Find us on FacebookAkLA Handbook Section I:2
Mission Statement
Updated: Wednesday, 14-Jul-2010 15:23:16 MDT
- The Alaska Library Association provides leadership and advocacy for the educational and political concerns of the library community in Alaska.
- The Alaska Library Association encourages cooperation among libraries and related groups, safeguards intellectual freedom, and promotes access to information for all Alaskans.
- The Alaska Library Association values the diversity of its members who represent all types of libraries.
- The Alaska Library Association values the importance members place on multi type library cooperation. This cohesiveness is a major strength of the Association.
- The Alaska Library Association values professional growth through continuing education.
- The Alaska Library Association values promotion and protection of libraries through the political process.
- The Alaska Library Association believes in the right of free access to all types of information and ideas for individuals and works to safeguard intellectual freedom that is essential to democracy and our system of government.
Strategic Plan Goals 2002-2008 - DRAFT revisions
Goal 1: By 2008, AkLA will be recognized as a resource and advocate for its members as they work to safeguard intellectual freedom, privacy, access to government information, intellectual property, public services and full funding for libraries in Alaska.
Action: Be a catalyst for political advocacy for total membership
- Create an advocacy page on AkLA’s website with advocacy information and links to ALA and specific legislature and congressional sites with contact information.—Lynn Shepherd, Erin Gratz and Elise Tomlinson—Underway & Ongoing
Action: Expand AkLA’s website links to include intellectual freedom, privacy, access to government information, intellectual property, public services and full funding for Alaska’s libraries. Elise Tomlinson with assistance from Ecouncil, Roundtables, Committees, etc – Ongoing
Action: Cooperate with other Alaska associations, such as ACLU, AFN, AML, on political activities of common concern.
- Join ACLU – June Pinell-Stephens donated membership – Done
- Contact Kevin Ritchie (AML) to express interest in cooperative efforts. – Kay Shelton – December 2005
Action: Attend conferences such as Alaska Municipal League, Alaska Associations of School Boards, League of Women Voters, AFN, Grand Camp ( Juneau), and Celebration-Tlingit/Haida ( Juneau).
- Research costs of traveling display case – David Ongley – Nov 2005
- Obtain funds for display case. – Budget or grant – January 2006
- Develop a traveling display that can be used at conferences for advocacy and publicity. Robin Hanson and Jane Fuerstenau – DATE?
- Develop a calendar for traveling display use – Robin and Jane – Ongoing
Action: Create a Speaker’s Bureau, with speakers and presentations available on statewide databases, the “library as place,” developing partnerships, VILDA, and other resources and topics of importance.
- Develop a list of potential speakers and contact them to ascertain their willingness to be in a Speaker’s Bureau. – Chapter/Roundtable Chairs & Email to membership – January 2006 and ongoing
- Post speaker’s on website. – Webmaster—Ongoing
Goal 2 : By 2008, AkLA will be a leader in facilitating cooperation, communication, and resource sharing among all types of libraries in Alaska.
Action: Action (brought forward from 1997 strategic plan): AkLA and the Alaska State Library will coordinate on placing and maintaining a current directory of Alaskan libraries on the Web. - Ongoing
Action: Develop and implement a statewide library initiative in cooperation with the Rasmuson Foundation.
Action: Survey members on Continuing Education needs when appropriate. – CE Committee – Ongoing (Survey completed in 2004-05.)
Action: Through ALIEN, provide a listing of members’ expertise, experience and willingness to act as mentors. (“ALIEN – Alaska Library Information and Experience Network.”)
- Ecouncil members sign up on ALIEN. – All members – December 2005
- Add information about ALIEN to membership form – Mary Jennings and Patty Linville – December 2005
Action: Statewide cooperative collection development agreement posted on AkLA website. – Done.
Action: Develop a plan for the implementation of the Culturally Responsive Guidelines by the end of 2007.
- Native Issues Roundtable establishes a temporary committee to draft plan – March 2006
- Draft plan submitted to Ecouncil for approval – Committee – September 2006
Action: Establish specific listserves for specific groups as needed.
- Develop list of 12 BLOG topics each year – November – Ongoing
- Initiate theme-based BLOG discussions – 1 per month – December 2005 – Ongoing
- Be an active participant in the statewide initiative regarding the formation of the Alaska Library Network (ALN). – Valerie, Linda W. & Ann – Dec 05 – May 06
Goal 3: By 2008, AkLA will fully represent all types of library staff in Alaskan libraries by increasing participation in the organization through:
Action: Action (brought forward from 1997 strategic plan): AkLA and the Alaska State Library will coordinate on placing and maintaining a current directory of Alaskan libraries on the Web. - Ongoing
- serving as the collegial focal point for the greater library community; and
- fostering the recruitment, training, and mentoring of new library personnel.
Action: Provide more training for library directors without a MLS.
Action: Create mentoring situations for emerging and inexperienced librarians.
Action: Add mentor/mentee options to AkLA membership application – Mary Jennings & Patty Linville – ASAP
Action: Post PowerPoint presentation regarding being a mentor on ALIEN web page – Linda Wynne, Mary Jennings (review presentation), Elise Tomlinson – December 2005
Action: Encourage members’ participation in ALIEN.
- Each Ecouncil member recruits at least one member willing to add their name to the ALIEN database – December – Annually
Action: Work with Alaska State Library to identify new library staff in Alaska and make personal contact to welcome them and encourage their membership in AkLA. – Membership Committee Chair – Ongoing
Action: Provide stipends to paraprofessionals to attend AkLA conference. – Include in budget - Annually
Action: Send new membership brochure to all libraries. – Executive Officer - Annually
Action: Continue to support AkLA scholarship for MLS and certified school librarian programs. – Scholarship Committee – Annually
Action: Continue to work with AkASL on membership. –AkASL & Membership committee – Ongoing
Goal 4 : By 2008, AkLA will assess the continuing education and training needs of all its members and address those needs through a variety of delivery methods.
Action: (brought forward from 1997 strategic plan): AkLA will provide at least one annual continuing education event held outside of conference time and that, if possible, this event will be replicated in different parts of the state.
- Research possibility of using webcast for CE. – WHO – DATE?
Action: Continue to plan and implement paraprofessional and technical support staff training programs. – CE Committee – Ongoing
Action: Continue to publicize PNLA Leadership Institutes to all library staff and provide some financial support to the Leadership Institute. Encourage mentor involvement. – Ecouncil – Bi-annually
Action: Provide continuing education opportunities with credit for school librarians. – CE Committee and AkASL – Ongoing
Action: Encourage roundtables to use OPAL, email and online communities, as well as their annual meeting at conferences, for communications and meetings. – HOW – DATE?
Action: Action: Encourage committees to meet outside of conference using OPAL, email, and online communities. – HOW – DATE?
Action: Request committees to prepare poster sessions for conference. – President – Annually by January
Goal 5 : By 2008, AkLA will provide a vibrant and effective public relations program that:
- promotes the services and programs of all types of libraries and the library profession itself; and
- emphasizes the benefits of full-time qualified librarians in school, public, academic, and special libraries; and
- educates and enlightens Alaskans on the role of librarians and the value of libraries in their daily lives; and
- educates officials on the role of librarians and the value of libraries.
Action: Develop PR materials that succinctly articulate what librarians do to safeguard intellectual freedom, privacy, and access to government information and distribute them in a variety of formats.
- Apply for funding for display case, ALA’s CD of PR templates, printing of brochures, membership packets and other publicity materials – Ann – 2006
- Purchase materials when funds are available – Mary Jennings – Ongoing
- Inform members that PR can be created for them using templates – Mary Jennings – March 2006
Action: Continue to promote and provide speakers to school administrators’ meetings.
Action: Continue to share information with school administrators to increase their understanding of the benefit of library media centers.
Action: Promote membership in the Association (incentive for first time membership, more comprehensive program of encouragement for members to promote; provide other incentives) Are we providing incentives?
Action: Develop and distribute welcome wagon packet. – WHO? WHEN?
Action: Create a brochure promoting Alaskan libraries which includes Alaska based statistics –Lynn Shepherd and Mary Jennings – ASAP
Action: Work with the Alaska State Library to develop information about the value of libraries.
- disseminate information to membership
- post on website,
- provide links to statistics information.
Action: Purchase ALA CD with templates so that Executive Officer can develop materials with a local twist for members. – Budget/grant – January 2006
DRAFT of Revisions -- September 24-25, 2005 with corrections from November 2005 teleconference