Committees and Communities of Practice (CoPs)

Reflecting the change in PLA's bylaws,  there will now be Communities of Practice (CoPs) in addition to Committees. CoPs will primarily meet online at PLAspace.org, which will launch in mid-August.

To be effective, PLA must have committed, active, and able committee members. If your committee wants to submit a an idea for a PLA product, please use the Product Proposal Form.  If you are interested in volunteering to serve on a committee, please go to the Committee Volunteer Form. Feel free to call the PLA office (1-800-545-2433, ext. 5PLA) for more information.

Below are a list of Standing Committees, Advisory Groups and Task Forces which are continuing under the revised PLA Bylaws.

Standing Committees:

• Awards Juries
  

• Advancement of Literacy Award
• Allie Beth Martin Award
• Baker & Taylor Entertainment AV Award
• Charlie Robinson Award
• DEMCO new Leaders Travel Award
• EBSCO Excellence in Small &/or Rural Public Library Service Award
• Polaris Innovation in Technology John Iliff Award
  
• Gordon M. Conable Award
• Highsmith Library Innovation Award
• Institutional Scholarships Award (2006 Pilot Project)

• Bylaws and Organization Committee

• Budget and Finance Committee
  

• Nominating Committee
  

• National Conference Committee

• Local Arrangements Subcommittee

• Program Committee
  

• National Conference Program Subcommittee
• Spring Symposium Program Subcommittee
• Annual Conference Program Subcommittees (2 based on year)
  

• Publications and Products Committees
  

• Pubic Libraries Advisory Committee
• Public Libraries Data Statistics (PLDS) Committee
• PLA Monographs work groups (as needed)
  

Advisory Groups:

• Intellectual Freedom
• Legislative
  

Special Committees (currently two):

• Every Child Ready to Read Evaluation Task Force 2007-2009
• Leadership Task Force 2007-2009

The following three committees will be initial transitioned to CoP’s in August 2008:

• Technology in Public Libraries
• Reader’s Advisory
• Cataloging Needs of Public Libraries
  

Below is a list of existing PLA committees which are able to be transitioned to CoP’s. (Current chairs are encouraged to identify with their committee interest in moving forward as a CoP; please notify Doug Dawson if interested in transitioning.)

• Practical Applications of Technology in Public Libraries - is combining with the "Technology in Public Libraries" CoP
  
• University Press Books for Public Libraries - is on the list to become a CoP
  
• Audiovisual
• Small and Medium Sized Libraries - is on the list to become a CoP
• Public Library Systems
• Metropolitan Libraries
• International Relations
• Rural Library Service - is on the list to become a CoP
• Basic Education and Literacy Resources and Services
• Public Policy in Libraries
• Research and Statistics
• Marketing Public Libraries
  

These two committees will be combined into the new "Public Library Services for Children" CoP:

• Services to Elementary School Age Children and Caregivers
• Services to Preschool Children and Their Caregivers
  

Below is a list of brand-new CoP’s:

• Branch Libraries
• Advocacy
• Public Library Services for Children
  

More Information on PLA's Communities of Practice