Committee on Organization (COO)

Guidelines for Submitting of a Proposal for COO Consideration

Association groups who want to establish, discontinue or change their organizational structure or function within ALA must submit a proposal COO Action Request Form (DOC) to the Committee on Organization (COO). See Types of Proposals, Membership Initiative Groups, Sample COO Action Request Form, and General Resources below. If you have any questions or need assistance with submitting an Action Request Form, email COO chair and ALA staff liaison.

Volunteer to Serve on COO

If you are interested in becoming a member of COO or other ALA committees, see COO Appointments below.

Types of Proposals

• Establish or discontinue divisions, round tables, membership initiative groups (MIG), ALA committees, assemblies and joint committees
• Define, change or clarify function or structure of above units (e.g., change composition, term of service or appointments of committees; rename units)
• Renew Membersip Initiative Groups (MIGS) or request to move to another structure within ALA (e.g., become a round table)

COO makes recommendation to Council on proposals. Council has final approval.

ALA Bylaws sets conditions for establishing divisions (Article VI) and roundtables (Article VII). Groups who want to establish a division or roundtable must have required minimum of interested Association members and statement of purpose. COO also considered long-term viability and overall structure of ALA in its recommendation.

Membership Initiative Groups

A Membership Initiative Group (MIG) is an informal, renewable, and typically short-term vehicle that provides like-minded members with the opportunity to organize activities and communicate about topical issues of mutual interest. While possibly overlapping with other ALA units for brief times, a MIG may not assume any other unit’s delegated responsibilities, nor may a MIG speak for the Association. See ALA Policy A.4.3.12.

Sample COO Action Request Form

• Sample COO Action Request Form (PDF)

COO Appointments

If you are interested in becoming a member of COO or other ALA committees, ALA members must fill out the volunteer form to be consider. The form is open from early August to early November. The ALA president-elect makes committee appointments. For more information, visit Committees, Volunteer Resources & Opportunities.

COO committee member’s initial term is for two years and may be reappointed for an additional two-year term. To be reappointed for a second term, you must fill out the volunteer form.

General Resources

• ALA Committee Information Update Report
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Orientation
• ALA and Council Committee Chair Resources
• ALA Bylaws
• ALA Constitution
• Resolutions