Interested in volunteering for a CJCLS committee (the Community & Junior College Libraries Section of ACRL), but want to learn more before you commit?
Join us for our final Volunteering Info Session!
You walk away with a good sense of the benefits of volunteering from those who have served on specific committees, the nature of the volunteer commitment, and the process for completing the submission process.
This session will be held via Zoom: Monday, February 13, 2023 – 1:00pm-2:00pm Eastern – register here!
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Not able to attend? Below is basic information about volunteering with CJCLS: Please consider volunteering for one of these great committees of the Community and Junior College Libraries Section of ACRL (CJCLS):
- Awards Committee
- Communications Committee
- Conference Program Planning 2024 Committee
- Committee on Library Staff Education
- Membership Committee
- Mentoring Program Committee
- Nominating 2024 Committee
- OER Committee
- Scholarly Research Committee
The deadline to volunteer is February 28, 2023, for appointments that begin July 1, 2023.
If you have questions, contact: Linda Miles, CJCLS Vice-Chair, Hostos Community College, lmiles.librarian@gmail.com
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ACRL seeks to offer appointments to volunteers who are interested in leadership and service opportunities as we continue to build diverse and inclusive communities in the Association. To support that effort and advance ACRL's Core Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, www.ala.org/acrl/aboutacrl/strategicplan/stratplan, we continue to include optional demographic questions on the volunteer form as we have since 2017. "The Association will acknowledge and address historical racial inequities; challenge oppressive systems within academic libraries; value different ways of knowing; and identify and work to eliminate barriers to equitable services, spaces, resources, and scholarship.""
Thank you for volunteering to contribute your time and expertise to ACRL! Our association relies on the time and energy of our member volunteers, and we value the talent they invest in accomplishing the work of the Association.
The rewards of volunteering
Volunteering offers many benefits and opportunities. You can:
- connect with others in the profession who are passionate and committed to academic librarianship,
- learn from those who share similar professional concerns and interests,
- network with information professionals in higher education,
- become part of a community of academic and research librarians,
- gain insights into the profession,
- enhance your leadership skills through group facilitation and project management,
- discover new ways to work,
- expand your awareness and understanding of the value of academic libraries in higher education,
- influence and advance the work of the association and the profession, and
- promote excellence within the profession.
The appointment process
Appointments are made at the division and section level, and through the editorial board process (see editorial board section below). Section vice-chairs are responsible for committee appointments for the year they will serve as chair. The ACRL vice-president is responsible for committee appointments at the division level for the year they serve as president. The ACRL Appointments Committee assists the vice-president in an advisory capacity. Division-level committees are created to conduct the work of the Board, and each committee crafts an annual work plan in consultation with their Board and Staff liaisons to accomplish their charged activities and responsibilities.
Current committee members whose terms conclude at the 2023 ALA Annual Conference should submit a new volunteer form if they wish to be considered for re-appointment. The online volunteer form closes February 28, 2023, and most committee appointment offers will be sent by May 2023.
Members of all ACRL committees, task forces, and similar bodies are expected to fully participate in the work of the group. Please note that face-to-face attendance at conferences is not required and committee work can be completed virtually throughout the year.
Core Commitment to Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
ACRL has made a Core Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, www.ala.org/acrl/aboutacrl/strategicplan/stratplan. Appointments should seek to offer leadership and service opportunities to members with this commitment in mind. Underrepresented colleagues should be offered opportunities wherever possible, in order to help ACRL acknowledge and address historical racial inequities; challenge oppressive systems within academic libraries; value different ways of knowing; and identify and work to eliminate barriers to equitable services, spaces, resources, and scholarship.
Factors influencing appointments
These guidelines, developed by a Board Working Group, are intended to help ACRL members understand which priorities are considered in appointing members to volunteer positions at the division level. These guidelines are not intended to serve as a strict rubric. Generally, the Vice-President, Appointments Committee, and section Vice-Chairs should approach appointments with a holistic perspective, seeking overall balance in service to the association's goals and priorities.
- Evidence of prospective committee member's interest and expertise.
- Seek geographic diversity on committees and sections. This can include international representation, and/or it can include representation from different regions of the United States.
- Seek diversity in types of institutions represented on committees and sections. Candidates from public, private, and non-educational (research) institutions, consortia, and other institutions should be included, as well as candidates from community colleges, four-year college and universities, and research and doctoral universities. Historically, community college representation is particularly needed in order to ensure equitable representation for colleagues employed in community colleges.
- Consider diversity in roles and duties represented on committees and sections. Candidates from all areas of academic and research librarianship should be considered for appointment, although in some cases it may be important to appoint candidates with particular expertise to carry out particular duties.
- Seek to balance seniority, experience, and tenure in committees and sections.
- Recommendation from the current committee chair. (Source: Board, Midwinter 2009)
Although the appointment process may reflect the priorities of the vice-president/president-elect and section vice-chairs, several factors are always considered:
- Evidence of interest and expertise. Have prospective volunteers visited and/or posted to the committee's ALA Connect community, introduced themselves to the chair, or attended the meetings (virtual or face-to-face)? Do they have knowledge and/or previous experience that relates to the work of the committee? Have they indicated their interest on the volunteer form?
- Demographics and composition of committee. A balance is sought with respect to type of library (community college, college, or university), geographic representation, ethnic diversity, and gender. Those who have not had the opportunity to serve on an ACRL committee are encouraged to volunteer as it is important to add new perspectives.
- Recommendations from the current committee chair. Current committee chairs are asked to suggest prospective members.
- Willingness to participate in the work of the committee. Volunteers should be prepared to engage in the committee work year-round.
The final appointments are the prerogative of the ACRL president-elect and the section vice-chairs.
How to apply
- Identify the committee(s) that interest you.
ACRL committees with their charges, and ALA Connect Communities are listed on the ACRL Directory of Leadership, www.ala.org/acrl/aboutacrl/directoryofleadership. Check out the committee's space in ALA Connect, where documents, meetings, discourses, and the work of the committees are posted. Attend virtual committee meetings throughout the year or attend face-to-face meetings at the ALA Annual Conference to decide if their activities interest you. Talk/email with committee members. Express your interest to the committee chair. Ask about current projects and explain how you might contribute to the work of the committee.
- Submit a volunteer form (Chrome or Firefox are the recommended browsers for accessing the form).
Volunteer forms should be submitted by February 28, 2023. You will be asked to login using your ALA member ID and the password you created. Be sure that you are a current ALA/ACRL member before attempting to login.
To volunteer for a division-level or section committee, complete the online volunteer form at www.ala.org/CFApps/volunteer/form.cfm.
If you experience issues logging into the form, please contact ALA Member Relations & Services at 1-800-545-2433 to check your membership status.
- Volunteer again and check out other opportunities.
If you are not appointed, volunteer again next year. In addition, continue to explore ACRL's many opportunities to network and connect at www.ala.org/acrl/aboutacrl/getinvolved. Review the many discussion and interest groups. Each group selects a new leader in the spring outside of the volunteer process described above. If you would like to start a new discussion or interest group, contact ACRL Program Officer Lauren Carlton at lcarlton@ala.org.
ACRL section appointments (CJCLS is a "section" of ACRL!)
ACRL sections help members customize their ACRL experience through newsletters, electronic discussion lists, specialized programming, preconferences, and various initiatives. Please visit www.ala.org/acrl/aboutacrl/directoryofleadership/..., to learn more about these great groups. Section vice-chairs appoint members to section committees. Most appointments are made in the spring for terms beginning immediately after the ALA Annual Conference.
If you wish to be considered for a section committee appointment, complete the ACRL volunteer form at www.ala.org/CFApps/volunteer/form.cfm by February 28, 2023. (Chrome or Firefox are the recommended browsers for accessing the form). For more information about CJCLS appointments, please contact the CJCLS vice-chair:
Community and Junior College Libraries Section: Linda Miles, Hostos Community College, lmiles.librarian@gmail.com
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Linda Miles
Assistant Professor - Librarian
Hostos Community College
lmiles.librarian@gmail.com------------------------------
Linda Miles
Assistant Professor - Librarian
Hostos Community College
lmiles.librarian@gmail.com------------------------------