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NJLA Organizational Updates: February 2024

Dear members,

To keep members apprised of news and projects from the NJLA office and Executive Board, a brief bullet point update will be sent to members once a month. Many thanks to Kate Jaggers for the idea! Your feedback is always welcome.

The Executive Board met on February 20. Here are some highlights from the meeting. Remember: Board meetings are open and we welcome your attendance. Check  njla.org/executive-board-agendas for dates and meeting links.

  • NJLA hired lobbying firm Porzio Governmental Affairs on February 1. They will focus on Freedom to Read, Per Capita State Aid, and construction funding.

  • NJLA President Carina Gonzalez and Executive Director Brett Bonfield attended two North Hunterdon-Voorhees school board meetings to support school librarian Martha Hickson, NJLA’s 2023 Librarian of the Year.

  • NJLA moved its savings and investments to the Community Foundation of New Jersey. We expect better returns and lower costs, and appreciate working with a community foundation whose mission aligns with NJLA’s core values.

  • The Conference Future Planning Committee received three responses for the 2026-28 NJLA Conference contract years: Harrah’s, Hard Rock, and Tropicana. Members of the Conference Future Planning Committee, Conference Committee, and NJASL are scheduling visits to the hotels on March 4.  

  • Alicia Gough, NJLA Office Manager, created a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system with Notion. The CRM helps NJLA track interactions with members, sections, committees, task forces, strategic partners, and exhibitors. Alicia saved NJLA thousands of dollars, creating a tool to identify gaps and trends, so NJLA staff can help our members have a better volunteer and customer experience.

  • NJLA Strategic planning continues, and an in-person, daylong session for the Executive Board is scheduled for February 27. We hope you will take part in focus groups, which will be announced in the coming weeks. The Strategic Planning member survey closes on March 1. Please share your thoughts!

  • On February 20, the Executive Board voted to:

Thank you for reading. Organizational Updates are always viewable at njla.org/organizational-updates. 

- Brett, Katy and Alicia