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.

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. Magan Szwarek Magan Szwarek, Co-chair, Member Reference Services Director at Schaumburg Township District Library

    Term ends 06/30/2022
  2. Nanette Donohue Nanette Donohue, Co-chair, Member Collections and Technical Services Manager at Champaign Public Library

    Term ends 06/30/2022
Awards Committee
  1. Jennifer Abler Jennifer Abler, Chair, Member Oak Lawn Public Library

    Term ends 06/30/2022
Best Practices Committee
  1. Jen Ryjewski Jen Ryjewski, Co-chair, Member Assistant Director at Downers Grove Public Library

    Term ends 06/30/2022
  2. Joshua Newport Joshua Newport, Co-chair, Member Math and Science Librarian at Illinois State University

    Term ends 06/30/2022
Conference Program Committee, 2022
  1. Heidi Knuth Heidi Knuth, Co-chair Assistant Head of Youth Services at Bloomingdale Public Library

    Term ends 10/31/2022
  2. Lora Del Rio Lora Del Rio, Co-chair Humanities Librarian, Associate Professor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

    Term ends 10/31/2022
Diversity Committee
Committee Charge The Committee's primary objectives are: Initiate and promote training and library services that address issues in diversity. Identify and promote best practices and resources for diversity and inclusion in the library profession and services. Identify and promote strategies to recruit and retain diverse workers in Illinois libraries. Provide mentoring and support for ALA’s Spectrum scholars and other diverse individuals in Illinois in obtaining a graduate degree and leadership positions within the profession. Develop, monitor, evaluate, and recommend diversity efforts in the association and initiate strategies, in conjunction with the Nominating Committee, to increase diversity in ILA’s membership and leadership. The ILA Diversity Committee has adopted the following broad definitions of diversity and inclusion: Diversity is the range of human differences, including but 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. Inclusion is involvement and empowerment, where the inherent worth and dignity of all people are recognized. Committee Composition Composed of up to ten members, serving three-year, staggered terms. Committee Reports
  1. Hannah Rapp Hannah Rapp, Co-chair, Member Head of Readers Advisory & Teen Services at Berwyn Public Library

    Term ends 06/30/2022
  2. Lindsay Holbrook Lindsay Holbrook, Co-chair, Member Librarian at Chicago Public Library

    Term ends 06/30/2022
Finance Committee
Fundraising Committee
  1. Karen McBride Karen McBride, Chair, Member Public Information Manager at Barrington Area Library

    Term ends 06/30/2022
ILA Reporter Advisory Committee
  1. Pamela J. Thomas Pamela J. Thomas, Chair, Member Bibliographic Grant Manager at Cataloging Maintenance Center

    Term ends 06/30/2022
Intellectual Freedom Committee
  1. Betsy Mahoney Betsy Mahoney, Co-chair, Member Branch Manager at Six Mile Regional Library District

    Term ends 06/30/2022
  2. Suzanne Arist Suzanne Arist, Co-chair, Member Wilmette Public Library District

    Term ends 06/30/2022
iREAD Committee
  1. Becca Boland Becca Boland, Chair Advisory Supervisor at Skokie Public Library

    Term ends 06/30/2022
Nominating Committee
  1. Veronica De Fazio Veronica De Fazio, Chair Deputy Director at Peoria Public Library

    Term ends 06/30/2022
Public Policy Committee
  1. Sam Adams-Lanham Sam Adams-Lanham, Chair, Member Community Engagement Librarian at Barrington Area Library

    Term ends 06/30/2022
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 »