About Us

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Join the LILPA Discord Server

 

Current Board

Previous Board:

  • Derek Ivie (He/Him)
  • Jody Ruggiero (She/Her)
  • Nola Thacker (She/Her/They/Them)
  • Valerie Acklin (She/Her)
  • Noel Reich (She/Her)
  • James Grzybowski (he/they)
  • Alex Giresi (she/he/they)

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of the Long Island Library Pride Alliance (LILPA) is to provide LGBTQIA+ information, services, and materials to both library professionals and users of libraries on Long Island by:

  • Ensuring that Long Island libraries have the resources necessary to meet the needs of queer patrons and staff members
  • Providing a forum for discussion, as well as an environment for advocacy and education, regarding the needs of queer library workers and the queer community at large
  • Providing support for free and open access to information, without censorship, for all queer individuals and their allies

LILPA will serve to:

  • Create a network of queer librarians and allies in the region that are interested in LGBTQIA+ librarianship
  • Provide a forum for the exchange of ideas on public-facing programming, services, and collection development related to LGBTQIA+ matters, as well as promote ways in which librarians can meet the needs of their queer patrons
  • Provide a forum for the exchange of ideas on queer librarianship, as well as promote was in which library workers and administrators can meet the needs of queer employees
  • Provide continuing education opportunities related to LGBTQIA+ matters throughout the year
  • Present at regional, state, and national professional events that would serve as an opportunity to demonstrate best practices and learn about queer librarianship
  • Partner with the ALA Rainbow Roundtable, the NYLA LGBTQIA Roundtable, the LGBT Network, and other organizations, as appropriate, to meet our purpose
  • Collect and share best practices, create and distribute resource lists and annual book/media picks, assist in the development of staff training, and advocate for queer services, queer collection development, and queer safe library spaces, on behalf of queer library workers and patrons

 

 BYLAWS

THE LONG ISLAND LIBRARY PRIDE ALLIANCE
OF THE SUFFOLK AND NASSAU COUNTY LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS

  • Name
      1. This committee shall be known as the Long Island Library Pride Alliance (LILPA) Committee of the Suffolk County Library Association (SCLA) and the Nassau County Library Association (NCLA).
  • Objective/Mission Statement
      1. The mission of the Long Island Library Pride Alliance is to provide LGBTQIA+ information, services, and materials to both library professionals and library users on Long Island. LILPA strives to ensure that libraries have the resources necessary to meet the needs of their queer patrons and staff members. The Long Island Library Pride Alliance is a joint committee of the Suffolk County Library Association (SCLA) and the Nassau County Library System (NCLA). 
  • Membership
      1. This committee is open to all members of SCLA and NCLA.
  • Officers
      1. LILPA will be led by a group of 4 chairpersons.
        1. Two chairpersons will be appointed to represent SCLA, and two chairpersons will be appointed to represent NCLA.
        2. All chairpersons must be members of their respective organizations.
        3. Chairpersons will serve 2-year terms. 
          1. NCLA and SCLA will have a junior and senior representative, appointed on even and odd years, respectively. 
        4. Sitting chairpersons may recommend SCLA and NCLA members for appointment to current or upcoming vacancies. SCLA and NCLA will appoint chairpersons as needed.
        5. Chairpersons may serve multiple consecutive terms.
      2. Chairperson responsibilities will be divided as follows:
        1. Webmaster (1) – this senior chairperson establishes and maintains the LILPA webpage and Discord server.
        2. Newsletter (1) – this senior chairperson collects and disseminates a quarterly newsletter of activities and updates relevant to LILPA.
        3. Mock Stonewall (2) – these junior chairpersons organize the annual Mock Stonewall event.
      3. All chairpersons share the responsibility for the following:
        1. Planning committee programming and events.
        2. Attending monthly executive board meetings with at least one chairperson in attendance at each meeting for their respective organizations. Rotation to be determined by sitting chairpersons.
  • Meetings
      1. The membership will meet regularly in the following months: January, March, May, June, September, and November.
  • Funding
      1. SCLA commits to fully funding events held within the county w. For events held jointly with NCLA, SCLA commits to paying 50%.  
      2. NCLA commits to fully funding events held within Nassau County. For events held jointly with SCLA, NCLA commits to paying 50%. 
  • Amendments
    1. Amendments to these bylaws must be approved by all sitting chairpersons and their respective organizations.
    2. This committee will abide by all rules and regulations set forth by the SCLA and NCLA Executive Boards.