Chapter 13: Member Engagement and Professional and Volunteer Development

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Overview: 

Providing opportunities for the development of professional and individual skills works to keep members engaged and advances RUSA and the profession:

• Professional Development and RUSA
• Professional Development Committee
• Volunteer Development Committee
• Member Engagement Committee

Professional Development and RUSA

RUSA recognizes the need for professional development for the library workforce. RUSA seeks to develop learning opportunities to serve the needs first of its members, but it also recognizes the responsibility to contribute to the body of program offerings for the wider audience of ALA member and non-members. Moreover, RUSA values its volunteer leaders and is committed to developing their leadership skills.

Goals for Professional Development:

RUSA strives to offer multiple online professional development opportunities, year-round.

• RUSA supports a Professional Development Committee to provide coordination of professional development programming for the association.
• RUSA sponsors programming for its members and for all ALA members at the ALA Annual Conference. RUSA follows the ALA procedures for proposal submission which may change from time to time. Proposals for programs are submitted through the central ALA Conference Services website <https://www.conferenceabstracts.com/cfp3/home.asp> (Login required.) Proposals may be made between June 1 and August 31. Program submissions appropriate for RUSA are forwarded to the division. RUSA’s Conference Program Coordinating Committee is RUSA’s jury for reviewing program proposals. Proposals must meet the ALA criteria established by the Conference Committee. Proposals should be aligned with the RUSA mission and address the interests of RUSA’s membership as reflected through RUSA’s sections and interest groups. Under ALA’s modifications to the Annual Conference (as of 2018), no section or interest group is granted a guaranteed program.
• RUSA may sponsor pre-conferences and institutes. Members wishing to organize either should work through the division Conference Program Coordinating Committee.

Professional Development Committee's Role

The committee members represent all RUSA sections (BRASS, CODES, ETS, HS, RSS, STARS). Section representatives should maintain strong lines of communication between their own section chairs and the professional development committee. The professional development committee works with the executive director to develop programming content judged to be of high interest to members and to the profession at large. Interest Groups are not represented on the Professional Development Committee, however they are welcome to plan programming and training by contacting the executive director.

Developing Programming and Training Content:

Any section, committee, interest group, or individual is welcome to suggest programming or training ideas that meet the mission of RUSA and interests of its members and that would be beneficial for certain target audiences. Some content may be highly specialized serving the needs of a segment of members while other content may have broader appeal and relevance for the membership. RUSA also seeks to use the talent of its members or recommended experts to provide professional development to the larger library profession. The Professional Development Committee will evaluate submissions in consultation with the executive director.

Responsibilities of the Executive Director:

• The executive director also has responsibility for developing and contributing training and programming ideas.
• The executive director will determine the best time to offer learning opportunities in consultation with the sponsoring group and trainer.
• The executive director will manage the contracts for trainers and presenters, ensuring that contracted rates of pay are in line with other ALA units.
• The executive director will consult with ALA Publishing to discover unique areas of interest that RUSA might pursue.

RUSA seeks submissions that address innovative services and trends, emerging technologies, management and leadership or, staff-training in following topic area such as:

• Reference services
• User instruction
• Assessment of services
• Collection development
• Resource discovery and usability
• Resource sharing/ILL
• Hot or trending topics

  Formats for providing training may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Online courses (4-6 weeks in duration)
  • Instructors will receive a one-time course development fee in addition to a participant fee. Check website for current information. http://www.rusaupdate.org/2018/03/teach-for-rusa/
• Webinars for beginners and advanced topics (60-90 minutes, one time)
  • Presenters will receive compensation at a set rate.
• Online discussions
• Multi-day asynchronous discussions (chats)

Submitting proposals for online learning or a webinar:

To submit a proposal use the web form link:    http://www.rusaupdate.org/2018/03/teach-for-rusa/

Volunteer Development Committee:

(Including the Editor of the Guide to RUSA Policies and Procedures)

Purpose and Charge

Purpose: Develop the leadership skills of RUSA members to help them succeed in their ALA work and in their careers.

Charge: Support RUSA’s members for success in their ALA work by providing the annual orientation, giving guidance on good committee practices, and maintaining the RUSA Guide to Policies and Procedures.  Additionally, support members for career success by providing opportunities to learn and use leadership, team, and creative skills.

Specific Duties and Regular Operational Responsibilities

• Work with RUSA Office staff and with members of the RUSA Board to provide the annual orientation of new RUSA leaders.
• Provide guidance to RUSA leaders on good practices concerning committee management, especially to help with meeting RUSA deadlines and with the transition to new leadership.
• Support the work of the editor of the RUSA Guide to Policies and Procedures in keeping the Guide up-to-date and helpful to members.
• Monitor the membership and work of RUSA to help determine the need for educational programs and for updates to current procedures.
• Encourage training programs to help keep member skills updated.

Chair Responsibilities

• Set the meeting schedule, create meeting agendas, and ensure that minutes are taken. All documents should be published in ALA Connect.
• Report regularly to the RUSA Board of Directors on committee activities and objectives.
• Actively participate in the RUSA Leadership Council.

Responsibilities of the Editor of the RUSA Guide to Policies and Procedures

• Maintain editorial oversight of the Guide.
• Annually remind committee chairs and other RUSA leaders to review Guide content and to submit updates, as needed.
• Work with the RUSA Executive Director to identify changes requiring approval of the RUSA Board.  Also to identify which changes require updates to current policy and procedures.
• Notify the RUSA Board of non-typographical and non-policy changes to the Guide.
• Update the Guide text.

Membership Composition

• 8 Members
• Members will be selected by the RUSA Vice President representative of the sections and the general membership.
• The editor of the RUSA Guide to Policies and Procedures serves as a member of the committee.

(approved by the RUSA Board on June 11, 2024)

The Chairs of the Professional Development Committee, Volunteer Development Committee, and Member Engagement Committee will update.   Last revised by the guide editor:  July 28, 2025.