Descriptions for these new groups, as well as all of ASCLA’s existing interest groups, are below! Click on the group name to be taken to their group page in ALA Connect. You can join the group by logging into ALA Connect, accessing the group page, then clicking “join” on the right side of the page. You do not need to be a member of ASCLA for the first year of your interest group membership, however we encourage you to join this amazing community of members at your earliest convenience!

Learn more about how to start a new interest group here.

New Interest Groups:

ASCLA Future of Libraries Interest Group

This group is open to anyone with an interest in the future of libraries.  Changes in the world around us, different service models, new technologies, determining what our customers value and what our non-customers are finding elsewhere will be examined.  This group will submit an annual recommendation to the ASCLA President for two areas that we think libraries should focus on to increase their value and insure their viability in the future.

ASCLA Tribal Librarians Interest Group

The purpose of this new interest group is to increase knowledge and networking among library leaders with tribal libraries. The goal is to foster new relations and begin lifelong partnerships with community library leaders and Tribal Librarians. This interest group is not just for “Tribal.” Tribal librarians and employees of tribal libraries as well as librarians and library leaders interested in knowing more about tribal libraries are welcome.

Other ASCLA Interest Groups:

ASCLA Library Consultants Interest Group The ASCLA Library Consultant Interest Group supports professional development by providing programs, information exchange and networking opportunities of interest to independent librarians, library consultants, state library and regional library consultants, and anyone who wants to push the boundaries of librarianship.

ASCLA LSSP Universal Access Interest Group Interest group purpose is to promote inclusive library services – sharing information and resources.

ASCLA ICAN Consortium Management Discussion Interest Group This interest group is focused on consortial funding, advocacy, services, etc., plus discussion group on topics of interest to library cooperatives statewide, multi-state, national cooperatives, and multitype library systems.

ASCLA ICAN (InterLibrary Cooperation & Networking) Collaborative Digitization Interest Group Interest group for library cooperatives which are combinations, mergers, or contractual associations of one or more types of libraries (academic, public, special, or school) crossing jurisdictional, institutional, or political boundaries, working together to achieve maximum effective use of funds to provide library and information services to all citizens above and beyond those which can be provided through one institution. Such cooperative organizations or agencies may be designated to serve a community, a metropolitan area, a region within a region, or may serve a statewide or multi-state area.

ASCLA ICAN (InterLibrary Cooperation & Networking) Interlibrary Cooperation Interest 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.

ASCLA ICAN (InterLibrary Cooperation & Networking) Physical Delivery Interest Group The focus of this interest group covers the physical delivery of library materials for resource sharing and related issues.

ASCLA Library Services for Youth in Custody (LSSP) The purpose of this Interest Group is to advocate, promote, and improve library services for youth who have been detained in correctional facilities of various kinds.

ASCLA LSSP Bridging Deaf Cultures @ your library Interest Group Primary focus is building support for the nation’s libraries to work with organizations serving the deaf (OSD) in forming a Deaf Cultural Digital Library.

ASCLA LSSP (Libraries Serving Special Populations) LSSP Library Services to People with Visual or Physical Disabilities that Prevent Them from Reading Standard Print Interest Group This interest group focuses on assistive technology and accessibility services for people with visual or physical disabilities.

ASCLA LSSP Library Services to the Incarcerated and Detained Supports ALA members who serve patrons of any age who are held in jail, prison, detention or immigration facility.

ASCLA SLA State Library Agencies – Library Development Interest Group An interest group for State Library Agencies staff to network and discussion matters relating to library development services, activities, and needs.

ASCLA SLA (State Library Agencies)/LSTA Coordinators Interest Group For staff responsible for procuring and administering LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) funds and programs. LSTA is a federally funded state based program generally administered by the state library of each state.

ASCLA SLA (State Library Agencies) Youth Services Consultants Interest Group The group’s purpose is to allow each state’s Youth Services Consultant or staff member responsible for working with youth services to keep abreast of topics of interest to the group and the constituents they serve in their states through listservs, and in-person networking meetings at ALA Midwinter and Annual Conferences.

In her new leadership role, Laughlin hopes to provide strong and creative leadership that will tap into ASCLA members’ deep commitment to the library mission, as well as their strong expertise and broad professional networks—three unique attributes of ASCLA members that will help the division evolve in the face of rapid changes in publishing, technology and funding.

Laughlin joined ASCLA more than three decades ago when she took on a coordinator position at the Stone Hills Library Network. She has served both the library profession and the division in a broad variety of capacities: as a member of the Independent Librarians’ Exchange (ILEX) Executive Committee—now Library Consultants Interest Group; as section chair for the Interlibrary Cooperation and Networking (ICAN) Section; and as longtime editor of Interface (2001-08), ASCLA’s newsletter. She has also presented many programs and preconferences, including partnering with ASCLA consulting colleagues to produce the sold-out “Assembling a Consulting Toolkit” preconference which was offered in 2010 and 2011. For her service, she received the 2004 ASCLA Service Award.  She has also served as president of the Indiana Library Federation and the Friends of Indiana Libraries.

Laughlin received the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. She co-authored two books with ALA: “Quality Library: A Guide to Staff-driver Improvement, Better Efficiency, and Happier Customers” (2008) and “Library’s Continuous Improvement Fieldbook: 29 Ready-to-Use Tools” (2003).

Prior to her current position at Monroe County Public Library, she served on the library’s Board of Trustees. Her prior professional experience includes serving as President of Sara Laughlin & Associates, Inc. from 1997-2007.  She earned both an MLS and MA in Art History from Indiana University and a BA in History from the University of Cincinnati.

ASCLA, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is a diverse organization of librarians and support staff who work in academic and public libraries, state agencies, specialized libraries and cooperatives, as well as those who are self-employed. Our division’s work centers on member-driven interest groups that represent the diversity and important work of our engaged and active members. Not an ASCLA member, but interested in forming new interest groups, receiving discounted registration rates on ASCLA preconferences and online courses, and other important membership benefits? Join, renew or add ASCLA to your ALA membership at www.ala.org/membership.

Individuals can register online here through midnight tonight—Tuesday, May 15.

We’re also offering group rates and even greater savings for State Library Agencies who are members of ASCLA. All of the details are below.

Questions about registration? Contact registration@ala.org or (800) 545-2433, option 5!

Webinar Details:

State Library Outreach to State Employees and Elected Officials

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Central Time

REGISTER ONLINE NOW.

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Learn from the Illinois State Library how to conduct effective outreach to your desired audience, such as state employees or elected officials, and raise awareness of the services available from your state library, and how you can assist them with their informational needs. This is an excellent opportunity for state library staff, reference librarians, outreach coordinators and other types of librarians to learn how to launch an effective campaign to promote your state library’s services.

During the webinar, we’ll:

* Learn how to identify an audience and their needs

* Review the importance of knowing your materials and resources

* Explore new technology options and usage

* Identify promotion techniques to gain exposure

* Cover the recommendations, successes, failures and lessons learned from the Illinois State Library’s undertaking.

* Address potential roadblocks such as restricted access to social media.

Webinar Presenters: Debra Aggertt, reference outreach coordinator, Illinois State Library, and Sandra Fritz, reference librarian, Illinois State Library. Check out the webinar information page for more details about their background.

REGISTER FOR THIS WEBINAR.

REGISTRATION RATES:

Individual registration: starts at $40 for ASCLA members

Group registration: $99 for a single login or $38/person (min. 2 people) for multiple logins

State Library Agency Members of ASCLA pay the amazing group rates of $69 for a single login or $29/person (min. 2 people) for multiple logins. Learn more about the benefits of ASCLA membership for SLAs.

Questions about registration? Contact registration@ala.org or (800) 545-2433, option 5.

Questions about your ALA or ASCLA membership? Contact membership@ala.org.

The trip itinerary includes the castles, libraries and important historic sites of Ireland. Deposits for this upcoming adventure are due by June 1, 2012. Check out the itinerary below, then reserve your spot by contacting Lyceum Tours at 856-795-9044.

We hope you’ll join us!

Trip Information

October 4-12, 2012
7 nights for $1799 plus airfare

Price includes:

• Hotels and transportation to Dublin, Kilkenny, Cork, Cobh and Killarney
• Dinners with the tour group
• Tours of the National Library and the Killarney Library, Trinity College and the Book of Kells, Powerscourt Gardens, Kilkenny and Blarney Castles and the Ring of Kerry
• A tour of Waterford Crystal
• A visit to the heritage center in Cobh to learn more about important Irish historical events such as the mass migration of Irish to America
• The opportunity to throw back a pint at a pub established in 1703.

Participants are responsible for their own airfare.

A portion of the trip’s proceeds benefit ASCLA, a division of ALA. All those interested in coming along on this exciting trip are welcome to attend regardless of membership status. An informational brochure is available for download at the ASCLA website.

To reserve your spot:
Deposit of $1,000 due by June 1, 2012
Balance payment due by Aug. 15, 2012.
Checks payable to Lyceum Tours and sent to Lyceum Tours, 11 Haddon Avenue, Haddonfield, N.J., 08033.

Questions about the trip? Contact the ASCLA office at ascla@ala.org or 312-280-4395, or Lyceum Tours at 856-795-9044.

A Marriage Made in Heaven: Combining Marketing and Development to Ensure the Future of Your Library

Friday, June 22, 8:00a.m.-12:00p.m.
REGISTER NOW.

Develop a fundraising strategy and raise the awareness of the value your library with a library champions campaign! Learn how the New Jersey State Library launched a public awareness campaign designed to attract famous athletes and authors to serve as Library Champions, and with the help of marketing and development teams, leveraged those champions into an effective fundraising vehicle. We’ll cover how to recruit celebrity champions and local heroes; how to raise big money for your library; how to build a donor development strategy; and the essential publications your library must produce to secure funders. Registration starts at $109 for ASCLA members–increases to $129 after May 13.

The Outspoken Library: A Gateway for Public Libraries to Services for the Visually and Physically Impaired

Friday, June 22, 1:00-4:00p.m.
REGISTER NOW.

Looking for inventive ideas for promoting library services? The New Jersey State Library developed “The Outspoken Library” to promote free online services that are available for print-disabled people. This program allows library customers to access services administered through the State Library’s Talking Book & Braille Center (TBBC), including audio newspapers (TBBC’s Audiovision and NFB’s Newsline) and the Library of Congress’s Braille and Audio Reading Download service. Attend this preconference, and find out how to establish and market these valuable resources. Registration starts at $109 for ASCLA members–increases to $129 after May 13.

The Nuts & Bolts of Building a Public Library/Jail/Prison Partnership

Friday, June 22, 8:00a.m.-12:00p.m.
REGISTER NOW.

Hear from speakers who’ve successfully built public library/correctional setting partnerships, and learn how to build these kinds of relationships step-by-step. Public librarians and correctional librarians interested in creating literacy and reading program partnerships for youth in detention centers and adults in jails or prisons will not want to miss this half-day workshop that will cover such difficult issues as collection development, security, and staff interactions. Registration starts at $109 for ASCLA members–increases to $129 after May 13.

ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition–Transforming Our Libraries, Ourselves

Find out about the many other ALA Annual Conference & Exhibits highlights as they’re added–speakers, events, networking opportunities, and more. And for general information about the meeting in Anaheim, CA, June 21-26, 2012, visit us at www.alaannual.org. Save money with Early Bird Registration, open until midnight, Sunday, May 13, 2012.

What’s this all about? Midwinter Institutes are ticketed full or half-day workshops held the Friday of the Midwinter Meeting. Annual Preconferences are ticketed full or half-day workshops held the Friday of Annual Conference. Programs are part of the ALA Annual Conference, are included with conference registration, and are held Saturday through Monday of the conference. Check out what ASCLA’s doing at this year’s Annual Conference.

What’s the best way to propose a program? We encourage members with programming ideas to partner with one of our ASCLA interest groups to sponsor the program. Review our list of interest groups and learn how to join a group at the ASCLA website.

More information about the proposal process–including some important notes about overall scheduling changes to both Midwinter and Annual–is in this post in ASCLA’s ALA Connect space. Please check out this post before making your submission.

Learn more about ASCLA, and join this small and mighty group of ALA members who are making a difference for library users from all corners of the world!

We look forward to receiving your proposals!

Vice-President/President-Elect: Sara G. Laughlin, Monroe County (Ind.) Public Library

Director-at-Large: Martha L. Goddard, San Francisco Public Library

Director-at-Large: Lisa Ann Priebe, Colorado Library Consortium

Director-at-Large: Hulen E. Bivins, North Dakota State Library

Division Councilor: Liz Bishoff, The Bishoff Group

Designated Director, Special Populations Constituency: Lori Allen Guenthner, Maryland Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

Secretary: Kathleen Moeller-Peiffer, New Jersey State Library

Complete ALA election results will be available here later today.

Online library branches are also one way that many libraries are responding to rapidly advancing technologies, dynamic communications and shrinking budgets. Strategic planning is a crucial step libraries must take to ensure their online branch meets the business and technical requirements for the organization, while also addressing the needs of their multiple audiences. Seasoned strategic planners Cynthia Colmenares, CEO, Jack Frost Design and Beth Larkins, Account Manager, Jack Frost Design, will prepare you to take the first, most effective planning steps to meet these needs.

Our upcoming webinar, “Strategic Planning for Your Online Library Branch”, will be held Thursday, May 10, 2012, at 1:00-2:30 p.m. Central (Chicago) Time using Blackboard Collaborate. Registered participants will receive a link to the recorded session to rewatch at their convenience.

REGISTER NOW.

Individual registration fees start at $40 for ASCLA members. Groups wishing to participate in this session can register for a single login ($99), or pay just $38 per person for multiple logins (minimum 2 participants from the same library, library system or network. State libraries who are members of ASCLA receive significant savings, paying just $69 for a single login or $29 per person for multiple logins.

Register online now for these and other webinars.
Registration will remain open until close-of-business on Tuesday, May 8, 2012. Group registration information is available at the ASCLA online learning page.
Questions about registration? Contact the ALA registration team at registration@ala.org or (800) 545-2433, option 5.
To add ASCLA to your ALA membership, contact membership@ala.org.

During this 90-minute online session, Brenda Hough will prepare you to run meetings and lead planning discussions with confidence in both face-to-face and online sessions! The effective facilitation skills that will be covered in this session are relevant to many professional situations including focus groups, staff meetings, brainstorming and learning sessions, and countless other group opportunities where a leader is needed to guide the conversation. Hough will also provide tips for improving participation and productivity, and cover important topics such as group dynamics, learning styles, and models for running meetings and group sessions.

“Being an Effective Facilitator” will be held Wednesday, May 9, 2012, at 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Central (Chicago) Time using Blackboard Collaborate. Registered participants will receive a link to the recorded session to rewatch at their convenience. Individual registration fees start at $40 for ASCLA members. Groups wishing to participate in this session can register for a single login ($99), or pay just $38 per person for multiple logins (minimum 2 participants from the same library, library system or network. State libraries who are members of ASCLA receive significant savings, paying just $69 for a single login or $29 per person for multiple logins.

Register online now for these and other webinars. Registration will remain open until close-of-business on Monday, May 7, 2012. Group registration information is available at the ASCLA online learning page.. Questions about registration? Contact the ALA registration team at registration@ala.org or (800) 545-2433, option 5. To add ASCLA to your ALA membership, contact membership@ala.org.

ASCLA, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is a diverse organization of librarians and support staff who work in academic and public libraries, state agencies, specialized libraries and cooperatives, as well as those who are self-employed. Our division’s work centers on member-driven interest groups that represent the diversity and important work of our engaged and active members. Not an ASCLA member, but interested in forming new interest groups, receiving discounted registration rates on ASCLApreconferences and online courses, and other important membership benefits? Join, renew or add ASCLA to your ALA membership at www.ala.org/membership.

The webinar will be held Thursday, April 26, 2012, 12-1:30 p.m. CT. We will be recording the webinar, so if you can’t attend at this specific time, register and we’ll send you a link afterwards to rewatch it.

REGISTER NOW!

ABOUT THIS WEBINAR: Library environments for detained, pending placement, or incarcerated youth are different than the typical public or school library and library professionals serving them often find themselves in situations that are completely different than anything for which they are prepared. As part of a series of webinars focusing on the needs of these youth, this session will look at programming for detained and incarcerated youth. This session will be recorded and will be available to paid registrants to rewatch at their convenience!

Individual registration starts at $40 for ASCLA members.
We do offer group registration rates: $99 for a single login, and $38/person for multiple logins.
More information is at the ASCLA online learning page.

QUESTIONS? Contact the ALA Registration team at registration@ala.org or (800) 545-2433, option 5.

**Interested in library services to incarcerated youth and adults?**
ASCLA welcomes participation in its two interest groups:

ASCLA Library Services for Youth in Custody Interest Group
ASCLA Library Services to the Incarcerated and Detained Interest Group

As a member of these groups, you can engage with peers on a variety of activities and issues related to these areas of library service. Simply log into ALA Connect, access each group using the hyperlinks above, and click “Join” on the right side of the page to get on board!