Organization:
Standing Committees

Committees provide major support services for ILA membership, leadership, special interest groups, and the Executive Board.  Committee chairs are appointed by the current ILA president with the approval of the Executive Board.  Terms of office vary and include a single one-year term for most committees.  This term is designed to provide an avenue for interested members to become easily involved in ILA activities.  The hope is that the experience gained will encourage members to continue their involvement in ILA.  ILA members may volunteer or be appointed to these committees.

Standing Committees
Advocacy Committee
Awards Committee
Best Practices Committee
Conference Program Committee
Cultural and Racial Diversity Committee
Federal Library Legislative and Advocacy Network
Finance Committee
Fundraising Committee
ILA Reporter Advisory Committee
Intellectual Freedom Committee
iREAD Committee
Marketing Committee
Membership Committee
Nominating Committee
Public Policy Committee

Advocacy Committee
The committee focuses on implementation of the legislative agenda as recommended by the Public Policy Committee (PPC) and approved by the ILA Executive Board; develops annual advocacy plan in conjunction with PPC and the Executive Board; identifies advocacy best practices and implements them as appropriate; builds partnerships with organizations that have similar views; is responsible for advocacy education of ILA members; develops educational materials and programs to improve ILA members advocacy skills.  Committee consists of twelve voting members, representing all types of libraries and public library trustees, serving three-year, staggered terms including one member serving a one-year term.  Each incoming ILA president shall appoint four members, including his/her designated Advocacy Committee chair.  Nonvoting ex officio members are the ILA executive director, the director of the Illinois State Library, ILA president, ILA vice president/president-elect, and the chair of PPC.

2009-2012 Chair
Kathleen McSwain
Chicago Ridge Public Library
10400 S. Oxford
Chicago Ridge, IL  60415-1599
phone:  (708) 423-7753
fax:  (708) 423-2758
e-mail:  kmcswain@chicagoridge.lib.il.us 

Members
Janet Lynch Forde, 2009-2012
Lee Logan, 2008-2010
Inara McGroarty, 2008-2011
Edgar Mosshamer, 2008-2011
Karolyn Ann Nance, 2008-2010
Iris A. Nelson, 2008-2010
Judith Rake, 2009-2012
Frances E. Roehm, 2008-2011
Lisa Marie Smith, 2008-2010
Denise Zielinski, 2008-2010

Ex Officio
Deirdre Brennan
Gail Bush
Anne Craig
Robert P. Doyle
Carole Medal
Lawren Tucker

Board Liaison
Donna Dziedzic

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Awards Committee
Administers the awards and recognition program of the association annually; publicizes the awards to attract qualified nominees; selects association-wide award winners.  Committee membership is not more than ten personal members from diverse types of library settings.  Members serve a two-year, staggered term including one member serving a one-year term.  Chair is appointed by the vice president/president-elect of ILA for one year.  All persons commenting or voting in the ILA awards process will recuse themselves from participating in the process of any award for which they have been nominated or the process of any award for which they have a conflict of interest.

2008-2010 Chair
Mary K. Weimar
Orland Park Public Library
14921 Ravinia Ave.
Orland Park, IL 60462
phone: (708) 428-5203
fax: (708) 428-5182
e-mail: mweimar@orlandparklibrary.org

Members
Laura Barnes, 2008-2010
Ellen Corrigan, 2009-2011
Jeannie Dilger-Hil, 2009-2011
Nanette Wargo Donohue, 2008-2010
Sara C. McCambridge, 2009-2010
Joyce E. Nielsen, 2009-2011
Sharon D. Ruda, 2009-2011
Susan Strunk, 2008-2010
Sharon R. Zuiderveld, 2009-2011

Board Liaison
Phyllis Self

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Best Practices Committee
The Best Practices Committee promotes excellence in Illinois libraries by collecting and publicizing real-life examples of solutions to problems and issues faced by libraries in their communities.  These practices include, but are not necessarily limited to, successful programs, services, and management strategies.  The committee will be composed of eight members serving two-year terms including one member serving a one-year term.  Appointed by the ILA vice president/president-elect, members will serve two-year terms, with at least three new committee members appointed each year.

More information about the application process and the current activities of the committee is available.

2009-2011 Chair
Lisa Poignant
Roselle Public Library District
40 S. Park St.
Roselle, IL  60172-2020
phone:  (630) 529-1641
fax:  (630) 529-7579
e-mail:  lpoignant@roselle.lib.il.us

Members
Debbie Baaske, 2009-2011
Meg Klinkow Hartmann, 2008-2010
Robin Helenthal, 2008-2010
John Maas, 2008-2010
Jean B. MacDonald, 2009-2011
Cate Parish, 2009-2011
Dan Wiseman, 2009-2010

Board Liaison
Sheree Kozel-La Ha

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Conference Program Committee
Coordinates program planning for ILA Annual Conference.  Membership will be made up of individuals representing the diverse nature of our association with appointments for one year.  The vice president appoints a person who will be chair during his/her year as president. 

2009 Chair
Sharon B. Wiseman
Gail Borden Public Library District
270 N. Grove Ave.
Elgin, IL  60120-5505
phone:  (847) 742-2411, x5801
fax:  (847) 742-0485
e-mail:  swiseman@gailborden.info

2009 Members
Mary Edelman
Barbara Galik
Dianne Happ
Susan K. Herring
Carol Vaughan Kissane
Anne Daugherty Miskewitch
Tobi Oberman
Ellen Popit
Tom Rich
Marlene M. Slough
Mary Soucie
Connie H. Steudel
Ronald Winner
Daniel R. Wiseman

2009 Board Liaison
Carole A. Medal

2010 Co-Chairs
Karen J. Egan
Illinois State Library
300 S. Second St.
Springfield, IL 62701-1796
phone: (217) 782-7749
(800) 665-5576 x 1
fax: (217) 782-1877
e-mail: kegan@ilsos.net

Ellen C. Popit
Shawnee Library System
607 S. Greenbriar Rd.
Carterville, IL 62918-1602
phone: (618) 985-3711 x 2024
(800) 455-4374
fax: (618) 985-4211
e-mail: epopit@shawls.lib.il.us

2010 Board Liaison
Gail Bush

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Cultural and Racial Diversity Committee

  • Identifies strategies to increase membership in ILA of librarians, trustees, and support staff of varied cultures and races and to provide opportunities for involvement in leadership positions for these members.
  • Identifies strategies to recruit workers of varied cultures and races in libraries and to provide support for these workers to obtain professional library degrees, if desired.
  • Encourages libraries to employ work forces that reflect the cultural and racial composition of their communities.
  • Encourages governing boards to reflect the cultural and racial composition of their communities.
  • Positions the Illinois library community to participate effectively in the opportunities provided by ALA's Spectrum Initiative.
  • Seeks partnerships with library institutions and organizations to support these initiatives.
  • Monitors and evaluates diversity efforts in the association and reports to the ILA Executive Board annually about achievements, continuing challenges, and strategies for change.

Committee membership is not more than ten personal members from diverse types of library settings.  Members serve a three-year, staggered term including one member serving a one-year term.  Chair is appointed by the vice president/president-elect of ILA for one year.

2009-2012 Chair
Kay Shelton
Northern Illinois University Libraries
Room 137
DeKalb, IL 60115
phone: (815) 751-2887
e-mail: kshelton@niu.edu

Members
Barbara Adrianopoli, 2009-2012
Jo Ann Armenta, 2009-2011
Vandella Brown, 2009-2012
Sharon Highler, 2009-2012
Ladislava Khailova, 2009-2012
Lori Mestre, 2007-2010
Mary A. Medjo Me Zengue, 2008-2011
Mary Tuytschaevers, 2009-2010
Roberta Webb, 2007-2010

Board Liaison
Terry Cottrell

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Federal Library Legislative and Advocacy Network (FLLAN)
The Federal Library Legislative and Advocacy Network is a national grassroots effort of the American Library Association’s Office on Governmental Relations, which performs federal library advocacy at the local level and shares federal legislative and advocacy information with state chapters.  Network members respond primarily to calls for action from the ALA Washington Office, while they also share information learned locally back through the network.

The Illinois FLLAN consists of the statewide network coordinator and individual contacts in each congressional district.  The statewide coordinator is appointed by the ILA president.  Local contacts in congressional districts may be appointed by the statewide coordinator or by the ILA president, as needed.  ILA’s membership assists in grassroots advocacy efforts on federal issues. 

Whenever the ILA Executive Board adopts a position on a federal legislative topic, the ILA president may give permission for network members to use the ILA name and refer to the ILA position in their correspondence.

Illinois FLLAN Coordinator
The Illinois Federal Library Legislative and Advocacy Network coordinator is a person designated to serve as the primary point of contact in the state for federal issues related to libraries.  As federal issues arise, staff at the ALA Office on Governmental Relations (OGR) will communicate with the network contact to request that they convey the library position to Illinois congressional representatives and senators.

Specific network contact responsibilities include the following:

  • Identify an individual in each congressional district who can serve as a primary contact for the representative and write or forward letters when asked.
  • Identify individuals in the state who will take the lead in advocating in specific critical issues areas such as copyright, intellectual freedom, government information, school libraries, and library funding.  These experts would be asked to draft letters in response to requests from the ALA Washington Office.
  • Call, write, or e-mail congressional and senate offices on issues as needed.
  • Be informed of federal issues related to all types of libraries.
  • Disseminate information on federal library issues from the ALA OGR to all interested parties within the state.
  • Keep ALA OGR informed of any information learned at the state level that is pertinent to federal legislative and advocacy issues.
  • Track the impact of federal library issues on libraries in Illinois.
  • Serve as ex officio member of the ILA Public Policy Committee.
  • Communicate with the following state organizations:  Chicago Association of Law Libraries (CALL), Consortium of Academic Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI), Illinois chapter of the Special Libraries Association, Illinois Library Systems Directors Organization (ILSDO), and Illinois School Library Media Association (ISLMA).

Coordinator
Karen Danczak Lyons
Chicago Public Library
400 S. State St.
Chicago, IL  60605-1203
phone:  (312) 747-4018
fax:  (312) 745-1590
e-mail:  kdlyons@chipublib.org

Senator Richard J. Durbin (D)Judy Rake2008-2010
Senator Roland W. Burris (D)Karen Danczak Lyons2009-2011
Representative Bobby Rush (D-1)Karen Danczak Lyons2009-2011
Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-2)Karen Danczak Lyons2009-2011
Representative Dan Lipinski (D-3)Karen Danczak Lyons2009-2011
Representative Luis V. Gutierrez (D-4)Karen Danczak Lyons2009-2011
Representative Mike Quigley (D-5)Karen Danczak Lyons2009-2011
Representative Peter Roskam (R-6)Denise Zielinski2008-2010
Representative Danny K. Davis (D-7)Karen Danczak Lyons2008-2010
Representative Melissa L. Bean (D-8)Lisa Marie Smith2009-2011
Representative Janice D. Schakowsky (D-9)Carolyn A. Anthony2008-2010
Representative Mark Steven Kirk (R10)2009-2011
Representative Deborah Halvorson (R-11)Dianne Harmon2008-2010
Representative Jerry F. Costello (D-12)Elaine Steingrubey2009-2011
Representative Judy Biggert (R-13)2008-2010
Representative Bill Foster (R-14)Gail A. Carrillo2009-2011
Representative Timothy V. Johnson (R-15)Mary Mallory2008-2010
Representative Donald A. Manzullo (R-16)Inara McGroarty2009-2011
Representative Phil Hare (D-17)Dennis Danowski2008-2010
Representative Aaron Schock (R-18)Lee A. Logan2009-2011
Representative John M. Shimkus (R-19)Barbara Rhodes2008-2010

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Finance Committee
Ensures that the association remains fiscally sound by monitoring association finances and developing fiscal policies; submits a recommended annual budget to the ILA Executive Board.  Consists of three board members (serving two-year, staggered terms), the past president for one year, and the treasurer as chair.  Each incoming ILA president should appoint members.  Nonvoting ex officio members are the ILA executive director, the ILA president, past president, and the ILA vice president/president-elect.

2008-2011 Chair
Theodore C. Schwitzner
Illinois State University
Milner Library
Campus Box 8900
Normal, IL  61790-8900
phone:  (309) 438-3449
fax:  (309) 438-5132
e-mail:  redm.andmlibrarian@yahoo.com

Members
Betsy Adamowski, 2008-2010
David Hamilton, 2009-2011
Sheree Kozel-La Ha, 2009-2011

Ex Officio
Robert P. Doyle
Donna Dziedzic, 2007-2010
Carole A. Medal, 2008-2011
Gail Bush, 2009-2012

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Fundraising Committee
Identify fundraising strategies that will provide long-term financial stability for the association, to include, but not limited to, such areas as grants, the endowment, and scholarships.  Committee consists of six members who serve two-year, staggered terms including one member serving a one-year term.  Chair is appointed for one year.

2009-2011 Chair
Carolyn A. Anthony
Skokie Public Library
5215 Oakton St.
Skokie, IL  60077-3680
phone:  (847) 673-7774
fax:  (847) 673-7797
e-mail:  canthony@skokielibrary.info

Members
Cynthia L. Fuerst, 2008-2010
Allen Lanham, 2009-2011
Tamiye Meehan, 2008-2010
Sandra K. Norlin, 2009-2011
Valerie Wilford, 2008-2010

Board Liaison
Carole Dickerson

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ILA Reporter Advisory Committee
To work with the ILA executive director to help ensure quality content in the ILA Reporter and to assist in obtaining that content.  Consists of six members serving two-year, staggered terms including one member serving a one-year term.  Each incoming ILA president should appoint three members.

2009-2011 Chair
Melissa Henderson   
Glencoe Public Library
320 Park Ave.
Glencoe, IL  60022-1526
phone:  (847) 835-5056
fax:  (847) 835-5648
e-mail:  mhenderson@nsls.info

Members
Suzanne Arist, 2008-2010
Nancy A. Ashbrook, 2009-2011
Jan LaRoche, 2008-2010
Kathleen Lovelace, 2009-2011
Valerie Stern, 2009-2010

Board Liaison
Halle Cox

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Intellectual Freedom Committee

  • Keeps abreast of statewide and national issues and challenges.
  • Gathers and disseminates information to the membership.
  • Serves as a clearinghouse and source of information for libraries seeking assistance.
  • Promotes intellectual freedom by actively contacting library and school officials where materials or procedures have been challenged, offering the assistance of the ILA membership.
  • Raises awareness and provides continuing education activities for the public and membership.
  • Works with ILA's Public Policy Committee in selecting the Intellectual Freedom Award winner.
  • Provides leadership and assistance in access and privacy for electronic information.
Committee membership is not more than ten personal members from diverse types of library settings.  Members serve a two-year, staggered term including one member serving a one-year term.  Chair is appointed by the vice president/president-elect of ILA for one year.

2009-2011 Chair
Esther Curry
C.E. Brehm Memorial Public Library District
101 S. Seventh St.
Mt. Vernon, IL  62864-4187
phone:  (618) 242-6322
fax:  (618) 242-0810
e-mail:  estar65@sbcglobal.net

Members
Shirley May Byrnes, 2009-2011
Jim DiDonato, 2009-2011
Juliette Douglas, 2009-2010
Christine Hagar, 2008-2010
Lori B. Murphy, 2009-2010
John Sayers, 2009-2011
Shawn Strecker, 2009-2010
Christopher Stewart, 2009-2011

Board Liaison
David Hamilton

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iREAD Committee
The Illinois Reading Enrichment and Development (iREAD) program is a coordinated, self-supporting effort to develop and provide high-quality, low-cost resources and products to enable local library staff to promote reading.  The program’s audience is kindergarten through grade eight, but may provide supplemental materials for preschoolers, teens, and adults.  The program’s goals are:
  • to provide a program that supports local library efforts to promote literacy and life-long learning;
  • to provide a forum for grassroots involvement across the state;
  • to encourage statewide participation in and use of the IREAD theme;
  • to encourage efficient use of local staff time by networking resources across the state;
  • to provide high-quality, low-cost products through volume purchase; and
  • to provide resources and projects suitable for all size libraries, rural, urban, and suburban.

The committee is composed of twelve ILA members:  three chairs -- chair, future chair, and developing chair; four coordinators:  resource guide, showcase, showcase, and publicity; and five members at-large:  to backup coordinators and perform duties as requested by the chairs -- should include young adult and adult representatives who, in addition to member-at-large duties, give guidance to the supplemental materials geared toward these age groups.  Chairs will serve a three-year term.  Coordinators and members-at-large will serve two-year terms. The committee shall submit recommendations to the ILA president for selection of the iREAD chair.

2010 Chair
Jason Stuhlmann
Elmwood Park Public Library
One Conti Pkwy.
Elmwood Park, IL  60707
phone:  (708) 395-1237
fax:  (708) 453-4671
e-mail:  jstuhlmann@elmwoodparklibrary.org

Members
Sara Fisher, 2008-2010
Kathryn Fredrickson, 2009-2011
Maggie Hommel, 2009-2011
Karen Kohn, 2009-2011
Beth McCloskey, 2009-2011
Lisa Sarm, 2008-2010
Nikeda F. Webb, 2008-2010

2011 Chair
Kathi Kresol
Rockford Public Library
215 N. Wyman St.
Rockford, IL  61101-1061
phone:  (815) 967-6682 x682
fax:  (815) 965-0866
e-mail:  kkresol@rockfordpubliclibrary.org

2012 Chair
Amber Creger
Chicago Public Library
Woodson Regional Branch
9525 S. Halsted
Chicago, IL  60628
phone:  (312) 747-6917
fax:  (312) 747-6947
e-mail:  acreger@chipublib.org

Board Liaison
Dianne Happ

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Marketing Committee
The Marketing Committee will help libraries promote the value they bring to their communities through the sharing of successful marketing practices.  Committee membership is not more than ten members, including the chair.  A minimum of three members should be responsible for the day-to-day marketing activities of their library.  The committee chair will recommend candidates for appointment who match these qualifications to the incoming ILA president.  Appointments are for three-year, staggered terms including one member serving a one-year term.  The chair is appointed by the ILA vice president/president-elect for one year.

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2008-2011 Chair
Denise Raleigh
Gail Borden Public Library District
270 N. Grove Ave.
Elgin, IL  60120-5505
phone:  (847) 429-5981
fax:  (847) 742-0485
e-mail:  draleigh@gailborden.info

2007-2010 Chair
Alissa Williams
Pekin Public Library
301 S. Fourth St.
Pekin, IL  61554-4284
phone:  (309) 347-7111
fax:  (309) 347-6587
e-mail:  awilliams@pekinpubliclibrary.org

Members
Peggy Barry, 2008-2011
Julie Blackwell, 2009-2012
Gwen Harrison, 2007-2010
Heather Imhoff, 2009-2012
Jeanne May, 2009-2012
Carolynn Muci, 2009-2010
Lisa Pappas, 2007-2010
Elizabeth Stearns, 2008-2011

Board Liaison
Betsy Adamowski

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Membership Committee
Plans and accomplishes activities that increase, retain, and enhance all types of memberships in the association.  Committee membership is not more than eight personal members. Appointments for members are for two-year, staggered terms including one member serving a one-year term.  Chair is appointed by the vice president/president-elect of ILA for one year.

Blog Site: joinila.blogspot.com

2008-2010 Chair
Robin K. Smith
Indian Trails Public Library District
355 S. Schoenbeck Rd.
Wheeling, IL  60090
phone:  (847) 459-4100
fax:  (847) 459-4760
e-mail:  rsmith@itpld.lib.il.us

Members
Peggy A. Carlson, 2009-2011
Nancy Huntley, 2008-2010
Miriam Lytle, 2009-2011
Nancy Maloney, 2009-2011
Rae-Anne Montague, 2008-2010
Carol Schrey, 2009-2011
Diane Stine, 2009-2010

Board Liaison
Rebecca Teasdale

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Nominating Committee
Develops an annual slate of candidates for the Executive Board, including vice president/president-elect and ALA councilor (every four years).  Committee consists of six members, in addition to the chair, serving one-year terms.  Chair of the committee is the immediate ILA past president.  Members serve as ballot counters once ballots have been received and inform the candidates of the election results.

2010 Chair
Donna Dziedzic
Naperville Public Library
200 W. Jefferson
Naperville, IL  60540
phone:  (630) 961-4100, x6151
fax:  (630) 637-6149
e-mail:  ddziedzic@naperville-lib.org

2010 Members
Carolyn Anthony
Peggy Carlson
Tina Hubert
Ellen C. Popit
Gretel Stock-Kupperman

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Public Policy Committee
Provides the association’s focus on legislative matters; recommends studies on projects designed to advance the development of all types of libraries; advocates legislative action that advances library service for all residents of Illinois.  Committee consists of twelve voting members, serving three-year, staggered terms including one member serving a one-year term.  Each incoming ILA president should appoint four members, including his/her designated Public Policy Committee chair.  Nonvoting ex officio members are the ILA executive director, the director of the Illinois State Library, ILA president, ILA vice president/president-elect, the chair of the ILA Intellectual Freedom Committee, the Federal Library Legislative and Advocacy Network coordinator, and a representative of the school library community, a representative of the academic library community, a representative of the library systems community (these last three ex officio members usually are the president of ISLMA, the executive director of CARLI, and the chair of the ILSDO, or their designee).  A vacancy shall be declared for any member or ex officio member who is absent without cause from three regular meetings in the period of one year.

2007-2010 Chair
Deirdre Brennan
Oak Park Public Library
834 Lake St.
Oak Park, IL  60301-1314
phone:  (708) 697-6911
fax:  (708) 697-6917
e-mail:  dbrennan@oppl.org

Members
Yvonne Bergendorf, 2007-2010
M. Katherine Berggren, 2008-2011
Eve Kirk, 2009-2012
John Knobloch, 2008-2011
Sarah A. Long, 2008-2011
Karen Danczak Lyons, 2009-2012
Inara McGroarty, 2008-2010
Karolyn Ann Nance, 2009-2012
Chad Raymond, 2009-2012
Brian Shepard, 2008-2011
Matthew Suddarth, 2009-2010

Ex Officio
Carole A. Medal, ILA president
Bev Obert, ILSDO
Anne Craig, Illinois State Library
Robert P. Doyle, ILA executive
Gail Bush, ILA vice president/president-elect
Esther Curry, ILA Intellectual Freedom Committee chair
Lou Ann Jacobs, ISLMA
Donna Dziedzic, ILA past-president
Tom Dorst, CARLI
Karen Danczak Lyons, Federal Library Legislative and Advocacy Network

Board Liaison
Carole Medal

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