General Information | Registration | Travel & Hotels | Contact Us
Programs & Sessions | Special Events | Visit the Exhibits | Event Planner

ALA Home
Annual 2008 Home
FAQ
Accessibility
Exhibitors Info
Cognotes
Download Logos
Press
Empowerment
Future Conferences
Past Conferences

This page will attempt to answer the questions we frequently hear from new member of ALA, and first-time attendees at the Annual Conferences.

• What is the Structure of ALA?
  
  
• How Do I Become More Involved in ALA?
  
  
• ALA Ambassadors
  
  
• Orientation Events

What is the Structure of ALA?

Details about ALA's Structure, units and other groups, and what they all mean.

Divisions

ALA has eleven membership divisions, each with a type-of-library or type-of-library-function specialization. Each division has a statement of responsibility developed by its members and approved by the ALA Council, a set of goals and objectives to drive its activities.

Offices

ALA Offices are units of the Association that address broad interests and issues of concern to ALA members. Offices do not have direct members but are advised by ALA member advisory committees.

Roundtables

Round Tables are membership groups covering the same field of librarianship not within the scope of any division.

Committees

ALA has standing, special, interdivisional, joint and ad hoc committees. Standing committees are designated as committees of the Association or committees of Council. Each division and round table also may create committees and other working groups to carry out the work of the division or round table. Appointments to committees of the Association are made by the ALA president-elect, who chairs and acts on the advice of the Committee on Appointments.

How do I become more involved with ALA?

Any member of ALA may also join any division or roundtable. To do so, visit the division's or roundtable's website to learn more about the group and to join. ALA Divisions will be hosting "101" sessions at the Annual Conference to explain what the division does, and how new members can become more involved.

ALA business is performed through committees. Members can join ALA and ALA office advisory committees. The eleven ALA divisions each also have committees to conduct business and plan programs. If you are interested in becoming more involved in a division, please attend the division's "101" meeting at the Annual Conference. Representatives from the division will be there to answer your questions. Roundtables also have committees to conduct business and plan programs. Visit the website of the roundtable of interest to you to learn more.

ALA Ambassadors Help Make the Connection

ALA wants your first Annual Conference to be extraordinary, so when you register, be sure to check: I am a first time registrant of the ALA Annual Conference You will automatically be signed-up to receive a personal welcome from an ALA Ambassador – an ALA member who is a long-time conference goer. ALA Ambassadors help you make connections to programs, people and places before conference so that your time there can be well spent. Ask the questions YOU need answered before you go. And at conference, ALA Ambassadors can be identified their Name Tags – stop anyone anytime in the halls to ask.

Conference 101 - Orient Yourself

ALA Divisions and Round Tables will be sponsoring Conference 101 programs throughout the weekend. These 101 programs will help you plan how to ‘do’ conference based on the kind of work you do, or the type of library where you work. Get expert advice on programs to attend, exhibitors to visit, parties to frequent, and ways to get the most out of conference. These events are listed below.

Conference 101
ALA NMRT
Friday, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
New to the Annual Conference, or ALA? Get a fun and informative introduction to the Annual Conference and Anaheim. Learn to navigate the exhibits, decipher the conference program, how ALA really works, and ways for you to get involved. NMRT provides tips from the pros and an orientation, which is full of information.

NMRT Conference Orientation
ALA NMRT
Saturday, 8:00 am - 10:00 am
New to the Annual Conference, or ALA? Get a fun and informative introduction to the Annual Conference and Anaheim. Learn to navigate the exhibits, decipher the conference program, how ALA really works, and ways for you to get involved. NMRT provides tips from the pros and an orientation, which is full of information.

YALSA 101
YALSA
Friday, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
What is the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)? Learn more in a basic orientation, which will include an overview of the division and its activities.

LITA 101: Open House
LITA
Friday, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
LITA 101: Open House is a great opportunity for current and prospective members to talk with LITA leaders and learn how to make connections and become more involved in LITA activities.

RUSA 101: Introduction to Our Division
RUSA
Friday, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
First time attendees are welcome to join us and learn more about two diverse, dynamic divisions, and meet our members.

ALSC 101: Making Connections
ALSC
Friday, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
We’ll provide information that will help you get the most from your time at Annual Conference, and your membership in the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). Meet other new members, ALSC officers, and learn how to become involved in the division at this informal session.

IRRT Librarians Orientation
ALA IRRT
Friday, 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
An introduction to the ALA Conference and the city of Anaheim, California for International and other attendees from abroad. ALA members will provide an overview of the conference, including recommended programs and social activities. Learn about conference transportation, the ALA’s Exhibit Hall and the meaning of the ALA’s many acronyms. Meet your mentors and representatives from ALA’s many divisions and round tables who will help international librarians get the most from the conference experience. (For International librarians outside the U.S.)

PLA 101: ALA Annual Conference Tips for First Time Attendees
PLA; ALA MEMBERSHIP
Saturday, 8:00 am - 9:00 am
This is a how-to session for first time ALA Annual Conference attendees who are PLA members or work in public libraries.

ACRL 101 & Membership Meeting
ACRL
Saturday, 8:00 am - 10:00 am
ACRL leaders will provide information on how academic/ research librarians can navigate the ALA Annual Conference as a first-time attendee.

Diversity 101
ALA DIVERSITY
Saturday, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Whether you are new to ALA or want to learn more about this key action area for the association, this session covers the basics on conference sessions, groups, initiatives, and opportunities to get involved across our organizations.

Intellectual Freedom 101
ALA IFC
Friday, 5:00 pm - 6:00pm

IF 101: Intellectual Freedom is one of the defining principles of libraries of all kinds.  Learn about the "IF" activities of the American Library Association, including OIF, IFRT, IFC, FTRF, state-level and division intellectual freedom committees, and more.  What's going on at this conference, and how can you get involved in these issues year-round?  Speakers include representatives from various intellectual freedom arms of ALA.  Also: cookies!