At the 2009 ALA Midwinter Meeting, the ALA Committee on Organization (COO) created the Guidelines for Membership Initiative Groups. These Guidelines were revised by COO at the 2015 ALA Annual Conference to reflect a clarification made to the MIG renewal policy in the ALA Policy Manual at the 2014 ALA Annual Conference (Formerly, MIGs in existence for three years could only petition for one three-year renewal. Now, there is no limit on the number of times a MIG can petition for a three-year renewal.)
Definition
A Membership Initiative Group (MIG) is a short-term, renewable organizational vehicle that provides for prompt, organized membership activities on topical issues of mutual interest. While possibly overlapping with other ALA units for brief times, a MIG may not assume any of the delegated responsibilities of said units that are currently being carried out by said units, nor may a MIG speak for the Association.
Formation
A group of ALA members, having identified their common concern for some aspect of librarianship, shall present the following information to the ALA Committee on Organization:
- A statement of purpose.
- A petition signed by at least 100 ALA members in good standing.
- The signatures and addresses of designated organizers.
The COO chair shall acknowledge receipt of the required documentation, with a copy to the ALA Member Programs and Services. After verification of the signatures on the petition, COO shall approve or disapprove the establishment of the MIG. This action shall be reported to Council in the COO report at the next conference.
The ALA Conference Services Office shall acknowledge receipt of notification and make every effort to accommodate the space/time/place needs of the MIG.
A MIG may hold meetings and programs. During this time, the Association shall provide meeting space, a listing in the Handbook of Organization, inclusion in conference schedules, and a contact person at Headquarters designated by the Executive Director to provide parliamentary counseling. In addition, the MIG may request small support items, either from Headquarters or as budgetary requests to BARC. All other MIG activities will be handled by the group.
Renewals
Once established, a MIG may operate for three years at which point it may do one of the following:
- Re-petition for another three- year term;
- Request another place within the ALA structure by following the procedures for establishing that type of group;
- Request the ALA COO to disband it.
Reports
A Membership Initiative Group shall provide an annual report of activities to the ALA Committee on Organization by August 1 of each year or more often if requested.