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Members providing major support services for membership, leadership, and special interest groups.

ILA's 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. The opportunity to serve on or chair an ILA committee is a benefit of ILA membership; committee members and chairs are expected to maintain current personal membership in ILA.

Committee Interest  Form

Advocacy Committee

The Advocacy Committee: Supports the targeted advocacy efforts set forth by the American Library Association and the Illinois Library Association. Strives to unite ILA members behind advocacy efforts set forth by the ILA Executive Board. Works in tandem with the Public Policy Committee (PPC) to implement an annual legislative agenda. Provides ILA members with the tools to make local, statewide and national advocacy an integral part of their professional life. Develops a long-range advocacy plan in conjunction with PPC and the Executive Board. Within this broad framework, collaborates with the ILA President and ILA Executive Director to set an annual calendar of advocacy activities and to create communications, materials and training in support of these activities.  

1. Alexander C. Todd, Co-chair Executive Director at Prospect Heights Public Library District

   Term ends 06/30/2019

2. Jim Deiters, Co-chair Director at Oak Lawn Public Library

   Term ends 06/30/2019

Awards Committee

Administers the awards and recognition program of the association annually; publicizes the awards to attract qualified nominees; selects association-wide award winners. Awards, Nomination Submissions, and Procedures

1. Kara Kohn, Co-chair Head of Reference and Reader Services at Plainfield Public Library District

   Term ends 06/30/2020

2. Mikael Jacobsen, Co-chair Zion-Benton Public Library District

   Term ends 06/30/2019

Best Practices Committee

Promotes excellence in Illinois libraries by identifying and making known innovative services, community outreach initiatives, and management procedures. Selects an annual award winner and finds methods for encouraging communication among libraries about their best practices, and, using the ILA Web site, features the best of what our libraries are doing.

1. Shannon Distel, Chair Director of Customer Services at Arlington Heights Memorial Library

   Term ends 06/30/2019

Conference Program Committee, 2019

Coordinates program planning for ILA Annual Conference. Membership will be made up of individuals representing the diverse nature of our association with appointments for eighteen months.

1. Alissa Williams, Co-chair Morton Public Library District

   Term ends 10/31/2019

2. Heather Jagman, Co-chair Librarian at DePaul University Library

   Term ends 10/31/2019

Diversity Committee

The Diversity Committee develops, monitors, evaluates, and recommends diversity efforts in the association and initiates strategies

1. Katrina Belogorsky, Co-chair Community Engagement Librarian at Skokie Public Library

   Term ends 06/30/2020

2. Trixie Dantis, Co-chair Youth Services Manager at Arlington Heights Memorial Library

   Term ends 06/30/2020

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.

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. Oversees the Illinois Library Luminaries program, which includes monitoring contributions.  

1. Mary Aylmer, Chair Director at Chillicothe Public Library District

   Term ends 06/30/2019

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.

1. Eric Anthony Edwards, Co-chair Interlibrary Loan Librarian at Illinois State Library

   Term ends 06/30/2020

2. Jane Hanna, Co-chair Virtual Community Engagement Manager at Skokie Public Library

   Term ends 06/30/2020

Intellectual Freedom Committee

Works to resist all attempts to censor library materials or to restrict public access to information.

1. Paul Mills, Chair Fountaindale Public Library District

   Term ends 06/30/2020

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 primary audience is kindergarten through grade eight, but provides supplemental materials for preschoolers, teens, and adults.

1. Brandi Smits, Chair Orland Park Public Library

   Term ends 06/30/2019

Nominating Committee

Develops an annual slate of candidates for the Executive Board, including vice-president/president-elect and ALA councilor (every four years). Nominating Committee Procedures and Timeline

1. Melissa Gardner, Chair Palatine Public Library District

   Term ends 06/30/2019

Public Policy Committee (PPC)

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 which advances library service for all residents of Illinois. Creating or Changing Illinois State Library Law, by Robert P. Doyle

1. Scott Davis, Chair Fremont Public Library District

   Term ends 06/30/2019