Chapter Relations Office

Mission

The Chapter Relations Office (CRO) promotes a sense of identification between the national Association and the 57 ALA Chapters; facilitates communication between the Chapters and all ALA units (e.g., Chapter Answers, Chapter Issues, State of the Chapter Annual Report; Helping United States Libraries After Disasters), coordinates leadership development for Chapter officers (e.g., Chapter Leaders Forum), Chapter Councilors, chief paid staff members, and other Chapter leaders; strengthens membership promotion activities for ALA and the Chapters (e.g., joint membership program); coordinates the ALA Student Chapters and the ALA Student-to-Staff program and Money Smart Week; and helps raise awareness of and sensitivity to Chapter needs throughout the ALA. The interests of Chapters are represented within ALA by the Chapter Relations Committee (CRC) and the Chapter Relations Office (CRO). The CRC serves as an advisory committee to the CRO.

Like Chapters on Facebook, Follow CRO on Twitter, and find more social networking resources for Chapters.

How to Navigate This Site

Use the pods on the right-hand side (on this page and other CRO pages) to navigate to pages directly related to the ALA Chapter Relations Office, or vist the pages directly above. General questions are answered at Chapter Answers.

CRO Staff

Michael Dowling, Director
Chapter Relations Office
mdowling@ala.org, 1-800-545-2433, ext. 3200

Don Wood, Program Officer
Chapter Relations Office
dwood@ala.org, 1-800-545-2433, ext. 2429

Hot Topics

The Select ALA Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference Schedule for CRO and CRC meetings, events, and programs during these annual conferences. Be sure to use the ALA Conference Scheduler to create your own schedule so you don't miss any opportunity at the 2013 ALA Annual Conference!

State of the Chapter Reports (All State of the Chapter Reports) will help Chapters and ALA assess the health and vitality of state and regional library associations. It will help to highlight notable activities and achievements that can be modeled, and identify challenges and needs that may be addressed collectively.

Join your state library association (Chapter). You Need Your State Library Association!

Joint membership program. Student? Library Support Staff? Trustee? Join Your State Library Association and ALA for one low price! NEW: Join Online!

Meeting Schedules and Calendar

Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference Schedules

The Select ALA Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference Schedule for CRO and CRC meetings, events, and programs during these annual conferences.

If you are a Chapter leader, register for the Chapter Leaders Forum. For over 20 years the Chapter Relations Committee has provide an Orientation for Chapter Leaders Workshop, now called the Chapter Leaders Forum, for incoming Chapter leaders at each ALA Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference.

ALA Conference Planning Calendar

ALA’s Conference Planning Calendar includes chapter conferences. To have your ALA Chapter, ALA Affiliates, and Division Conferences, Institutes, or Workshops included in this calendar, please contact Don Wood, Chapter Relations Office, with the dates and location.

Communicating/Networking/Sharing

Chapter Social Networking and More

Links to ALA Connect and more can be found at Chapter social networking, including the ALA Chapters Facebook page.

E-lists, Change of Address, Comments/Questions

To subscribe to ALA e-lists, or to visit the e-list archives, visit the ALA Mailing Lists Service (SYMPA).
Please send any contact information changes related to your Chapter work to Don Wood, Chapter Relations Office.
If you have comments and questions regarding the Chapter Relations Office website, please contact Don Wood, Chapter Relations Office.

Advocacy and Projects

I Love Libraries

HTML Code to Create This I Love Libraries on Facebook Badge

I Love Libraries on Facebook

Advocacy

The Chapter Relations Office supports ALA's library advocacy efforts by tracking state and federal legislation affecting libraries and by working with the Office for Library Advocacy, the ALA Washington Office, I Love Libraries, other ALA units, and other groups. For links to resources and other information, visit CRO's Legislation and Advocacy page, which includes Take Action for Libraries and Save Libraries in Your State (which includes Helping U.S. Libraries after disasters).

ALA Student-to-Staff Program

The ALA Student-to-Staff program allows library students chosen by their schools to attend Annual Conference not only to register for events and attend programs but also to learn more about ALA by working for an ALA unit during conference.