The group met 2-3 times this quarter.
Committee Work
Summary of work accomplished, decisions made, and follow-up actions determined during the past 6 months
- Recruited volunteers for subcommittees
- Began planning for Volunteer Fair in January 2024
- Began brainstorming ideas for engagement activity in April
- Represented Core on the ALA Recruitment Assembly
Progress on Goal Assigned in the Strategic Plan
- Develop member engagement campaign – The committee began planning the events to be held in 2024 (Volunteer Fair, event in April, looking toward Core 101 and Social in June.)
- Develop member engagement survey – We established a subcommittee of members interested in working on the survey in the spring. We will meet in January to assign tasks (reviewing last year’s questions and responses, etc.)
- Track member engagement – None; expect to incorporate at least partially with survey work
- 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 – None; plan to reach out to Communications & Marketing committee
Progress on Deliverables
- Plans the Core Happy Hour at each year’s ALA Annual Conference – called for volunteers for the subcommittee and received a list of possible venues.
- Plans and hosts the Core 101 session at each year’s ALA Annual Conference and Core Exchange/Forum – Will plan for Annual Core 101 session in spring. In October I attended the Core Forum for the first time. Now that I know what it’s like and it’s gaining traction, I will recommend organizing a small session if the 2024 schedule permits and any members attend.
- Runs the annual Core members survey and analyzes the data to make recommendations for improved and new programs and services – Formed subcommitee which will begin work in January
- Plans and hosts two virtual member Town Halls each year – I didn’t know this was a deliverable! I don’t believe we had them last year, did we? The committee is planning to organize an online event in April to engage members. It may be a Town Hall or a program.
What will your group be working on for the next 6 months?
- With the help of the Core staff, our committee will organize and run the Core Volunteer Fair on January 26, 2024. We will secure volunteers from each of the Core sections to staff the breakout rooms. We will engage with members and interested attendees and promote Core involvement.
- The Assessment and Research subcommittee will review the data from last year’s member survey. In cooperation with the Core staff, they will evaluate whether the questions are still relevant and prepare a survey to be administered in spring 2024.
- The Social Events subcommittee did not get any volunteers, so whoever can will organize the Core Social, scheduled for June 29, 2024. I will try to get more volunteers at our January meeting; if not, I will contact venues and make arrangements. I will reach out to the Core staff about the procedures for sponsors. And I will arrange advertising in May.
- The Recruitment and Orientation subcommittee also did not get any volunteers, but I will reach out to the committee to try to get help organizing Core 101 on June 29, 2024.
Meets Core’s strategic goals for Membership and Value to Members
How did your work contribute to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, or belonging within Core or the library profession? What areas of improvement do you see for your committee or Core in these areas?
The committee met and does much of its work virtually, to make the committee accessible to members who may not be able to attend events in person. We consider accessibility when organizing virtual events, such as the Volunteer Fair and a spring event. We will work to advertise events broadly to include as many librarians as possible. Our survey will collect feedback on ways to make Core more inclusive.
As part of my work on the committee, I am representing 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 I will share the initiatives with the committee and Core.
Additional comments or concerns:
I am a little concerned that we don't have enough committee members who can attend the Annual conference in person. I completely understand why people can't come (funding, family, health, work, so many good reasons.) And this is why it's important to have virtual engagement for the committee and the membership. But this committee hosts at least two in-person events at Annual (and potentially one at Core Forum) so it would be helpful to have at least a few members appointed each year who could commit to IRL attendance (insofar as any of us can predict the future.)
Submitted by Shannon Tennant on 12/14/2023