News from Illinois Library Association

Vol. 4, Issue: # 8 March 15, 2011

ILA's Polls Will Open April 1, 2011

One Bylaw Change and Candidates for the ILA Executive Board

One Bylaw Change
The following amendment to the ILA Bylaws is recommended by legal counsel, endorsed by the ILA Executive Board, and requires a vote of membership.

Article II -- Purpose

Section I. The Illinois Library shall be a not-for-profit education organization, the purpose of which shall be to improve library service and librarianship through the state of Illinois.

The recommended change is to delete the five words in red. When the polls open, you will be able to vote on this change recommended by legal counsel and endorsed by the ILA Executive Board.

The association's mission statement will remain the same:

The Illinois Library Association is the voice for Illinois libraries and the millions who depend on them. It provides leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library services in Illinois and for the library community in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all. This access is essential for an open democratic society, an informed electorate, and the advancement of knowledge for all people.

Candidates for the ILA Executive Board
The ILA Nominating Committee has announced the candidates for election in the spring of 2011.

For vice president/president-elect (three-year term beginning July 1, 2011 -- June 30, 2014):

ILA Vice President/President Elect

Charm Ruhnke, Peru Public Library

Pam Van Kirk, Galesburg Public Library

Board of Directors (three-year term beginning July 1, 2011 -- June 30, 2014). A candidate from each pairing will be elected in accordance with the ILA bylaws as amended at the 1998 ILA Annual Conference; a total of four directors will be elected to serve three-year terms on the ILA Executive Board.

Member-at-Large

Jennifer E. Bueche, Gail Borden Public Library District

Kate Hall, New Lenox Public Library District

Member-at-Large

Jeanne Hamilton, Helen Matthes Library, Effingham

John E. Sayers, Kewanee Public Library District

Member-at-Large

David H. Carlson, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

Ellen Sutton, College of DuPage Library, Glen Ellyn

Member-at-Large

Scott E. Pointon, Des Plaines Valley Public Library District

Alissa Williams, Pekin Public Library

Illinois Snapshot Day

Wednesday, 13 April 2011

Commit

Commit to participating in Snapshot Day, and making it a success:

· Inform your local media, and spread word via friends and social media.

· Distribute bookmarks promoting Snapshot Day with patrons.

· Design and schedule special events in the library that day to help bring people in the doors.

Compile

Compile the data on Snapshot Day that will help you tell your story

· Track all participant and activity data necessary to complete the template for use with elected officials.

· Collect quotes, comments, and photos about Snapshot Day to use in promotional materials.

· Report your results back to the Illinois Library Association via "Survey Monkey".

You can find report templates and more at the official Illinois Snapshot Day Website.

Contact

Use the results of Snapshot Day to educate your local elected officials:

· Set up appointments with your State Senator and State Representative during the week of April 18-25 (they will be back in their districts that week) to share the results of Snapshot Day.

· Ask your legislators to support library funding, and policies that keep libraries strong.

· Reach out to other local elected officials, like mayors and members of the city/village council and share information with them as well.

Communicate

Use the information to help make the case year-round of the importance of your local library:

ILA Awards Spotlight

Highsmith Library Innovative Award

This award recognizes a library's achievement in planning and implementing an innovative or creative program or service, which has had measurable impact on its users. The purpose of this award is to encourage innovation by highlighting the overall activities of a library (including staff, administration, governance, and volunteers) in successfully marshaling its resources to benefit its users.

Deborah Dowley Preiser Award

This award recognizes a library employee's excellent work in public relations and adult programming over a period of several years. The person so honored's achievements should reflect the importance of publicity and adult programming as central to the role of the library as a community center and to the library as place.

Nominations for all ILA Awards are due May 15, 2011. Nominating someone for an ILA Award has never been easier!

Submit your nomination form and all supporting documentation via the ILA Web site. No service should go unrecognized, so toot your own horn or tell us who you think is the best!

If you have any questions about the ILA Awards, please contact the ILA office at (312) 644-1896, or ila@ila.org.

Be a Part of the ILA Annual Conference

Become actively involved in the ILA Annual Conference by presenting a poster session or talk table on the ILA exhibit floor on Wednesday, October 19, or Thursday, October 20.

Poster sessions showcase successful research projects, display a grant, or present an innovative program from your library. Talk tables are informal one-hour discussions on pertinent topics, lead by a moderator. For more information or to submit your proposal, please download the talk table and poster session application forms.

In the News

If your library has a newspaper story with link, send it to us at doyle@ila.org for possible inclusion in the next ILA E-Newletter. Thanks.

Sincerely,

Robert P. Doyle
Illinois Library Association

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Disclaimer: Links to non-ILA sites have been provided because these sites may have information of interest. The Illinois Library Association does not necessarily endorse the views expressed or the facts presented on these sites; and furthermore, ILA does not endorse any commercial products that may be advertised or available on these sites.