About the California Library Association
Overview of CLA
The California Library Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization, established in 1895 under the title of "Library Association of Central California," and lead by its first President, J.C. Rowell from the University of California. Through the leadership of the ninety-eight Presidents that followed, CLA has enjoyed a rich and memorable history. The Association's Annual Conferences have occurred since 1897, and early meetings were hosted by the cities of San Francisco, Redlands, Oakland, Long Beach, Lake Tahoe, Pasadena and Santa Barbara, among others. In 1906, the organization changed its name to the California Library Association.
Currently, CLA has nearly 3,000 Individual, Business, and Institutional members. Individual members include librarians, library employees, library students, friends group members, trustees, retirees as well as members of the general public who wish to support California libraries. CLA Business members represent a wide range of library-supporting businesses, whereas Institutional members include library institutions and systems who support the association's advocacy programs.
Annually, CLA provides professional development and advocacy support for its members and the California library community at large. Additionally, CLA supports the administration of the California Summer Reading Program as well as further summer enrichment programs funded by the David and Lucille Packard Foundation.
Leadership Manual
- A Brief History of CLA (11k)
- Past CLA Presidents (26k)
- Bylaws (64k)
- CLA Standing Rules (40k)
- Financial Handbook (112k)
- Partnership & Sponsorship Policy
- CLA's Communication Tools (510k)
- Expense Reimbursement Form (23k)
- Committee Annual Report Form
- CLA Request for Agenda Item
- CLA's Response to CIPA Decision
- CLA Calendar of Events
Transition
Leadership
The Board of Directors, Interest Group Officers, and Committee Chairs are all listed on CLA's website. For current committee rosters, visit the CLA Online Membership Directory and search by committee.
Governance
CLA is governed by the Board of Directors, whose members are responsible for setting both interim and broad policy of the association consistent with existing mandates and policies. Additionally, the CLA Board of Directors assist in the review of financial reports and help plan the general direction of the Association.
The CLA Bylaws and the CLA Standing Rules are the formal documents that guide all association activities. CLA has policies that guide program and financial activities, as well.
Committees
A number of committees are organized to address issues that affect the CLA organization, its valued members, and the library community at large. Committee member composition seeks to balance representation by type of library, experience relevant to committee's charge, new and veteran CLA members, ethnicity and gender. Generally, the current CLA President appoints members to committees following their appointment at the Annual Conference in November.
Standing Committees
Standing Committees are permanent fixtures within the CLA Organizational Structure. The roles, functions, and existence of these committees can only be adjusted with changes to the CLA Bylaws, as voted by all Voting Members of the Association.
- Finance - Recommends an annual budget for CLA and considers all matters of a financial nature that are referred to the committee. The CLA Finance Committee consists of seven members who serve three-year staggered terms.
- Leadership Development - The Leadership Development Committee consists of 10 members including the CLA Immediate Past President, who will hold the Chair position for the duration of their one-year term. The remaining nine members serve a three-year staggered terms and are appointed by the CLA Immediate Past President.
Working Committees
The roles, functions, and activities of Working Committees are reviewed and renewed on an annual basis by the CLA President and the Board of Directors. Below is a list of current Working Committees within the Association:
- Advocacy & Legislation
- Awardss - Responsible for evaluating candidates and selecting winners for CLA's multiple awards of recognition.
- Conference Planning - Coordinates program selection and activities for CLA's Annual Conference. As with most CLA Committees, the Conference Planning Committee Chair is selected annually by the CLA President.
- Intellectual Freedom - Creates an awareness of the issues of intellectual freedom, investigates any controversial issue, provides resources for handling problems and prepares recommendations.
- Organization & Bylaws - Reviews the duties of officers; reviews the formation, charges and dissolution of Committees, Interest Groups and other components of CLA. Makes recommendations for any needed revisions in the CLA Bylaws.
- Scholarship - Solicits applications from students pursuing a library masters degree and chooses recipients for the both the CLA Begun Scholarship as well as the CLA Scholarship for Minority Students in Memory of Edna Yelland.
Interest Groups
CLA members have an opportunity to network with others who share their interests through participation in special Interest Groups, formerly called sections and round tables.
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CLA Interest Groups include:
- Academic - Provides a forum for the interests and concerns of anyone employed by or interested in academic libraries.
- African American Librarians - Supports efforts to eradicate inequities that affect minorities, functions as an ombudsman for African American librarians, promotes library and information services to African Americans, evaluates the quality of published materials concerning African Americans.
- Chinese American Librarians - Promotes better communication among Chinese American librarians, and serves as a discussion forum for professional concerns among Chinese American librarians.
- Collection Development - Provides a forum for the exchange of information, ideas, and experiences on any aspect of collection development and of collection management.
- Literacy - Advances the practice and support of literacy activities in libraries.
- Library Accessibility - Provides a forum for support and assistance to library professionals serving inmates; disabled community; shut-ins; bookmobile patrons; or any population restricted by physical or geographical barriers.
- Library History - Generates interest in and appreciation of the roles Californians played in the development of the American library as a civic, cultural and educational institution, and in the establishment of librarianship and information science as recognized professions.
- Marketing and Public Relations - Recognizes critical role of marketing and public relations in the success and survival of libraries and acknowledges the need to increase visibility.
- Management - Promotes excellence in the management, administration and governance of libraries in California.
- Public Library - Provides a forum for the interests and concerns of anyone employed by or interested in public libraries. Annually sponsors Award for Excellence as a Public Librarian.
- Reference - Stimulates and promotes the education and growth of reference and information personnel and supports the development of user-oriented library services.
- Student - Provides formal and informal networking and professional development opportunities for current and recent library students.
- Technical Services
- Youth Servicess - Provides a forum for all members interested in issues related to staff development and other children's services and young adult library services.