Committees
Serving on a PLA committee is a rewarding experience that will also help you expand your professional development and networking base. The PLA National Conference, the Public Libraries Data Statistics (PLDS) Report, and Public Libraries magazine (just to name a few) are all direct outcomes of the participation of our members on PLA committees. Member volunteers help PLA advance its mission to strengthen public libraries and the communities those libraries serve. If you are interested in volunteering to serve on a committee, please go to the Committee Volunteer Form (you will need your ALA login). Feel free to call the PLA office (1-800-545-2433, ext. 5PLA) for more information.
Reflecting the 2008 change in PLA's bylaws, Communities of Practice (CoPs) are now an integral part of PLA. CoPs meet online at PLAspace.org. Log in to PLAspace to join an existing CoP or contact Doug Dawson for details about how to become the administrator of a new CoP.
Standing Committees, Advisory Groups and Task Forces:
PLA committees meet at ALA Annual Conference and the ALA Midwinter Meeting.
Standing Committees
- Bylaws and Organization Committee
- Charge: To consider amendments to the Bylaws; to make recommendations to the PLA Board on other organizational matters affecting PLA as a whole. This committee is appointed as needed for specific projects.
- Budget and Finance Committee
- Nominating Committee
- Charge: To prepare a PLA slate of candidates for inclusion in the ALA Election Ballot.
- National Conference Committee 2010
- Local Arrangements Subcommittee
- Charge: To work with the National Conference Committee and PLA staff to promote the site of the National Conference as a desirable location and to suggest activities for conference attendees; to suggest possible sites and venues of interest to public librarians for local tours and events to PLA conference manager; to provide local information to PLA communications manager prior to conference for promotional materials and Web site; to provide local information onsite to conference attendees; to identify resources for attendees with special needs; to provide local information to exhibitors; to provide appropriate number of volunteers to staff local information counter and for logistical support (e.g. attendee packet assembly), assist at events and serve as resources.
- Program Committee
- Charge: To communicate with each other as chairs of the four (4) program subcommittees (i.e. National Conference Program Subcommittee, Spring Symposium Program Subcommittee, and Annual Conference Program Subcommittee for 2 consecutive years) for the purpose of discussion, sharing information on and coordination of programming at appropriate PLA event. (Each individual subcommittee conducts final review and approval of programming for their event).
- National Conference Program Subcommittee
- Charge: To work with the National Conference Committee and PLA staff to develop the programming for the National Conference; to identify and develop program topics for the conference and pre- and post-conferences; to stimulate program development and implementation among members and membership units; to review and approve individual programs and program scheduling; to approve presenters and coordinators of individual programs; to recommend to the PLA Board of Directors for their approval pre- and post-conferences; to coordinate schedule and program with PLA staff; to act as liaisons to program organizers to facilitate high quality presentations.
- Spring Symposium Program Subcommittee
- Charge: To work with PLA staff to develop a slate of programs for the PLA Spring Symposium. To help identify, develop and review program topics; to stimulate program development and implementation among members and membership units. The Spring Symposium Subcommittee is responsible for programming at this event.
- Annual Conference Program Subcommittees (2 based on year)
- Charge: To work with PLA staff to develop PLA programming for the ALA Annual Conference; to identify and develop program topics; to stimulate program development and implementation among members and membership units; to review and approve individual programs; to approve presenters and coordinators of individual programs; to act as liaisons to program organizers if necessary; to facilitate high quality presentations.
- Public Libraries Advisory Committee
- Public Libraries Data Statistics (PLDS) Committee
- PLA Monographs work groups (as needed)
- Charge: To initiate and coordinate the publication of books and pamphlets pertinent to the role of public library service; to work with appropriate PLA committees and members to evaluate the need for revision of published materials; to aid in originating new publication, and in defining the purpose, audience, and scope of each publication. Work Groups are appointed on an as needed basis for projects.
- Institutional Scholarships Award Jury (2006 Pilot Project)
- Charge: To select the winners of the Grow Your Own @ Your Library® Institutional Scholarships and to evaluate the process procedures and effectiveness of the pilot award.
- Allie Beth Martin Award Jury
- Baker & Taylor Entertainment Audio Music/Video Product Award Jury
- Charlie Robinson Award Jury
- DEMCO New Leaders Travel Grant Jury
- EBSCO Excellence in Small &/or Rural Public Library Service Award Jury
- Gordon M. Conable Award Jury
- Highsmith Library Innovation Award Jury
- Polaris Innovation in Technology John Iliff Award Jury
- Romance Writers of America Library Grant Jury
Advisory Groups
- Intellectual Freedom Advisory Group
- Charge: To advise the PLA Board of Directors on relevant issues or areas of practice under current review.
- Legislative Advisory Group
- Charge: To advise the PLA Board of Directors on relevant issues or areas of practice under current review.
Task Forces
- Endowment Task Force 2008-Present
- Charge: To develop a plan to increase donations to the PLA endowment.
- Every Child Ready to Read Evaluation Task Force 2007-Present
- Charge: To serve to evaluate the impact of the Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR) initiative. The seven (7) member task force will be comprised of the three (3) initiators of the ECRR Evaluation Proposal and up to two (2) representatives from both PLA and ALSC. The responsibilities of the task force includes developing an RFP for the selection of research partners and guiding the project toward goals or benchmarks as outlined in the ECRR evaluation proposal. The Task Force will convene and moderate a stakeholders' audio conference, solicit input from practitioners and provide recommendations regarding next steps based on impact evaluation results, review of current research in the field of early literacy, and stakeholder/practitioner input.
- Leadership Task Force 2007-Present
- Charge: To facilitate communication within PLA and to transmit essential organizational information to PLA leadership through a formal orientation for all Division officers and committee members.
PLA’s Representative and Liaison Positions
ALA Advocacy Coordinating GroupALA Chapter Relations Committee
ALA Committee on Legislation Ad-Hoc Subcommittee on E-Government Services
ALA International Relations Committee
ALA Library Education Assembly
ALA Literacy Assembly
ALA Membership Promotion Task Force
ALA Professional Ethics Committee
ALA Recruitment Assembly
ALA Rural Native, Tribal Libraries Committee
ALA Website Advisory Committee
PLA Representative to the ALTA Board of Directors