No shelter, if you're looking for shade

Back in November, I wrote about what ALA could do to repair the damaged relationship with its membership and I want to follow-up on this conversation as we move toward ALA's Midwinter Meeting.

If you're ALA Midwinter-bound, I want to encourage you to attend as many of the ALA Council events as your schedule allows. ALA Council always has a gallery for members who wish to attend. And while you can't speak, you can listen to the types of things being discussed at ALA Council and get a sense of who ALA's Councilors are. Since ALA Council fora are also public, I'd encourage you to put those on your calendar as well.

Saturday, Jan. 21st:
8:30-10 pm
ALA Council Forum I
OMNI, Grand Ballroom C

Sunday, Jan. 22nd
8:30-10:30 am
ALA Council I
GWCC, Thomas Murphy Ballroom 3-4

8:30-10 pm
ALA Council Forum II
OMNI, Grand Ballroom C

Monday, Jan. 23rd:
10am-Noon
ALA Council II
GWCC, Thomas Murphy Ballroom 3-4

8:30-10 pm
ALA Council Forum III
OMNI, Grand Ballroom C

Tuesday, Jan. 24th:
9:30-11:30am
ALA Council III
GWCC, Thomas Murphy Ballroom 3-4

It might also be relevant to your interests to attend the candidates forums for both ALA Executive Board and ALA President.

Saturday, Jan. 21st:
5-6 pm
ALA Presidential Candidates' Forum
GWCC, Thomas Murphy Ballroom 3-4

Monday, Jan. 23rd:
12:15-1:15 pm
ALA Executive Board Candidates' Forum
GWCC, Thomas Murphy Ballroom 3-4

Also, ALA holds kitchen table conversations for its members to express ideas and give feedback. Per the ALA scheduler, the focus of this years' conversations will be accessibility for participants in ALA events with physical, mobility, visual, auditory, or cognitive disabilities.

Sunday, Jan. 22nd:
1-2:30pm and 3-4:30 pm
GWCC, B317

Monday, Jan. 23rd:
10:30-Noon, 1-2:30pm, and 3-4:30 pm
GWCC, B317

Finally, the ALA Executive Board is sponsoring a Town Hall on Sunday, January 22nd after the agenda for ALA Council I. The purpose of the event, as stated in the event information is:

The ALA Executive Board invites ALA Council and the ALA membership to join a Town Hall style conversation immediately following the Council meeting I agenda. Many members have expressed their concerns about the effects of the recent election on the positions and advocacy efforts of the Association. Although it follows the first meeting of ALA's governing council, this is a separate forum intended for all interested conference attendees. Please join this professionally facilitated session to share your feedback, concerns, ideas, and aspirations for ALA. We want to hear from you!

It would be great if this meeting was packed with concerned ALA members who want to ensure that the future direction of the Association aligns with our stated values and ethics.

Look, I know that the infrastructure of ALA is boring and not as fun as attending cool sessions and hanging out with the friends that you only see twice a year. But attending meetings like this is a good way to gain awareness of what ALA governance is really working on and to get a good sense of who the people are that we've elected to represent us.

I'll be at as many of these events as I can, and I encourage those of you who are attending ALA Midwinter to make time in your schedule to be there as well.

Stay positive,
Erin