Dear NJLA Members,

We cannot wait for the 2024 NJLA Annual Conference. It starts in seven days! 

This year’s theme is “Breaking Barriers: Inclusive Collaboration.” Online registration ends today (Thursday, May 23) and on-site registration will be available starting on Wednesday, May 28. We hope to see you there!

Did you know that you can get a library-themed tattoo at the Conference? Keep reading for more information.

NJLA’s Executive Board met on Tuesday, May 21. Here are some of the highlights.

• We’re on schedule for the Executive Board to approve the new Strategic Plan at its July meeting. Based on survey and focus group feedback from you and the rest of NJLA’s membership, the plan concept includes four focus areas:

• Unite All Library Workers and Advocates

• Increasing Member Engagement

• Organizational sustainability

• Advocacy

• We’re developing a new mission statement, and we’re seeking your ideas about NJLA’s new core values. There will be a Core Values poster near registration and we look forward to getting your input.

• NJLA and NJASL are close to signing a contract for a merged conference in 2026-2028, occurring the Wednesday-Friday after Presidents’ Day in February.

• We continued working with NJLA’s lobbyists, Porzio Governmental Affairs, to advocate for the New Jersey’s Freedom to Read bill and for restoring flat, year-over-year funding for Library Network aid in New Jersey’s Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget. All of our discussions include the need for a Per Capita State Aid increase for the next budget.

• The Director Survey closed on May 10, and we received 139 responses. We shared construction-related data with NJLA’s Permanent Construction Task Force, and will create a resource list for NJLA members. Thanks to everyone who participated!

• NJLA started working with Ozy Aloziem, the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion consultant we joined LibraryLinkNJ in hiring. She will help us assess and improve the work that’s taking place in New Jersey’s libraries and library organizations.

• The Executive Board reviewed the 2024-25 draft budget and is on track to approve it at its June meeting, so it is in place at the start of the new fiscal year.

• Everything is in place for a great NJLA conference. 

• We have 799 registrations as of May 23 (we had 716 attendees at the 2023 conference). Exhibitor registration is 61 (vs. a total of 57 last year).

• Stop by booth 320 for a $100 business card sized “library themed” tattoo, created by ArtNSoul Tattoo studio! They will donate 10% of all proceeds to NJLA. Book online at www.artnsoultattoostudio.com.

Board meetings are open and we welcome your attendance. Check njla.org/executive-board-agendas for dates and meeting links. You can also find Organizational Updates at njla.org/organizational-updates.

We would love to hear your feedback about this update or any other NJLA service. Please contact us using the methods below.  

See you next week!
Brett, Katy, and Alicia