Member Participation Task Force

The Member Participation Task Force met in Seattle during the ALA Midwinter Meeting. Here are the notes from the discussion.

• We need to tap members’ enthusiasm
• Who in ALA is doing online leadership training?
• We need to look at what is in the “member only” category of the ALA Web site. (This came up as well at the December Web retreat at ALA headquarters.)
• We should encourage early engagement by truly welcoming new members
  
  • John Chrastka says his office is working on this
  • Renewing members needs this as well
    
    • American Libraries will have information—new members, renewals, and near-expiring members
      
      • This is a good supplement to emails sent to members
• NMRT has and online newsletter with one print issue before annual
• Membership card mailing is an opportunity to welcome new members
  
  • Welcome kit is under revision
  • This information should also be on the ALA Web site
• A wiki for student members is under development
  
  • How can ALA partner with library schools?
• See Read Write Connect on ALA homepage
• There are member opportunities in the divisions and round tables (e.g., LITA Web editor)
• Threaded discussion—user friendly—allows observation
• ALA orientation for committee interns with committee chairs present
  
  • Suggests opportunities of ways to use interns successfully
• John Chrastka wishes for participation by the divisions in marketing efforts
• Recommend training programs for committee chairs
• Encourage moving things in ala.org
  
  • New CMS offers opportunities
• Look at moveon.org as a model
• No micro-engagement in ALA
  
  • ALA involvement tends to be all or nothing
  • Micro-engagement opportunities need to be available
    
    • e.g., petitions through the Washington Office (not sure what this means?)
• Random acts of kindness from ALA
• We can’t rely on retention of “checkbook” members
• ALA has 10,000 student members

Recommendations

1. Welcome new members


2. Inform them of ways to contribute/get involved


3. Engagement through brief meaningful encounters