Nebraska Library Association

Paraprofessional Section

Paraprofessional Section Committee Duties
Updated 4/07

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Archival Committee

This Committee is chaired by the Secretary-Treasurer and composed Chair, Immediate Past-Chair, and the Keynote editor. This committee's purpose is to determine which records need to be archived and to provide for the archival of all necessary records and disposal of all unnecessary ones.

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Bylaws Committee

The Bylaws Committee is composed the members of the Executive Board. Since adopting our Bylaws, there have been several amendments and revisions which this committee has drafted with the guidance of the Section Executive Board. The Chair is responsible for writing and presenting proposed changes to the general membership for consideration. Bylaws must be "read" twice and voted on during general membership meetings (see Bylaws). As changes are passed, the committee is responsible for preparing, printing, and distributing the updates to the members. After the Bylaws have been approved, the Chair is responsible for informing the NLA Executive Board through the Para Chair, and making sure the new Para Bylaws get updated on the NLA web Site Handbook section 5. The Committee Chair is a voting member of the Executive Board.

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Fall Program Committee

Always chaired by the current Section Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect. The chair is a member of the NLA Continuing Education Committee which plans the NLA Fall Conference.  This committee does the planning for the Fall Para sessions at the NLA Conference. Along with the Executive Board the chair decides on programs, lunch, and the Para non-profit table.

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Membership Committee

Can be chaired by the current NLA Membership Committee representative. The Membership Committee works closely with the NLA Membership Committee and with the NLA Executive Director. This committee is also charged with being a liaison between members, potential members, and the NLA Executive Director, to encourage and foster membership growth. This committee works closely with the Para Board, and may suggest methods to increase membership. They may assist the Publicity and Citations Committee with planning flyers/brochures and designing the Web page along with the Web Committee. The Committee Chair is a voting member of the Executive Board.

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Newsletter Committee

Always chaired by the current Keynote Editor. The section newsletter is the Keynote. It is published two times a year and a subscription is included with Section membership. This committee is comprised of an editor, who serves as the chair of the committee and who usually holds the position in perpetuity, and contributing reporters/Guest editors. There are some continuing columns, and an effort is made to publicize paraprofessional news of  past, present, and future interest. The committee is responsible for writing or soliciting articles, preparing copy for printing and mailing, and providing extra copies of the Keynote as membership increases. The Committee publishes Bylaws changes which often constitute the "first reading", they often include program flyers or registration forms, and publish news of changes within NLA and the Section. Their primary responsibility is to meet publication deadlines. The Editor is a voting member of the Executive Board.

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Nominating Committee

Always chaired by the current Section Past-Chair. This committee recruits additional members as needed. During February and March, this Committee develops a slate of at least two candidates per office for Section offices for the coming year: Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect - annually, and Secretary-Treasurer every two years on the even years. Only currently paid Section members are eligible for office. The Nominating Committee must prepare and submit the slate of candidates to the NLA Nominating Committee by April 30 of each year, and notify the NLA Nominating Committee chair (always Past Chair of NLA) of the slate. The NLA Nominating Committee will be responsible for ballots and for conducting the elections. The Section Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect must also submit candidate's pictures and biographies to the editor of NLAQ and Keynote newsletters by April 30.

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Publicity and Citations Committee

The Publicity and Citations Committee Chair is a member of the Web Committee, in addition to handling it's own committee duties. The principal responsibility of this committee is to be the public relations arm of the Section by providing methods to learn more about the Section. Helping the Web Committee design and update the Section Web page, designing letterhead stationery for the Section, including acting as liaison between printers and Section Executive Board. Also, maintains the official "History" of the Section, including history books and photographs; maintains camera and supplies, purchases/processes film or digital media, photographs section activities and meetings; assists the Spring Program Committee in planning and advertising Section activities. This committee helps in advertising through the section's newsletter, Keynote, the Nebraska Library Commission's newsletters, sends out news releases to newspapers, mailing lists, and to other library organizations. This committee solicits nominations for Paraprofessional of the Year and provides the membership with nomination forms, works with the Membership Committee on the nominees' selection, and advises the Section Executive Board of the nominees. The Board selects the winner. The Publicity and Citations Committee writes a letter informing the award winner's supervisor of the award. The Paraprofessional of the Year will receive a cash award, to be determined by the current Section Executive Board, and a certificate. The Committee Chair is a voting member of the Executive Board.

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Spring Program Committee

The Spring Program Committee Chair works very closely with the Paraprofessional Executive Board. Their responsibilities include planning the programs for the Spring Meeting and coordinating our programs with other NLA Sections or similar library organizations to avoid conflicts. This committee attempts to meet the needs of paraprofessionals across the state in promoting continuing education opportunities and supporting job growth through education. They may occasionally conduct need surveys to find out what topics paraprofessionals are interested in. The Spring Program Committee works within a budget, but attempts to find speakers and programs of regional, state, or national significance in order to attract the greatest attendance. This committee chooses and contracts speakers working within the Section Executive Board; prepares and distributes registration forms/web site; and works with other NLA and Paraprofessional Section Committees. The Committee Chair is a voting member of the Executive Board.

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Web Committee

The Web Committee consists of the Chair and the Publicity and Citations Committee Chair. The principal responsibility of this committee is design and update the Section Web page, after conferring with the Para Executive Board. The Committee Chair is a voting member of the Executive Board.

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