Committees

• Awards Committee
• Government Relations Committee
• Hospitality Committee
• International Relations Committee main page, practices
• Membership Committee
• Networking Committee
• Nominating Committee
• Professional Development Committee
  • Mentoring Subcommittee
• Public Relations Committee
• Publisher Liaisons
• Strategic Planning Committee

General Guidelines

• All SLA unit officers (and committee chairs) must sign the SLA Leadership Code of Responsibility. The Chair distributes these forms at the beginning of each term of office.
• All committee appointments (except the Nominating Committee) are made by the Division Chair. Committee members may be appointed with consultation of the Committee Chair. A call for volunteers may be put out by the Chair, and recruitment suggestions may be made by anyone. (The PAM Chair is in the best position to know of newly interested members willing to serve and has a duty to involve new members in the activities of the division.)
• The term of appointment of Committee Chairs (except for the Awards and Nominating Committees) is normally two years. Sometimes the term may need to be longer to allow for a long learning curve; sometimes it could be shorter. Every effort should be made to cycle new members into the committee and not have the same people serve for many years (terms of service are in any case limited by the PAM Division Governing Document). Whenever possible, the new chair of a committee should have served as a committee member the previous year.
• There are two types of committees, standing (e.g., Membership) and ad hoc or temporary/special (e.g., Governing Documents). The terms of any ad hoc committee should be established at the same time as the committee. In either case, consult SLA headquarters guidelines (if any) for the committee.
• Committee Chairs should check for and utilize training sessions for their committees at the SLA annual conference and/or handbooks covering their areas.
• The Division will pay incidental expenses of the committees, such as telephone calls and postage, if these will not be borne by the employers of the members. Other expenses may be paid by the Division but must have the approval of the Executive Board before they are incurred. See the Expenses Reimbursement Policy.
• Each Committee Chair should report to the Executive Board and/or the membership at least once a year. The report (or perhaps a shorter version) should also be submitted to the PAM Bulletin. The Committee Chair should also review the Committee entry in the Practices Manual and forward any suggestions or amendments to the Practices Manual Editor.

Awards Committee

Duties are

• to educate government officials about library perspectives on current issues
• to keep PAM members informed regarding pending legislation affecting libraries or freedom of information
• to solicit responses from members on issues and legislation
• to work with SLA's Public Policy Committee
• to identify experts for testimony to government bodies

• To coordinate the Early Bird dinner (on the Saturday evening preceding the annual conference). It is best to select a place that will provide a good atmosphere for informal conversation among members, an opportunity for people to meet new members, and a chance to get to know one another. The dinner is advertised only to PAM members (i.e., not part of the formal conference program). It has worked well the last few years to require payment sent to the Treasurer when making a reservation, to avoid the inconvenience of separate bills, etc.
• To coordinate PAM hospitality suite events (e.g., open houses). Select and provide refreshments in consultation with the Chair and with sponsors if appropriate. Consult previous Committee Chairs for advice.

International Relations Committee main page, practices

Membership Committee

Networking Committee

Nominating Committee

• The Mentoring Subcommittee of the Professional Development Committee facilitates one-on-one learning interactions between PAM members and the inclusion of new members in the activities of the Division. The Subcommittee connects interested members for the purpose of sharing expertise, both in long-term mentoring relationships and short-term skill and knowledge transfer; see Mentoring Services. The Subcommittee also provides oversight and encouragement for participants and acts as a resource for ideas to optimize their interactions. (Approved 7/99)
• See also SLA's Mentorship Handbook.

• To promote the PAM division to SLA headquarters and to SLA non-PAM members, to other subject-related associations, and to relevant publishers and vendors (in cooperation with Publisher Liaisons). Activities may include:
  • Distributing news releases and publicity for activities of the Division, such as meetings, elections, special projects and awards.
  • Maintaining a distribution list for press releases.
  • Writing and submitting Press Releases to SLA's Information Outlook
  • Preparing a public relations plan, with input and approval from the Board.
  • Originating or arranging for publicity of special librarianship as a profession.
  • Cooperating with Association Public Relations Committee to further the public relations program of the Association.
• To recruit new PAM members, in conjunction with the Membership Committee.
• To coordinate the development/revision of brochure(s) or other items promoting PAM, as directed by the Executive Board.
• To produce annual conference notices, such as session sponsor signs, a list of all division sponsors for display in the PAM suite, small schedules ("dance cards") of PAM-sponsored events.

• This committee is in no way responsible for fund-raising but should coordinate its activities, when appropriate, with the Chair-Elect, who is in charge of fund-raising.
• See also SLA's Public Relations Handbook and Public Relations Chairs Resources.

Publisher Liaisons

Duties:

• To develop and recommend a strategic plan to the Board.
• To review the Strategic Plan for appropriate revisions.
• To facilitate discussion and selection of PAM goals and priorities by PAM membership and leadership.
• To work in conjunction with the Executive and Advisory Boards to develop surveys and gather member input to inform planning and goal-setting.
• To monitor progress under the current plan.

PAM Practices Manual Editor: Kristine Fowler, fowler@math.umn.edu

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Page last updated: October 11, 2004