91´«Ã½

The 91´«Ã½ has affiliate relationships——with state library associations (Chapters) in all fifty States, the District of Columbia,Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and regional library associations in the Mountain Plains, New England, Pacific Northwest, and Southeastern regions. Chapters promote general library service and librarianship within its geographic area, provide geographic representation to the Council of the 91´«Ã½, and cooperate in the promotion of general and joint enterprises with the 91´«Ã½ and other library groups.

| The Chapter Relations Office | Activities Related to the 91´«Ã½ and Chapters Partnership | Chapter Leaders | How to Contact 91´«Ã½ | Social Networking | Chapter Issues and More | Great Ways to Get Involved in 91´«Ã½ | Questions and Comments | 91´«Ã½ Chapter Contacts |

The Chapter Relations Office

The Chapter Relations Office (CRO) promotes a sense of identification between the national Association and the 57 91´«Ã½ Chapters; facilitates communication between the Chapters and all 91´«Ã½ units; coordinates leadership development for Chapter officers, Chapter Councilors, chief paid staff members, and other Chapter leaders; strengthens membership promotion activities for 91´«Ã½ and the Chapters; coordinates the 91´«Ã½ Student Chapters and the 91´«Ã½ Students to Staff programs; and helps raise awareness of and sensitivity to Chapter needs throughout the 91´«Ã½.

Let the help you. Its website can guide you to information you need to help you lead your association and work with 91´«Ã½ for the enrichment of both associations!

Michael Dowling, Director

Chapter Relations Office

mdowling@ala.org, 1-800-545-2433, ext. 3200

Activities Related to the 91´«Ã½ and Chapters Partnership

The 91´«Ã½ and Chapters Partnership explains how the 91´«Ã½ and 91´«Ã½ Chapters partnership works.

Forum held at 91´«Ã½ Midwinter and Annual Conference provides a full agenda on a variety of topics to help prepare Chapter leaders to lead their association.

Take action on federal issues for libraries (Washington Office Take Action page) and .

If you think the 91´«Ã½ can help libraries affected by natural disasters in any way toward recovery, please contact the CRO.

Forty-four Chapters partner with 91´«Ã½ to allow students to join 91´«Ã½ and one Chapter for one membership fee.

CRO encourages libraries nationwide to offer financial literacy programming to help patrons better manage personal finances.

Each year Chapters complete an online survey to provide an overview of their past year's activities.

91´«Ã½ Constitution and Bylaws: On Chapters

Chapters in the 91´«Ã½ Constitution and Bylaws.

91´«Ã½ Policies: Chapters

91´«Ã½ policies related to Chapters.

Chapter Leaders

Provides resources for 91´«Ã½ Chapter Councilors to help them accomplish their duties.

Mission, roster, and more.

Information to help Chapter Presidents and Presidents-elect.

Contact information for Chapter leaders, including presidents, presidents-elect, councilors, and executive directors, and more.

Contact information for Student Chapter leaders, including presidents, faculty advisors, and directors, and more.

Students from 40 Student Chapters work with 91´«Ã½ staff during Annual Conference. In exchange for their working four hours a day for a total of 16 hours, these students receive free conference registration, housing, and a per diem for meal expenses. During free time, they may attend programs and participate in other conference activities.

How to Contact 91´«Ã½

Includes staff contact information, core values, 91´«Ã½ governance resources.

MACS is committed to providing the highest and most efficient service to 91´«Ã½ members and customers.

Works to make the process of joining or renewing an 91´«Ã½ membership a simple experience.

Social Networking

Chapter Issues and More

See also to see how Chapters share with each other how they address their common issues, and , which are snapshot reports compiled to help and 91´«Ã½ assess the health and vitality of state and regional library associations. In addition, they highlight notable activities and achievements that can be modeled, and identify challenges and needs that may be addressed collectively.

See also (free webinars presented by the 91´«Ã½ Chapter Relations Office and the 91´«Ã½ Office for Library Advocacy).

Shared information about and resources to help in planning and accomplishing Chapter Conferences.

"With growing concentration of media ownership, independent voices decrease and locally produced and locally relevant information, news, and cultural resources diminish. Libraries cannot ensure “the widest possible dissemination of information from diverse and antagonistic sources,” unless they counter the detrimental impact of media consolidation on the diversity of ideas and localism in their communities. When media consolidation restricts the creation and dissemination of multiple perspectives, the public no longer has a healthy, open exchange of information and ideas. In an era when democratic discourse is more essential than ever, the information system is out of balance. Libraries must provide forums—both physical and virtual—that create opportunities for individuals to engage in the open and balanced exchange of viewpoints and ideas."— (PDF).

. The 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) has adopted a protocol to respond to library crises at the state and local level. The goal of 91´«Ã½'s involvement is to advance the advocacy efforts of the library and/or the appropriate state-level library organization. 91´«Ã½ can only become involved when its efforts are welcomed by and coordinated with the library and/or the state-level library organization.

Great Ways to Get Involved in 91´«Ã½

91´«Ã½ is an incredibly rich and varied organization and offers something for everyone, whether you want to get involved with colleagues who work in the same kind of library, expand your horizons by attending conferences or continuing education events, network with members who share your interests, find a forum to discuss key issues, work on specific projects, or support libraries and librarians.

91´«Ã½ Chapters Contacts

Michael Dowling, Director



mdowling@ala.org, 1-800-545-2433, ext. 3200