What is an Interest Group? Everything you ever wanted to know

What are “Interest Groups”?
Approved by the membership in the 2011 ALA/ASCLA election, interest groups provide a way to easily create a “home” within ASCLA for topics and issues that have an active member base, are specifically of interest to ASCLA members or may be currently underrepresented in the organization. They provide a dynamic system for ASCLA members to form communities around important emerging issues in the profession and to increase opportunities for involvement within the organization. ASCLA interest groups are very fluid and can be quickly formed in response to environmental changes. Interest groups can also consist of any ALA member; they are not restricted to ASCLA members.

What is the process for creating an Interest Group?
Any ASCLA member can propose the creation of an interest group by submitting an e-petition with signatures of 10 ASCLA members. Proposals are reviewed on an ongoing basis by the Interest Group Coordination Committee and the ASCLA Board of Directors, which approves the creation of new interest groups. Go here to create an e-petition (login as an ALA member first): http://www.ala.org/template.cfm?template=/CFApps/epetition/index.cfm.

Additional information on creating ASCLA interest groups, including a link to the e-petition form, can be found on the ASCLA Web site at http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/ascla/asclaourassoc/asclasections/interestgroups/index.cfm

Who can join Interest Groups?
Once an interest group is formed, ASCLA and any ALA member may join by logging into ALA Connect and joining the group – which is listed by title in Connect. Interest groups may include any ALA member – they are not limited to ASCLA members.

Please keep in mind, while you do not have to be an ASCLA member to join an Interest Group, you must be an ASCLA member to lead one.

How does an Interest Group Operate?

  • Interest groups may plan and sponsor programs at conferences, may sponsor pre-conferences, create discussion groups, prepare publications, or carry out other activities with the approval of the Interest Group Coordinating Committee and the Board of Directors.
  • Interest groups establish their own process for nominating and electing their leadership.
  • Interest group leaders must be ASCLA members, however any ALA member may join an ASCLA interest group.
  • No leader shall serve more than four (4) consecutive years in office.
  • Any member of the Association may join as many interest groups as desired by joining the group in ALA Connect.
  • Each Interest Group defines its own functions, subject to the approval of the Interest Group Coordinating Committee
  • Each Interest Group shall manage its own affairs, provided that no interest group shall adopt rules for the transaction of its business inconsistent with those of the Association, or engage in any activity in conflict with the program of the Association.
  • Interest group elections are held during the Midwinter Meeting.
  • Unless otherwise approved by the ASCLA executive director, interest groups will conduct their own elections and not utilize the formal ALA election system.

What are the interest group leader’s responsibilities?
As an Interest Group Leader you will be expected to:

  • Encourage involvement in the Interest Group
  • Ensure that the Interest Group generates discussion topics, articles, programs, projects etc. within the purview of the Interest Group’s charge.
  • Regularly communicate with Interest Group members regarding Interest Group activities as well as initiatives coming from the ASCLA Board, staff, or other interested parties.
  • Communicate with the Interest Group Coordinating Committee. This will include a brief annual report on Interest Group activity. Reports will be posted on the Interest Group site.
  • Communicate with the Interest Group Coordinating Committee if, for any reason, you determine that you are unable to fulfill the responsibility of leading the Interest Group.
  • Notify the ASCLA office of any changes in leadership.
  • Coordinate the overall activities of the interest group and for reporting on group activities.

To find out more about ASCLA Interest Groups, go here: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/ascla/asclaourassoc/asclainterest/index.cfm,

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at ascla@ala.org.

ASCLA Interest Groups: Join now!

Several interest groups are up and running within ASCLA–see the list below.

If you’d like to create an interest group, there’s more information about that process on this ASCLA webpage: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/ascla/asclaourassoc/asclasections/interestgroups/index.cfm

To join an interest group:

  • Login at connect.ala.org
  • Use the URLs listed below for direct access to a group’s page.
  • Click “Join”–it’s on the right side of the page underneath “Posts”, “Online Docs”, “Calendar”, etc.

Interlibrary Cooperation and Networking (ICAN) Consortium Management Discussion Group: Discussion group on topics of interest to library cooperatives statewide, multi-state, national cooperatives and multitype library systems such as consortial funding, advocacy and services. On ALA Connect at http://connect.ala.org/node/151805

Librarians Serving Special Populations (LSSP) Library Services to People with Visual or Physical Disabilities: A group for librarians serving those with accessibility issues that prevent them from reading standard print; includes assistive technology and accessibility services. On ALA Connect at http://connect.ala.org/node/151441

State Library Agency (SLA)/Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Coordinators Interest Group: This group is for discussion of the federal LSTA program. It’s an opportunity to hear from IMLS staff as well as to share ideas on what each state is doing with their LSTA allocation. On ALA Connect at http://connect.ala.org/node/151443

Interlibrary Cooperation and Networking (ICAN) Collaborative Digitization Group: This group’s topics include collaborative and cooperative digitization initiatives, metadata schemas, workflows, collection management systems, copyright, case studies and other issues related to access to digitized collections. This group focuses on conversations about new and ongoing issues and opportunities related to collaborative digitization initiatives across a diverse array of consortia, libraries, archives, museums, and cultural heritage institutions. On ALA Connect at http://connect.ala.org/node/151439

Interlibrary Cooperation and Networking (ICAN) Physical Delivery: Focused on physical delivery of library materials for resource sharing and related issues; promotes discussion, information sharing and presentations on physical delivery in libraries and related topics. On ALA Connect at http://connect.ala.org/node/151994

Interlibrary Cooperation and Networking (ICAN) Library Cooperation: This group provides a forum for discussion of interests in interlibrary cooperation and the statewide development of library service, emphasizing the interdependence of all types of libraries. On ALA Connect at http://connect.ala.org/node/151996

Reserve your spot for springtime in Paris with ASCLA by Aug. 1

The only thing better than Paris in the spring is *you* in Paris during the beautiful month of April! Won’t you join us?

Library fans, Francophiles, travelers of all types and those who consider themselves all of the above are invite to ASCLA’s Trip to Paris, an exciting travel opportunity hosted by ASCLA President Norma Blake. A portion of the trip’s proceeds benefit the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA), a division of ALA. Deposits must be paid by August 1, 2011 to ensure your spot.

Here are the details:
Tour dates: April 29 – May 6, 2012

Trip itinerary includes:

  • Six Nights at the Westminster Hotel beginning April 30
  • Daily Breakfasts
  • Three Dinners
  • Tour of the Bibliotheque Nationale
  • Tour of the American Library in Paris
  • City Orientation Tour
  • Guided Tour of the Opera Quarter
  • Guided Tour of the Louvre
  • Lyceum Tours Escort
  • R/T Airport Transfers

Six Nights for $2069 + Air Fare

Participants will need to make their own arrangements for travel.
If you need assistance call Lyceum Tours at 856-795-9044.

A complete itinerary is available in this downloadable PDF brochure:

http://www.njstatelib.org/njsl_files/parisflyerfinal_0.pdf

A deposit of $1,000 is due by August 1, 2011 to reserve your spot, with the balance due by March 22, 2012.

Checks payable to: Lyceum Tours

Questions: Contact New Jersey State Librarian Norma Blake
Phone: 609-278-2640 x 100  Email: nblake@njstatelib.org

ASCLA Interest Groups: All You Ever Wanted to Know (and More)!

What are “Interest Groups”?
Approved by the membership in the 2011 ALA/ASCLA election, interest groups provide a way to easily create a “home” within ASCLA for topics and issues that have an active member base, are specifically of interest to ASCLA members or may be currently underrepresented in the organization. They provide a dynamic system for ASCLA members to form communities around important emerging issues in the profession and to increase opportunities for involvement within the organization. ASCLA interest groups are very fluid and can be quickly formed in response to environmental changes. Interest groups can also consist of any ALA member; they are not restricted to ASCLA members.

What is the process for creating an Interest Group?
Any ASCLA member can propose the creation of an interest group by submitting an e-petition with signatures of 10 ASCLA members. Proposals are reviewed on an ongoing basis by the Interest Group Coordination Committee and the ASCLA Board of Directors, which approves the creation of new interest groups. Go here to create an e-petition (login as an ALA member first): http://www.ala.org/template.cfm?template=/CFApps/epetition/index.cfm.

Additional information on creating ASCLA interest groups, including a link to the e-petition form, can be found on the ASCLA Web site at http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/ascla/asclaourassoc/asclasections/interestgroups/index.cfm

Who can join Interest Groups?
Once an interest group is formed, ASCLA and any ALA member may join by logging into ALA Connect and joining the group – which is listed by title in Connect. Interest groups may include any ALA member – they are not limited to ASCLA members.

Please keep in mind, while you do not have to be an ASCLA member to join an Interest Group, you must be an ASCLA member to lead one.

How does an Interest Group Operate?
• Interest groups may plan and sponsor programs at conferences, may sponsor pre-conferences, create discussion groups, prepare publications, or carry out other activities with the approval of the Interest Group Coordinating Committee and the Board of Directors.
• Interest groups establish their own process for nominating and electing their leadership.
• Interest group leaders must be ASCLA members, however any ALA member may join an ASCLA interest group.
• No leader shall serve more than four (4) consecutive years in office.
• Any member of the Association may join as many interest groups as desired by joining the group in ALA Connect.
• Each Interest Group defines its own functions, subject to the approval of the Interest Group Coordinating Committee
• Each Interest Group shall manage its own affairs, provided that no interest group shall adopt rules for the transaction of its business inconsistent with those of the Association, or engage in any activity in conflict with the program of the Association.
• Interest group elections are held during the Midwinter Meeting.
• Unless otherwise approved by the ASCLA executive director, interest groups will conduct their own elections and not utilize the formal ALA election system

What are the interest group leader’s responsibilities?
As an Interest Group Leader you will be expected to:
• Encourage involvement in the Interest Group
• Ensure that the Interest Group generates discussion topics, articles, programs, projects etc. within the purview of the Interest Group’s charge.
• Regularly communicate with Interest Group members regarding Interest Group activities as well as initiatives coming from the ASCLA Board, staff, or other interested parties.
• Communicate with the Interest Group Coordinating Committee. This will include a brief annual report on Interest Group activity. Reports will be posted on the Interest Group site.
• Communicate with the Interest Group Coordinating Committee if, for any reason, you determine that you are unable to fulfill the responsibility of leading the Interest Group.
• Notify the ASCLA office of any changes in leadership.
• Coordinate the overall activities of the interest group and for reporting on group activities.

To find out more about ASCLA Interest Groups, go here: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/ascla/asclaourassoc/asclainterest/index.cfm

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact: ascla@ala.org.

Aug. 1 deadline for ALA Emerging Leader program applications

The American Library Association (ALA) is now accepting applications for the 2012 class of Emerging Leaders.  Details on the program criteria as well as a link to the application can be found on the Emerging Leaders Web page. The deadline to apply is Aug. 1, 2011.

The program is designed to enable library workers get on the fast track to ALA and professional leadership.  Participants are given the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, network with peers and gain an understanding of the ALA structure and wide range of activities.

Individuals who are considering applying to the program should be under 35 years of age or be a new library professional of any age with fewer than 5 years of experience working at a professional or paraprofessional level in a library.  They should also be able to attend both the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Dallas (Jan. 20-24, 2012) and the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif. (June 21-26, 2012).  Additional criteria can be found on the Emerging Leaders Web page mentioned above.

An ALA division, round table, ethnic affiliate, state chapter or school library media affiliate will sponsor approximately one-half of the selected applicants.  Each sponsor will contribute $1,000 toward expenses of attending the ALA Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference ($500 for each conference).  Sponsorship is not required for participation in the program.

A list of sponsoring units is included as part of the online application. Applicants can indicate on the application which groups they want to consider them for sponsorship.  Applicants may also check with various state associations and/or state chapters to find out if they are participating and how to apply for their sponsorship.

No more than one person from any institution will be selected for participation in the program.

For more information, visit the Emerging Leaders Web page or contact the program coordinator, Beatrice Calvin at bcalvin@ala.org.