PNLA Quarterly, Vol. 63 No.2 Winter 1999
PNLA ACTION PLAN--AUGUST 1998
Mission Statement
To facilitate and encourage communication, networking and information exchange for the development and support of libraries and librarianship in the Pacific Northwest.Membership and Services
PNLA serves the needs of library workers at all levels, libraries and librarianship by: providing regionally focused services, activities and programs important to the work of libraries and of the library community; and reflecting a concern for those matters which affect the future viability of libraries.Focus
PNLA's focus is on meeting the needs of the Pacific Northwest Region. The core of the association's activities is focused on the effects, benefits, etc., to the Pacific Northwest Region and on providing coordinated information on the regional picture.Structure
The position of 2nd Vice-President is eliminated.The Editor of the PNLA Quarterly becomes a non board position compensated with financial support for attendance at the annual conference comparable to that of elected officers, instead of the current stipend.
Officers: President; 1st Vice- President/President Elect; Secretary; Treasurer
State & Provincial Representatives: Appointed for 2-year terms by their associations based on the PNLA year, representatives will carry a reporting role for their association, responsibility for an interest group and other board duties.
Committees & Interest Groups: Redefine their purpose and function and establish new communication guidelines and reporting structures appropriate to their roles.
Implement a financial review to provide a breakdown of the specific costs of providing member services and activities.
Implement a regular review process that examines membership fees and costs every two years.
Communications
Actions
Ist Vice President develops a Communications Strategy/Plan for review.President assumes responsibility for association communications and may appoint members to a communications support team.
Emphasis will be placed on electronic communication with an expansion of the web site including two levels of information, one for general access and one for members only.
Details of Board meetings will be posted on the web site, including location, date and time together with significant agenda items and minutes.
Activities: The following will be investigated further with a decision being made by the Spring 1999 Board Meeting.
PNLA act as a communications conduit for State & Provincial Associations and for regional information sharing and networking by coordinating communications across the Pacific Northwest Region through the PNLA Quarterly, and the Web Site. Regional coordination of information and resources on issues such as Intellectual Freedom, Funding, Outsourcing, Best Practices, etc., will provide a strong base for library activities across the region.PNLA web site to become a library association link for all types of library associations in the Pacific Northwest Region and appropriate national associations, i.e., ALA, CLA, LA etc., and for State and Provincial Libraries in the region.
PNLA act as a library marketing clearinghouse for collection and distribution of marketing and promotional materials and activities. Develop and market to member associations and act as a broker for sales and distribution between members.
Publications
The Web Master becomes a member of the Publications Committee.The PNLA Quarterly will be developed into a more professional journal with an emphasis on articles of regional interest and reprints of significant articles from member association publications by the year 2000.
Investigate the possibility of adding a review section to the PNLA Quarterly for publications about the Pacific Northwest.
Publish Occasional Papers on subjects of regional interest, including: Checklist of Northwest publications, PNLA Membership List, and Regional resources.
Publish a web site newsletter for improved member communication, including board minutes and communications, Committee and Interest Group news, comments from members on board and association activities, job postings, etc.
Publish a web site coordinated calendar of library events, conferences, workshops etc., from across the PNLA region.
Conferences
Conference Planning and Organisation procedures will be reviewed and revised by March 1999.Develop a Conference and Continuing Education Marketing Plan by March 1999, including timelines, guidelines and standards for publicity and promotion.
Conference planning and organisation are the responsibility of the 1st Vice - President based on the theme chosen by the President and working with a local committee. In the case of joint conferences the 1st VP is responsible for negotiating with State & Provincial Associations.
Conference budgeting will allow for funding for the 1st VP to attend conference planning meetings particularly in the case of joint conferences.
PNLA Conferences will be theme or issues based addressing regional issues, concerns, resources and information.
Committees and Interest Groups become the main source of programming for conferences and their roles and activity in the association will be strengthened to support this.
Conferences will have a major Trade Show with a strong regional emphasis.
PNLA will negotiate with State & Provincial Associations to achieve the following: alternating joint conferences with states and provinces, i.e., year 1--PNLA Conference and year 2-- PNLA & State or Provincial Joint Conference. In joint conferences PNLA will: co-sponsor workshops and events that fit within the PNLA regional role; provide specific PNLA workshops addressing regional issues and special events such as the YRCA Award event; ensure regional representation in the Trade Show; change the date of its conference to meet that of the State or Provincial Conference.
Continuing Education
Review and revise the mandate of the Continuing Education Committee and make the chairperson the Continuing Education Coordinator who will also work with the !st VP on conference programming.Survey member CE needs.
Work with professional and para-professional schools to ascertain their needs and the possibilities of joint workshops.
Develop a workshop matrix to enable a workshop to be offered in several locations.
Investigate Distance Education possibilities.
Develop a recognised Continuing Education Credits program for all CE activities.
Develop a CE workshop structure that supports career advancement for members.
Develop a coordinated CE database for the PNLA region including a regional CE calendar and CE resources guide on the PNLA web site.
Work as a facilitator and coordinator for the sharing of CE programs across the region.
YRCA
Review and revise mandate, operations and governance of the award committee to provided clarity and support.Review, revise and clarify provisions for: ownership of the Award within PNLA; and qualifications for participation in the Award
Develop support for the Award by: providing an operations manual for the committee; providing training for State and Provincial YRCA reps; coordinating publicity and public relations activities between states and provinces; reviewing Communications procedures; and implementing annual and financial reports to the PNLA Board and annual reports to the committee chair from state & provincial representatives.
Pacific Northwest Book Award
Establish a Pacific Northwest Book Award for a fiction and a non-fiction title for adults by the year 2000.Produce an annual annotated bibliography of 10 - 30 outstanding Pacific Northwest titles published in that year.
Publish the lists on the PNLA website.
Provide a mandate and structural and organisational support for the implementation and operation of the award.
Work cooperatively with the publishing and bookselling industry in the Pacific Northwest in the development and operation of the award.
Intellectual Freedom Award
Establish an Intellectual Freedom Award by the year 2000 recognizing outstanding efforts in support of Intellectual Freedom by individuals, institutions or companies.Direct the Intellectual Freedom Committee to develop the mandate and structure to support the award and the criteria and selection process for its operation.
Develop funding mechanisms for the award.