Volunteer!
- Volunteer Form (332k)
- CLA Vice-President/President-Elect Position Description (22k)
- CLA Board Member Position Description(22k)
- CLA Committee Descriptions (145k)
Forms
- Vice President/President-Elect
- Board of Directors Member
- Standing Committees
- Working Committees
- How to Volunteer
What YOU can do in 2010 to help California libraries move forward!
The future of California libraries is in our hands. We need to be good ancestors by building strong foundations that support the future of libraries in California. One of the ways we can do this is by being engaged and involved in the California Library Association (CLA). CLA exists to encourage dialogue and participation from librarians, library staff, volunteers, and supporters alike from throughout the state that have different experiences, skill sets, and interests. Only by being a diverse organization that is both deep and broad can CLA build the future together!
The Leadership Development Committee will soon be reaching out to CLA's membership to create a slate of nominees for the 2010 elections. The Committee is looking for members passionate about California libraries who want to transform their passion into action for CLA. The Leadership Development Committee will not only be developing an election slate, but also identifying members who have passion and desire to make a difference and can bring their special skills to fill vacancies on the CLA Finance, Legislative and Leadership Development Committees. If you are interested in being considered, or want to nominate a passionate member, complete the Volunteer Form and email to Immediate Past President, Barbara Roberts at barbara.roberts@palmsprings-ca.gov or fax to 916-932-2209.
The nomination deadline has passed for Vice President/President-Elect and/or Board member (Friday, March 26, 2010). However, you may still submit an application to volunteer on a CLA Committee, but please submit this information by August 1, 2010.
Ignite your passion, push your boundaries and get involved!
Vice President/President-Elect
The Vice-President/ President elect services a one year term, then serves as President.
Role/Responsibility
The CLA Vice President/President Elect serves as a member of the Board of Directors and the Finance Committee. S/he assists the President and performs such duties delegated or assigned by the President of the Board of Directors. In the absence of the President, the VP performs the duties of the President. As a member of the Board, the VP has the responsibility to participate in forming policy, to support Board decisions, and to support membership in CLA and to act corporately.
Other Specific Duties
- Make suggestions to the Leadership Development Committee for Board candidates with proven leadership skills
- Prepare slate of new committee chairs and committee appointments for his or her Presidential year, may serve as parliamentarian, bylaws expert
- Serve as an active member of the Finance Committee and fund development for the Association
- Represent the Association in national, statewide and local forums as well as in the media
- Actively recruits Institutional, Business and Personal Memberships
Board of Directors Member
Board members are elected to staggered three-year terms.
Role/Responsibility
The CLA Board represents the interest of all California Libraries by advising and assisting the Association's participation in programs of statewide concern. Additionally, Board Members actively formulate CLA policy and legislative positions on state and local issues relevant to the library community and its stakeholders.
Through the ALA Councilor, the Board ensures that California’s interests are represented at the national level. Specifically, the Board provides input upon and coordinates mutual activities and programs between the CLA and the American Library Association.
In addition, the Board sets the Association’s goals in accordance with the CLA Strategic Plan. Furthermore, the Board sets policy, provides leadership for standing and working committees, as well as ensuring that all activities are executed within the confines of the Association’s mission, goals, priorities, and general resource allocation.
Members of the Board have the responsibility to participate in forming policy, to support Board decisions, to support membership in CLA and to act corporately.
Other Specific Duties of Board Members
- Make suggestions to the Nominating Committee for candidates for the Board who have displayed leadership skills
- Have proven interest and knowledge of library issues
- Have evidenced a commitment to the library community and to CLA
- Represent all types of diversity--for example, ethnic, geographic, gender, and library type
- Support efforts in their local institutions to incorporate topics and programs of state interest
- Promote a statewide focus at CLA’s Annual Conference and Meeting by attending CLA sponsored events and organizing, when possible, a session or an event
Below are a list of CLA committee volunteer opportunities for 2010-2011:
Standing Committees
- 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 - Identifies and develops future leaders for CLA, including potential Board of Director members as well as Committee volunteers for the Advocacy & Legislation Committee, Finance Committee, and the Leadership Development Committee. Furthermore, the Committee is responsible for selecting a slate of candidates for CLA’s Annual Election. The Leadership Development Committee is chaired by the Immediate Past President and consists of 9 members. serving three-year staggered terms.
Working Committees
Chairs and Committee are appointed by the CLA President
- Advocacy & Legislation - Monitors California library-related legislation and collaborates with CLA's lobbyists regarding support or opposition; collaborates in the planning and coordination of CLA’s Legislative Day and Days in the District; takes action, if needed, on legislation that impacts the association's ability to serve its members; and informs the Board of Directors at each meeting about legislative activity and the library community about legislative matters.
- Awards - Responsible for evaluating candidates and selecting winners for CLA's multiple awards of recognition: Beatty Award, California Young Reader Medal Award, PR Excellence, Member of the Year/Presidents Award, Award for Excellence, and the Zoia Horn Intellectual Freedom Award.
- Conference Planning - Coordinates program selection and activities for CLA's Annual Conference.
- 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 and makes recommendations for any needed revisions in the CLA Bylaws.
- Scholarship - Solicits applications from students pursuing a Masters of Library Science degree and awards the following scholarships: Begun Scholarship, Reference Services Press Fellowship and Edna Yelland Scholarship.
How to Volunteer
If you are interested in serving on a committee or running for a Board position, please complete the Volunteer Form and submit it to the CLA office. For more information, you may also contact CLA's Immediate Past President, Barbara Roberts at barbara.roberts@palmsprings-ca.gov. Please note that the deadline to submit nominations for Vice President/President-Elect and/or CLA Board Member is March 26, 2010. The deadline to submit applications for CLA Committees is August 1, 2010.