Ten Easy Ways to Get Involved with ALATen Easy Ways to Get Involved with ALA

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Read AL Direct, our weekly email newsletterRead AL Direct, our weekly email newsletter

Delivering breaking news and feature stories on issues effecting every type of library, this valuable and current resource is your inside news on the next big thing in libraries and for the association.

Make sure your email address is current with ALA.

Login to “My ALA” on www.ala.org to update your contact information today. 

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Join an ALA Connect communityJoin an ALA Connect community

We are helping members connect their ideas and interests to other members from around the world.  You will find places to interact about your work-life and the future of the profession. As a member, your login is waiting.

Visit http://connect.ala.org to get started.

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Blog, tweet and share ALABlog, tweet and share ALA

Be a part of the conversation. ALA, divisions, round tables and offices are looking for contributors across social networking sites. Visit the ReadWriteConnect Wiki to get started.

Stay up to the minute by reading and responding. 

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Talk with ColleaguesTalk with Colleagues

Over 200 ALA email discussion lists cover almost every conceivable topic in library work. Join an asynchronous colloquy with some of the most interesting people you’d ever want to meet: your fellow members.

Visit http://lists.ala.org for details.

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Build Your SkillsBuild Your SkillsBuild Your SkillsBuild Your Skills

ALA’s online Continuing Education Clearinghouse and offer the best in library and general skills to help you fulfill your personal learning requirements and for work-life enrichment. 

Build your skills at affordable member rates athttp://www.ala.org/ala/educationcareers

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Take ActionTake ActionTake ActionTake Action

Our new online ALA Legislative Action Center is your  direct link to congress, the executive, state legislators, and the media about issues affecting libraries.

Make your voice heard today at http://capwiz.com/ala/home/.

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Present Your IdeasPresent Your IdeasPresent Your IdeasPresent Your Ideas

Submit an idea for a program, paper, panel discussion, table talk or poster session at an ALA or Divisional national conference or symposium. There is always a lot to learn when you attend conference.  Why not also share your own experience?

See http://www.ala.org/ala/conferencesevents/index.cfm to get started.

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Join a CommitteeJoin a Committee

Decisions are made by the people who show up.  There are hundreds of committees in ALA, each with specific functions, goals, and interests. Check the Committees tab at ala.org for groups you’d like to work with, then contact the chair of the committee and ask how to get involved. At an ALA conference, stop by a committee meeting and listen to what’s going on.

To be a member of a committee, it helps to express yourinterest in volunteering.

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Submit a ResolutionSubmit a Resolution

This is direct democracy in action.  Make your voice heard, express a concern, ask ALA to take a stand. Draft a formal resolution and present it at a Membership Meeting or ask an ALA councilor to present it to Council.

Contact the chair of the ALA Resolutions Committee or the Council Secretariat at ALA Headquarters for details, or stop by the Resolutions Table in the ALA office area at Midwinter or Annual Conference.

Information on preparing and submitting resolutions is alsoavailable at the ALA website under ‘Governance’.

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Run for Office or Council Run for Office or Council

Consider this your invitation to help set the course of the association.  Contact the chair of the ALA Nominating Committee and express your interest in being nominated. Contact your chapter or division about running for a leadership post.

Contact the Council Secretariat and ask how to runas a petition candidate for Council.

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Visit the Get Involved wiki at http://www.wikis.ala.orgorg/getinvolved

or login to ALA Connect for even more ideas.