Dear APLA members:
The fall meeting of the APLA executive was held in Dartmouth last Saturday, September 10th. I am delighted to be working with a very committed and dynamic group of individuals. Everyone is charged up and ready to work hard on your behalf...while having fun in the bargain!
I just wanted to share some of the directions our work is taking, to give you an idea of what you may expect in the months ahead. Our focus is on:
· A new look: a new logo (designed by Pamela Maher) will be unveiled shortly.
· Increased communication with members: plans include a revamped website that will allow for more information to be shared and for more frequent refreshing of content. (Thanks to Pamela Maher, Sam Cheng and others for their work on this project.)
· Generating new income (in order to ensure sustainability and the means to develop new APLA programming and member services) : The Communications and Public Relations Committee (led by Pamela Maher) is developing ideas for fun and eco-friendly promotional items that can be sold for profit and used as giveaways. The Membership Committee (led by Ann Smith) is reviewing membership fees with the intention of bringing recommendations forward to the 2012 OGM.
· Improved – and new - services, programs and benefits: Some of these will come through our involvement with the Partnership. Keep an eye open for news of member discounts and a much livelier offering from the Education Institute (fuelled with ideas coming from our own Continuing Education Committee led by Joanne Smyth).
· New ways for members to get involved: Stay tuned for news of a contest that will put your writing skills to work!
These are just some of the items that were under discussion at our meeting. More details to follow as we move forward on these various initiatives.
Best wishes to all at this busy time of year!
Jocelyne
___________________________
Jocelyne Thompson
President
Atlantic Provinces Library Association
Your Executive includes (with thanks to those organizations that support their involvement in APLA):
VP/President Elect Lou Duggan of Saint Mary’s University
Past President Sarah Gladwell of the Saint John Free Public Library
Secretary Debbie Costelo of the Nova Scotia Community College
Treasurer Bill Slauenwhite of Novanet
VP, Membership Ann Smith of Acadia University
VP, Newfoundland and Labrador Tina Murphy of the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries
VP, New Brunswick Christin Sheridan of the York Regional Library
VP, Prince Edward Island Trina O’Brien-Leggott of the Confederation Centre Public Library
VP, Nova Scotia Sharon Haley-Mancini of the Bedford Public Library
President Jocelyne Thompson of the University of New Brunswick