ALA and Chapters

The partnership between the American Library Association and its Chapters has varied during the Association’s history. For an understanding of this partnership, see The ALA/Chapter Relationship: A Shared Responsibility and ALA Chapter Councilors.

ALA Chapter Councilors

ALA Chapter Councilors provides information for Councilors, including Chapter Councilors, a contact list of all ALA Chapter Councilors. State and regional chapters provides contact and other information for all ALA Chapters. ALA and Chapter Conferences Calendar provides a list of upcoming ALA, Chapter, and Affiliate Conferences.

ALA Chapter Relations Committee and Chapter Relations Office

The Chapter Relations Committee (CRC) develops and recognizes Chapters as integral components of ALA; encourages discussion, activities and programs that support the mutual interests of ALA and the Chapters; advises when requested on proposals and actions of other ALA units that may affect Chapters; provides a forum wherein Chapters can share ideas and concerns of common interest and identify common needs and goals; communicates these Chapter needs and goals to ALA and ALA goals, programs and priorities to the Chapters; encourages and maintains a cooperative and supportive relationship among ALA, its units, and the Chapters; formulates and reviews periodically requirements for Chapter status; and serves as an advisory committee to the Chapter Relations Office.

Student Chapters

For an understanding of the partnership between ALA and the Student Chapters, see ALA Student Chapters, which includes: Who is Eligible to Form an Official ALA Student Chapter? How Do You Form a Student Group? How Do I Join ALA? How Do I Contact Other Student Chapters? Where Can I Find Chapter Resources? And Information about Jobs? And Information about Scholarships? as well as I Need a Mentor (And I Could Be One, Too!), So What Do I Do? What’s the Student to Staff Program, or How Do I Volunteer at an ALA Conference? ALA Connect, Wikis, and More.

November 5, 2009

Dear Colleagues:

When I ran for ALA President, I pledged to provide members who want to play a meaningful role in ALA the opportunity to do so. I am asking for your help in making this promise a reality.

One of the most important responsibilities I will undertake as ALA President-elect is to make appointments to the ALA and Council committees in collaboration with the Committee on Appointments (COA) and the Committee on Committees (COC).

To ensure diversity on all ALA and Council committees, I am seeking ALA members who represent racial and ethnic diversity; a variety of types and sizes of libraries, areas of the country, and work experience; and experience in participating in ALA.  In addition (and importantly), one of my goals this year is to encourage the involvement of newer members, members previously not active, and active members who have never been formally appointed to serve on committees.  I would especially appreciate your forwarding to me the names of those who are new to ALA and to the profession so I can consider them for appointment as committee members or interns.

Serving on an ALA or Council committee provides members with leadership training, networking opportunities, and experience in working on specific association topics.  I know that, as a member-leader, you have a broad knowledge of the kinds of people I am looking for.  Therefore, I would be grateful for your help in encouraging interested member-volunteers who would be good choices for appointment to serve on the committees listed here:

Accreditation; American Libraries Advisory; Awards; Budget Analysis and Review; Chapter Relations; Conference; Constitution and Bylaws; Council Orientation; Diversity; Education; Election; Human Resource Development and Recruitment Advisory; Information Technology Policy Advisory; Intellectual Freedom; International Relations; Legislation; Library Advocacy; Literacy; Literacy and Outreach Services Advisory; Membership; Membership Meetings; Organization; Policy Monitoring (current Council members only); Professional Ethics; Public and Cultural Programs Advisory; Public Awareness; Publishing; Research and Statistics; Resolutions; Rural Native and Tribal Libraries of All Kinds; Scholarships and Study Grants; Status of Women in Librarianship; Training, Orientation and Leadership Development; Website Advisory; ALA-Children*s Book Council (Joint Committee); ALA-Association of American Publishers (Joint Committee); and the ALA-Society of American Archivists/American Association of Museums (Joint Committee).

Anyone who would like to serve on one of the above committees must complete the committee volunteer form available at http://tinyurl.com/ybpgsm9.  The deadline for completing the ALA committee volunteer form is Friday, December 4, 2009.

I will also be organizing a number of task forces for my Presidential year to explore ways in which we can continue to transform the association for the 21st century.  Individuals who are not appointed to a committee will have the opportunity to be tapped for one of these groups.

Roberta A. Stevens
Outreach Projects and Partnerships Officer The Library of Congress
Development Office
101 Independence Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20540-1400
E-mail: rste@loc.gov
Work: (202) 707-1550
Fax: (202) 707-0312

Thank you again for helping me, COA and COC bring new voices into participatory and leadership roles in our dynamic association.

Sincerely,

Roberta A. Stevens
ALA President-elect

Join libraries across the nation to celebrate Choose Privacy Week, May 2-May 8, 2010.

This new campaign invites library users into a national conversation about privacy rights in a digital age. The campaign gives libraries the resources they need to educate and engage their users, helping citizens think critically and make more informed choices about their privacy. Print and online tools provide libraries with out-of-the-box programming and outreach.

Posters, buttons, bookmarks, and a resource guide are now available for purchase in the ALA Online Store. (You can receive a 20% discount to these materials if you order before November 15, 2009 by using code PRIV20.) Be sure to visit the Choose Privacy Week website to learn more about the campaign, programming, and the privacy issues that libraries and their users face every day.

If you have questions or want to get more involved, contact Angela Maycock at (312) 280-4221.

Follow Choose Privacy Week developments on Twitter.

See also ALA’s Privacy Toolkit, Privacy and Confidentiality, and Privacy and Confidentiality Policies.

The Official Wiki of the 2010 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Boston, MA is open to attendees and exhibitors of the 2010 ALA Midwinter Meeting, which is scheduled January 15-19, 2010. Note: The official hashtag for the 2010 Midwinter Meeting is alamw10.

This wiki is about the ALA 2010 Midwinter Meeting in Boston, MA. Anyone with something to contribute is invited to participate. (See Wiki Editing Tips.)

Keep in mind these few basic rules:

• No content unrelated to Midwinter and Boston.
• No defamatory remarks about other people
• No advertisements or spam
• No politics
• No organizing boycotts

Content violating those rules will be removed. That still leaves a lot of space for active sharing, so enjoy!

Become a fan of the ALA Chapters on Facebook.

Also visit the ALA Chapter pages to discover what all the Chapters have to offer, from advocacy for libraries to conferences to member benefits and more.

Here is a sample of the Chapters pages you will find on Facebook. If you know of any additional ones, please send the name and URL to dwood@ala.org

CHAPTERS ON FACEBOOK

• Alabama Library Association
• California Library Association
• Colorado Association of Libraries
• Connecticut Library Association
• District of Columbia Library Association
• Florida Library Association
• Georgia Library Association
• Idaho Library Association
• Iowa Library Association
• Kansas Library Association
• Kentucky Library Association
• Louisiana Library Association
• Maine Library Association Members
• Massachusetts Library Association Fans
• Michigan Library Association
• Minnesota Library Association
• Montana Library Association
• Nebraska Library Association
• New Hampshire Library Association
• New Jersey Library Association (fan page)
• New Jersey Library Association (group page)
• New Mexico Library Association
• New York Library Association-NYLA
• Cool members of NCLA: North Carolina Library Association
• North Dakota Library Association
• Oklahoma Library Association
• Ohio Library Council
• Pennsylvania Library Association
• South Carolina Library Association
• Texas Library Association Members
• Vermont Library Association
• Virginia Library Association
• Washington Library Association
• Wisconsin Library Association
• Wyoming Library Association

Also on the ALA Chapters page are links to the regional Chapters on Facebook

• Mountain Plains Library Association
• Pacific Northwest Library Association

Engaging speakers and informative presentations will abound at the upcoming Midwinter Institute “The Genealogy Reference Desk: Where Everyone Knows Your Name”, a full-day workshop focused on New England genealogy resources and genealogy research techniques, and  presented by the History Section of the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA).

Genealogical research skills and tools are a vital resource for any library providing reference services. They’re particularly important in public libraries, where genealogy remains one of the most time-consuming reference duties–especially for generalist desks or libraries without genealogy or history specialists on staff—and in academic libraries, where genealogy sources are often the primary tools for helping students with local history projects. This institute, sponsored by ProQuest, will focus on the “nitty-gritty” of genealogy research. New reference librarians will benefit from the fundamental tools presented at this event; experienced genealogy librarians will find it to be an excellent refresher. The skills and resources at the core of this event are relevant to all attendees, no matter the locale of their patron’s interest.

The institute will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15, 2010, at the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS), held in conjunction with the ALA 2010 Midwinter Meeting. Speakers will present topics specific to New England and Colonial Research, along with general research methodology.  D. Brenton Simons, President and CEO of the NEHGS, will address “Sustainability in Genealogical Collections” and maintaining an institution during a downturn economy.  Christine Baron, principal of Baron Consulting, will speak on the “Old North Church Project”—a NEH-funded collaborative project between the Old North  Foundation, New England Historic Genealogical Society, and HyperStudio-Laboratory for Digital Humanities at Massachusetts Institute of Technology aimed at creating an online educational program that combines public history and genealogy. Laura Prescott, a professional researcher, writer and speaker and consultant for Footnote.com who previously worked for NEHGS, will present “Timelines: Placing Your Heritage in Historic Perspective.” Drew Smith, one of the Genealogy Guys, owner of the Genealib listserv and an information literacy librarian at the University of South Florida, will be speaking on “Using Web 2.0 Tools with a 101 Knowledge Base”.  David Dearborn, of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, and a New England specialist, will present “An Overview of American Colonial Records”.

Founded in 1845 and located at 99 Newbury Street, Boston, NEHGS is the country’s oldest nonprofit genealogical organization in the country.  Located in the heart of the Boston’s beautiful Back Bay neighborhood, their eight-story library and archive is one of the nation’s leading research centers for genealogists and family historians of every skill level. The institute will conclude with a tour of this beautiful facility for participants only.

Interested participants can register for this event only, or can register in conjunction with Midwinter Meeting registration by adding it as a ticketed event. For institute-only registration using the online form (login required), select “Institute and Ticketed Events Only” as the registration type, and proceed to select this event from the list.

Advance registration for the meeting and this event opens Oct. 1 and ends Dec. 4, 2009. Advance registration prices for this event are $100 for retired and student members ($100 for RUSA members,  $145 for ALA members, $75 for retired and student members, and $220 for non-ALA members. On-site registration, priced at $125 for RUSA members, $125 for ALA members, and $245 for non-ALA members) will be available until Friday, Jan. 8. All interested participants are strongly encouraged to register by Jan. 8, as only a handful of seats will be available at the door on the day of the event.

Are you interested in learning more about the challenges, solutions and best practices associated with maximizing the library experience for all patrons, including those with functional differences? Attending “Breaking Down Barriers: Best Practices in Universal Design for Libraries” will provide an interactive environment in which to explore these ideas.

The topic of this intensive half-day event, assembled through a partnership between ASCLA and the Institute for Human-Centered Design (ICHD) (formerly Adaptive Environments) and held in conjunction with ALA’s 2010 Midwinter Meeting, has become increasingly important as the economic crisis has brought people to libraries in record numbers to take advantage of the unique opportunities, experiences and services available there. By implementing universal design principles, libraries can create physical, communication and information environments that minimize limitations and provide outstanding library services to all patrons, including those with functional differences.

The agenda for the workshop, which will be held Friday, Jan. 15, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.,  at the ICHD, located at 200 Portland Street, Suite 1, in Boston, includes presentations on an array of best practices in universal design, including opportunities for experiential learning  and a forum for presenting your library’s universal design problem or aspiration and receiving on-the-spot consultation and solutions.

“It’s important for libraries to create a welcoming environment for everyone in their community,” said Brenda Bailey-Hainer, president of ASCLA. “ This institute is an excellent opportunity to learn about techniques for eliminating obstacles to library use for community members who are often underserved.”

Interested participants should note that the institute (event code ASC2) is a separate ticketed event; registration for the Midwinter Meeting is not required in order to attend this event. For institute-only registration using the online form (login required), select “Institute and Ticketed Events Only” as the registration type, and proceed to select this event from  “Step 7 – Your Events”. Advance registration for both Midwinter and “Breaking Down Barriers” opens Thursday, Oct. 1, with the following advance registration ticket prices available through December 4: Student/Retiree Member, $120 (ASCLA Member, $155; ALA Member, $155; Non-member, $155).  Ticket prices increase after Dec. 4. Visit the ALA Midwinter website for the most up-to-date information on registration.

IHCD is an international non-profit organization, founded in Boston in 1978, committed to advancing the role of design in expanding opportunity and enhancing experience for people of all ages and abilities. IHCD’s work balances expertise in legally required accessibility with promotion of best practices in human-centered or universal design.  Their location in downtown Boston is only a few blocks from the MBTA’s North Station, providing easy access to the Green and Orange lines, as well as several commuter rail lines. Subway, commuter rail and other pertinent transit information and schedules are available at the MBTA website.

On June 29, 2010, at 11 a.m., library advocates from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., will meet at Upper Senate Park on the U.S. Capitol grounds to participate in Library Advocacy Day (LAD).

Register now to attend!

LAD will feature guest speakers, photo ops, and a chance to cheer on libraries!  After the rally, participants will meet with their elected officials and their staffs. The states with the most people will be featured front and center, which means they are the ones that will be in the majority of pictures. Make sure your state is the most represented so your group can be in the most pictures!

Let your National Library Legislative Day (NLLD) coordinator know you plan to attend. (See note below.)

For information on state lobbying days, contact your State Chapter. (If you’re not a member of your State Chapter, please join!)

Note: National Library Legislative Day (NLLD) usually occurs at this same time of year. For 2010 only, Library Advocacy Day will take its place, instead.

Advocacy University is ALA’s initiative geared to providing tools, training and resources to library advocates to achieve real advocacy goals in real situations at the local level. Go there now and learn about these wonderful resources to help you in your advocacy work:

• Frontline Advocacy is designed to motivate, encourage, provide content, train, and educate librarians and library workers in seizing opportunities at all levels and especially from the front lines.
• Coalition Building Web Resource includes several best practices of successful library coalition building from around the country.
• Add It Up: Libraries Make the Difference in Youth Development and Education includes research and statistics to help advocates make the case for libraries at every stage of youth development.
• Advocating in a Tough Economy Toolkit includes talking points, statistics and data to help make the case for your library; strategies to help focus public attention and generate support; tips on how to connect with decision makers.
• Making Budget Presentations is coming soon!

Advocacy University is brought to you by the American Library Association’s Office for Library Advocacy. For questions or comments, please contact OLA.

After a summer respite, RUSA online courses are back in action! We have two courses on the calendar for the remainder of 2009. More information can be found by clicking on the course title, which will take you to the course webpage chock full of information about instructors and class content.

· Genealogy 101, November 9 – December 23, 2009 Designed for reference staff with little to no experience in genealogy, Genealogy 101 uses a case study to present tools and techniques participants can use to confidently assist patrons with family history research. A review of archival material, print reference tools and online sources is included in the curriculum.

· The Reference Interview, November 2 – December 18, 2009 This comprehensive course covers such reference interview topics as cultivating an approachable reference environment, successful questioning and listening techniques and appropriate follow-up methods. Staff of all levels at all types of libraries will find this content, presented in a multi-media format, helpful in day-to-day engagement with library patrons.

The deadlines for online registration and fax registration for all courses is the Tuesday prior to the course start date. All mailed registrations must be postmarked two weeks prior to the course start date. Registration discounts for groups of 2 or more participants from the same library or library system are available—contact Liz Markel, RUSA marketing specialist for more information. All general registration questions should be directed to registration@ala.org.