Black Lives Matter ALA Chapters Condemn Systemic Racism

ALA Chapters Condemn Systemic Racism

In addition to the American Library Association's Executive Board's statement on racism, several ALA chapters have stated their dedication to...

Read their statements here
Corona Virus Resources for Chapters

COVID-19 Resources for Chapters

COVID-19 Resources for State Chapters. Includes resources federal and state resources. 

Learn More
ALA Connect

ALA Connect

ALA Connect is a place where members can engage with each other, and grow their networks by sharing their own expertise and more!

Learn More

Treasurer’s Financial Page


Peter Hepburn
ALA Treasurer (2022-2025)
College of the Canyons
Santa Clarita, CA

To reach out to Treasurer Hepburn or other Executive Board Members, please use this form

APRIL 10, 2023: Applications are now being accepted for one expiring term on the ALA Endowment Trustees committee!

The applicants will be selected by the ALA Executive Board at their 2023 ALA Annual Conference Meeting, which will be held in Chicago, IL June 22nd – June 27th. The selected applicant will begin serving immediately upon notification of their selection. The three-year term will expire after the 2026 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, IL. 

Please read this announcement for more details.  Applicants should submit an electronic application.  Click to preview the application.

NOTE: The deadline for receiving applications has been extended to May 15, 2023!

The ALA Financial Handbook

The ALA Financial Handbook reflects current American Library Association operational regulations and procedures in regard to Association finances.  Compiled by the ALA Budget Analysis and Review Committee (BARC), the Handbook is intended to provide assistance and background information to ALA members, Division and Round Table members and staff who are involved in the financial operations and decision-making in their respective Association units. It will be reviewed annually by BARC and staff and updated as new information becomes available. Note that selected references to important documents and information are presented as links to the ALA website.  February 2015

The ALA Dollar

I am pleased to present our ALA Dollar infographics, which answer two simple but important questions for members and potential members:

1.      What are ALA’s funding sources: Where an ALA Dollar Comes From (PDF)

2.      What are the ALA’s funding uses: Where an ALA Dollar Goes (PDF) (PDF)

ALA funding sources include your membership dues dollars and funds generated from our publishing activities, conferences and educational programs, and the grants we receive. For roughly every $1 in membership dues revenue, the Association generates an additional $4 in other revenue. 

ALA carefully uses these funds to advance our mission via the strategic directions of advocacy, literacy, diversity and equity of access, information policy and intellectual freedom, and professional and leadership development – supporting and serving our members, libraries, and the profession.

Please reach out if you have any questions!

Where an ALA Dollar Comes From: 18% Dues; 36% Publishing; 24% Meetings and Conferences; 10% Grants and Awards; 3% Donations; 3% Interest and Dividends; 6% Other For every dollar in dues, ALA generates an additional four dollars in revenue from publications, meetings and conferences, grants and awards, interest and dividends and other revenue sources. Percentages are based on the 2019 ALA budget and include revenues from divisions, round tables, and the ALA general fund. “Interest & Dividends” includes interest income and support from the ALA Endowment Fund. “Other” includes royalties, miscellaneous fees, and miscellaneous revenues.

 

Where an ALA Dollar Goes: 14% Advocacy for Libraries and the Profession: Includes raising public awareness of the value of libraries; developing promotional materials; conducting effective media relations; recruiting and mobilizing a network of advocates; developing resources and training for advocates; advancing legislation and policies that support libraries; researching the impacts of libraries; working with partners and stakeholders on advocacy goals; and working to ensure the sustainability and future of libraries. 12% Information Policy and Intellectual Freedom: Includes policy development, education, research and advocating in the following policy areas: intellectual freedom, privacy, civil liberties, telecommunications, funding for education and research programs, funding for libraries, copyright and licensing, open access, government information, and literacy. 40% Professional and Leadership Development: Includes maintaining accreditation standards; maintaining standards for library services; developing educational resources; providing professional development opportunities; promoting career development; providing leadership development opportunities; providing award programs. 13% Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Includes developing resources and training in the areas of equity, diversity and inclusion; providing cultural programming; promoting literacy through a variety of resources and initiatives; offering funding and grants; recruiting a diverse workforce to the profession; proving scholarships. 21% Member Engagement and Support: Includes supporting committees and executive boards; promoting membership; providing membership services; supporting membership engagement software (ALA Connect).

Financial Learning

ALA Financial Learning Series brought to you by BARC and the Finance Staff

The Governance and Finance & Accounting offices along with members of the Budget Analysis and Review Committee (BARC) have created the online ALA Financial Learning Series. The purpose of these webcasts is to provide the viewer with a basic understanding of ALA’s finances and how it impacts all areas/units of the Association. These webcasts are designed to expand on and support the information provided at the ALA Finance Workshop, which is an education session held by BARC at each Midwinter Meeting. Although the information provided in these webcasts is general in nature, everyone who views them can benefit – members, member leaders, funders, vendors, sponsors and the general public.

Please take the opportunity to review the ALA Financial Learning Series webcast offerings on Youtube.

 

ALA Financial Orientation for Council 

View Former ALA Treasurer Maggie Farrell's presentation, Council Financial Orientation to learn more about ALA Finances.

BARC Response to ALA Council regarding Socially Responsible Investments Resolution

At the 2018 Midwinter Meeting in Denver a proposed resolution from SRRT regarding fossil fuels and the ALA Endowment Fund was forwarded to BARC for its review for potential financial implications. The proposed resolution was reviewed at both the Midwinter and Spring Meetings of BARC. Note that BARC also reviewed the proposed resolution in consultation with the Endowment Trustees and the Finance & Audit committee.

Here is BARC’s response to ALA Council regarding the Resolution (PDF)

Endowment Fund Holdings

At the 2018 Midwinter Meeting in Denver a request was made to the Senior Endowment Trustee Rod Hersberger to provide Council with the opportunity to review the holdings in the ALA Endowment Fund. The Trustees have worked diligently to make this happen. 

While some holdings are very accessible via monthly statements, others were a little more challenging for the following reasons:

  • Direct links to the holdings of publicly traded mutual funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETF’s) generally require more than several clicks in order to get to the intended information.
  • Some funds/portfolios within the Endowment are proprietary in nature and are not available for review.

Here in a PDF showing the available holdings of the Endowment Fund (.PDF)

Here in an MS Excel workbook showing the available holdings of the Endowment Fund (.XLSX)

Please see Executive Board Documents page for Financial Documents since 2017. 

To access Financial Reports prior to 2017, please reach out Holly Robison at hrobison@ala.org.