Chapter Council Forum

Chapter Council Forum

February 2, 2015

Chicago, IL

4pm

IRS Forms - The federal government cut the budget for producing paper forms in an effort to move to e-government.  This has pushed new needs to public libraries.  Passing the funding of forms on to public libraries or on to people who probably don't have funds for printing anyway.  This  year the issue is a "done deal" but what statement do we want to make next year?  This is an issue public libraries are struggling with.  There is a phone conference set up with the IRS to discuss these issues.  We need to keep ourselves aware of other ways e-government may be pushing services to public libraries.

Confederation of Southern States - States in several regions are looking at having reciprocal groups for sharing membership and conference activities.  The states that are talking about this are:  Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee.  Tennessee is thinking about having this kind of agreement with states that share their boarder.

Chapter Relations Committee - The ALA Office uses it to gather information.  What do Chapter Counselors want out of the Chapter office and/or ALA.  Suggested orientation sheet for new Chapter Councilors.  There needs to be communication between the Chapter Relations Committee and the Chapter Counselors.  Should Chapter Counselors attend that meeting?  There is confusion about who should go to this meeting.

Aspen Institute has hard copies of their report that we can request.

Gaza Issue - Destruction of libraries - a resolution that will come before Council III.  The  resolution coming before Council will be biased.  The resolution went before IRC today - but that committee did not approve it.

Salaries - Studies are comparing underpaid people to other underpaid people.  Reference to the Library Journal study that was published last year.  There was a discussion about how the APA looks at salaries.  Confusion about weather ALA is about libraries or librarians.

Term Limits for Chapter Counselors - About 1/3 of states have term limits for Chapter Counselors.

Membership Value - Reciprocal agreements with other organizations.  Offering liability insurance,   Renewaal rates are less expensive than starting a new membership.  Peer revivew journal publication opportunities..  Many associations are using the book Race for Relevance as a guiding source for planning.  Diversified revenue streams - not completely dependent on membership.  Membership, conference, publications, summer reading program that the association managed and sold it to other organizations/states/countries.  Illinois had a summer reading program that was sold to all of the millitary institution libraries.  Library Luminaries - ways to recognize people and fund the endowment program.  Special rates for library support staff.  Rates for students.