Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships Committee

Charge and Work

To inform and advise PLA Board and staff on strategic partnership opportunities with federal agencies and national organizations with shared values and alignment with public libraries; to develop and support strategic relationships that are beneficial to PLA and public libraries; to capture and share examples of strategic partnerships with public libraries that positively impact communities and advance national priorities; to serve as a liaison with the ALA Office for Library Advocacy, the ALA Washington Office, and others as needed to help ensure that the advocacy needs of public librarians are represented in their initiatives; to strengthen the advocacy skills of public librarians; to work with PLA Board and staff toward achieving PLA strategic planning goals.

Deliverables and outcomes:

  • Share and discuss effective practices for advancing advocacy and strategic partnership development for U.S. public libraries
  • Identify and help to prioritize strategic partnership opportunities with federal agencies and national organizations for recommendation to PLA and public libraries
  • Develop and help raise awareness of tools and resources that aid public libraries in their advocacy and strategic partnership development efforts
  • Increase PLA’s capacity to support public libraries in effective advocacy and strategic partnership development

Expected time commitment:

  • Attend ALA Annual Conference for an in-person committee meeting (1–2 hours/year plus travel time)
  • Attend virtual meetings (6–10 hours/year)
  • Review and respond to emails and ALA Connect messages (2–3 hours/year)

Desired skills, knowledge, or experience:

  • Passion for advocating on behalf of public libraries at the local, state and/or national levels
  • Experience leading advocacy campaigns and influencing elected and appointed officials, as well as other funders and champions, to support public library programs and services
  • Ability to represent the public library field and advocate for its needs to meet community priorities

Roster

Sara Charlton (Chair, July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019)
Sara Charlton (Member, July 1, 2017, to August 11, 2018)
Heather J. Cousin (Member, July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2019)
Mrs. Erin Eileen Gray (Member, July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2019)
Jennifer Leiani Griswold (Member, July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2020)
Mrs. Rachel A. Gut (Member, July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2020)
Ms. Martha Hutzel (Member, July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2019)
Misty Jones (Member, July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2020)
Carla M. Land (Member, July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2019)
Morgan Miller (Member, July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2019)
Julianne F. Rist (Member, July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2020)
Ms. Heidi Smith (Member, July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2020)
Larra Clark (Staff Liaison, February 1, 2018, to June 30, 2022)
Megan C. Stewart (Staff Liaison, July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2022)

Previous Year / Next Year

Displaying active committee roster as of 07/01/2018. Last retrieved on 04/18/2024. Members can log in and refresh the page to view full contact information for committee members.

Composition

The Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships Committee consists of a minimum of four members, up to 10 members, appointed from the membership at large and led by a chair.

Origin

Established at the request of the PLA Board. The committee was formerly known as the Legislation and Advocacy Committee, but was renamed and adopted a revised charge in spring 2018 by PLA Board vote.

Get Involved

To be a thriving, vibrant organization, PLA must have committed and active committee members. If you are interested in serving on a committee, please read and fill out the online volunteer form.

  • Volunteers are accepted on an ongoing basis.
  • Appointments are made by the PLA President and President-Elect, primarily in the spring.
  • Volunteers must be members of ALA and PLA.

Join the PLA Advocacy Interest Group on ALA Connect to stay up-to-date on these topics and connect with peers on similar issues. PLA personal membership is required to join.

Staff Liaison

Mary Hirsh
Deputy Director, Programs
312-280-5039
mhirsh@ala.org