ALA Member Initiative Groups

"Virtual Communities and Libraries is a proposed ALA Member Initiative Group (MIG) currently soliciting signatures from ALA members interested in seeing a formal group within the Association formed around the role and visibility of libraries and library workers in virtual communities. These signatures will be presented on June 26, 2007 to the ALA Committee On Organizations(COO) at the ALA Annual Conference in Washington DC....

The 'Statement of Purpose' for Virtual Communities and Libraries will be presented to COO for their consideration, provided that at least 100 ALA members sign and return the petition. The Statement reads:

To provide a group within ALA for members interested in fostering the practice of library work, the visibility of libraries and library workers, and the extension of library services within online social networks, virtual worlds, and other communities of intention. To provide a mechanism for sharing experiences and practices in-person or virtually through programming or asynchronous communications. To encourage wider participation by the profession and the association in virtual worlds. and To establish a forum across all types of libraries and at all levels of library employment concerned with the development of library services in emerging social networks, virtual worlds, and other communities of intention. This group is open to all members."

If you'd like to see a member group talking about this stuff, consider printing out the form, signing it, and sending it in. Alternatively, if you're going to be at the Annual conference, you can come by the ALA Membership Pavilion on the exhibit floor to sign the petition (booth 2525, which will be near the TechSource gaming booth!).

Unfortunately, the member-generated by-laws dictate that this stuff has to be done on paper. Therefore, only members can change this.