ALA Chapter Partnership Fact Sheet

ALA and Chapters currently interact through a variety of activities and services. See also ALA Chapters: Frequently Asked Questions.

Membership Benefits

Chapters pay the lowest organization rate ($150) to be a member of ALA (see ALA and Chapter Relationship).|
Each State Chapter selects one of their members to represent the library community in their state on ALA Council.
Every Chapter receives a subscription to American Libraries magazine, and 10% discounts on ALA books.
Chapters are able to take advantage of service discount programs ALA offers to organization members. The current services are DriveSavers Data Recovery, First National Merchant Services for credit card processing, 4imprint promotional merchandise.
Chapters are also able to receive free mailing lists of ALA members in their state or region.
ALA has an agreement for use of the Webinar tool OPAL.
ALA has an Online Community Space called ALA Connect (at http://connect.ala.org/).

Each State Chapter has a councilor on ALA Council.
The Chapter Relations Office provides a webpage of resources for the Chapter Councilor that includes a job description and other information to prepare them to serve.
ALA also provides a general orientation for new Councilors at Midwinter followed by a short orientation specifically for Chapter Councilors, hosted by a Chapter Councilor.

For 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. Each program usually attracts 20-25 attendees as some participants are able to attend either a Midwinter or an Annual. ALA has also, on an irregular basis, provided a program for Chapters on a specific association management area, such as member development.
ALA with its credentialing programs for Public Library Management and Support Staff provide an opportunity for Chapters to create courses for these programs.

ALA has an Office for Library Advocacy.
ALA has I Love Libraries, its website for the public, designed to keep America informed about what's happening in today's libraries, which are found in public, school, academic, corporate and institutional settings.
ALA currently provides support for all state chapters (and DC) to set up their own Capwiz Legislative Action Center and participate in the Capwiz affiliate program. See Legislation and Advocacy.

Since 2000 a number of Chapters have partnered with ALA to offer joint memberships. The majority of these are joint student memberships (19), and a smaller number of joint support staff memberships (6)

ALA leaders and staff are available to participate at Chapter Conferences to provide presentations and programs. Chapters wishing to invite an ALA President, President-elect, or Executive Director may do so directly or through the Chapter Relations Office.
ALA leaders have travel budgets to attend conferences. If the Chapter is able to provide some support (complimentary hotel rooms, ticketed meals, etc) that is appreciated. ALA staff also have some resources to travel to do programs and presentations at Chapter Conferences. Please feel free to contact specific staff directly as well.

Established by the ALA Council upon recommendation of the ALA Executive Board on January 11, 1967. Functions revised in January, 1982. Size of committee revised at 1998 Midwinter Meeting in Council action. Committee, therefore, now consists of eleven members. Chairperson appointed annually.
The purpose of the Chapter Relations Committee (CRC) is to develop and recognize Chapters as integral components of ALA; to encourage discussion, activities and programs that support the mutual interests of ALA and the Chapters; to advise when requested on proposals and actions of other ALA units that may affect Chapters; to provide a forum wherein Chapters can share ideas and concerns of common interest and identify common needs and goals; to communicate these Chapter needs and goals to ALA and ALA goals, programs and priorities to the Chapters; to encourage and maintain a cooperative and supportive relationship among ALA, its units, and the Chapters; to formulate and review periodically requirements for Chapter status; and to serve as an advisory committee to the Chapter Relations Office.

Chapters are represented in ALA through Chapter Councilors, the Chapter Relations Committee, and the Chapter Relations Office. The Chapter Councilors represents each state on policy making.
The Chapter Relations Committee is an ALA Committee, so it does not report directly to Council, but encourages discussion, activities and programs that support the mutual interests of ALA and the Chapters; advises on actions of other ALA units that may affect Chapters; provides a forum wherein Chapters can share ideas and concerns of common interest and identify common needs and goals; communicates these Chapter needs and goals to ALA and ALA goals, programs.
The Chapter Relations Office provides the staff support for the services and activities. It also coordinates relationship between ALA and the ALA Student Chapters.
The Chapter Relations Office provides a website and a Chapters Resource wiki. See also Chapters Social Networking.