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This page has been moved to the LSYC website here: http://www.youthlibraries.org/history-formalized-group-structure-decision  Camden 8/17

Thanks so much to all of you who were able to make it to the 2012 Juvie Librarian Meetup in New Orleans! I know we ran into some difficulties getting together, but it was so awesome to get to speak to all of you and bask in the warm glow of your collective awesomeness!

For those of you who couldn’t make it (or who have blocked out everything ALA related) here’s a wrap-up of what we discussed (to the best of my memory – it was late, so if I got it wrong, please speak up!)

• Formalization of our group:

o   ASCLA has changed their bylaws, so now group members do NOT have to be a part of ASCLA to join (but you must have 4 ASCLA members serving as officers)

o   ASCLA had previously had a group for those serving incarcerated youth, but it’s been defunct for a while now.

o   OLOS is very interested in supporting this group, whoever it’s under

o   YALSA has expressed interest in supporting this group (pending more info on what “support” means to us)

o   ALSC has expressed tentative interest in supporting this group (pending more info on what “support” means to us)

o   Consensus of the group was that:

§  We would form a group (Ray, which kind? I’ve forgotten now) under ASCLA, meaning that…

• ASCLA would provide access to their member base
• ASCLA would provide ALA staffing support
• ASCLA would provide meeting logistics assistance
• ASCLA would be our primary support organization
• ASCLA would provide other support as appropriate (as they do for their other groups)
• Any ALA member could join the group (regardless of whether they were an ASCLA member)

§  We would seek affiliation with YALSA, ALSC, OLOS, and others for:

• Access to their membership for information pushes
• Ability to list their affiliation when advertising our programs (or cross-listing them)
• Potential for future collaboration / support of special projects
• YALSA would continue to provide support through the YALSA lockdown listserv (which anyone can join… not just ALA or YALSA members)

Next Steps:

• E. Ray James will communicate our interest to ASCLA in resurrecting the Round Table
• I will work to communicate our support requests to the various other divisions
• I will be working on some administrative duties to get this ship up and running again
• If you are an ASCLA member and interested in serving as an officer of this new group, please contact me (we need a minimum of 4 officers who are in ASCLA)

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Should we choose to continue to pursue affiliation with ASCLA, here is the current word (7/27/11) on how we would form an interest group:

Any ASCLA member can propose the creation of an interest group by submitting an e-petition with signatures of 10 ASCLA members. Proposals are reviewed on an ongoing basis by the Interest Group Coordination Committee and the ASCLA Board of Directors, which approves the creation of new interest groups. Go here to create an e-petition (login as an ALA member first): http://www.ala.org/template.cfm?template=/CFApps/epetition/index.cfm.

Additional information on creating ASCLA interest groups, including a link to the e-petition form, can be found on the ASCLA Web site at http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/ascla/asclaourassoc/asclasections/interestgroups/index.cfm

Who can join Interest Groups?

Once an interest group is formed, ASCLA and any ALA member may join by logging into ALA Connect and joining the group – which is listed by title in Connect. Interest groups may include any ALA member – they are not limited to ASCLA members.

Please keep in mind, while you do not have to be an ASCLA member to join an Interest Group, you must be an ASCLA member to lead one.

How does an Interest Group Operate?

• Interest groups may plan and sponsor programs at conferences, may sponsor pre-conferences, create discussion groups, prepare publications, or carry out other activities with the approval of the Interest Group Coordinating Committee and the Board of Directors.
• Interest groups establish their own process for nominating and electing their leadership.
• Interest group leaders must be ASCLA members, however any ALA member may join an ASCLA interest group.
• No leader shall serve more than four (4) consecutive years in office.
• Any member of the Association may join as many interest groups as desired by joining the group in ALA Connect.
• Each Interest Group defines its own functions, subject to the approval of the Interest Group Coordinating Committee.
• Each Interest Group shall manage its own affairs, provided that no interest group shall adopt rules for the transaction of its business inconsistent with those of the Association, or engage in any activity in conflict with the program of the Association.
• Interest group elections are held during the Midwinter Meeting.
• Unless otherwise approved by the ASCLA executive director, interest groups will conduct their own elections and not utilize the formal ALA election system.

What are the interest group leader’s responsibilities?
As an Interest Group Leader you will be expected to:

• Encourage involvement in the Interest Group.
• Ensure that the Interest Group generates discussion topics, articles, programs, projects etc. within the purview of the Interest Group’s charge.
• Regularly communicate with Interest Group members regarding Interest Group activities as well as initiatives coming from the ASCLA Board, staff, or other interested parties.
• Communicate with the Interest Group Coordinating Committee. This will include a brief annual report on Interest Group activity. Reports will be posted on the Interest Group site.
• Communicate with the Interest Group Coordinating Committee if, for any reason, you determine that you are unable to fulfill the responsibility of leading the Interest Group.
• Notify the ASCLA office of any changes in leadership.
• Coordinate the overall activities of the interest group and for reporting on group activities.

To find out more about ASCLA Interest Groups, go here: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/ascla/asclaourassoc/asclainterest/index.cfm

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact ASCLA at ascla@ala.org.

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