Proceedings of the First National Joint Conference of Librarians of Color - 59

Council Secretariat prepares a draft listing of appointees complete with their workplace affiliations. The Committee on Committee members meets, usually over dinner during the ALA Midwinter Meeting, to approve the slate for ALA Council Committees. The Committee on Appointments likewise has a meal meeting to confirm the appointments onto ALA Committees. These two slates are then presented to the ALA Executive Committee for approval. Appointment letters are then mailed to prospective committee members after the ALA Midwinter Meeting. All slates have lengthy lists of alternates in case any individuals on the first strings decline the invitation to serve. RECOMMENDATIONS The best time to apply to serve on a committee is when the online volunteer form becomes available after the ALA Annual Conference. 2. Complete the online committee volunteer form early. This is especially true if you are interested in serving on the ninemember Nominating Committee, since this slate is approved by the fall meeting of the ALA Executive Board held in October. An online application submitted in December requesting an appointment to this committee will, unfortunately, be too late to be considered. 3. List three or more committee preferences. In fact, you can submit the application form more than once, listing three committee choices on each form. 4. Do not limit your service to that of serving as chair of a committee. Consider serving as a committee member. 5. Seek information on the committees that interest you. Review the websites for committees and review The Handbook of Organization for the list of current committee members. Locate Committee reports to Council. 6. Encourage your junior colleagues to serve as volunteer interns. 7. Do not send supplemental information such as resumes, reference letters, or other 1. supportive information. If you introduce yourself to the ALA President-Elect and request an appointment or share a business card indicating your willingness to serve, make sure that you follow up by completing the online volunteer form. 8. Provide detail on your committee volunteer form, including past service on this or other committees. 9. If you are currently serving on a Committee, make sure you remember your term of appointment, especially if you might consider serving on a second term. 10. If you are currently serving on a Committee, consider volunteering to serve as Chair. 11. ALA Council Committees should have at least one ALA Council Member as a member. If you are an ALA Council member, consider volunteering to serve. 12. Remember to complete an online form if you are currently serving on an ALA or Council Committee and wish to be reappointed for a consecutive term. 13. If you do not receive an automated confirmation that your application was received, then resubmit your volunteer information. You need not contact the ALA President-Elect on the status of your application after this point. 14. If you miss the deadline to complete an online form, then consider volunteering to serve on a division committee or wait until the next ALA President-Elect issues a call for next year’s appointments. 15. Develop a reputation as a reliable, hardworking committee member. You are likely to then be considered for subsequent appointments. 16. The ALA President-Elect does not make appointments to division level committees. Contact the relevant ALA unit for consideration. ENDNOTES 1. “ALA Committees,” in ALA Handbook of Organization 2006-2007 (Chicago: American Library Association, 2006). 59

Proceedings of the First National Joint Conference of Librarians of Color

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Proceedings of the First National Joint Conference of Librarians of Color