Public Libraries Committee Annual Report 2018

submitted by Kristie Nelsen, Chair

Current Roster

  • Kristie Nelsen, Chair (2022)
  • Laurie Bailey (2021)
  • Margaret Gilmore (2022)
  • Julie Hanify (2021)
  • Steve Kemple (2019)
  • Steve Landstreet (2022)
  • Alyssa Resnick (2020)
  • Blair Whittington (2019)

List of Previous Goals and Progress Made

  • Increase awareness of public library-related issues within MLA.
    • The PLC continues to actively participate in MLA meetings, publications, and activities to advocate for issues of significance to public libraries. PLC member serve on various MLA committees and groups to ensure that public libraries are included in the discussion.
  • Promote discussion of public library issues.
    • The PLC has shared the data collected in the 2017 survey of public librarians to further advance discussion of public library issues and will continue to do so in the coming year.
  • Organize a tour of the Multnomah County Library central branch or other cultural location of interest to public music librarians, to be held during the MLA 2018 Annual Meeting.
    • Nine librarians toured the Multnomah County Library central branch during the annual meeting.

List of Future Goals

  • Increase awareness of MLA to the wider public library community. Using survey data as a guide, the PLC will look for ways to share information about MLA and demonstrate its value in order to engage and interest new public library members.
  • Promote discussion of public library issues within MLA. The PLC will continue to advocate for and increase the number of opportunities for discussion and professional development within MLA that are relevant to public librarians.
  • Organize a tour of the St. Louis Public Library central branch or other cultural location of interest to public music librarians, to be held during the MLA 2019 Annual Meeting.

    • All three goals align with the goal area related to membership, objectives 1 and 2: Objective 1: Increase outreach efforts to members from underrepresented groups. Objective 2: Increase outreach efforts to organizations that are underrepresented, including those whose holdings reflect many types of music.