Volunteer for an ACRL Committee

Are you looking for ways to expand your professional network and contribute to ACRL? Committee volunteers help shape ACRL by advancing its strategic plan and influencing the direction of academic and research librarianship. Serving on a committee is one of the best ways to become involved and make an impact on the profession. If you’d like to become more engaged, I invite you to volunteer to serve on a 2012–13 division or section committee.

Though I could tell you why I think it’s highly beneficial to volunteer for a committee or division, listen instead to what your colleagues say. In focus groups held at the ACRL 2011 conference, current committee members described their experience “as the single greatest value of membership” and the way to contribute to academic and research librarianship by influencing the issues that matter.

If you want to give back to the profession by helping ACRL achieve its strategic goals, please consider volunteering to serve on a committee: the process for doing so is much improved. I believe the rewards of committee participation are well worth the time invested. Build your relationship with ACRL and your fellow academic librarians by choosing to volunteer. The ideas you share can make a difference.

Steven Bell

ACRL Vice-President/President-Elect

 

The link to the volunteer form is included at the end of this page.

Rewards of volunteering

Volunteers benefit by:

  • Building ties with academic and research librarians around the country,
  • enhancing their leadership abilities through consensus building and project management,
  • sharing their experience with colleagues,
  • developing new expertise or updating knowledge in a current specialization, and
  • advancing the work of the association and the profession.

Volunteer requirements

Certain criteria must be met in order to serve on an ACRL committee. Volunteers must:

  • be a member of ALA and ACRL for the duration of the appointment,
  • be willing and able to participate in the activities of the committee, support its mission or concern, and carry out assignments in a timely manner, and
  • submit an electronic appointment acceptance form.

 Please limit your selections to a maximum of three committees, not including editorial boards.

Additionally, committee members should be aware of ACRL's Conflict of Interest Policy, which can be seen in the ACRL Guide to Policies and Procedures, chapter 12.3.

Appointment Process

Most of these appointments are made in the spring for terms beginning immediately after the ALA Annual Conference.

Division Committees: The Appointments Committee recommends to the president-elect of ACRL the names of members who might the vacancies. The vice-president/president-elect makes the final appointments for the committees. 

Editorial or Publication Advisory Boards: The editors or chairs of editorial or publication advisory boards recommend to the Publications Coordinating Committee individuals to fill vacancies. The Publications Coordinating Committee is responsible for approving appointment recommendations and the vice-president/president-elect extends the appointment offer.

Sections: Section vice-chairs appoint the members of section committees.

Deadline

The online volunteer form must be completed by February 15, 2012 for consideration for 2012-13 appointments.

Questions

For more information, please referer to Volunteer & Appointment Process and Member Service on ACRL Committees.

Questions about division-level appointments may be directed to the chair of the Appointments Committee, John H. Pollitz, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire McIntyre Library; email: pollitjh@uwec.edu.

Questions about section appointments may be directed to the vice-chair of each section. Full contact information is available from the section landing page.

Questions about the form may be directed to Megan Griffin at mgriffin@ala.org.

Volunteer Now

Considering volunteering for an ACRL Division-level Committee? Consider reviewing the Board's proposal to restructure Division-level Committees in 2012-2013 and FAQ page available here.