AASL Communities of Practice (CoP) Frequently Asked Questions

How do I join a Community of Practice?

You will want to ensure that you are logged into ALA Connect and that your AASL membership is current.

To join AASL, visit www.ala.org/aasl/about/join. If you have questions regarding your membership, please contact the Member Relations & Services (MRS) Center at customerservice@ala.org or 1-800-545-2433.

Why am I not receiving notifications from the CoP?

First, make sure that the CoP you signed up for is shown in your list of communities:

  1. Log in to connect.ala.org.
  2. Click your profile picture at the top right corner of the screen. (Next to “HI, [Your Name].)
  3. Click on the Communities button. This will list all of the ALA Connect communities you are a member of.

To access, update, or change communication preferences:

  1. Above your list of communities, you will see a My Account drop down menu. Click to open the menu and select Community Notifications.
  2. Scroll down and you will find a list of all your communities. Here you can use a drop-down menu to set your notification preference for each community. You can choose between:
    • Real time: A notification will be sent to you as soon as a post is submitted to the community.
    • Daily Digest: All new posts will be consolidated into one email you will receive at the end of the business day.
    • No mail.

The list of CoPs does not really interest me, how can I start a new CoP?

AASL loves to hear from members with suggestions for new CoP, so please submit your suggestion by filling out this form. BUT we do suggest that you try at least one of the current CoP to get a sense of the community and what it may have to offer. If your suggestion is accepted by the Member Engagement Committee to move forward, you will be contacted for input. Having an example of how the other CoPs have structured their communities will help you in getting started.

How is a CoP different from an AASL Section?

An AASL Section is defined as a group “who represent a special field of activity clearly distinct from that of any existing section,” and is much more formal than a CoP. Sections have a minimum required member number, elect leaders, and have formal meetings. CoPs are built around a shared need and not a specific role/activity (educator of school librarians, supervisor, independent school). CoPs are also intended to be fluid and timely with the ability to come and go as the needs of the membership shift.