The group met 1 time this reporting period.
After reviewing the current PLA Strategic Plan, please tell us:
Describe the current work of this committee and how it supports our strategic goals. Include work accomplished, decisions made, and any recommended follow-up actions.
The Advisory Group held its first meeting in October. Of the ten members in the advisory group, only three responded to the Doodle poll and only two attended the meeting. Despite this low turnout we were able to discuss some potential projects that would support the PLA's strategic goals, particularly in regards to professional growth and organizational excellence.
Some of the ideas discussed & considered are:
– A Vendor Directory: A comprehensive listing of technology vendors/services for public libraries and potentially a platform for candid feedback and reviews from of those vendors from PLA members.
– Tech 101 Resources: Three potential resources identified here were 1) a glossary of basic technology terms used in public; 2) individualized tech help sessions for members; and 3) potential Zoom "open hours" meetings for PLA members to drop-in and discuss technology or ask questions/advice.
– RFP Templates: Create a collection of boilerplate RFP (Requests for Proposal) templates.
– Tech Competencies: Perhaps revisit a past project of creating a list of tech competencies that staff at different levels are expected to understand.
Likely, given the low activity of the group, we will narrow down these ideas to just one or two to pursue. I aim to schedule another meeting in January. If responses to the Doodle poll are again low on ALA Connect, I will individually email advisory group members.
Do you see opportunities to better align committee work with those goals?
There are opportunities for this advisory group to do more with increased member-at-large activity.
What recommendations do you have for in-coming committee members? Are there particular streams of
work in progress to be carried over into the new committee year? (January–June reporting period only)
n/a
What specific activities will this committee undertake over the next six months to support that alignment? (July–December reporting period only)
Are there other PLA or ALA committees whose partnership and collaboration would accelerate meeting PLA strategic goals?
The Digital Literacy Advisory Group would potentially be worth collaborating with, especially on the goal of professional development.
Is there anything else about your committee experience you’d like to share?
Submitted by Michael Bartolomeo on 12/17/2024