Each Annual Conference ALA provides a great opportunity for 40 students engaged in ALA Student Chapters to participate in the Student-to-Staff Program.

In exchange for working 16 hours for an ALA division or office during the conference, these students receive free registration, free housing, and a per diem for meals. In their free time, they may attend meetings, programs, and other conference events.

To qualify for the Student-to-Staff Program, the student must be:

• A current ALA member;
• A member of a Student Chapter
• He or she cannot have previously participated in the program; and

Please note:

• All students selected must be ALA members and current students during the 2013 ALA Annual Conference.
• Each school has its own selection process, and the chosen student’s name must be submitted to ALA by the group’s faculty advisor. One student will be accepted per chapter.

In exchange for working four hours per day at the conference from Friday through Monday (16 hours total), each participating student receives:

• Free conference registration;
• Free housing (with roommate); and
• A per diem for meal expenses.

Transportation costs (such as airfare and cabs) are the student’s responsibility!

Sometime between now and December 2012, an official e-mail is sent to the Student Chapter business e-list. Student Chapters are asked to nominate their representative by a deadline. This deadline is very important since there are over 60 student chapters but only 40 available slots!

If you’re interested, find out how you can participate in the student-to-staff program at the 2013 Annual Conference in Chicago, IL, by contacting your ALA Student Chapter for its selection criteria.

For information about the process, contact Don Wood in the Chapter Relations Office. This program is only available at the Annual Conference.

I cannot emphasize these points enough!:

• There are over 60 Student Chapters, so when the message soliciting students to participate is sent, the first nominations received are those who will participate, if they meet the criteria!
• At this time there are no volunteer opportunities at Midwinter Meetings.

NOTE: Contact information found on the ALA Student Chapters Directory is used to contact the schools each year about this program. Each school is responsible for helping ensure its own information is correct. Help ensure that this information is correct by submitting corrections. Please submit contact updates to Don Wood, ALA Chapter Relations Office.

Are you sure your campus doesn't have an ALA Student Chapter? This can be remedied! How to start a Student Chapter is among the many resources for students on the ALA Student Chapters website.

Visit Joint Membership Program to find out how to enjoy the benefits of joining both ALA and your state chapter! Yes, new brochures are forthcoming. These 2011/2012 brochures can be used until new ones are posted.

For more information about ALA Student Chapters, visit ALA Student Chapters: Frequently Asked Questions.