Committees

ILA's committees are instrumental to the work of the association

ILA's committees provide major support services for the membership at large and the ILA Executive Board. Terms of office vary and include a single two- or three-year term for most committees. This term is designed to provide an avenue for interested members to become easily involved in ILA activities, and staggered terms help ensure continuity. The opportunity to serve on or chair an ILA committee is a benefit of ILA membership; committee members and chairs, and forum managers and board members, are required to maintain personal membership in the association during their term of service. Frequently asked questions, resources, and policies are available to ILA committees to facilitate their initiatives.

The Committee Interest Form submission priority deadline to be considered for a July committee appointment is March 15. Forms will still be accepted after that date, but volunteer early for your first choices!

Committee Interest Form

Overall committee composition statement

Please also see individual committee composition statements and charges via the individual committee links to the right, or below.

It is the duty of the appointing officer to make appointments in keeping with ILA policies, and that reflect the Illinois library community’s diverse constituencies. Diversity includes, but is not limited to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital and/or familial status, mental and/or physical impairment and/or disability, military status, economic status, political affiliation, and other human distinguishing characteristics. In addition, the Illinois library community’s diverse constituencies include geographic location, type of library worker, and library type and size. Source: ILA Statement of Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

In the event of a committee vacancy with an unexpired term, the current president shall serve as the appointing officer. Replacement appointees serve out the remainder of the unexpired term.

Committee work cannot be done in absentia. A vacancy may be declared for any member who is absent for 25% of meetings and/or committee activities in the period of one year.

With the exception of the Nominating, Conference Program, iREAD, Public Policy, and Awards committees, the vice president/president-elect shall serve as the appointing officer of all committee terms that begin on July 1st of their year as president.

  • The immediate past president shall serve as the appointing officer of all Nominating Committee seats beginning on July 1st of their year as immediate past president.
  • The vice president/president-elect shall serve as the appointing officer of all Conference Program Committee seats beginning on July 1st of their year as vice-president.
  • The iREAD Committee identifies its own appointees, but the incoming chair is “subject to the approval of the vice president/president-elect.
  • The vice president/president-elect shall serve as the appointing officer of the Public Policy Committee and Awards Committee vice-chairs whose terms begin on July 1st of their year as president.

Committee chairs shall be considered members of the committee, holding one (or two, if there are co-chairs or vice chairs) of the existing committee terms. Unless otherwise noted, the committee chair role is a one-year term and the vice president/president-elect shall serve as the appointing officer of all committee chair terms that begin on July 1st of their year as president.

Approved by the ILA Executive Board 5/20/2021

Advocacy Committee
  1. Amanda McKay Amanda McKay, Co-chair Effingham Public Library

    Term ends 06/30/2025
  2. Gail Graziani Gail Graziani, Co-chair, Member Head of Resource Services at Indian Prairie Public Library District

    Term ends 06/30/2024
Awards Committee
  1. Alissa T. Henkel Alissa T. Henkel, Chair, Member Head of Programs, Resources and Services at Decatur Public Library

    Term ends 06/30/2024
Conference Program Committee, 2023
Conference Program Committee, 2024
  1. Laura L. Barnes Laura L. Barnes, Co-chair Sustainability Information Curator at Illinois Sustainable Technology Center

    Term ends 10/31/2024
  2. Veronica De Fazio Veronica De Fazio, Co-chair Deputy Director at Peoria Public Library

    Term ends 10/31/2024
Diversity Committee
  1. Anjelica Rufus-Barnes Anjelica Rufus-Barnes, Co-chair, Member Reference Librarian at Prospect Heights Public Library District

    Term ends 06/30/2026
  2. Jazmin Wilkerson Jazmin Wilkerson, Co-chair, Member Children's/Teen Librarian at Lemont Public Library District

    Term ends 06/30/2024
Finance Committee
Fundraising Committee
  1. Caitlin E Archer-Helke Caitlin E Archer-Helke, Chair Acquisitions & Content Support Specialist at Saint Xavier University

    Term ends 06/30/2025
ILA Reporter Advisory Committee
  1. Wendell G Johnson Wendell G Johnson, Chair, Member Social Sciences Librarian at Northern Illinois University Libraries

    Term ends 06/30/2024
Intellectual Freedom Committee
  1. Elizabeth Lynch Elizabeth Lynch, Chair, Member Head of Teen Services at Addison Public Library

    Term ends 06/30/2024
iREAD Committee
  1. Gretchen Schulz Gretchen Schulz, Chair Assistant Manager/Early Literacy Specialist at Aurora Public Library District

    Term ends 06/30/2024
Nominating Committee
  1. Heather Jagman Heather Jagman, Chair Librarian at DePaul University Library

    Term ends 06/30/2024
Public Policy Committee
  1. Kyla Waltermire Kyla Waltermire, Chair, Member Executive Director at Mississippi Valley Library District

    Term ends 06/30/2024
Reaching Forward Committee
 
  1. Rosie M Camargo Rosie M Camargo, Chair Cultural Literacy Specialist at South Holland Public Library

    Term ends 06/30/2024
Serving Our Public Committee
 
  1. Betsy Adamowski Betsy Adamowski, Chair Director at Wheaton Public Library

    Term ends 06/30/2024
iREAD Summer Reading Programs

Since 1981, iREAD provides high quality, low-cost resources and products that enable local library staff to motivate children, young adults, and adults to read.

Visit the iREAD website »