Many associations function through the work of volunteer members. YALSA is one of these associations and every year YALSA, with its more than 5000 members, looks for dedicated folks to run for various elected positions on the executive committee and board of directors.
Who finds these candidates? YALSA has a Governance Nominating Committee made up of five dedicated professionals: the immediate past president and four involved members. (I’m one of the five members.)
Each year specific positions are available and each opening has specific requirements based on the description of it and current makeup of the Board. In our quest to find a perfect match for each slot, we look for diversity…in its broadest sense: gender, location, type of library worked/works in, years in the profession, areas of specific expertise, and previous experience. It is this mix on the board that allows YALSA to attract new members and retain long term ones, all the while making sure we are innovative, educational, professional and fun. Because YALSA’s Board of Directors is currently engaged in a Strategic Planning process which aligns itself with an Outcomes Based Planning and Evaluation process as well as with the concepts presented in the its Future of Library Services for and with Teens report, we’re also considering individuals who may have familiarity with either or both.
Our deadline is to have a slate of candidates to present to the YALSA Board for approval by the end of the summer. Our process is to review all volunteer forms that have been submitted and review the requirements for each available slot. We are currently looking for several Board positions including Director-at-Large, Secretary and President. Successful candidates will run for election in the Spring of 2016 and begin their terms during YALSA’s Board III meeting at the Annual 2016 conference in Orlando.
For more information on the responsibilities of each role on the Board, please visit the Governance page which includes some handy FAQs to help get you started. There’s also a series of interviews and podcasts from past Board members in a series on this blog called “Life on the YALSA Board.”
Are you interested, a current member, and ready to put your name forward? Please submit the online nomination form.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Shannon Peterson, Past President and 2016 Governance Nominating Chair at shannon.peterson@gmail.com
