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The Oregon Library Association (OLA) is based in Oregon and exists to promote and to advance library service through public and professional education and cooperation. OLA's officers, divisions, committeesand round tables make for a vital, dynamic library organization with more than 1,000 members. OLA has a record of successfully representing the interest of libraries and library staff and those they serve throughout Oregon.

History
The Oregon Library Association has had a long and illustrious history. Some of that history, from our beginnings in 1940 up to 1990, was documented and bound into a volume called A Journey Through Time.

Our history since 1990 is documented annually by the president of OLA for that year.

Membership
An OLA membership provides many benefits, including connections with library staff and supporters throughout the state. Members receive the Association's publications, including the OLA Hotline, an electronic semi-monthly newsletter on current events and topics, and the OLA Quarterly, a journal with in-depth theme articles on significant library issues. Members also have access to the Association's member directory and will receive an invitation to attend the annual conference at the discounted member rate.

OLA Units
Members who also join a division, committee and/or a round table have the opportunity to become more involved in advancing library services for Oregonians. OLA's success is a direct result of its members' enthusiastic efforts to promote access to information and library services for the citizens of our state.

Divisions

 * The Academic Division/ACRL-Oregon seeks to foster communication among academic library personnel; to promote the development of Oregon's academic libraries; to sponsor educational programs of interest to academic library personnel; to serve as liaison between academic personnel and various other academic and library constituencies; and to advocate for academic libraries and library personnel on the state level.
 * The purpose of the Children's Services Division (CSD) shall be to promote and advance library service to children and youth through public and professional education and cooperation.
 * Oregon Young Adult Network (OYAN) is a non-profit, educational and informational organization whose goals are; to advocate for excellence in library services for young adults; to take a proactive role in providing library services to teens; and to provide a network for communication among those who work with teens.
 * The purpose of the Public Library Division (PLD) shall be to promote public library service and development, to promote the potential for increasing cooperation among public libraries, to represent the interests and concerns of public libraries in relation to the Oregon Library Association and the Oregon State Library, and to develop legislative priorities for public libraries and other issues as may be pertinent to the Division.
 * The purpose of the Support Staff Division (SSD) shall be to provide a framework for information sharing, continuing education and moral support for all library support staff. Specifically, the aims are to provide a forum to encourage new ideas, discuss concerns and solve problems; promote awareness of library issues; inspire and promote professional growth through networking, conferences, workshops and mentoring; exchange ideas on processes, systems, and policies; provide a medium for the exploration of new ideas and technologies; foster cooperation among all Oregon libraries in all the various public and technical areas throughout the library; and to increase awareness in the library community of the evolving roles played by support staff.

Committees

 * Communications - Solicits news from OLA Board and units; reports on OLA's official actions;Solicits and reports news of Oregon librarians, library staff members and library activities; reports local, regional and national news that affects the Oregon library community;exercises selection and editing authority over Hotline submissions and product
 * Conference - Plans and executes the program for the annual meeting.
 * Honors, Awards, Scholarships (HAS) - Solicits nominations for Association awards in various categories; makes selections of recipients
 * Intellectual Freedom - Aids the development of the Association's position on Intellectual Freedom, to interpret this position to the public, and to act in support of this position.
 * Library Development and Legislation - Establishes plans for improvement of libraries in Oregon through study and recommendation of plans for the use of state and federal funds; exploration of other sources of funding, e.g., foundation grants. Establishes priorities for legislative action which may affect all types of libraries in Oregon.
 * Membership - Endeavors to secure new members for the Association by contacting librarians and others interested in library service in Oregon. Special effort should be made to contact those new to the state and the profession to express OLA's interest in them and to explain what the Association can offer them.
 * Nominations - Shall have charge of the conduct of the regular and special elections and the counting and tabulation of all votes cast. Will submit a press release to the OLA Hotline for the January issue requesting suggestions for nominees and petition nominees; will determine a slate of nominees in February; will submit candidates' statements for the OLA Hotline in the April issue; will insure that candidates are introduced and that information about the candidates is available at the annual conference
 * OLA/OASL Joint Committee - Fosters cooperation between school and public libraries.
 * Oregon Authors - Collects and preserves bibliographical data on Oregon authors.
 * Publications - To provide timely ways to communicate with members concerning the activities of OLA. Manages all aspects of the publication of Oregon Library Association Quarterly (OLAQ)
 * Resource Sharing - Fosters interlibrary loan and cooperation among libraries (sharing of materials). Assesses the need for lists of subject area holdings of libraries.

Round Tables

 * Business Reference (BIGOR) - The objectives of BIGOR are to provide opportunities for information sharing, networking, and continuing education for OLA members who provide business reference service or are interested in the role of business in our society.
 * Documents Interest Group (DIGOR) - The objectives of DIGOR are to provide opportunities for communication, education and cooperation among the government information library community, and to improve access to government information by all.
 * International Relations (IRRT) - The objectives of this organization shall be to provide a framework for information sharing of librarians, library workers, and library supporters interested in international librarianship activities of all types of libraries. The specific aims of the IRRT are to increase the communication of OLA members from all types of libraries about the international visits, exchanges, and special programs in which OLA members are involved. To increase the general awareness of contributions made by Oregon librarians at the international level, IRRT will sponsor programs at the conference of the Oregon Library Association.
 * Library Instruction (LIRT) - The Library Instruction Round Table is formed to promote library instruction as a means to empower library users to become life-long learners; to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and materials; to foster continuing educational opportunities; and to promote cooperation and fellowship among OLA members engaged in library instruction.
 * Library Preservation (LPRT) - The objectives of this organization shall be to provide a framework for the sharing of information among librarians, library workers, and library supporters interested in preservation activities in all types of libraries. The specific aims of the LPRT are to facilitate communication among OLA members from all types of libraries about the importance of the preservation of library materials and to increase the general awareness of preservation activities in libraries. In pursuit of its aims the LPRT will sponsor programs at the annual conference of the OLA and organize workshops and training related to preservation activities and disaster response planning.
 * Outreach (ORT) - To provide a framework for information sharing, continuing education and moral support for library workers currently providing outreach services; and to offer opportunities for networking and encouragement to libraries wishing to expand or develop library outreach services.
 * Past Presidents Round Table (PPRT) - The objectives of this organization shall be: 1) to enliven the OLA conference by working for the participation of all OLA members in the programs and activities of the conference; 2) to encourage library administrators, library staff and library supporters to be actively involved in professional library activities at the local, state, regional, or national level, and; 3) to support the office of OLA President.
 * Reference (RRT) - The objectives of this organization shall be to provide a practical framework for information sharing, continuing education opportunities, professional interactions, and a support system to those library workers engaged in reference services in all types of Oregon libraries. This organization shall aim to share ideas, plan, and improve reference services in and among libraries and foster fellowship, cooperation, and professionalism among its members.
 * Social Responsibilities (SRRT) - The Social Responsibilities Round Table is formed to provide a forum for the discussion of the responsibilities of libraries and librarians in relation to the important issues of social change which face institutions and librarians; to provide for the exchange of information among all OLA units about library activities with the goal of increasing understanding of current social problems and issues; to act as a stimulus to the association and its various units in making libraries more responsive to current social needs and to present programs, arrange exhibits, and carry out other appropriate activities consistent with these goals.
 * Technical Services (TSRT) - The objectives of this organization shall be to provide a framework for information sharing, continuing education and moral support for library workers currently engaged in technical services activities. Specifically, the aims are to provide for the exchange of ideas on technical services and automation processes, systems, and policies; to provide a medium for the exploration of new ideas and technologies; to foster cooperation among all Oregon libraries in the areas of technical services and automation; and to increase an awareness in the library community of the roles of technical and automation services.
 * Volunteer Services and Development Directors - The purpose of Volunteer Services and Development Directors Round Table of the Oregon Library Association shall be to promote and advance volunteerism and fundraising in libraries across the state. To provide a practical framework for informing, educating, encouraging, and supporting professionals who manage volunteer programs and raise funds for libraries.

Conferences
Join us for the 2009 Annual OLA Conference "Oregon Reads: One State, Many Stories" April 1-3, 2009 Salem Conference Center