2021-2024 APALA Strategic Plan
The Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) was founded in 1980 by members who were mostly first generation Americans of Asian descent who sought to support the work of librarians of Asian Pacific ancestry. It was incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit in 1981 and became formally affiliated with the American Library Association in 1982. As an affiliate, APALA shares the same overall mission of the American Library Association: “to provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.”
Today, APALA promotes APA librarianship and support for those who serve APA communities. Our membership is diverse, reflecting Asian Pacific and non-Asian heritages, and varied identities and communities. In fact, we deeply recognize and celebrate the heterogeneity and inclusiveness of our membership as a core strength and character of our organization.
A strategic plan helps an organization articulate its core values, mission, vision of what it wants to be, and a set of goals to help guide its priorities for a specified period of time. APALA’s core values are: leadership, social justice, diversity, advocacy, community and collaboration within the framework of librarianship generally, and Asian Pacific American librarianship specifically. As one of six National Associations of Librarians of Color (formerly known as ethnic affiliates or caucuses) and an affiliate of the largest library organization in the world, we continue to be in a strategic position to support new APA library professionals and cultivate them as tomorrow’s leaders and library workers. After year long waves of anti-Asian sentiment and the racial unrest in the wake of the murder of George Floyd in June 2020, we recommitted ourselves and our association to working closely with our allies and partners in social justice work and remain committed to working together towards peace and justice in librarianship.
The Strategic Planning Task Force, convened in December 2020, reviewed the existing plan, gathered samples, studied best practices, and created a plan for a transparent and participatory process. We held two virtual town hall meetings, conducted an online survey, and reported back to the Executive Board and the membership during the various stages of the process.
The love our members have for APALA and the enthusiasm and support for our work and for our network was not understated in the surveys and townhalls we conducted. The feedback and data also demonstrated that much of the work done by the last Strategic Planning Task Force remained relevant in continuing our work into the future. With this in mind, the mission and vision of APALA received no updates. Changes to the goals of the association are reflected by the surveys and townhalls and are intended to grow as APALA continues growing over the next three years. Given how rapidly the world changed during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to change, the Task Force recommends institutionalizing a process for constant assessment of the Strategic Plan and a full revisit in three years. This process will recognize that APALA’s President and leadership change yearly and may include new avenues that the President may wish to take to fulfill APALA’s strategic goals. Over the next three years an assessment tool will be developed through this iterative process of achievement. This will keep APALA relevant and on the forefront of issues affecting our APA communities, communities of color at large and APA library workers and provide flexibility for leadership in a rapidly changing world.
Vision
A profession that is diverse, inclusive, and social-justice oriented through advocacy, leadership, and collaboration.
Mission
APALA is a professional library organization dedicated to cultivating Asian Pacific American leadership through mentorship and professional engagement, advancing social justice, and providing opportunities for dialogue and networking to promote the needs of APA professionals and those who serve APA communities.
Goals
- Cultivate and build leadership development opportunities for APALA members
- Connect members to each other for networking, mentorship, and allyship opportunities locally and nationally
- Connect and engage with other social justice groups and with National Associations of Librarians of Color
- Support advocacy opportunities for members in advocating for more Asian American and Pacific Islander programming, services and resources for themselves, patrons and our communities
- Cultivate and build engagement opportunities for APALA members to develop best practices, resources, and expertise
Adopted June, 2021
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