Category: Member Engagement Coordination Committee

We participated in Core Interest Group Week with a trivia event.  We also participated in the Core Virtual Volunteer fair in March.  We had discussions about creating a survey but ultimately, we didn’t because there was already a member survey that came out of the strategic planning group.  We also discussed our participation in the Annual Conference.   It seems like there isn’t time for a Core 101 session this year, but we plan on attending the member reception.

We didn’t have a specific strategic goal assigned this year other than the two events that we participated in.

I think we encouraged some new members to join committees.

n/a

The group will need a new chair to determine the work for the next six months.  Some possibilities are more virtual networking opportunities and plans to align with the new strategic plan.

Our work should strive to create opportunities for more people to participate in Core.  Some members are on multiple committees, and they may be strained for time. We should continue to perform outreach to members who are hesitant to join committees.

• Planned and held online Volunteer Fair in January 2024.
  • We contacted Core leadership and section chairs to ensure representatives would attend.  We advertised the event on Connect and multiple listservs. The committee chair hosted the meeting, and committee members welcomed attendees.
• Planned and held online trivia social in April 2024.
  • We wrote trivia questions and organized a Kahoot game. We advertised the event on Connect. The committee chair emceed the event and committee members attended to welcome participants.
• Planned for events at Annual conference – Core 101 and Core Happy Hour
  • For Core 101, we contacted Core leadership and section chairs to get RSVPs and updated information for slide show. We have developed an advertising plan to be implemented in June. Three committee members will attend and help facilitate the event.
  • For the Core Happy Hour, the wonderful Core staff liaised with Fundraising and found and paid for the venue. But the committee will assist with advertising the event, and three committee members will attend to help host.
• Held regular committee meetings to coordinate activities.
• Committee chair continued to serve as Core representative on ALA Recruitment Assembly.

• Develop member engagement campaign
  • The committee organized two successful online events – Core Volunteer fair in January and Core trivia social in April. We are currently planning for Core 101 and Happy Hour events at Annual conference.
• Develop member engagement survey
  • The committee decided to pause on this goal because the Emerging Leaders conducted a spring survey about Core’s contributions to career development that asked many of the same questions as our previous member surveys (demographic, what kind of programming and mentoring members want to see.)
• Track member engagement
  • The Core staff have lists of the attendees of the virtual volunteer fair and the trivia social. Perhaps more work can be done in partnership when the Emerging Leaders analyze their survey results.
• Create a cohesive marketing plan that communicates that Core is at the center of library activities, and highlights the commonalities between members who work in different types of libraries and functional areas
  • Never connected with the Communications and Marketing committee, but did broadly advertise engagement events and hope to establish regularly occurring events that will make it easier for members to connect across the organization.

• Plans the Core Happy Hour at each year’s ALA Annual Conference – We can’t really take credit for this since Julie and the Core staff took care of booking the venue and figuring out the financing! But it is done. The committee will help to advertise the event in June and three committee members will attend to assist in hosting.
• Plans and hosts the Core 101 session at each year’s ALA Annual Conference and Core Exchange/Forum – In progress. Core leaders and section leaders have been invited. We are in communication with the Core leadership to plan the order of events. We have contacted section leaders to update the slideshow. The committee will advertise the event in June. Three committee members will be able to attend and assist in hosting the event.
• Runs the annual Core members survey and analyzes the data to make recommendations for improved and new programs and services – The committee decided to defer the survey because of potential overlap with the Emerging Leaders survey of Core membership.
• Plans and hosts two virtual member Town Halls each year – Half-completed. We organized and held a virtual trivia social event in April.

• In early June we will finalize the arrangements for the Core 101 event at the Annual conference on June 29, 2024. We will work to ensure that a representative from each Core section can attend and that the slideshow is updated. Three committee members will attend the session. All committee members will advertise the event across multiple listservs and online platforms.
• The committee members who attend the Annual conference will partner with the Core staff to host the Core Happy Hour on June 29, 2024.
• We will transition leadership of the committee. Jacqueline Toce has agreed to serve as chair next year. Shannon Tennant will stay in the group as past-chair and provide guidance as needed. They will meet in person at the Annual Conference in addition to the schedule chairs meeting on June 29.
• The committee will examine the feasibility of holding a fall virtual meeting or perhaps partner with the Core Forum.
• The committee will partner with the Core board to implement any relevant member engagement recommendations from the Emerging Leaders survey. If relevant, the committee will compare data from the 2023 Member Engagement survey.

The committee met and does much of its work virtually, to make the committee accessible from committee members who may not be able to attend events in person. We consider accessibility when organizing virtual events, such as the Volunteer Fair and the spring trivia event. We will work to advertise them broadly to include as many librarians as possible from different backgrounds and library types.

The chair of the committee represents Core on the ALA Recruitment Assembly. This committee is looking at ways to recruit a diverse group of people to the library profession. The Assembly is just beginning its work, but any initiatives will be shared with the committee and Core leadership.