Membership Development

Mission

The primary mission of the Member Relations & Services team is to provide the highest and most efficient level of service to our members and customers. We are dedicated to making the membership and customer experience rewarding and seamless. We strive to offer the wide variety of information about ALA, its offices, divisions, round tables, products and services in a member friendly, welcoming way. ALA offers so much to library workers and the library community that we strive to make getting what our members and customers need as simple as possible.

Responsibilities

• Manage the membership renewal and application process
• Manage the member ID card and welcome process
• Manage membership appeals and reinstatement campaigns
• Coordinate outreach at ALA and chapter/affiliate library conferences
• Facilitate networking among the membership in person and through social networks
• Cultivate member initiatives and new ways of working within the Association
• Provide staff support to the ALA Membership Committee and Presidential Task Forces

Events

ALA Midwinter Conference 2020 | Philadelphia, PA – ALA Lounge, Networking Uncommons and Membership Booth

Public Library Association (PLA) Conference 2020 | Nashville, TN – ALA Booth #845

Reaching Forward (ILA) | Rosemont/Chicago, IL

Virtual Membership Meeting 2020 | Virtual

ALA Annual Conference 2020 | Chicago, IL – ALA Lounge, Networking Uncommons and Membership Booth

Initiatives & Projects

• Student AL Direct - the only monthly newsletter specifically for ALA's student members, with news and insights for getting the most out of your library education
• Student Portal - a terrific starting point that links you to ALA services, support, information, programs, products, and more  for students in Library and Information Studies programs, and others looking for information
• Member Value Programs (MVP). Learn about the direct benefits of membership, including discounts on products and services for yourself and your library. Start taking advantage of our programs today.
• Learn about and get the most from your membership investment.
• Find out about the ways to get more involved in ALA through Association resources, initiatives and by meeting other members.
• Library Support Staff Memberships - encouraging more support and paraprofessional staff to join ALA and become actively involved in divisions and round tables
• Members at All Stages of a Career - from the student-to-staff transition to a full-time to retired change, keeping membership relevant to you personally at any stage in your work/life
• Studies and Feedback - asking the membership clearly about what is wanted from the association and responding across the association to help provide solutions to problems

Oversight Groups & Meeting Schedules

• ALA Membership Committee
• Membership Promotion Task Force
• Chair and support several staff task forces and work groups including the Membership Marking Group, Social Networking, I Love Libraries Coordination, and AL Direct Advisory

Popular Resources

Professional Tools

Membership Survey

Membership Survey Information

Staff

Melissa Walling
Director, Member Relations & Services
mwalling@ala.org

Lara Brongel
Customer Service Representative
lbrongel@ala.org

Liza Carr
Membership Specialist/Customer Service Team Leader
lcarr@ala.org

Crystal Carrazco
Membership Communications Specialist
ccarrazco@ala.org

Tina Coleman
Marketing Specialist
ccoleman@ala.org

Brenda Dandridge
Customer Service Representative
bdandridge@ala.org

Kyria Redd
Customer Service Representative
kredd@ala.org

Vicki Williams
Manager, Member and Customer Service
vwilliams@ala.org