Standing Committees 

Membership

Chair - Mary Lewis                                                                                                                                         

membership@njasl.org

The chair of this committee will promote membership in the Association and work with the chairs of the various subcommittees to encourage and promote membership in the Association at various career stages. The Membership Committee Chair will maintain the official database of all members of the Association and send out dues notices and acknowledgements to the members each year. The committee will also: notify the electronic discussion list Chair of new email addresses and changes of email addresses; send the Charter, Private and Independent Schools Liaison a current list of charter, private, and independent school members; notify the New Member Orientation Chair of new members who request mentoring; notify committee and subcommittee chairs of interested volunteers.

• Working with Membership subcommittees, review Membership procedures and policies.  Prepare a document that can be added to the New Member Orientation folder to facilitate transitions.

• Work with the PR Social Media committee to create a social media campaign to increase membership.  Include membership article showing value added of membership in each issue of Bookmark. 

• Target lapsed members with incentives to returning to NJASL using personal communication.

• Work with Webmaster to update membership directory.

• Work with Volunteer Coordinator to review volunteer pipeline to gather volunteer data and assign new volunteers to committees conducting meaningful work in the association.

• Work with Members-at-Large to solicit self-promotional ideas from members.  With permission, gather and share on a member platform.

• Work with the County Affiliates Liaison to communicate membership news to the County Affiliates.

• Work with Standing Conference Committee to create a 1 to 1 listening session at fall conference to hear concerns from members.

• Work with Student Affiliates Chair to connect with student affiliate groups at state universities to promote membership.

Membership subcommittee - Charter, Private, Independent School Liaison

Laura Doughty                                                                                                                                                

CIPschools@njasl.org

This subcommittee will promote NJASL membership among charter, private and independent school library media specialists.

• Submit updates to the Bookmark Editor to communicate information for CIP schools.

• Connect with the Awards Chair to promote NJASL Awards to the CIP schools.

• Work with the Membership Chair to promote NJASL membership. 

Membership subcommittee - County Affiliates Liaison
Lisa Straubinger                                                                                                                                             

counties@njasl.org

This subcommittee will assist the development of local associations in unorganized areas, promote membership in the state organization, inform local associations on a regular basis regarding actions of the NJASL Board of Trustees, assist local associations in planning programs and workshops, and regularly forward county news to the Newsletter Editor. 

• Work with the Webmaster and Bookmark Editor to communicate County information to and from counties.  Post county meeting dates on the website.

• Communicate with PD Chair to develop regional and remote professional development opportunities and promote those to county groups.

• Work with the Awards chair to promote NJASL Awards to the county Groups.

• Work with the Membership chair to promote NJASL membership.

• Invite county representatives and emerging leaders to board meetings.

• Work with the Nomination committee to bring new candidates to the board. 

• Coordinate with Standing Conference Committee to create an Engagement Event at the annual Conference.

Membership subcommittee - Credentials
Mary Jane McNally                                                                                                                                         

credentials@njasl.org

This subcommittee will keep NJASL members informed of state requirements for certification as a school library media specialist. This subcommittee will maintain contact with the State of New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) Office of Licensure and Credentials to ensure accurate interpretation of code and to provide input for any changes that might be proposed. This subcommittee will maintain contact with colleges and universities offering programs that lead to certification to inform prospective students and certification candidates. 

• Help develop a statewide SLMS job description.  With input from the Board, draft an official NJASL response to the DOE’s code for certification.

Membership subcommittee - GAFO Administrator
Arielle Goldstein                                                                                                                                             

njasladmin@njasl.org

This subcommittee will set up and maintain all GAFO accounts.

• Ensure all GAFO accounts are set up, and create a database of users. 

• Post FAQs on website and share via communication streams (Bookmark, social media, etc). 

• Work with Membership Chair to ensure that only members have access to GAFO Group and bookmark and archives. 

• Periodically review levels of administrative access to website.

Membership subcommittee - New Member Orientation and Mentoring
Michelle McGreivey                                                                                                                                        

mentoring@njasl.org

This subcommittee will coordinate with the Membership Committee, Student Affiliate, and collaborate with the NJDOE staff and the County Affiliates Liaison to provide orientation and mentoring programs for new school library media specialists. 

• Share Orientation materials with new members.

• Work with the Volunteer Coordinator to bring new members to volunteer opportunities within NJASL.

• Coordinate with Student Affiliate to get students and new librarians involved and to gain input from students and new librarians on what they want or need from a mentor relationship.

Membership subcommittee - NJASL-R

Leslie Blatt                                                                                                                                                      

njaslr@njasl.org

This subcommittee will promote continued membership in NJASL among retired professionals, assist in planning programs and workshops, and may represent NJASL at official functions. 

• Work with the Membership Chair to promote and increase NJASL Membership and identify new retirees.

• Find volunteer opportunities for retirees to participate in NJASL, beyond Fall Conference.

• Work with Awards Chair to review documentation of past award recipients.  Prepare a complete list to be featured on the website.

Membership subcommittee - Student Affiliate

Jacquelyn Tasker                                                                                                                                           

student@njasl.org

This subcommittee will work with student groups to increase awareness of and promote membership in NJASL. 

• Work with Membership Chair to connect with student affiliate groups at state universities to promote membership.

• Coordinate with New Member Chair to connect with new members and library students to share value of membership and gain input from students on mentor relationships.

• Work with Volunteer Coordinator to connect with new members and library students to share value of membership, encourage involvement, and provide incentives for joining a committee.  Identify volunteer opportunities and promote those to students.

• Organize a social get together for student members at NJASL Fall Conference.

• Collaborate with Professional Development Committee to develop a workshop on job searching and general interview tips.

• Work with Awards Chair to promote awards to student members.

Membership subcommittee - Volunteer Coordinator

Kim Zito                                                                                                                                                           

volunteers@njasl.org

This subcommittee will work with members who have reached out for meaningful work with NJASL.  Matching committee opportunities with membership interests will be the goal of this position.

• Connect with other Committee Chairs to identify needs for member support.

• Work with the Registrar to identify members looking to volunteer with NJASL in various capacities.

• Coordinate with Student Affiliate, Members-at-Large, and Membership Chair to develop a pipeline to gather volunteer data and assign new volunteers to committees conducting meaningful work in the association.

Professional Development and Resources Committee (PDR) 

Donna Swift (Co-Chair)                                                                                                                                  

pd@njasl.org

                                                                                                                                     

This committee will propose and, at the direction of the Board, develop resources designed to increase the capacity of NJASL members to provide additional library media services. The committee will anticipate and respond to educational directives and initiatives by preparing and publishing relevant materials for dissemination to the membership and other appropriate groups. 

• Develop a schedule of PD communication for 3, 6, 9, 12 months (including both face to face and virtual opportunities). 

• Using member responses for PD wants and needs, create PD opportunities, beyond Fall Conference, (ex. webinars) to increase value to members. Consider regional and remote events.

• Serve on an ad-hoc committee, along with the Past President and the Professional Outreach Chair to cultivate relationships that will secure new meeting spaces for Board meetings and Trainings.

• Coordinate with Standards Chair to develop and share training.

• Communicate with County Affiliate Chair to promote upcoming PD opportunities to county groups. 

• Work with the Bookmark editor to provide PD resources/news to members. 

• Provide input to Members-at-Large for Spring Association Meeting to determine upcoming trends in PD and best practices. 

• Work closely with Awards Chair to ensure that all awards winners turnkey their award opportunity into professional development for NJASL. 

PDR subcommittee - Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Ellen Pozzi                                                                                                                                                      

edi@njasl.org

This subcommittee will investigate problems unique to urban school library media specialists and their media centers. It will promote the establishment of library media centers in all urban schools and develop programs to assist urban school library media specialists. The subcommittee will keep the NJASL Board of Trustees apprised of the problems and their proposed solutions. 

• Work with the Bookmark editor to provide PD resources/news that will be of interest to diverse library members. 

• Work with the Standing Conference committee to ensure diverse libraries are represented at the conference. 

• Work with the PD Chairs to develop PD opportunities outside the annual conference to serve all libraries. 

• Work with the membership committee to promote membership to all librarians.  To ensure our organization is inclusive and reflective of the diversity of librarians statewide.

• Ensure resources are highlighted and promoted on the website.

• Continue to strengthen our partnerships with AECT, ALA, AASL, ISTE, NJEA, DOE, NJLA to create opportunities for collaboration on advocacy projects for urban libraries. 

PDR subcommittee - Intellectual Freedom

Anne Piascik                                                                                                                                                   

if@njasl.org

This subcommittee will serve as a liaison between the Association and the Intellectual Freedom Committees of other groups (e.g. NJLA, ALA, etc.). The subcommittee will educate members and the public about the importance of intellectual freedom and provide support to school library media specialists facing a challenge. 

• Work with the Bookmark Editor to provide articles and resources to share with members. 

• Communicate with the IF subcommittees at our affiliates to create opportunities for collaboration on advocacy projects pertaining to IF. 

• Work with the Awards chair to seek nominations for the NJASL IF award.

PDR subcommittee - Legislative

This work will now be shared by our Legislative Consultant and the Advocacy Team

This subcommittee will keep members informed about state and national judicial and regulatory legislation pertinent to the interests of the Association or its members within the limits imposed on 501(c) 3 organizations. This subcommittee will work closely with the Legislative Consultant to provide information to the NJASL Board and members. 

PDR subcommittee - Standards

Gabrielle Casieri                                                                                                                                             

standards@njasl.org

This subcommittee will maintain communications with our national affiliates to promote and provide training for the implementation and the integration of national standards with state and local curriculum standards.

• Work with the AASL Affiliate and State-Level Leader to promote the new National standards. 

• Continue to offer AASL Standards Curriculum session at Conference and other PD outlets.

• Review curriculum samples collected by Members-at-Large to ensure they adhere to AASL Standards.

• Coordinate with PD Committee, AASL Affiliate, and PR team to recruit teams to implement Past Presidents’ Grant and turnkey training.

Public Relations, Communication, and Publications Committee

Pat Massey

pr@njasl.org 

This committee coordinates with other committees, subcommittees, and the Legislative Consultant to promote the awareness of school library programs through internal and external communication and publications. 

• Work with the Credentials Chair to draft an official NJASL response to DOE’s administrative code for certification. Contribute a voice to develop a statewide SLMS job description. 

• Continue collaboration with President-Elect, Immediate Past-President, Advocacy Chair, Legislative Chair, Professional Outreach, NJLA Liaison, and Affiliates on talking points for a commercial script to create a school library advertisement to market the positive work of school librarians.

• Work with Advocacy, Professional Outreach Committee, AASL State-Level Leader, and Legislative Consultant to develop a standard presentation featuring importance of school librarians and exemplary library programs that can be shared at stakeholder meetings.

• Communicate with Awards Chair to publicize upcoming NJASL award opportunities and winners each year. 

PR subcommittee - Advocacy

Tricina Beebe                                                                                                                                                  

advocacy@njasl.org

This subcommittee will work with the Legislative Consultant to identify ways to promote school librarianship, push for legislation, and respond to job threats.

• Continue to promote NJASL Advocacy and school media specialists, via communication streams, to make our work more visible to the public and stakeholders. 

• Share via Public Relations Committees the many ways NJASL Advocacy has already impacted job losses across the state.

• Continue collaboration with President-Elect, Immediate Past-President, PR Chair, Professional Outreach, NJLA Liaison, and Affiliates on talking points for a commercial script to create a school library advertisement to market the positive work of school librarians.

• Work with Public Relations, Professional Outreach Committee, AASL State-Level Leader, and Legislative Consultant to develop a standard presentation featuring importance of school librarians and exemplary library programs that can be shared at stakeholder meetings.

• Coordinate with Public Relations Social Media subcommittee to identify opportunities to promote library programs.

• Work with the Vice-President, Legislative Representative, Professional Outreach Chair, and NJLA Liaison to complete NJASL’s Advocacy Toolkit and develop a streamlined response to job loss reports.  Coordinate with the NJASL/NJLA Taskforce.

• Coordinate with Webmaster to publish the Advocacy Toolkit and feature Advocacy initiatives and successes. 

PR subcommittee - Electronic Discussion List

Kay Baggs ​

edl@njasl.org

This subcommittee will maintain electronic discussion lists for the general membership, the Board of Trustees, and for the Executive Board. These electronic discussion lists are for discussions relevant to NJASL and for topics relevant to the profession. 

• Maintain instructions for joining NJASL Google Group. Post FAQs on website and share via communication streams (Bookmark, social media, etc.) 

• Work with Membership Chair to ensure that only members have access to listserv and Bookmark and archives. 

PR subcommittee - Newsletter

Casey Schaffer                                                                                                                                               

bookmark@njasl.org

This subcommittee, headed by the Editor and/or Publisher, will prepare a monthly publication, the Bookmark for the Association.

• Work with committee chairs to provide information for members and weave advocacy topics into every issue. 

• Review Bookmark data to target opportunities for growth. 

• Include membership articles, showing value of added membership, in each issue of Bookmark. 

• Work with the Webmaster and County Liaison to communicate county information to and from counties. 

• Work with AASL, ISTE, AECT affiliate reps to share Bookmark content with these other publications, in print or online. 

• Review website to maintain a strict Members Only section to archived Bookmark publications. 

• Review all branded NJASL documents and online communication to ensure updated branded logo and uniform appearance.

PR subcommittee - Professional Outreach​

professionaloutreach@njasl.org

This subcommittee will establish and maintain contact with New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA), New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA), New Jersey Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (NJASCD), the New Jersey School Board Association (NJSBA), New Jersey Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NJACTE), New Jersey Council of Community Colleges (NJCCC), Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC), National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), Parent Teacher associations around the state and other educational groups. This committee will also maintain contact with colleges and universities to ascertain their integration of school library media programs into their pre-service teacher education training. 

• Leverage partnerships with affiliate groups (AASL, ISTE, AECT, NJEA, NJDOE, NJLA) to strengthen current NJASL advocacy.  Prepare introductory template to initiate new relationships.

• Attend NJEA Annual Convention to network with other stakeholder groups. 

• Help to promote the new AASL standards to members and stakeholders. 

• Serve on an ad-hoc committee, along with the Past President and the Professional Development Chair to cultivate relationships that will secure new meeting spaces for Board meetings and Trainings.

• Work with the Advocacy Team, Public Relations, AASL State-Level Leader, and Legislative Consultant to develop a standard presentation featuring importance of school librarians and exemplary library programs that can be shared at stakeholder meetings.

• Continue collaboration with President-Elect, Immediate Past-President, PR Chair, Advocacy Chair, NJLA Liaison, and Affiliates on talking points for a commercial script to create a school library advertisement to market the positive work of school librarians. 

• Work with the Vice-President, Advocacy committee, Legislative Representative, and NJLA Liaison to complete NJASL’s Advocacy Toolkit and develop a streamlined response to job loss reports.

PR subcommittee - Social Media

Geralyn Westervelt, Chair                                                                                                                             

socialmedia@njasl.org

This subcommittee will actively participate in forming and carrying out a social media strategy for NJASL.

• Develop a schedule of social media communication for 3, 6, 9, 12 months. Include opportunities and events for all participation (Love a Legislator, School Library Month).

• Leverage social media team to continue monthly advocacy challenges to boost job advocacy. 

• Work closely with Membership Chair to develop a marketing strategy/social media campaign to target membership. 

• Work with committee chairs to promote their committee work through social media. Promote a clear communication of how committees should bring announcements to the team.

• Review all branded NJASL documents and online communication to ensure updated branded logo and uniform appearance. 

PR subcommittee - Website

Kim Zito

webmaster@njasl.org

The Webmaster will chair this subcommittee and maintain the NJASL website. The subcommittee will post publications, the Board of Trustees minutes and all other information deemed appropriate by the Board on the website. The Webmaster will also be responsible for reporting election results to the Nominations and Election Committee Chair. 

• Request and edit monthly updates for all pages of NJASL webpage that pertain to each position, committee, affiliate, etc. 

• Request Executive board members to update their pictures and biographies. 

• Work with the County Affiliate and Bookmark Editor to communicate county information to and from counties. 

• Update the webpage and include board biographies and updated contact information (with njasl.org email) for all board members, committee members, county presidents, and affiliates. 

• Streamline website content and presentation.  Ensure updated appearance is uniform and inline with NJASL branding.

Scholarships, Awards and Special Programs Committee (SASP) Chair - 

Karen Brill 

awards@njasl.org

This committee will oversee the selection of recipients for awards and scholarships designated by the Board of Trustees. This committee will also initiate communication with our affiliates, other organizations, and companies to arrange additional awards. This committee will work with the Conference Committee, the Spring Membership Meeting chair, and the Author/Illustrator Chair to coordinate the presentation of awards.

• Consult with the following Committee Chairs for awards:

• • AECT Affiliate (Villy Award)

  • Author/Illustrator Committee (Author/Illustrator of the Year)

  • Intellectual Freedom Chair (IF Award)

  • ISTE Affiliate (ISTE Make “IT” Happen) 

  • Student Affiliate (Future Leader)

• Work with the Social Media committee to promote award information to members. 

• Work closely with Professional Development Chair to ensure that all awards winners turnkey their award opportunity into professional development for NJASL. 

• Work with the County Affiliates Liaison to promote awards at the County level. 

• Review all awards documentation to ensure NJASL branding is updated and has correct address. 

• Work with NJASL-R Chair and Membership Chair to review documentation of past recipients of awards, lifetime membership, and honorary members of NJASL.  Prepare a complete list to be featured on the website.

SASP Subcommittee - Battle of the Books

Elizabeth Ullrich                                                                                                                              

njbattleofthebooks@gmail.com

This subcommittee prepares and distributes information to schools organizing a Battle of the Books competition. 

• Work with the Bookmark editor to promote BOB in the Bookmark. 

• Work with the Social Media chair to promote BOB via social media. 

• Maintain a strict Members Only section for Battle of the Books content.

SASP Subcommittee - Enthusiastic Reader

Leslie Blatt and Karen Brill                                                                                                                           

awards@njasl.org

This subcommittee prepares and distributes information to school and public libraries to select recipients of the Enthusiastic Reader Award. 

• Work with Bookmark editor and social media committee to promote the program. 

• Explore ways to promote this award outside of the annual conference.

Standing Conference Committee

Leslie Blatt, Fran King, and Lisa Bakanas                                                                                                   

conference@njasl.org

This committee will examine, on an ongoing basis, current practices, review the conference manual, and will implement procedures to streamline the conference process in order to aid and support annual conference chairs. The committee will investigate potential conference sites and reserve conference dates. The annual conference chair will serve on this standing committee to facilitate communication.

• Increase sponsorship for NJASL Fall Conference. 

• Work on ad-hoc committee with President-Elect and Treasurer to compare data on recent conferences to prepare a Fall Conference strategy, looking at time of year, days of the week, number of days, and venue that to determine how the conference can best serve our members and help secure our financial stability. 

• Review delivery of conference information, including apps, platform, and program.

SCC subcommittee - Author/Illustrator

Carole Stubeck                                                                                                                                               

authors@njasl.org

This subcommittee will coordinate the participation, placement, schedule and set-up of an Authors' & Illustrators' Alley with the Conference Chair; communicate author and illustrator participation in NJASL events or other events of interest to NJASL members via print and online publications; create and nurture relationships with NJ authors and illustrators; solicit and arrange author and illustrator submissions for inclusion in the NJASL newsletter. This committee will work with the Conference Committee, the Spring Membership Meeting chair, and the Scholarship and Awards Chair to coordinate the presentation of awards.

• Work with the Bookmark editor to provide Authors for articles and make the newsletter valuable to members. 

• Promote Associate Membership to Authors and Illustrators to increase memberships. 

• Work with the Awards chair to select the Author/Illustrator of the year award.

Affiliates

American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Affiliate Assembly

Hilda Weisburg 

aasl@njasl.org

This representative along with the current President will serve as liaison and official NJASL representative to the AASL Affiliate Assembly exclusively for educational purposes. He/she will represent the interests of NJASL to the leadership of AASL. This representative must be a personal member of AASL and must have previous experience as a delegate to the Affiliate Assembly regulations. He/she will write a monthly column on AASL and Affiliate Assembly and keep NJASL members aware of and connected to actions and issues as disseminated by AASL and /or ALA through regular postings on the Electronic Discussion List. 

• Continue to strengthen our partnerships with AECT, ALA, AASL, ISTE, NJEA, DOE, NJLA to create opportunities for collaboration on advocacy projects. 

• Promote the new AASL standards to members and stakeholders.  Support the Standards Chair in implementation of AASL Past Presidents’ Grant.

• Work with the Bookmark editor and Social Media Chair to provide articles on AASL. 

• Collaborate with President Elect on talking points for a commercial script to create a school library advertisement to market the positive work of school librarians. 

• Provide input to Members-at-Large for Spring Association Meeting to determine upcoming trends in PD and best practice

AASL State-Level Leader

Christina Cucci   

 pastpresident@njasl.org

Serve as State-Level Leader to AASL’s School Leader Collaborative (two-year initiative).  In this role the State-Level Leader, as defined by AASL, will serve as a point of contact to initiate activities developed by the AASL School Leader Collaborative. 

• Distribute resources the group creates. 

• Identify school librarians in the state to present at state or regional school administrator conferences and develop a state-level school leader collaborative.

• Work with Advocacy Committee, Public Relations Professional Outreach Committee, and Legislative Consultant to develop a standard presentation featuring importance of school librarians and exemplary library programs that can be shared at stakeholder meetings.

Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT)

Leslie Blatt  

aect@njasl.org

This representative along with the current President will serve as a liaison and official NJASL representative to the Association for Educational Communications and Technology exclusively for educational purposes. The AECT representative will provide the leadership and membership of NJASL with information about AECT and will represent the interests of NJASL to the leadership of AECT. The AECT representative must be an active personal member of AECT.

• Continue to strengthen our partnerships with AECT, ALA, AASL, ISTE, NJEA, DOE, NJLA to create opportunities for collaboration on advocacy projects. 

• Work with the Social Media Chair and Bookmark editor to provide articles on AECT. 

• Work with the Awards chair to promote the Villy Award Scholarship and help select recipient. 

• Collaborate with President Elect on talking points for a commercial script to create a school library advertisement to market the positive work of school librarians. 

• Provide input to Members-at-Large for Spring Association Meeting to determine upcoming trends in PD and best practices. 

New Jersey Education Association (NJEA)

Angela DeLuccia 

njea@njasl.org

This representative will serve as liaison and official representative to the New Jersey Education Association and will provide information about NJEA and its programs and serve as an advocate of NJASL to NJEA. This representative will also work with the Program Committee to provide NJASL programs and joint NJASL/NJEA programs for NJEA educational conferences and workshops. 

• Continue to strengthen our partnerships with AECT, ALA, AASL, ISTE, NJEA, DOE, NJLA to create opportunities for collaboration on advocacy projects. 

• Work with the Social Media Chair and Bookmark editor to provide articles on NJEA. 

• Update and inform the members of education-related legislation as information is provided by NJEA.

• Collaborate with President Elect on talking points for a commercial script to create a school library advertisement to market the positive work of school librarians. 

• Provide input to Members-at-Large for Spring Association Meeting to determine upcoming trends in PD and best practices.

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Affiliate
Betsy Quinn   

iste@njasl.org

This representative will serve as the Corporation delegate and official NJASL representative to the International Society for Technology in Education exclusively for educational purposes. He/she will represent the interests of NJASL to the leadership of ISTE. This representative must be a personal member of ISTE. He/she will write a monthly column on ISTE and our affiliation for the NJASL Bookmark newsletter and keep NJASL members aware of and connected to actions and issues as disseminated by ISTE through regular postings on the NJASL Electronic Discussion List.

• Continue to strengthen our partnerships with AECT, ALA, AASL, ISTE, NJEA, DOE, NJLA to create opportunities for collaboration on advocacy projects.

• Work with the Social Media Chair and Bookmark editor to provide articles on ISTE.

• Work with the Awards chair to nominate the ISTE Make it Happen Award.

• Collaborate with President Elect on talking points for a commercial script to create a school library advertisement to market the positive work of school librarians.

• Provide input to Members-at-Large for Spring Association Meeting to determine upcoming trends in PD and best practices.

Liaisons 

LibraryLinkNJ (LLNJ)

Juliet Machie                                                                                                                       

juliet@librarylinknj.org

The liaison will establish communications between LibraryLinkNJ and the Corporation, and will report to the Board matters of interest and value to library media specialists. The liaison will maintain contact with the State Library.  

Library Services and Technology Act Advisory Committee of New Jersey (LSTA)

Arlen Kimmelman 

lsta@njasl.org

The liaison will represent New Jersey school libraries upon approval of their nominations by the State Librarian. The liaison[s] will keep NJASL apprised of developments on the committee and of the need to file new nomination applications. According to the nomination form, “The committee advises the State Librarian and the staff of the Library Development Bureau on the development and evaluation of the five year LSTA state plan; establishment of the annual grant criteria, priorities, and categories and evaluation of activities funded through the LSTA program.” 

New Jersey Center for the Book

Phyllis Anker                                                                                                                                           

centerforthebook@njasl.org

The liaison will provide information about the NJ Center for the Book and its programs to NJASL and represent the interests of NJASL to the NJ Center for the Book.

New Jersey Department of Education

Erika Leak  

njdoe@njasl.org

The liaison will serve as a source of information about the State Department of Education and as an advocate of school libraries and school librarians in the State Department of Education. 

New Jersey Library Association (NJLA)

Carol Collins 

njla@njasl.org

The liaison will provide information about NJLA and its programs and foster the relationship to help preserve school library jobs in NJ. The liaison will contribute a voice to an advocacy toolkit to prevent job loss. The liaison will also work with the Conference Committee to provide NJASL and joint programs at NJLA and NJASL conferences. Coordinate efforts and remain abreast of activities with the NJLA/NJASL TaskForce.

New Jersey Literacy Association - 

https://www.njliteracy.org

The liaison will provide information about NJL(it)A and its programs and suggest ways in which NJL(it)A and NJASL can collaborate.

New Jersey State Library

Sharon Rawlins                                                                                                                                              

statelibrary@njasl.org

The liaison will provide information about NJSL and its programs and suggests ways in which NJSL and NJASL can collaborate. The liaison also works to provide programs at NJASL conferences. 

Legislative Consultant

Mary Moyer Stubbs                                                                                                                                       

mmoyer@njasl.org

• Continue to report on activities of interest to NJASL from governmental agencies such as the New Jersey Department of Education, New Jersey State Board of Education and the New Jersey Legislature. Attend SBOE Meetings.

• Continue to work collaboratively with other library organizations such as the New Jersey Library Association to build advocacy campaign.  Participate in NJASL/NJLA Task Force. 

• Work with Advocacy Team, Public Relations, Professional Outreach Committee, and AASL State-Level Leader to develop a standard presentation featuring importance of school librarians and exemplary library programs that can be shared at stakeholder meetings.

• Work with the Vice-President, Advocacy committee, Professional Outreach Chair, and NJLA Liaison to complete NJASL’s Advocacy Toolkit and develop a streamlined response to job loss reports.  Include toolkit in the updated advocacy section of the NJASL Advocacy webpage: http://njasl.org/Advocacy. 

• Work with Social Media Chair and Bookmark Committee to post legislative reports and updates.

• Tap into ALA Grassroots Specialist, Megan Cusick, and NJLA stakeholders for partnerships in preventing job loss. 

• Gather letters and supporting documents from ALA President Loida Garcia-Febo and AASL President Kathryn Lewis to get letters to school boards.