Reaching Forward Committee Illinois Library Association

News

Member Spotlight - Matthew Matkowski: August 11, 2023; This week's member spotlight is on Matthew Matkowski. Matthew is the Head of Public Services at the Palos Heights Public Library. He previously served as chair of ILA's Intellectual Freedom Committee and is a member of the Reaching Forward Commi…
Member Spotlight - William Pleas: April 24, 2023; This week's member spotlight is on William Pleas. William is the page and volunteer coordinator at the Highland Park Public Library. He is a member of the Reaching Forward Forum and served on the ILA Conference Program Committee in 2020 and…
Literacy Focus: Welcoming Places, Safe Spaces: January 17, 2023; ILA member Rosie Camargo, Reaching Forward Forum Manager-Elect, spoke to Publisher's Weekly about the importance of libraries being welcoming and safe spaces. "Camargo is also a speaker and trainer of teachers/librarians across the country, encouragi…

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Events

Oct 13 2023
Reaching Forward Committee Meeting

Friday, Oct 13, 2023 11:00am–12:30pm
Dec 8 2023
Reaching Forward Committee Meeting

Friday, Dec 8, 2023 11:00am–12:30pm
Feb 2 2024
Reaching Forward Committee Meeting

Friday, Feb 2, 2024 11:00am–12:30pm

More events »

Reaching Forward Committee Charge

Coordinates program planning for the Reaching Forward Conference with a focus on providing opportunities for library support staff * to grow, learn, and connect with new ideas and colleagues.
Various subcommittees take on the work of recruiting and liaising with vendors, putting together a performers’ showcase, and managing social media as well as other functions necessary to run the conference.

Solicits awards nominees and selecting winners for the Oberman and Rich Reaching Forward Conference Grant which recognizes the contributions of a support staff member to the library community and the role of support staff in libraries and the Robert Doyle ILA Conference Grant for Support Staff to encourage ILA membership and support staff attendance at the Illinois Library Association Annual Conference.

*Library support staff, or library paraprofessionals, are involved in all library operations at all levels. The range and complexity of their duties varies with each position, the size and type of the library in which they work, and each library's specific needs, goals, or mission. The one distinction usually drawn between "support staff" and "librarians" is that those in the latter group typically have a Master of Library and Information Science degree (MLIS).

Reaching Forward Committee Reports

2022 Reaching Forward Award Winners

Robert P. Doyle
ILA Annual Conference Grant

Annette DeLunaAlsip-Merrionette Park Public Library District

Oberman and Rich

Reaching Forward Conference Grant

Joshua Wirth

Downers Grove Public Library

Oberman and Rich Reaching Forward Conference Grant

Selection Process: The deadline to submit a 2023 nomination is March 31, 2023. Nominations will open in January for 2024 nominations. You may submit nominations for yourself or for a colleague. A panel of judges from the Reaching Forward Committee will be responsible for choosing the recipients.

Committee Composition

The committee is composed of up to sixteen members serving three-year staggered terms. Fewer than 25% of the committee members are in a managerial/director position. Chairs (chair, incoming chair, and past chair) will serve a three-year term.