[Web4lib] ALA Group on Virtual Communities and Libraries

[Lori Bell]

Hello, we are trying to start an ALA membership group on virtual communities and libraries.   This email contains information on the proposed group and a link to a petition we hope you will sign and mail to ALA in support of this initiative. 
   
  Virtual Communities and Libraries   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. 
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  Statement of Purpose   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. 
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  More Background for VCL   From the DRAFT proposal to COO: 
  "Within the past year and a half a wide variety of libraries, library workers, and library-related organizations have begun exploring, working, and creating library services in virtual worlds, such as Second Life, Teen Second Life, Active Worlds, Whyville, and others. Just as real-world libraries serve communities of users, these initiatives in virtual worlds are striving to serve the residents of these virtual worlds. An ALA VCL MIG will foster and facilitate communication, collaboration, and the sharing of best practices within the organizational structure and communication channels of ALA." 
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  Designated Organizers for VCL   Every MIG requires ALA members to serve as the volunteer 'designated organizers'. These individuals create the Statement of Purpose and are the coordinators for meetings, programs and discussions had by the MIG. They facilitate a framework in which the desires and will of the members organized around an idea can be heard. The designated organizers for this MIG are: 
  Lori Bell, Director of Innovation 
Alliance Library System 
  Tom Peters, CEO 
TAP Information Services
816.228.6406
tpeters at tapinformation.com 
  Kitty Pope, Executive Director 
Alliance Library System 
  Matt Gullett, Emerging Technology Manager 
Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County 
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  About Member Initiative Groups   Member Initiative Groups are defined in the ALA Handbook as 'formed when a group of ALA members identifies a common concern for some aspect of librarianship and wisheds to establish a short-term mechanism to meet about or to address that concern.' Two other MIGs are currently in action within ALA: "Libraries Fostering Civic Engagement Membership" and "Information Commons". 
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  To Sign the Petition   The member Petition to establish the Virtual Communities and Libraries MIG is a .pdf located at http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/membership/memberstories/filesformembership.htm 
  The Petition requires member signature(s) in ink and that the be returned by mail to ALA. Instructions for mailing or dropping off during Annual Conference are on the Petition. 
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  Please sign and send the petition to:  John Chrastka
Manager for Membership Development
American Library Association
50 East Huron Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611



Lori Bell
Director of Innovation
Alliance Library System
600 High Point Lane
East Peoria, IL 61611
(309)694-9200 ext. 2128
lbell at alliancelibrarysystem.com
 
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