Web Content Working Group

Charge and Work

The group will work with PLA staff and committees to ensure that content on the PLA website is responsive to the needs of public librarians and addresses priorities set forth in the PLA Strategic Plan. The committee will be charged to:

1. monitor the PLA website on an ongoing basis to ensure that the content is timely, accurate, relevant, and complete;
2. solicit new content from PLA units, members, and staff, and work collaboratively with PLA staff, who will update the website according to an agreed upon timetable and deadlines;
3. create and implement an annual plan of activities with a timetable that will result in an increase in member use of and the continued improvement and timeliness of the website and other related PLA and ALA electronic communications tools, products, and services;
4. support PLA members in their efforts to use ALA Connect;
5. recommend strategies, policies, guidelines, and procedures to the PLA Board for the website and for the effective use of new technology tools; and
6. advocate for accessibility in the development and use of technology tools so that members of all abilities may use them.

The Web Content Working Group chair will serve as the PLA representative to the ALA Website Advisory Committee (WAC), communicating Board recommendations for improvements to the ALA website and advising the Board on activities of the WAC.

Deliverables and outcomes:

• Review and revise the Committee's charge
• Develop a process to keep the website updated
• Determine what sections are relevant to PLA members (e.g. Professional Tools) by analyzing usage
• Increase the number of public libraries using the PLA website by cultivating relevant and useful information from PLA units, members, and staff, and work collaboratively with PLA staff, who will update the website according to an agreed upon timetable and deadlines
• Create an annual plan to increase website traffic and usage
• Maintain a website that members use as their first choice for PLA information

Expected time commitment:

• Attend ALA Midwinter Meeting and ALA Annual Conference (6–8 hours/year plus travel time)
• Attend virtual meetings (3–6 hours/year)
• Create and review web content (3–6 hours/year)
• Review and respond to emails and ALA Connect messages (10–12 hours/year)

Desired skills, knowledge, or experience:

• Interest in creating website content
• Ability to search the internet for relevant content on a desired subject or topic
• Familiarity in evaluating website usage and interpreting and using data for decision-making knowledge of current library trends