libraries) making it harder for them to remain tax-exempt.

As the General Assembly "goes into session" at 12 noon each day it meets, Legislative Day began at 8:15 that morning. Sam Clay, Chair, Legislative Committee of the Virginia Library Association, presided. He immediately introduced Philip S. Abraham of the Vectre Corporation. Mr. Abraham is VLA’s legislative liaison.

Phil quickly outlined the previously enumerated legislative issues and pointed out the importance of the Education Subcommittees and their membership to the issues affecting libraries in the Commonwealth. He offered advice to those present as to the legislative message and to the importance of presenting it to each legislator.

State Librarian Nolan Yelich addressed the group next. He outlined the budget challenges facing the Library of Virginia and noted the work of The Library of Virginia Board in attempting to counter the proposed reductions. Mr. Yelich then reminded attendees to invite their representative to the Legislative Reception sponsored by the Library of Virginia Foundation being held that evening. He closed by thanking those who had come to attend Legislative Day.

Iza Cieszynski, Newport News Public Library Director and Virginia Library Association President, spoke about the VLA "Passport." This document is an index to the various databases being made available to patrons of Virginia’s public libraries, and each had been personalized so that the legislator’s passport had his/her library card, label, etc. included.

Prior to Legislative Day itself, everyone had been encouraged to make appointments with their Delegates and Senators. Attendees then moved from the Library of Virginia to the various legislators’ offices in the General Assembly Building.

A second purpose of Legislative Day is to secure patrons for legislation that will assist libraries. Specifically, a legislator is asked to "sign" a sheet indicating his/her desire to be a sponsor or a co-sponsor of a particular piece of legislation. Members of the Legislative Committee were active in securing signatures from members of the House Appropriations Committee and Senate Finance Committee on the budget amendment that would restore state aid funding.

More than 75 librarians, trustees, local government officials and Friends attended Legislative Day.

The Legislative Committee thanks all those who made the effort by attending. It also thanks the Library of Virginia for hosting the event and the Gale Group for sponsoring an ongoing continental breakfast.

-- Sam Clay, Chair, VLA Legislative Committee
 
 

ALA Chapter Councilor’s Update:  Midwinter 2002

New Orleans was the site of this year’s ALA Midwinter Meetings. Here are key Council points of interest. A full report was presented to VLA Council and may be obtained by contacting me at mmayerh@tcc.vccs.edu or (757) 822-2463.

Liz Bishoff, ALA Treasurer, presented a report noting that the organization has expenses growing faster than revenues and that net assets are lower. She noted that revenue is flat, with increased expenses due to programmatic activities and increased internal operating expenses. Precautionary measures are anticipated so planning must be constant. Member and staff cooperation remains strong and overall, the organization is also strong financially. ALA received the best rating possible in its 2000-2001 audit.

Kathleen Bethel, Nancy Davenport (a VLA member from northern Virginia), and Barbara A. Stripling were elected to the ALA Executive Board.

A draft of ALA’s Programmatic Priorities for FY2003 was approved. The key action areas are diversity, education and continuous learning, equity of access, intellectual freedom and 21st Century literacy.

As announced, the Nominating Committee presented Carla D. Hayden (Director, Enoch Pratt Free Public Library, Baltimore) and Katina Strauch (Head of Collection Development, College of Charleston’s R. S. Small Library) as presidential candidates.

Can/should ALA provide affordable group health insurance for members of the association who lack health insurance coverage in their current positions? This resolution was referred to BARC (Budget and Review Committee) for comment. Note: this is a topic about which I have heard from VLA members.

The ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee prepared and further edited a draft, Interpretation of the Bill of Rights on Privacy. This is posted on the ALA homepage, and Carolyn Caywood of Virginia Beach Public Library (757-460-7518) is the liaison to VLA for discussion. Please contact her for information or to arrange for a discussion meeting about the draft.

The final draft of Library and Information Studies and Human Resources Utilization: A Statement of Policy, prepared by ALA Library Career Pathways Task Force, was approved.

Mitch Freedman presented his President-Elect’s Report. Of note is his focus on librarians’ status and pay. He appointed the Task Force on Better Salaries and Pay Equity last year.

Reports of interest, which may be obtained via ALA’s homepage or by contacting me, included: a report by the Special Presidential Task Force on Membership Meeting Quorum; a report by the Committee on Organization (COO) in which electronic meetings and concerns about ALA’s open meeting policy were discussed; a draft prepared by a steering committee and the ALA Office of Information Technology entitled "Principles for the Networked World"; and the Committee on Legislation’s report which includes information about the CIPA lawsuit and the USA Patriot Act, which are of much concern.

Please feel free to contact me about any concern about ALA at (757) 822-2463 or mmayerh@tcc.vccs.edu.

--Mary Mayer-Hennelly, ALA Chapter Councilor
 
 

National Library Legislative Day:  May 6 and 7, 2002

More than ever, it is time to respond to the call to attend the 28th Annual National Library Legislative Day. In this time of fiscal difficulties, it becomes imperative that Virginia Librarians work even more diligently to assure that federal funding remains a priority with our representatives and senators. In addition to grants to libraries, The Library of Virginia uses federal funding to assist with many of their programs and operational areas. Thus, we need to remind our legislators on a regular basis of the importance of this funding for Virginia libraries. There is no better way to do this than through personal contact. National Library Legislative Day makes this personal contact with your legislators even easier. The Virginia Library Association provides a bus to take you right to the doors of Congress to do your lobbying. What more can you ask for!

May 6, 2002, will be Briefing Day at the Holiday Inn on the Hill in Washington, D.C. This briefing, coordinated by the Washington Office Staff of the American Library Association, will bring attendees up-to-date on library issues facing the Congress and the best way to present our case to legislators. Information on the day’s schedule and activities may be found at http://www.ala.org/washoff/legislativeday.html.

May 7, 2002, will include a short update in the morning at the Holiday Inn on the Hill followed by congressional office visits that day. The day will conclude with a reception on the Hill. A $15 registration fee will cover both days’ activities.

As the registration supplement in this issue of the VLA Newsletter indicates, your Association is doing all it can to make it easier for you to be a participant. On May 7, bus service to Washington, D.C., is being provided with pickup stops in Norfolk and Richmond. An excellent lunch in the Gold Room of the Rayburn Office Building is included in the trip. The lunch will give each participant time to meet with their federal legislators in an informal setting. This is one of the best $40 bargains in America. Come take advantage of it!

The VLA Legislative Committee needs you to advocate, whether you are a Trustee, a Friend, a library employee, or an individual who loves libraries. Without your presence in Washington, D.C., on May 6 and 7, we cannot make the impact needed to ensure that libraries and their needs remain in the forefront of our legislator’s minds. Copy the enclosed flyer (no copyright permission needed!) and share it with one and all. We look forward to seeing you in D.C. in May.

--John A. Moorman, Legislative Committee Member
 
 

Intellectual Freedom Update

Charlottesville’s Community Chalkboard: Monument to Free Speech

Most Virginia librarians have heard about the plans by the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression to erect a slate board about 60 feet wide and seven feet high in front of the City Hall in Charlottesville. The Center believes that the slate board will serve as a monument to the Jeffersonian ideal of free speech. Critics, however, predict that the slate board will become a venue for obscenities, character assassinations, and racist slurs. The Center has raised approximately $30,000 toward the $400,000 needed for the construction and maintenance of the board and expects to erect the chalkboard during the summer of 2003.

As a precursor to the real slate board, the Center started operating a virtual chalkboard about three weeks ago (http://chalkboard.tjcenter.org). To simulate the realities and limits of free speech, the Center designed its Web page so that visitors can edit or erase any comment. Giving visitors the ability to erase others’ comments is disturbing to some who have added comments to the virtual chalkboard and object to their comments being changed or erased. The Center believes that visitors who find their messages erased will become even stronger free speech advocates and will become more willing to give an audience to those with differing opinions. (See "Free Speech E-rased on Va. Virtual Monument," Washington Post, Feb. 13, 2002, for more about this issue.)

Trial Date for CIPA

The federal government was granted an extension in ALA’s challenge to the Children’s Internet Protection Act. The case will be heard by a three-judge panel appointed by the Chief Judge of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia on March 25, 2002. Any appeal of the panel’s decision will go directly to the U.S. Supreme Court. CIPA requires the use of filters by those libraries and schools that receive e-rate telecommunications discounts and LSTA funds.

COPA Appeal Heard in Late November

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Child Online Protection Act (COPA) case on November 28, 2001. Solicitor General Theodore Olson argued the case for the government and defended the provisions of COPA that require commercial Web sites to screen Web surfers for age before allowing them to view material that is "harmful to minors." Olson asserted that the statute was crafted carefully and should withstand constitutional scrutiny because COPA represents the least restrictive means of advancing the government’s compelling interest in protecting children from material that is harmful to them. Ann E. Beeson, representing the American Civil Liberties Union, argued that the COPA is unconstitutional because the statute creates an unacceptable deterrence to speech by attempting to impose a community standard on Internet speakers. Both attorneys were asked questions about the COPA "contemporary community standards" language. Olson said that the government would be satisfied with a "national standard" because Congress intended to create that standard. "Congress felt there was not much variation in what the average adult would think was harmful to minors," he said. Beeson suggested that any effort to apply a national standard would be "an exercise in futility." "The least tolerant community would get to set the standard," Beeson argued. The Supreme Court likely will hand down its decision in the case in early summer.

--Timothy L. Coggins, Intellectual Freedom Committee
 
 

VLA Awards and Recognitions

It’s that time again!! VLA awards. Start thinking now about someone you know who is really special in the world of Virginia Libraries. The categories are listed below. Contact Connie Gilman at (703) 792-4800 for more information or visit the VLA homepage at http://www.vla.org.

The VLA Awards Nomination Form is included with this issue and is available online. You may also contact Linda Hahne, Executive Director of VLA, at P.O. Box 8277, Norfolk, VA 22060-6218 or lhahne@coastalnet.org for nomination forms. All nominations must be into the VLA office by April 15, 2002.

George Mason

This is an association-wide award to an individual or organization distinguished for advocacy of libraries and/or information access; for promotion of library service through exemplary performance and recognition by the public served; for creative application of the use of technology in development of programs resulting in a substantial increase in support of library and information services; for significant influence on attitudes of public or private officials who are in a position to support the improvement of libraries and information service.

Friends Award

This award is made annually for one (or more) Friends of the Library group in recognition of distinguished service to libraries or a library in Virginia. Equal consideration is given to small, medium, and large libraries; consideration is given to group activities, library and community related activities on behalf of the library, criteria included number of members, activities, contributions to the library - monetary, equipment, services, and programs.

Trustee Award

This is an annual award to recognize distinguished service to a library or libraries in Virginia. The nominee may have served on local, regional, state or national levels. Equal consideration is given to trustees from small, medium, and large libraries. The award may be submitted by a librarian, trustee, board member or VLA for distinguished accomplishments and contributions to library development.

Honorary Life Membership Award

Eligibility is confined to trustees or former trustees, Friends of Virginia Libraries, and Virginia librarians who have held membership and who have made outstanding contributions to the association.

--Connie Gilman, Chair, Awards and Recognitions Committee
 
 

VLA Paraprofessional Forum 2002 Conference:
Tomorrow’s Libraries: Are We Ready?

The members of the VLAPF would like to entice those attending this year’s conference to sign up to attend the author luncheon. With an exceptional speaker and a special buffet luncheon, those who attend this special event will thoroughly enjoy the afternoon.

Virginia author, Francis Wood, is the guest speaker. For many years, Mr. Wood has been a celebrity in Southside Virginia, not only because people love his books, but because he is also heard daily on the local radio station. He is as talented a speaker as he is a gifted writer.

Mr. Wood is the author of seven books and is in the process of completing his eighth title. His books include The Wooden Bell, The Crystal Rose, and The Angel Carver. His most recent publication is entitled The Nipkins, and it is the first of a three-volume series. Mr. Wood’s stories are filled with endearing characters whose experiences and adventures will touch the hearts of all who read them. His fans describe his books as being imaginative, enjoyable and ones that they can’t put down.

Mr. Wood is a man of many talents. He and his wife, Chris, formed the Tip-of-the-Moon Publishing Company in 1997 solely for the purpose of producing and promoting Mr. Wood’s stories. He states that "It is the desire to produce well-crafted stories that are suited for the entire family. When the reader purchases a book with my name on it, he can be sure that the version he holds has come to him as I intended it." Mr. Wood believes that good storytelling is the key to success, and he has no desire to write according to a market-driven formula.

If you would like to know more about Francis Wood, you may check out his Web site at http://tipofthemoon.com.  Please plan to join us for this very special author luncheon to be held on May 21 during the VLAPF conference. If you have questions about this event or other questions regarding the conference, you may contact Mary Buckley, George Mason University, 10900 University Blvd., Manassas, VA 20110, mbuckle2@osf1.gmu.edu or Mari-Jana Phelps, Prince Williams Public Library, Dumfries Neighborhood Library, 18007 Dumfries Shopping Plaza, Dumfries, VA 22026, mphelps@pwcgov.org.

--Lydia C. Williams, VLA Paraprofessional Forum
 
 

Legislative Action Center

As a member of VLA, you can be a library advocate. The Legislative Action Center is a handy way to track current issues and legislation important to Virginia libraries. It is also a search tool for locating Virginia’s congressional delegation and state legislature as well as federal agencies.

This resource tool, developed by Capitol Advantage, is provided by VLA for your convenience at http://www.vla.org. Click on the "Capitol" icon at the top of the VLA homepage to access this search tool.
 
 

People & Happenings

Iza Cieszynski, VLA President, has a new email address. Please change it in your files to icieszynski@nngov.com.
 

Region III needs volunteers. WHRO will hold its annual pledge drive from April 20 to May 4 this year. Region III volunteers will have an opportunity to cover the phones between 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24, 2002, at WHRO Studios, 5200 Hampton Road, Norfolk. This will be a very good opportunity for library workers to show community spirit (and get a little publicity for libraries, too). Fourteen library people are needed for this project. If you can participate, or would like more information, please contact Jim Sanderson at jsanderson@nngov.com or (751) 369-3190.
 

Nominations for the annual Library of the Year Award are due no later than March 15, 2002. Each year Gale and Library Journal join forces to recognize and reward the library that most profoundly demonstrates outstanding community service. This year's winning library will be announced during the 2002 ALA Annual Conference in Atlanta next June. The library will receive a $10,000 cash award and will be the cover story in the June 2002 issue of Library Journal. The Library of the Year Award will be based on service to the community, creativity and innovation in developing specific community programs, and leadership in creating programs that can be emulated by other libraries. Elements will be reviewed in the context of individual library budgets, so everyone is eligible. Libraries may be nominated by staff or community members. For more information and nomination guidelines, visit http://www.gale.com/libraries/aboutloyr.htm or call 800-877-GALE.
 

The 13th annual Elizabeth W. Stone Lecture will be held Tuesday, April 16, 2002, at 7:00 p.m. in the Life Cycle Auditorium on The Catholic University of America campus. Duane E. Webster, Executive Director, Association of Research Libraries, will speak on the topic, "Reflections on the Future of Scholarly Communications." Benefits go to the Elizabeth W. Stone Fund. For more information, call (202) 319-5085.
 

VABook! 2002, Eighth Annual Virginia Festival of the Book, is scheduled for March 20-24 in Charlottesville. This free, public festival will feature hundreds of authors and events for children and adults. VABook! is produced by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. For program and registration information, visit http://www.vabook.org and contact vabook@virginia.edu or (434) 924-6890.

The VLA Legislative Agenda for the 2002 General Assembly Session is available online at http://www.vla.org.
 
 

Join VLA

Your organization needs you! Remember to join or to renew your membership for 2002. The membership form is available on the VLA homepage at http://www.vla.org. You may fax the completed form to Linda Hahn, VLA Executive Director, at (757) 583-5041, or mail it to the Virginia Library Association, P.O. Box 8277, Norfolk, VA 23503-0277.
 
 

Calendar

VLA Council Meetings
The VLA Council meetings for 2002 will be held April 12 (Note change from April 5), June 7, and September 6, 2002
Place: Northside Branch Library, Charlottesville

Library of Virginia Board Meetings
March 18, & June 10, 2002
Place: Richmond

March 1, 2002
Deadline for Submission:
VLA Scholarship Application
Complete Scholarship Packet available at http://www.vla.org
Contact: Marianne Ramsden (804) 286-3541  mramsden@avenue.org

March 22, 2002
Making the Connection: Collaboration Between Faculty and Librarians
Sponsor: VLA Academic Section
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Registration 9:30 a.m.)
Place: Library of Virginia, Richmond
Contact: Susan Deaton (434) 395-2441  sdeaton@longwood.edu

April 12, 2002
Deadline: VLAPF 2002 Awards Nominations
Outstanding Paraprofessional Award
Contact: Mary Buckley   mbuckle2@osf1.gmu.edu
VLA Paraprofessional Forum Award
Contact: Mari-Jana Phelps  mphelps@pwcgov.org

April 15, 2002
Deadline: VLA Awards & Recognitions Nominations (insert)
Contact: Connie Gilman (703) 792-4800  cgilman@pwcgov.org

April 22, 2002
Ensuring Security While Delivering Excellent Customer Service
Sponsor: SWING & VLA Region I
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Place: Washington County Public Library,
Abingdon, Virginia (insert)
Contact: Dianne Lester (276) 676-6235 fax  or http://www.wcpl.net/regcs

April 23, 2002
Ensuring Security While Delivering Excellent Customer Service
Sponsor: SWING & VLA Region I
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Place: Roanoke County Public Library,
Roanoke, Virginia (insert)
Contact: Dianne Lester (276) 676-6235 fax  or http://www.wcpl.net/regcs

May 1, 2002
Deadline: Concurrent Session Proposal for 2002 VLA Conference (insert)
Contact: Linda Hahne (757) 583-004  lhahne@coastalnet.com

May 1, 2002
Understanding Federal Census Statistics
Sponsor: Public Documents Forum
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Place: Library of Virginia, Richmond (insert)
Contact: Mary S. Clark (804) 692-3754  mclark@lva.lib.va.us

May 3, 2002
Core Business Resources
Sponsor: Collection Management Forum
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Place: Darden Graduate School of Business at UVA,
Charlottesville (insert)
Contact: Ellen Wertman, (703) 323-3868  ewertman@nvcc.vccs.edu

May 6, 2002
National Library Legislative Day
Briefing Day
Place: Holiday Inn on the Hill, Washington, D.C.
Registration: http://www.ala.org/washoff/legislativeday.html
Contact: Skip Auld (804) 748-1767  auldh@co.chesterfield.va.us

May 7, 2002
National Library Legislative Day and
VLA Legislative Lunch
Place: Rayburn Bldg., Washington, D.C. (insert)
Bus & Luncheon Contact: Linda Hahne  (757) 583-0041  lhahne@coastalnet.com

May 19-21, 2002
10th Annual VLAPF Conference
Tomorrow's Libraries: Are We Ready?
Place: University of Richmond, Richmond

October 16-18, 2002
VLA Annual Conference
A Community of Partners
Place: Williamsburg Marriott, Williamsburg
 

VLA Officers:
 
Iza Cieszynski President
Morel Fry President Elect
Harriett Edmunds Second Vice President
Cy Dillon Past President
Janis Augustine Secretary
Andrew Morton Treasurer

Editor: Helen Q. Sherman, Librarian, DTIC Technical Library, Defense Technical Information Center, 8725 John J. Kingman Road, Suite 0944, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6218 (703) 767-8180, fax (703) 767-8179, email hsherman@dtic.mil
(Prefers submissions via email with Word attachments)

Executive Director: (for change of address) Linda Hahne, Virginia Library Association, P.O. Box 8277, Norfolk, VA 23503-0277; (757) 583-0041; fax (757) 583-5041; email lhahne@coastalnet.com

________
2/22/2002
HQS