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DEADLINE EXTENDED TO APRIL 1: Call for Nominations – GELA Executive

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GELA welcomes anyone who is interested in library and information-related activities in the city of Edmonton and surrounding areas. In addition to supporting library and information professionals (and other interested people), GELA supports our local community through outreach projects such as the Prison Library Project which provides library resources and programs (book clubs, writing workshops, storybook recordings, etc.) to correctional facilities located in the Edmonton area. In 2023-2024, GELA also partnered with the Edmonton Tool Library to provide more opportunities for outreach and support for our local community.

Membership fees are $5 for students, and $30 for non-students. These fees fund administrative costs such as the GELA website and post office box, a professional development grant worth up to $200 for members, and support GELA’s ability to plan and provide events. For those who volunteer with the Prison Library Project (PLP), 70% of your membership fees go directly towards supporting PLP program costs. GELA members are eligible to hold executive office, to vote at the AGM, and to apply for the professional development grant, as well as enjoy perks such as discounted event tickets.

GELA’s AGM will be held in April 22nd (Monday), 2024 at 6PM (register here). The following positions are available for the GELA Executive:

  • President (April 2024 – June 2025 + a half-year term as Past President)
    • Presides at all GELA meetings and executive committee meetings and act as ex officio voting member for all association committees. Oversees the direction of the association, monitors progress of initiatives. Presents an annual report at the AGM.
  • Vice President (April 2024 – June 2025, moving into the President role in April 2025 – June 2026)
    • Presides at all GELA meetings and executive committee meetings in the absence of the President. Supports the President in relation to the direction of the association and its initiatives in preparation for becoming President the year after serving as Vice-President.
  • Treasurer (April 2024 – June 2026)
    • The GELA Treasurer is responsible for the financial management of the organization and maintains the active membership list. Financial management includes budgeting, maintaining the financial accounts and ledger, approving expenditures and reimbursements, preparing annual statements and supporting the audit of these statements, filing the annual return with the province, and presenting the Treasurer’s Report at each executive meeting and at the AGM. Training and documentation will be provided, and the outgoing Treasurer will be available as a resource for questions.
  • Program Coordinator (April 2024 – June 2026)
    • Two Program Coordinators, with alternating term expiry years, are responsible for event planning for GELA. This includes creating event promotions to be sent out via email and social media, keeping track of people who have registered, and hosting the events with help from other members. After events have concluded, the programming coordinator keeps statistics on the attendance and any feedback received to help determine if the event should occur again in the future. The Program Coordinator has old events to work off of and also the ability to create new events that GELA has never done before.
  • Publicity Coordinator (April 2024 – June 2026)
    • The Publicity Coordinator is responsible for updating and backing up the website monthly, managing the group email to ensure efficient communication, and creating publicity materials for Association events. This role also involves distributing announcements through various channels and assisting in the promotion of GELA events. Additionally, the coordinator collaborates with the Treasurer to maintain a current member email list and plans the annual membership drive.
  • UAlberta SLIS Student Representative (x2) (April 2024 – April 2025) &
  • MacEwan LIT Student Representative (x2) (April 2024 – April 2025)
    • GELA Student Representatives act as liaisons between GELA and the respective students in their schools. This involves continuously communicating with their professors and first- and second-year cohorts to promote GELA news and events. There are opportunities to speak to first-year students during their orientations and sit on a Library Associations panel to present everything GELA membership offers. Student reps also help organize at least one student mixer, usually in the fall.

If you are not a GELA member, you may join GELA and self-nominate for a position, or join GELA if your nomination is successful at the AGM. Students are eligible for all roles and are not limited to being student representatives.
To self-nominate, please send us an email indicating your position of interest along with a short bio (200 words). To self-nominate, or if you have questions, please contact gelaedmonton@gmail.com. 

Land Acknowledgement

We recognize the lands we meet on as the traditional homelands of Indigenous Peoples, including the Cree, Blackfoot, Métis, Nakoda, Tsuu T’ina, and Dene. We acknowledge that these peoples have cared for the land encompassed by the Greater Edmonton area, also called amiskwaciy-wâskahikan by the Cree, and which form part of the Treaty 6 territory. We respect and honour their cultures, languages, traditions and their deep connection to the land.