Chapter Award Criteria and Guidelines

 

Chapter Awards are designed to recognize chapters that have created innovative initiatives and experienced success by the chapter (or one of its committees) in various areas.  These awards will highlight innovative ideas, events or initiatives at work. Each award is broken up into two categories: Large Chapter (chapters who have 75+ members) and Small Chapter (chapters who have less than 75 members).

Chapters may apply for one or more chapter awards.  Applicants must submit a 500-word essay that includes idea, event or initiative details and highlights successes and how the idea, event or initiative ties into ALA’s strategic direction. 

Chapter Awards will be given for the following areas of achievement:

Business Partner Relations 

This award will recognize chapters that have created innovative initiatives and experienced success by any chapter (or chapter committee) in the area of business partner relations. This award will highlight innovative ideas, events or initiatives at work. Applications may include business partner efforts in recruitment, retention, engagement, value to members, programs or any other area in which business partner relations is the primary focus. All chapters and all initiatives are eligible. 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) 

This award will recognize chapters that have created innovative initiatives and experienced success in any chapter (or chapter committee) in the area of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA). This award will highlight innovative ideas, events or initiatives at work. Applications may include DEIA efforts in business partner relations, visibility, programming and education, community service, membership or any other area in which DEIA is the primary focus. All chapters and all initiatives are eligible. 

Member Experience 

This award will recognize chapters that have created innovative initiatives and experienced success by any chapter (or chapter committee) in the area of member experience. This award will highlight innovative ideas, events or initiatives at work. Applications may include membership efforts in recruitment, retention, engagement, member experience or any other area in which member value is the primary focus. All chapters and all initiatives are eligible. 

Eligibility
All ALA chapters are eligible to be nominated.

Submissions
Submissions for this recognition should use the entry form and will be accepted from any ALA member in good standing. Check out our Guidelines for a Great ALA Awards Submission.

Evaluation Criteria
The task force tasked with reviewing entries will use Chapter Awards Criteria (2024) to evaluate each submission.

Nominee Notification
Recipients will be announced at the awards reception of the 2024 Annual Conference & Expo in Aurora, Colorado and be recognized on our website, in a digital issue of Legal Management and in the BOLD Bites newsletter.

Deadline
All entries should be submitted using the entry form and are due by February 9, 2024.

Questions
Contact [email protected] with any questions regarding this award.

Terms and Conditions

  • All submissions are final. No additions or changes are permitted to the entry after receipt by ALA headquarters.
  • All entries become property of ALA.
  • ALA may reproduce, reprint or highlight the entry either in full or in part in its communications and/or at its events.
  • ALA reserves and exercises the right to verify the accuracy of the entry. Supplying inaccurate information may lead to disqualification.
  • Awards will be presented only to entrants in good standing with ALA.