PNLA Quarterly, Vol. 62 No.3 Spring 1998

Discussion Papers:
Mission, Targets, Focus, and Board Structure

Prepared by: Gordon Ray, President, and Karen Labuik, Alberta Representative

MISSION

To facilitate and encourage communication, networking and information exchange between libraries, library workers and library/information advocates for the development and support of libraries, librarianship and regional writing and publishing in the Pacific Northwest.

TARGETS

PNLA must position itself to gain the support of senior library management/administrators. It must provide services and programs that are identified by this group as useful to them and/or to their staff. Only with this in place will the necessary financial and other institutional support be provided for personnel to be active in PNLA. In order to have active support we must deliver useful, regionally focused services.

The adoption of regional services, activities, programs etc., lends itself to such levels of endorsement. We must think at a higher level than we have in the past when considering programs and services. Our activities should reflect a concern for the big picture, those matters which reflect on the future viability of libraries as a whole rather than on a particular aspect of library service.

FOCUS

PNLA must have a regional focus in order to fulfill its mission and meet the needs of the Pacific Northwest Region. This does not mean that every activity, article, program or workshop must be regional but that the core of any activity must be focused on the effects, benefits, etc., to the PNW region or provide coordinated information on the regional picture. Activities which would support this focus would include:

PNLA as a hub for information sharing and networking
PNLA web page as a Library Association link for all types of library associations in the PNW region and appropriate national associations, i.e. ALA, CLA, LA etc. and for state and provincial libraries in the PNW. The web page must have a substantially increased role and be given the necessary resources to achieve this.
PNLA develop a coordinated continuing education database for the PNW and facilitate the sharing of programs where feasible and desirable.
PNLA to work for the establishment of recognised continuing education credits for CE programs.
PNLA establish a regional focus for Intellectual Freedom issues and support and develop an Intellectual Freedom Award.
PNLA to develop a regional advocacy support role. While the advocacy programs in the US and Canada will remain different due to necessity, PNLA could develop regional themes for library advocacy and produce materials focussed on the PNW.
PNLA trade shows focused on regional publishing, book selling and writing. Join the PNW Booksellers Association.
PNLA act as a library marketing clearinghouse for collection and distribution of marketing and promotional activities in the PNW. Develop and market to member associations, also act as a broker for sales and distribution between members.
PNLA joint conferences - PNLA could fulfill the role of developing conference programs that add a regional focus to the conference theme so that there is something that is identifiably PNLA within the conference rather than a vague joint sponsorship.

The refocusing of PNLA and the adoption of new or expanded regional roles will mean a radical restructuring of the responsibilities of the Board and the active membership and a realignment of resources, financial and otherwise.

BOARD STRUCTURE and its relationship to State and Provincial associations

The structure of PNLA must be developed to meet the mission of the association. The final structure will therefore depend on the outcomes of the present review process. The structure must also be flexible enough to address changing member needs and priorities.

PNLA Board

The structure of the board is inextricably linked to the member State and Provincial Associations. Two basic models seem worth exploring.

Basically the current structure with some modifications.
1. State & Provincial Assns appoint members to PNLA Board for 2-year terms based on the PNLA year.
2. State & Provincial Assns pay membership fee to PNLA.
3. State & Provincial Assns board members carry a reporting role for their association and a responsibility for a member forum (interest group), and other board duties.
4. State & Provincial Assns agree to participate in joint conferences with PNLA on a rotating basis. PNLA will adjust its conference time to meet the times of the member associations.
5. PNLA acts as a communications conduit for State and Provincial Assns--coordinates communications across the PNW region through the Quarterly or other publication, the Listserv and the Web Page.
A new federated structure.
1. PNLA becomes a federation of the member State and Provincial Associations.
2. State & Provincial representatives become the PNLA Board and officer responsibilities rotate amongst them annually. It would then be appropriate for the PNLA Board positions to be elected at the state and provincial level. This could also present problems because of the difficulty that all associations have in attracting candidates for office.
3. State & Provincial Assns board members carry a reporting role for their association and a responsibility for a member forum (interest group), and other board duties.
4. State & Provincial Assns agree to participate in joint conferences with PNLA on a rotating basis. PNLA will adjust its conference time to meet the times of the member associations.
5. PNLA acts as a communications conduit for State and Provincial Assns--coordinates communications across the PNW region through the Quarterly or other publication, the Listserv and the Web Page.