ALA Chapter Councilor Forum

January 11, 2016

4:30pm

Boston, MA

Representative from FLAG - FLAG is looking for people across the country who are close enough to congress people to pick up the phone, have their ear, and have them vote on library legislation.  The committee is identifying people, now.  Please contact FLAG if you are someone with close ties or know someone who has close ties.

The group discussed the following topics;

There was a discussion about the role of library associations when ALA occurs in their state.  It is recommended that the state association has a booth.  Host a local event.  Helping with a volunteer project.

The value of ALA to state members.  The combine state/ALA membership is a good way to introduce students to ALA.  The chapter counselor sets up meet-ups for library students who are in virtual programs.  Don Wood sends chapter counselors the names of new student members in their states.  The ALA Washington office is a selling point - a political advocacy arm is attractive to some new members.  The Intellectual Freedom Office has also been a good outreach tool and reason to join ALA.  Doing "outreach" for ALA in conference sessions rather than at a booth or table in an exhibit hall.

Communicating with members - how do Chapter Counselors communicate with state members.  An ALA column in the state association newsletter.   For librarians who don't have an MLS - making ALA relevant to them even if they aren't members - how they are supported nationally.  ALA does offer a new price for joining ALA and registering for conference.  The chapter Counselors need to filter the information that we get to the chapter members.  We can't and shouldn't send everything.  

Chapter Relations Committee - they put out a survey about communication about 40 associations have responded.  The Chapter Relations Committee does not have work between the conferences.  Chapter Counselors need to understand that communicating ALA issues is part of the Chapter Counselor job.  The other big issue discussed during the meeting was that Corey Booker was a speaker at ALA, yet the NJ Library Association did not agree with the description of Senator Booker in the ALA program.  They say he is not a library advocate as the ALA publicity described.   There is obviously a problem about communicating between state associations and ALA.  How do we communicate this information to ALA?  How much interest does ALA really have in state or local issues?   It was suggested that there be a resolution at annual about communicating with Chapters.

There was a discussion about hiring an assistant and a lobbyist.  Several states are hiring companies to do their executive director position.   Several associations are all volunteer organizations.  Delaware recently allowed a State Library employee to work 25% of the time to work as the association's executive director.  The person manages a lobbying day and provides conference support.  Another state has a state library member who follows legislative issues and meets with the he volunteer committee that works on lobbying efforts.