NJLA OFFICE CLOSED ON MONDAY, JUNE 20

In observance of Juneteenth, the NJLA office will be closed on Monday, 6/20. Juneteenth commemorates June 19th, 1865, when enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas learned of the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation and of their freedom. https://nj.gov/state/historical/his-2021-juneteenth.shtml

June 15, 2022

Announcing the NJLA 2022-23 Executive Board

Congratulations to the winners of the NJLA Executive Board Special Election, and a warm welcome to the 2022-23 NJLA Executive Board, terms beginning on July 1!

Thank you to all those members who volunteered (or agreed) to be on the slate; we owe a debt of gratitude for your love of and commitment to our Association. And a huge thanks is also extended to outgoing Executive Board members Pham Condello, Will Porter, and NJLA Past President Jen Brenner.

The regular and special Executive Board elections were brought to you by the hard work of the 2021-22 NJLA Nominations & Elections Committee and NJLA Office staff.

President
Jessica Trujillo – Montclair Public Library

First Vice President / President-Elect
Carina Gonzalez – Piscataway Public Library

Second Vice President
Allen McGinley – Westfield Public Library

Treasurer
Allan Kleiman – Edison Public Library

Secretary
Heather Dalal – Rider University

NJLA Chapter Councilor to ALA
Laverne Mann – Cherry Hill Public Library

Member-at-Large, Academic Representative
Adriana Mamay – Middlesex College Library, 2025

Members-at-Large (newly elected listed in italics)
Selwa Shamy – Montclair Public Library, 2025
Ally Blumenfeld – Hoboken Public Library, 2025
Lynnette Fucci – Monroe Township Library, 2025
Corey Fleming – Paterson Free Public Library, 2024 (Special Election: 2-year term)
Keisha Miller – South Orange Public Library, 2024
Joy Robinson – Piscataway Public Library, 2024
Danielle Cesena – Livingston Public Library, 2023 (Special Election: 1-year term)
Judith Pissano – Gloucester County Library System, 2023 (Special Election: 1-year term)
John Wallace – Ocean County College Library, 2023

Past President
Kate Jaggers – Highland Park Public Library

Link to the announcement: https://www.njla.org/2022-23-executive-board-announcement

June 13, 2022

NJLA HONORS AND AWARDS

Congratulations to this year's NJLA Honors and Award Winners!

Click here to view

NJLA Statement in Support of the Ukrainian Library Community

The New Jersey Library Association (NJLA) stands with our Ukrainian colleagues, and all the people of Ukraine, as they resist the ongoing and unprovoked attack by Putin’s Russia. We affirm that libraries and library workers are integral to a successful battle against disinformation campaigns and pledge to do our part to help assure accurate information is available to all. We are in awe of the Ukrainian library community’s staunch and unwavering support for their country, their libraries, and their citizens. NJLA stands with them in support and solidarity. We also pledge our support to our Ukrainian-American colleagues during this most difficult time.

We express our concern for the people of Ukraine and for the symbols of its rich cultural and literary history now at risk. We call on US and international leaders to do all possible to restore peace and security to Ukraine and offer our colleagues at the Ukrainian Library Association this heartfelt and public show of support.

The Executive Board of the New Jersey Library Association
March 4, 2022

Link to this statement: https://www.njla.org/njla-statement-in-support-of-the-ukrainian-library-community

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Takes Center Stage at New Jersey's Libraries

Bordentown/Trenton, NJ, February 1, 2022. A collaborative framework for addressing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in New Jersey's libraries, was announced today, by the leadership of the New Jersey State Library, the New Jersey Library Association, and LibraryLinkNJ-The New Jersey Library Cooperative. The impetus for this collaborative is a commitment to action towards achieving a New Jersey library community that demonstrates the values of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). This collaboration is the first of its kind among the three organizations. The framework for the EDI Collaborative for New Jersey's Libraries is attached to this press release.

Click here to read the full press release

Governor Murphy Announces Second Round of Funding for Library Construction Bond Act

Governor Phil Murphy today announced the second round of funding for the Library Construction Bond Act (LCBA), which allocates $37 million to 36 library projects from 13 counties across New Jersey. The Library Bond Act was approved by voters in 2017 and authorizes $125 million in state bonds for technology updates, building improvements, and other library projects across the state.

The first round of funding, which allocated $87.5 million, was announced in January 2020. The list of projects for the second round of funding has been submitted to the Legislature and will be signed by Governor Murphy once it reaches his desk. Click here to read the full statement.

2022 NJLA Minimum Public Library Salary Recommendations

The Personnel Administration Subcommittee updated this guide from the 2020 version using a great deal of data available and provided a thorough and transparent background of the process and the justification for the numbers that appear on the guide itself. It’s important to note that we all understand that this is meant to serve as a guide, not necessarily dictate specific decisions made at the local level, and NJLA recognizes that cost of living and sources of library revenue vary greatly both geographically throughout NJ as well as simply from library-to-library. Click here to review.

Established in 1890, the NJLA is the oldest and largest library organization in New Jersey.

The New Jersey Library Association:

Advocates for the advancement of library services for the residents of New Jersey
Provides continuing education & networking opportunities for librarians
Supports the principles of intellectual freedom & promotes access to library materials for all
Creates opportunities for new and future librarians
Strengthens our professional community

Our office in Bordentown, NJ provides services to over 1700 members.

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NJLA Executive Board Full statement - Black Lives Matter

Black lives matter. NJLA acknowledges the structural racism in our organization and profession, and NJLA must do better.

NJLA Executive Board Full statement - Black Lives Matter The New Jersey Library Association stands in solidarity with the Black community, librarians, library workers, library users and with members of the communities we serve. We want our Black, People of Color and marginalized members to know you are valued, affirmed and supported. NJLA acknowledges that in order to continue moving forward, there needs to be consistent work towards recognizing our own biases, welcoming change and taking actions that impact policies and create positive change in the direction of equity and inclusion.