Communities of Interest (CIs) are groups of Arkansas Library Association (ArLA) members who choose to organize around a type of library, type of activity, a special interest, or geographic area in order to further the mission of the ArLA. These groups are subject to ArLA rules. CIs are a benefit of membership and all voting ArLA members may join and participate in as many CIs as they choose. All internal workings of the CI are at the discretion of the members. They decide how to select chair(s), govern themselves, etc. The only ongoing requirement of an ArLA Community of Interest is to submit an annual report and a current contact person. A group must have at least fifteen (15) ArLA members to form a CI. Bylaws are optional at the discretion of the group (a sample bylaws template will be provided on the ArLA website to assist CIs should they want to govern with bylaws). The contact person from each CI will attend board meetings as liaisons between the governing body and interest groups. The interactive petition to form will be automatically sent to the ArLA Executive Board. If using the PDF form, email it to president@arlib.org.

Who do I contact to join a Community of Interest?

Arkansas Libraries for Everyone (ALE)
Contact: Jessica Riedmueller, Chair
jriedmueller@uca.edu

Arkansas Library Paraprofessionals (ALPS)
Contact: Jobe, Chair
jjobe@cals.org

College and University Librarians of Arkansas (CULAR)
Contact: Angela Black, Chair
ablack9@atu.edu

Community of School Librarians And Library Educators (COSLLE)
Contacts: Quanta Wyatt, Co-Chair
quantawyatt@yahoo.com
Rachel Shankles, Co-Chair
shankles08@gmail.com

Mental and Emotional Lives of Library Workers (MELLW)
Contact: Amanda Moore, Chair
amanda.moore.dmin@gmail.com

Public Libraries & Trustees
Contact: Betsy Fisher, Chair
ccl.director@arkansas.gov

Reference & Instruction Services (RISci)
Contact: Jessica Kirk, Chair
j.kirk_arla@pm.me

Two Year Colleges Community of Interest (TYCci)
Contact: Tina Bradley, Chair
tbradley@asumh.edu

WMS CI
Contact: Melissa Freiley, Chair
freiley@hendrix.edu

Youth Services
Contact: Mary Spears Polk, Chair
mary@fcl.org or mspolk76@gmail.com

Communities of Interest Forms

Petition to Form (interactive)

Petition to Form (.pdf)

Annual Report Form

Bylaws Template (example only)

Funding Request