ACRL Government Relations Committee

Charge

Work with the ACRL Board and staff to formulate the ACRL legislative agenda seeking input from other ACRL committees and leaders. Assists the ACRL Board in efforts to incorporate the ACRL legislative agenda into the ALA legislative agenda. Serves in an advisory role to the ACRL Staff.

Roster

Hallie Pritchett (Chair, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024)
Ms. Kaitlyn L. Tanis (Vice-Chair, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024)
Ms. Lorely Ambriz (Member, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025)
Dan DeSanto (Member, July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024)
Gregory Laynor (Member, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025)
Ms. Natalie Eloisa Marquez (Member, July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024)
Dr. Vivienne J. McClendon (Member, July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024)
Maribel Pagan (Member, July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024)
Mr. H J. Pedelty (Member, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025)
Mr. Brett Spencer (Member, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025)
Dr. Kevin W. Walker (Member, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025)
Mrs. Kim Copenhaver (Ex-Officio Member, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024)
Ms. Kara M. Whatley (Board Liaison, July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024)
Ms. Allison Payne (Staff Liaison, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024)

Displaying active committee roster as of 03/19/2024. Last retrieved on 03/19/2024. Members can log in and refresh the page to view full contact information for committee members.

Composition

  • A minimum of five members (i.e. a chair, vice-chair, and three members)
  • Ex-officio members will include the Chapters Council Library Legislation Network Coordinator (appointed by Chapters Council)
  • Additional appointments at the discretion of the Vice-President/President-Elect and Appointments Committee
  • Since it is important that the vice-chair/chair be knowledgeable about the responsibilities and concerns of the committee, it is suggested that the committee vice-chair/chair be selected from the existing committee membership.

Specific Tasks

  • Recommend an ACRL legislative agenda to the Board before the Spring Executive Committee Meeting;
  • Keep the ACRL Board up to date on the activities and discussions of the ALA Committee on Legislation;
  • Monitor the Legislative Advocacy Plan and make suggestions for improvement as needed

Origin

The ACRL Board approved a revised charge for the Government Relations Committee in 1996. In 2005, the ACRL Board approved a revised charge that includes a revised statement on legislative agenda specifying the committee is "seeking formal input from the Scholarly Communications Committee, the Copyright Committee, and other committees and ACRL leaders as appropriate." The charge was also updated to say, "The Committee will monitor the Legislative Advocacy Plan and make suggestions for improvement as needed. In addition, the Committee will support the ACRL Government Relations Specialist to ensure success of that position Members of the GRC may be asked to write position papers expanding on Legislative Agenda items." In 2005, the Government Relations Committee was included as a component committee of the Advocacy Committee. In 2009, the charged was revised a second time to change the timing of the Legislative Agenda. It was also redefined as a stand-alone divisional committee when the coordinating committee was reclassified as a standard committee, with no coordinating committee umbrella structure.

Get Involved

Volunteers will need to complete the volunteer form. Committee service that begins July 1. More information, including volunteer deadlines and requirements, can be found on the ACRL volunteer site.

Staff Liaison

Allison Payne
Interim Executive Director
Association of College & Research Libraries
American Library Association
225 N. Michigan Ave., Ste 1300
Chicago, IL 60601-7616
Work: 312-280-2519
E-mail: apayne@ala.org