McGill University (Montreal, Quebec) creates ALA Student Chapter

For Immediate Release
Tue, 12/19/2017

Contact:

Don Wood

Program Officer

Chapter Relations Office

dwood@ala.org

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) is pleased to announce that the School of Information Studies, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, has created a new ALA student chapter.

Each ALA student chapter has its own character and purpose. All enhance students' ALA membership by providing leadership and programming opportunities on the campuses.

On Dec. 14, 2017, the McGill chapter became the 63rd ALA student chapter. Katherine Hanz, MLIS, library and information studies librarian at McGill, will serve as faculty advisor for the new student chapter.

“I was initially disappointed when I discovered we didn’t have an ALA student chapter at McGill University. After speaking with several other students, my disappointment turned into excitement as I recognized the wonderful opportunity we had to bring passionate students together from the School of Information Studies. The opportunities afforded by ALA will encourage students to get involved, grow professionally, and have their voices heard. We have such a great cohort of enthusiastic students, and I am excited to see where this momentum takes us,” said Christina Hilburger, student chapter co-president.

“While McGill has many impressive student associations, I felt an ALA student chapter could still have a place in the School of Information Studies. I hope this chapter can be a place where students interested in libraries can openly discuss issues in the field, create programs to benefit the community at large, and start an involvement with ALA that will hopefully last throughout their careers. There are so many opportunities available through ALA that I didn't want myself or any of my peers to miss out on,” said Carrie Hanson, student chapter co-president.

The first ALA Student Chapter was created in 1980 at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

ALA student members at the master's level and beyond are eligible to form official ALA student chapter groups at schools offering ALA-accredited programs of library and information services, or a master's degree with a specialty in school library media from an NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education)-accredited program.

Student chapters pay no fee to ALA. Now through Aug. 31, 2018, ALA student membership dues are $37; forty-four state chapters partner with ALA to allow students to join one of them and ALA for one low price of $40. Each ALA student member is entitled to all the regular ALA personal membership benefits at a substantially reduced dues rate. The student chapter may support its programs through fund-raising activities, dues paid to the student chapter group, or contributions from the school administration.

In addition, each student chapter is eligible to send one participant to the Student-to-Staff program held at ALA Annual Conference. In exchange for four hours of work per day, the students receive complimentary registration, housing, and a per diem.