eSWUG was originally established and recognized on July 17, 2001 by the State of California as a non-profit organization under the name Southwest Voyager Users Group (SWVUG). With the 2006 sale of Endeavor to Ex Libris, all Regional User Groups updated their names to reflect company changes. Therefore, on April 26, 2007 the group was officially renamed to Ex Libris Southwest Users Group (eSWUG).


PURPOSE: The purpose of this organization is to serve as a forum for sharing information and expertise in the use of Ex Libris library software products amongst Southwest region libraries. The Southwest region consists of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico. We are supported by Ex Libris.


MEMBERSHIP: Membership consists of individuals from institutions that employ Ex Libris products within the Southwestern region of the United States. No membership dues or activities are required.

BYLAWS: eSWUG is governed by its bylaws.

COMMUNICATION: Communication to and between members regarding official eSWUG activities is primarily conducted through listservs where "eSWUG" begins each subject line. And now there is the eSWUG wiki's Discussion Forum where members can discuss topics of interest, ask questions, etc.

OFFICERS: Initially, officers were appointed in order to facilitate the founding the organization. An election procedure was established in the bylaws to elect future officers.

MEETINGS: Business meetings are planned at least annually to coincide with the general User Group Meetings. An additional business meeting is scheduled in conjunction with the mid-year eSWUG Training/Program Event. Upcoming and historical meeting dates, agendas, and minutes are available on the eSWUG Calendar.

BENEFITS: This organization is shaped by the needs of its members. Input is encouraged and welcomed. Every member can add suggestions for mini-Conference programming, general information, announcements, and/or participate in discussions to the wiki.

The eSWUG Regional mini-Conference event reduces travel costs, especially when the national ELUNA is held far from the Southwest Region, and registration fees are always reasonably priced.

Networking and sharing face-to-face at the mini-Conference event, as well as through discussions generated on the Ex Libris user lists and eSWUG wiki, allows for working relationships to develop with peers who experience similar circumstances in the Region.