Tip Sheet #23
Duties of an ACRL Section Chair
Sections are groups of twenty-five or more ACRL members that represent a field of activity in academic librarianship within the scope of ACRL’s mission. Sections are established by action of the ACRL Board of Directors, and, as such, may take positions on issues in the profession only with the approval of the Board. Sections are primarily responsible for providing the programmatic content within ACRL for the specific area of activity they represent. Currently, there are 17 sections representing a wide range of interests in the field of academic and research librarianship.
Section Governance Procedures
All sections have procedures that govern their activities and procedures. Sections may choose to review their governance procedures periodically and determine if they should be amended. Consult Article XV, Section 3: Communities of Practice Governing Procedures of the ACRL Bylaws for more information.
Outline of ACRL Section Chair Duties
The term of a section chair begins after the Annual Conference (following his/her term as vice-chair/chair-elect) and ends after the next Annual Conference (July-June).
- Serves as an officer of the section and assists in advancing the goals and objectives of the section in accordance with the ACRL strategic plan.
- Oversees the development, implementation and reporting of the section’s contribution to, and support of, the ACRL strategic plan.
- Chairs all meetings of the section executive committee at Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conferences.
- Establishes or dissolves both special and standing committees with the approval of the executive committee.
- Attends meetings of section committees where possible.
- Oversees section program at Annual Conference; chairs annual meeting of section which may follow, precede, or be separate from the program.
- Meets deadlines for requests for payment and reimbursement.
- Schedules all of the section’s committee meetings and programs for Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference after consulting committee chairs. Submits online meeting request forms for section committees and programs by announced deadlines.
- Submit reports to ACRL staff on section activities for distribution to the Board of Directors.
- Responds to inquiries from members and non-members regarding section activities.
- Fills committee vacancies occurring during term in office.
- Represents the section at the division level. According to ALA policy, only divisions can speak for the association in their areas of responsibility. Positions adopted at the section level should be approved by the ACRL Board.
- Arranges to have minutes taken for each meeting, and provide copies to ACRL staff. In lieu of minutes, a Meeting Highlights form may be submitted.
- Conducts all meetings in accordance with ALA’s "Open meetings" policy: "All meetings of the American Library Association and its units are open to all members of the press. Registration requirements apply. Closed meetings may be held only for the discussion of matters affecting the privacy of individuals or institutions." Source: ALA Policy 7.4.3
- Attends and participates in ACRL Leadership Council sessions (usually held Friday afternoons at the ALA Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conferences).
- Co-represents the section (with the section vice-chair/chair-elect) at Sections Council (usually held Friday afternoons at the ALA Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference).