AAAL is pleased to announce changes to our bylaws that allow us to expand our reach to be a more welcoming and inclusive library organization while enhancing services for our current members.

The new bylaws can be read fully on our website here: https://aaal.ca/about/bylaws/. These changes were prompted by the recommendations from the Welcoming and Including NEOS Members to AAAL: A Recommendation Document.

Key changes in the bylaws include:

• Special Libraries in Alberta can now be AAAL members (form coming soon)
• Student associations of library technician and librarian programs in Alberta can now be AAAL members (form coming soon)
• The creation of communities of practice
• Increased the maximum number of subcommittee members, which will allow us to expand our current professional development offerings. 

As a result, you will soon see:

• The creation of an AAAL Community of Practice around resource sharing
• The creation of an AAAL Working Group for a pilot project of a Micro-residencies program
• A call for additional members for the AAAL Learning & Development Committee
• A call for additional members for the AAAL  Mentorship Committee

Please consider volunteering and participating when you see these calls come out. 

AAAL has also already been able to institute the following, instigated by our Welcoming and Including NEOS Members to AAAL: A Recommendation Document:

• The creation of a PD award specifically for library staff in non-librarian positions
• In communications, using inclusive language for all library worker positions
• Planning for more education around the AGM portion of the Spring and Fall meetings. 
• A call for Volunteers for AAAL’s Strategic Planning Working Group

Thank you to all of the AAAL Executive, AAAL Subcommittee members, AAAL members, NEOS members, directors, and, of course, Anne Carr-Wiggin for their expertise, advice, and efforts in this transition. This is an opportunity for AAAL to serve a larger, more diverse community of library professionals and create a stronger and revitalized professional voice across the province.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Céline Gareau-Brennan, AAAL Chair at celine.gareau-brennan@ualberta.ca