District of Columbia Library Association

The District of Columbia Library Association is the "state" library association of Washington, DC, and is a chapter of the American Library Association. Membership in DCLA is open to all individuals, institutions, and organizations working in or concerned with libraries in the DC metropolitan area, including Northern Virginia and the Maryland suburbs as well as the District of Columbia. DCLA members include professionals and paraprofessionals from public, academic, special, school, and Federal libraries as well as from companies that work with these libraries.

Governance of DCLA is exercised by an elected Board of Directors. Click here for a list of the current board members.

The DCLA membership year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30. In addition to general membership in DCLA, members may participate in the activities of an numerous committees and interest groups. Click here for a list of those committees and interest groups.

DCLA members receive Intercom, a newsletter which is published monthly except for a combined July/August issue, and participate in an electronic discussion group called DCLA-L. Subscription to DCLA-L is limited to current DCLA members, and only members can post messages to DCLA-L. If you have an announcement you wish to post to DCLA-L but are not a member, contact one of the Board members and ask her/him to post it for you.

Active: Any person active or interested in librarianship and information science. Active members receive all Association publications and a subscription to DCLA-L, and may vote and hold elective office. Active members select one of four fee categories: Basic ($30.00), Supporting ($40.00), Part-time/Unemployed ($20.00), or Associate ($20.00).
Sustaining: Any person interested in libraries and librarianship and wishing to demonstrate a special commitment to furthering the goals of DCLA. Sustaining members receive all Association publications and a subscription to DCLA-L, and their names appear in Intercom. Sustaining Members may vote and hold elective office. Sustaining members select one of three fee categories: Supporter ($60-$99), Donor ($100-$249), or Contributor ($250- ).
Student: Any person enrolled in a degree program leading to a master's degree in library science. Membership in this category is limited to two years. Student members receive all Association publications and a subscription to DCLA-L, and may vote, but may not hold elective office. Student membership is $20.00.
Continuing (Retired): Any person who has been an active member in good standing for at least five consecutive years at the time of retirement. Continuing members receive all Association publications and a subscription to DCLA-L, and may vote, but may not hold elective office. Continuing membership is $20.00.
Institutional: Any organization interested in libraries and librarianship and wishing to help further the goals of DCLA. Institutional members receive all Association publications and a subscription to DCLA-L, and their names appear in Intercom. Institutional members select one of four fee categories: Institutional Supporter ($60-$99), Institutional Donor ($100-$249), Institutional Contributor ($250-$499), or Institutional Sponsor ($500- ).

DCLA also welcomes contributions to the Student Loan Fund and donations to enhance programs.

Loans are awarded on a competitive basis. DCLA annually awards two no-interest $5,000 Ruth Fine Memorial Student Loans. The loans are based on a commitment to pursuing a professional career in library/information science, academic background, work experience, and financial need. Preference is given to a library school student residing or working in the District of Columbia. After evidence of superior academic achievement and upon completion of degree requirements, the loan may be forgiven. Application requirements and forms are available at this site under "Student Financial Assistance."