Rep(s) to Coalition to Advance Learning in Archives, Libraries, and Museums (disbanded)

Established: September 30, 2014
Disbanded: 2018

I. Purpose

The purpose of the Coalition is to work in deliberate coordination across organizational boundaries to devise and strengthen sustainable continuing education and professional programs that will transform the archives, library, and museum workforces in ways that lead to measureable impact on our nation’s communities.

As of formation of the Coalition in 2013, three working groups have been established to address that purpose (descriptions prepared by the Coalition): 

• Governance and coalition-building: An essential component to forging and sustaining collaboration will be ensuring and codifying agreements on purpose and directions, building effective internal relationships, guiding decision-making, and providing common information for dissemination on the work of the Coalition.
• Assessing the field: Gathering information on the status of continuing education and professional development in each of the collaborating fields will ensure solid data for planning, identify existing programs on which to build, and support effective development of further joint efforts. (In development: Nexus Project by Educopia, Inc.)
• Developing a prototype: Perhaps the most tangible demonstration of the value of collaborative continuing education/professional development will be the creation of an educational opportunity that quickly and effectively meets the needs of all cooperating professions in a common area of much-needed training.

II. Number and Length of Appointments

SAA is represented by up to three individuals appointed by the SAA Vice President, in consultation with the Executive Committee and the Committee on Education, for two-year terms that are renewable.

One individual will serve as “lead” representative to the Coalition and as representative to the “Governance and Coalition-Building” working group. Criteria for serving in this role are the following:

• The individual must be an SAA member in good standing.
• To ensure that the individual has a broad understanding of and experience with SAA’s existing policy, organizational structure, and communication channels, the individual must be a current member of the Council or have served on the Council.
• The individual must have a demonstrated understanding of the importance of collaboration across organizations and must be able to collaborate with those in the library and museum professions.
• The individual must have excellent communication skills.

Up to two individuals will serve as representatives to the Coalition’s “Assessing the Field” and “Developing a Prototype” working groups.  Criteria for serving in these roles are the following:

• The individual must be an SAA member in good standing.
• The individual must have a demonstrated understanding of the importance of collaboration across organizations and must be able to collaborate with those in the library and museum professions.
• The individual must have excellent communication skills.

III. Duties

• Each representative reports the best interests of the archival community to the Coalition/working group on which he/she sits.
• Each representative seeks advice from the Council on issues to be placed on the agenda for consideration at Coalition/working group meetings.
• Each representative participates actively in Coalition/working group work and discussions, whether virtual or in person.
• Each representative prepares timely reports, as addressed below.

IV. Reporting Procedures

Each representative prepares an annual report to the Council in accordance with established procedures. (The annual reports shall be compiled and submitted as a whole by the lead representative.) Additionally, each representative provides a written report to the Council within 30 days of attending a Coalition or working group meeting.  All reporting requirements are the responsibility of the appointed representative, regardless of whether she/he is able to attend meetings.

V. Meetings

The Coalition will seek funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Gates Foundation for support of its work, including funding for meetings.  (Note: SAA does not fund attendance at Coalition or working group meetings.)

(The Coalition will meet in person in October 2014 to review and assess progress, refine directions, and consider further plans for collaborative action in professional development and continuing education.)  

VI. Related SAA Bodies

• Committee on Education
• ALA/SAA/AAM Joint Committee on Archives, Libraries, and Museums (CALM)

Approved by the Council: September 2014