Roles and Responsibilities

Role and Responsibilities of the GWLA Board of Directors

The role of the GWLA Board of Directors is to provide leadership and planning for the organization.

  • Provide effective leadership through appropriate initiative and timely execution of all responsibilities.

  • Ensure efficient alliance operations and make effective use of GWLA resources to support the GWLA strategic plan.

  • Facilitate a strategic planning process that results in compelling collaborative programs and initiatives.

  • Create and maintain effective governance mechanisms that meet the needs of the GWLA membership.

  • Provide financial planning and management that ensures the alliance's fiscal health.

  • Provide opportunities for sharing and leveraging ideas, expertise and best practices across a broad spectrum of ideas of interest to the alliance.

  • Empower elected officers of GWLA (with the knowledge and consent of the respective Library Dean/Director) to assign and enlist membership expertise on specific projects, task forces, etc.

  • Assess and evaluate GWLA programs and projects on a continual basis.

  • Assess member needs and organizational effectiveness on a periodic basis.

  • Evaluate GWLA staff on an annual basis.

  • In consultation with GWLA staff and Deans/Directors, develop clear committee charges and action plans for use by standing committees and ad hoc groups.

  • Develop an effective marketing/public relations plan in order to promote GWLA's mission and programs.

Role and Responsibilities of the GWLA Staff

The role of the GWLA staff is to provide effective leadership, management and operational structures for the organization to meet its strategic goals.

  • Provide effective leadership through appropriate initiative and timely execution of all responsbililites.

  • Ensure efficient alliance operations and make effective use of GWLA resources to support the GWLA strategic plan.

  • Work effectively with GWLA committees and task forces to ensure timely and successful completion of assigned projects.

  • Facilitate a strategic planning process that results in compelling collaborative programs and initiatives and takes quick advantage of new opportunties.

  • Provide financial planning and management that ensures the alliance's fiscal health.

  • Develop an effective communication program to keep the membership aware of alliance programs, meetings, initiatives, general operations and overall alliance business.

  • Provide opportunities for sharing and leveraging ideas, expertise and best practices across a broad spectrum of ideas of interest to the alliance.

  • Assess and evaluate GWLA programs and projects on a continual basis.

  • Assess member needs and organizational effectiveness on a periodic basis.

  • Develop an effective marketing/public relations plan in order to publicize GWLA's mission and programs.

Role and Responsibilities of GWLA Members

The role of the GWLA membership is to actively participate in consortial programs and agreements.

  • Commit a fair share of institutional resources to all GWLA collaborative projects.

  • Participate in capacity building initiatives. (Examples : continuing education/professional development workshops; GWLA strategic planning and assessment activities, including surveys)

  • Meet all consortium standards and collective agreements.

  • Attend and actively participate in GWLA meetings, including membership meetings, committee meetings, etc.

  • Communicate GWLA goals/priorities to library staff and institutional leadership.

  • Communicate organizational concerns and suggestions directly to GWLA staff and Board.

  • Integrate GWLA activities into library operations.

  • Share positive feedback, suggestions, and concerns about GWLA's performance to GWLA staff and Board.