azlaplanningdocument

Communication

From AZLA Planning Document

COMMUNICATION

 

GOAL: AzLA RECOGNIZES THAT IT IS CRITICAL TO THE SURVIVAL OF AN ORGANIZATION FOR ITS MEMBERS TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY, AND WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AT ALL LEVELS OF THE ORGANIZATION.

 

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I. OBJECTIVE: Current successful methods of communication Newsletter, Webpage, Email and Listservs should be continued and new methods investigated.

 

a. NEWSLETTER: The AzLA Newsletter will be published ten times a year and posted to the organization’s website.

 

RESPONSIBILITY: Communications Committee

BEGIN: Ongoing

COMPLETE: Ongoing.

 

Communications Chair, 2007:  The newsletter is continuing on its schedule of 10 times a year.  For 11 months, it has been published two or more days early (before the 1st of the month).   I think the newsletter should be relevant to all fields of librarianship.

TLD 2007 Because Debra LaPlante attends all of the TLD meetings and is an excellent writer, I appoint her to be the teacher librarian columnist so that there is continual information about TLs in the newsletter.

 

b. NEWSLETTER/WEBPAGE: A schedule of the publication dates of the newsletter will be posted on the web and an email blast will be sent to all members each time the newsletter is published.

 

RESPONSIBILITY: Communications Committee working with the Association Management

BEGIN: January 2005

COMPLETE: Ongoing

 

2007 Chair:  The website--under Publications and under Communications Committee--explains the publication dates of the newsletter, but I will put the actual dates and deadlines for it.  This will make it clearer.  An email blast is sent to members with two ways of looking up the newsletter online and with teasers and highlights to encourage people to read it.

 

c. WEBPAGE: The Communications Committee will periodically review and update the 2001 guidelines for promoting and supporting web contributions from AzLA units and will continue those efforts.

 

RESPONSIBILITY: Communications Committee, all AzLA units

BEGIN: Ongoing

COMPLETE: Ongoing.

 

TLD send updates for their portion of the AzLA website frequently.

 

2007 Chair:  This last year, I reviewed the guidelines and posted them under Publications and Communications Committee.  Regarding web contributions, very few of the units are sending me updates.  I put the officer names and addresses on each page, but that is all there is on a lot of pages.  I need the units to update their pages and send changes to me.

TLD 2007 On 12/2, I have attached and also sent the latest TLD Board Members or Officers.TLD BoardPos08.doc 

TLD 2008 Listserv used most; TLD blog started in April; not many discussions

 

Planning Forum 2008: All AzLA Units will be encouraged to frequently update their individual webpages to maintain currency and validity of information to Unit members.

 

RESPONSIBILITY: Communications Committee, all AzLA units

BEGIN: TBD - pending web redesign and flexibility of content management system

COMPLETE: Ongoing.

 

 

d. EMAIL: The Association Management  will continue to support the Executive Board email lists as a valuable communication tool for the Executive Board, ensuring that the lists are viable, and that the membership directory is updated and that all sort fields are working.

 

RESPONSIBILITY: Executive Board working with the Association Management

BEGIN: Ongoing

COMPLETE: Ongoing.

 

 

AzLA will increase the use of electronic communications by using such features as “member blast” emails and email lists.

 

RESPONSIBILITY: Executive Board

BEGIN: May 2004

COMPLETE: Ongoing

 

e. LISTSERVS:

 

The Communications Committee will promote use of the AzLA Division and Interest Group Listservs.

RESPONSIBILITY: Communications Committee, AzLA unit lists

BEGIN: Ongoing

COMPLETE: Ongoing.

 

TLD had developed and maintains an active listserv.

5/25/07 - All Divisions and Interest Groups now have a listserv

2007 Communications Chair:  I have an encouraging blurb on the website home page about the listservs.  I also have information on the listservs under Publications and in a link on the Committees, etc., page.  I could put a list in the newsletter, also, on the back page. 

 

f. BLOGS

Promote awareness of existing and new blogs via the AzLA webpage.  Investigate menu of options for subscribing to links and obtaining RSS feeds (through content management system as possible).

RESPONSIBILITY: Communications Committee, AzLA unit lists

BEGIN: Ongoing

COMPLETE: Ongoing.

TLD 2008 TLD blog started in April; not many discussions

 

 

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II. OBJECTIVE: As needed, survey members to make sure that AzLA is meeting the needs of its members.

 

 

a. The Executive Board will decide when the next survey should be done.

 

RESPONSIBILITY: Executive Board

BEGIN: Ongoing, Review in July annually

COMPLETE: Ongoing

 

Pres-Elect 07- As of July 07 it has not been determined when and if we will be conducting a survey. Perhaps, working with the Membership Committee to create a members survey can determine how the association can best serve its members.  

 

Pres-08 - Planning to implement survey.

 

b. When a survey is conducted, members of the Executive Board and the Chairs of divisions and interest groups will be asked to submit two questions each for the survey.

 

RESPONSIBILITY: Executive Board, Division and Interest Group Chairs

BEGIN: As needed

COMPLETE: As needed

 

Pres-Elect 07- Will be determined after next survey is set.  

 

 

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III. OBJECTIVE: Identify other library associations and other organizations affiliated with libraries and promote communication and cooperation between those groups and AzLA.

 

a. AzLA will identify other local library associations and other organizations affiliated with libraries.

 

RESPONSIBIITY: Executive Board

BEGIN: 2006

COMPLETE: December 2006

 

TLD works in partnership with the Az State Library. We work and collaborate with the public libraries in our area. We have invited (through the state library) the public librarians to attend our meeting and workshop on ONEBOOK. TLD Grand Canyon Readers Award committee chairs are presenting at the Az Reading conference in February. TLD 2007 February meeting preceded by Ann Ewbank's informative power point program ONEBOOK in the Schools: Weedflower. Ann collaborated with librarian from ASU West Fletcher Library who taught attendees the Japanese art of origami. The State Library provided each with a complimentary copy of Weedflower. Preceding, during and after AzLA Conference 2007 TLD presentation of Reach Out and Touch Someone, TLD collaborated with Washington State Rhona Klein and Betty Marcoux and librarians and paraprofessional at the Phoenix Public Library.

 

Pres-Elect 07- Executive Board continues to work very closely with the State Library. There was a mention of marketing our annual conference to the neighboring states.  

 

b. All AzLA Units will collect the contact information for the associations and other entities, and make contact and explore mutually beneficial partnerships.

 

RESPONSIBILITY: All AzLA Units

BEGIN: January 2007

COMPLETE: Ongoing 

Planning Forum 2008 - suggested changes made to shift responsibility to Units and expand into new partnerships.

 

c. AzLA will determine what kinds of cooperation (e.g. make sure meetings do not conflict, promote each other’s events, common issues, joint conferences) might be advantageous that would promote each other’s missions, goals and objectives and a regular exchange of information (newsletters, reciprocal institutional memberships/affiliates). 

 

RESPONSIBILITY: Executive Board

BEGIN: January 2007

COMPLETE: Ongoing

 

TLD 2007 has attached their Meeting Schedule 2007-2008 collaborating with library associations and other organizations.

2007-2008 TLD Revmeeting schedule.doc  Prevent conflicts with Gardner's Books, Language Literacy at ASU, Intl Reading Assn., IBBY in Tucson  on the first Saturdays of each month August through May

Pres-Elect 07-Need to determine the feasibilty of this activity and create list of contacts with which we want to work/communication with.   

 

Communications Chair 2007:  I can put a link to other U.S. libraries and a link to European and other libraries on the home page, if the Executive Board appr

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IV. OBJECTIVE: AzLA will develop a consistent image to use in all communications and promotions.

 

a. Incorporate branding in a consistent manner

 

RESPONSIBILITY: Executive Board/Communications Committee/Association Management/President/President-elect

BEGIN: May 2007

COMPLETE: Ongoing

 

Pres-Elect 07- AzLA logo determined. Consistent image/logo discussion to take place on July 27th 2007.

 

Communications Chair 2007:  This will be great.  It is long overdue.

 

President 08 - Consistent image discussion in conjunction with the web redesign will take place July 25, 2008.