Handbook

Job Description for Committee Chairs

In order to plan and implement activities that reflect the committee's function statement and the YALSA and ALA Strategic Plans, each chair must possess leadership and communication skills.

Qualification: ALA/YALSA Member

Reports to: President and Board

Management:

Develops short and long-range goals with the committee.
Schedules meetings through the YALSA office.
Attends Leadership Development for Committee Chairs at both conferences.
Attends YALSA programs, special events and the membership meeting at the Annual Conference.
Evaluates committee members on pre and post conference report forms.
Reports resignations and contact information changes of committee members to the President and the YALSA office.
Recommends committee members for reappointment.
Coordinates committee planned programs/publications/activities.
Submits Request for Payment forms with receipts for committee expenses.
Brings requests for action to the Board in person or in writing.
Reads the ALA Handbook of Organization and the YALSA Handbook with special attention to the Responsibilities of Committee Chairs section (IV. 3) to become familiar with YALSA policies and procedures.
Works on committee projects throughout the year.
Assigns special tasks to virtual members.
Appoints a regular committee member as mentor to a virtual member.
Informs members of the "right of first refusal" for publishing committee materials in the journal Young Adult Library Services. Clears contacts with vendors and requests to vendors with the YALSA office before an approach is made.

Communication:

Reports to the President and Board before and after each conference.
Communicates regularly (at least once a month) with committee members.
Sets up a mailing list for the committee or requests an electronic discussion list from the YALSA office.
Networks with other committee chairs to explore possible joint projects.
Reads all messages on YALSACOM.
Subscribes to YALSA-L.
Copies the YALSA office on all relevant communications.
Orients the incoming chair and passes on all files and materials at the end of the term and copies the YALSA office.
Special Responsibilities:
(Responsibilities specific to the individual committee should be listed here. E mails last year's chair for specific responsibilities. Asks the YALSA office for the previous chair's e-e mail addresses.

Timeline for Committee Chairs
YALSA has two appointment cycles-one in the spring and one in the fall. Chairs appointed in the spring begin the traditional ALA term after the Annual Conference. Fall appointments begin their term after the Midwinter Meeting. The two sets of dates reflect the two appointment cycles.

Spring/Fall	Accept appointments in a timely manner.
July/January	Attend the committee meeting(s) held at the conference before your terms begins.
July/January	Request materials from the previous chair.
August/February	Read materials about past activities and future plans.
August/February	Review YALSA Strategic Plan.
September/March	Set up a means of contacting your committee members electronically.
September/March	Contact committee members and get acquainted.
September/March	Appoint regular members to mentor virtual members if appropriate.
September/April	Plan activities for committee work and make assignments to complete before conference.
September/October	Request meetings for both Annual and Midwinter when notified by Conference Services and the YALSA office to do so. Send program information to the YALSA office when relevant.
May/December	Plan meeting agenda and send to committee members.
May/December	Complete Pre-Conference Report Form and transmit to the YALSA Office.
June/January	Attend the Leadership Development for Committee Chairs meetings at both Annual and Midwinter.
June/January	Meet with your committee at the Annual Conference and the Midwinter Meeting.
June/January	Contact the Program Clearinghouse Committee if you are planning a program. Fill out the necessary forms 18 months in advance.
June/January	Turn in lists, press releases, award winners, etc. to the YALSA Office before leaving the conference.
July/February	Complete the Post-conference Report Form and transmit to the YALSA Office.
July/February	Give the incoming chair materials you have collected to allow for continuity of the committee's work.