6 Standing Committees of the Board

The proposed ALA Standing Committees are:

Finance and Audit
Nominating
Leadership Development
Association Policy
Public Policy and Advocacy
Social Justice

Six standing committees will accomplish the core functions of the association. These committees will be supported by advisory groups, working groups, and communities of interest, each of which will provide greater opportunities for member participation than the current structure. These standing committees will also work closely with divisions and round tables to seek recommendations, input, and expertise from their areas.

To have broad member input and increase democratic participation from the few to the many, committees will also hold membership meetings focused around their charge. The membership meetings will be both in-person and virtual, providing opportunities for all interested ALA members to supply input, feedback, and recommendations to the committee for consideration. These focused membership meetings will be in addition to regular general membership meetings which will be held in-person and virtually to give a view of the entire association. Only the Nominating Committee will not hold membership meetings because of the confidential nature of its work. To promote transparency, the committee will put out open calls for nominations from members and may hold open online meetings to share their process.

The members of all standing committees will be selected by a hybrid process just as the Board of Directors. Out of the fifteen members of each committee, ten members will be directly elected by members and five members will be appointed by the Board of Directors. Appointments will ensure a diverse and inclusive board that includes perspectives, skills, library types, and backgrounds not represented by elected members. The process for appointing and identifying potential members will include working with the ALA Leadership Committee, ALA staff, and other entities of the organization that may wish to provide input. One of these appointments will be a Board member who also acts as the committee’s liaison. Members will serve two-year staggered terms and may serve up to two non-consecutive terms in their lifetime. Nominating Committee members will serve one-year, once in a lifetime terms. Each committee will also have a committed ALA Staff Member to support their work.

Finance and Audit Committee

The Finance and Audit Committee’s charge will include reviewing ALA’s proposed budget within the context of the association’s strategic plan and strategic priorities, reviewing the financial impact of actions taken by the Board of Directors, and making budget recommendations to the Board of Directors. This committee will also work with the endowment trustees, review financial projections, and perform other fiscal duties as necessary. This committee will be chaired by the ALA treasurer.

Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee’s charge will include nominating the election slate for ALA officers and committees, overseeing the petition process for those members who wish to run as petition candidates for a position, and nominating chairs for the six standing committees of the Board of Directors. Nominations for committee chairs will be given to the Board of Directors for appointment. The Nominating Committee might opt to form sub-committees to help oversee appointments to advisory groups or working groups or to manage the Volunteer Clearinghouse, a new entity described in further detail later in this report under “Additional Recommendations.” The Nominating Committee will also identify and nominate members and conveners for advisory groups and working groups. These nominations will be given to the Board of Directors for appointment. The Nominating Committee will work closely with the Leadership Development Committee to identify candidates and will encourage a self-nomination process. This committee is intended to be highly inclusive and provide more members the opportunity to participate. The Nominating Committee will be chaired by the President-Elect.

Leadership Development Committee

The Leadership Development Committee’s charge will be to identify, cultivate, develop, and grow potential member leaders within the association. This committee will focus on ensuring members from underrepresented backgrounds have opportunities to serve within the association and will have strong staff support to ensure continuity and priority. Leadership development programs such as Emerging Leaders and Spectrum Scholars would work closely with this committee. The Leadership Development Committee would also work closely with the Nominating Committee to identify potential candidates. These two committees would also work together to identify potential candidates and member leaders who may need more support and guidance in running successfully for office, chairing a committee, or serving the association in another capacity, and to identify resources and support for these members. The Leadership Development Committee will also recommend and solicit names to and from the Volunteer Clearinghouse. The Leadership and Development Committee will be chaired by the past president.

Association Policy Committee

The Association Policy Committee’s charge will focus on issues and topics of internal association governance and policy as related to the work of ALA. This committee will work closely with all facets of the Association to regularly review and ensure best practices and policies that create an equitable, diverse, and inclusive association. This committee will also be charged with identifying and recommending members for honorary membership in the association. The Association Policy Committee will be chaired by an appointed member as recommended by the Nominating Committee.

Public Policy and Advocacy Committee

The Public Policy and Advocacy Committee’s charge will include focusing on issues and topics of importance to libraries, especially in the areas of public policy and advocacy. Members will seek input and expertise from librarians across the association, and its actions may include recommendations for the creation of advisory committees, working groups, and communities of practice. The Public Policy and Advocacy Committee will be chaired by an appointed member as recommended by the Nominating Committee.

Social Justice Committee

The Social Justice Committee’s charge will focus on issues and topics of importance to libraries and the association in the context of social justice and equity, diversity, and inclusion. Members will seek input and expertise from librarians across the association, and its actions may include recommendations for the creation of advisory groups, working groups, and communities of practice. The Social Justice Committee will be chaired by an appointed member as recommended by the Nominating Committee.