For immediate release | July 8, 2021

Call for Volunteers for Newly Created ALA Code of Conduct Committee and expanded Policy Monitoring Committee & Council Orientation Committee

ALA President Patty Wong and ALA President-Elect Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozada are pleased to announce a call for volunteers for the newly formed ALA Code of Conduct Committee and expanded Policy Monitoring Committee and Council Orientation Committee, as approved by ALA Council at the 2021 Annual Conference. All interested volunteers should submit an interest form no later than July 31, 2021.

Committee terms will begin immediately for both one and two-year terms:

The new Code of Conduct Committee Membership will consist of seven (7) members, including Co-Chairs appointed annually:

ALA is currently seeking all 7 members (including Co-Chairs) for the initial term:

  • 3 members to initially serve a one-year term (2021-2022)
  • 4 members to initially serve a two-year term (2021-2023)
  • Co-Chairs will be selected from among the seven above members (2021-2022)
  • After the initial appointments, members will serve two-year staggered terms

The new Code of Conduct Committee’s charge is to administer and apply the ALA Online Code of Conduct. This committee will provide transparent, consistent, and context-sensitive accountability to ensure mutual respect and community safety. It will take timely action in addressing and resolving any incidents on those platforms and channels. It will ensure that the Code of Conduct is updated according to the schedule in the Code, with opportunity for community input. It will publish an annual transparency report and communicate that report, along with any updates to the Code, to users of all ALA-affiliated platforms and channels. Finally, it will partner with ALA leadership and legal counsel to develop and maintain a strong and transparent procedures for handling incidents.

The Council Orientation Committee’s membership will expand to 10 members, including Chair:

ALA is currently seeking 4 new members:

  • 2 members to serve a one-year term (2021-2022)
  • 2 members to serve a two-year term (2021-2023)

The Council Orientation Committee’s charge is to develop and carry out a mentoring and orientation program for new and continuing councilors and schedule and organize Council Forums to be held in conjunction with Council Sessions, and to select and arrange training for Council Forum Facilitators. It is advisable that members be current or former Council members.

The Policy Monitoring Committee’s membership will expand to 10 members, including Chair:

ALA is currently seeking 8 new members:

  • 4 members to serve a one-year term (2021-2022)
  • 4 members to serve a two-year term (2021-2023)

The Policy Monitoring Committee’s charge is to monitor the accurate documentation and codification of ALA policy, as determined by formal action of council; to prepare additions or changes in the ALA policy manual following each Annual Conference and Midwinter Meeting* as may be required by motions and resolutions adopted by council; to review and advise on all unit organization policies to ensure that they are in compliance with council approved association-wide policies; to provide oversight by review prior to publication of the written text and policy manual numbers prepared by ALA staff and report to council the accomplishment of council's directives; to be responsible for keeping the policy manual accurate and up to date and to call council's attention to outdated items to be retired from the manual or gaps in the presentation of policies.

*current committee tasks include removing and editing references for Midwinter Meeting

Please note that for the initial appointments, President Wong and President-Elect Pelayo-Lozada will jointly appoint new and expanded members to begin immediately. After the initial appointments for the above, each committee will follow the regular appointment process. A call for volunteers for 2022-2024 committee terms will be posted shortly.

Serving on a committee provides members with leadership training, networking opportunities, and experience in working on specific association topics. All interested members are invited to submit their interest here. Again, please submit this form no later than July 31, 2021.

Please reach out to Holly Robison, Governance Associate, at hrobison@ala.org with any questions.

Contact:

Holly Robison

Governance Associate

Governance

hrobison@ala.org