Officers OFFICERS
Executive Board | Sections & Officers | Interest Groups & Coordinators
Committees & Chairs | LLA Office
Association business is conducted by the Executive Board at quarterly meetings. The Executive Board consists of the elected officers of the Corporation, the LLA representative to the American Library Association, the LLA representative to the Southeastern Library Association, and the elected Section chairmen. Officers are President, Vice President/President-Elect, Second Vice President, Secretary, Parliamentarian, and Immediate Past President. Section chairmen include Academic, Government Documents Round Table (GODORT), Louisiana Association of School Librarians (LASL), Louisiana Support Staff Association of Libraries (LaSSAL), Public, Subject Specialists, and Trustees. The editor of Louisiana Libraries and the LLA Executive Director are nonvoting members of the Executive Board.
Louisiana Library Association Officers
President
Melissa Elrod
Email: melrod@caddo.k12.la.us
Phone: (318) 865-7949
Fax: (318) 865-50411st Vice President / President Elect
Melissa Hymel
Email: mkhymel@yahoo.com
Phone: (225) 638-7593
Fax: (225) 638-9847Louisiana Libraries Editor
Vivian Solar
Email: vsolar@state.lib.la.us
Phone: (225) 647-8924
Fax: (225) 644-0063Conference Chair
Jill Byttner
Email: jbyttner@shreve-lib.org
Phone: (318) 226-5872
Fax: (318) 226-4780Conference Chair
Bethany Ryder
Email: bryder@state.lib.la.us
Phone: (318) 872-6100
Fax: (318) 872-6120LLA Executive Director
Beverly Laughlin
Email: office@llaonline.org
Phone: (337) 550-7890
Fax: (337) 550-7846
Special interests of members are met by Sections. Members may join as many Sections as they wish. Membership in one Section is
part of basic Association dues. Each additional Section costs $6.00. Sections conduct preconferences, workshops and seminars
during the year, present awards, and plan and conduct a program and meeting at each Annual Conference.
Sections are integral components of the Association. Their members assist in identifying problems and issues and in recommending solutions.
Sections also plan programs and produce publications germane to their purpose, and cooperate in meeting the professional needs of
their members. Each Section elects officers to carry out its goals and objectives.
The Academic Library Section provides a network for the exchange of ideas, enhances leadership for college and university libraries,
and promotes study and research relevant to academic libraries. Notes & Tracings Newsletters
The Government Documents Round Table (GODORT) provides a focal point for discussing and exchanging ideas about information
from all levels of government. The Section also provides a means for initiating and supporting programs and publications to increase
availability, use, bibliographic control, and management of these documents.
GODORT Chair
Lori Smith
Email: lsmith@selu.edu
Phone: (985) 549-3966
Fax: (985) 549-5512Vice Chair / Chair Elect
Melanie Sims
Email: melanie.sims@law.lsu.edu
Phone: (225) 578-8815
Fax: (225) 578-57732nd Vice Chair
Judith Smith
Email: jsmith@state.lib.la.us
Phone: (225) 342-2791
Fax: (225) 342-2791Secretary
Georgia Chadwick
Email: gchadwick@lasc.org
Phone: (504) 310-2402
Fax: (504) 310-2419Liaison to ALA GODORT
Stephanie Braunstein
Email: sbraunst@lsu.edu
Phone: (225) 578-7021Louisiana Libraries Editorial Board
Elissa Plank
Email: esp1061@lsu.edu
Phone: (225) 578-9429LFDLC
Gail Kwak
Email: kwak@nsula.edu
Phone: (318) 357-4466
Fax: (318) 357-5201
The Louisiana Association of School Librarians (LASL) provides leadership for the school library media specialist and
promotes both personal and professional growth. The Section disseminates news concerning state and national issues and
trends affecting the profession; provides educational opportunities to keep members informed about professional issues;
and links school library media specialists with knowledgeable colleagues.
The Louisiana Support Staff Association of Libraries (LaSSAL) provides opportunities for continuing education to
library support staff. Support staff comprises a large percentage of library personnel and includes para-professionals,
library technicians, library assistants and personnel under various civil service classifications. LaSSAL promotes sharing
ideas and communication among our members. We encourage personal and professional development to ensure excellent library service
throughout Louisiana.
LaSSAL Chair
Elissa Plank
Email: esp1061@lsu.edu
Phone: (225) 578-9429Vice Chair / Chair Elect
Mary Shively
Email: shivelym@library.latech.edu
Phone: (318) 257-2231
Fax: (318) 257-2579Secretary/Treasurer
Leah Clark
Email: LClark@library.latech.edu
Phone: (318) 257-3673Past-Chair
Jane Vidrine
Email: jmvidrine@louisiana.edu
Phone: (337) 482-1127
Fax: (337) 482-5841
The Public Library Section promotes the professional growth and development of public library service and public librarians.
The Section goals include seeking adequate funds for public libraries through community support; improving library administration and
management; integrating technology into library operations; educating and training public library personnel; and exchanging ideas
with library supporters to influence public library service.
The Subject Specialists Section encourages those with a particular subject interest or expertise to become members. They may work with a special library, information center or collection, or have a personal interest in a special subject. Subject Specialists Newsletters.
The Trustees Section supports the development of public library service and recognizes the responsibility of its members to be effective leaders to benefit the libraries they represent. The Section identifies and coordinates programs for the development and education of trustees, and encourages participation in related organizations. The Section co-sponsors programs and publications with the Public Library Section.
Interest groups are established in response to a petitioned request from twelve or more members of LLA. Interest groups develop around a topic of substantive concern to provide a forum of exchange and generation of ideas, and intellectual development for its members. Membership in one Interest Group is part of basic Association dues. Each additional Interest Group costs $3.00.
Each Interest Group is headed by a Coordinator.
Association Committees are appointed for the purpose of carrying out the work of the association. The President, with the approval of the Executive Board, appoints these Committees, as well as the Committee Chairs. LLA currently has 17 standing association Committees.
Each Committee is headed by a Chair
Complete Committee Rosters
Section Committee Rosters
Anthony Benoit Mid Career Award
Amy Whipple
Email: awhipple@state.lib.la.us
Essae M. Culver Award
Renee Whatley
Email: rwhatley@state.lib.la.us
Finance
Beth Paskoff
Email: Bpaskoff@lsu.edu
History
Florence M. Jumonville
Email: fjumonvi@uno.edu
Intellectual Freedom
Ladonna C Guillot
Email: lguillot@selu.edu
Legislation
Phyllis Heroy
Email: pbheroy@cox.net
LLA Scholarship Fund
Elissa Plank
Email: esp1061@lsu.edu
Louisiana Literary Award
Linda L LeBert
Email: llebert@state.lib.la.us
Margaret T Lane Award
Judith D Smith
Email: jsmith@state.lib.la.us
Margaret T Lane Award
Ferol A. Foos
Email: ffoos@state.lib.la.us
Margaret T Lane Award
Karen Cook
Email: karen.j.cook@gmail.com
Membership
Trudy Patterson
Email: tpatters@state.lib.la.us
Modisette Award
Mary desBordes
Email: mdesbordes@stcharles.lib.la.us
Nominating
Mary desBordes
Email: mdesbordes@stcharles.lib.la.us
Scholarship Fund – A Trust
Mary desBordes
Email: mdesbordes@stcharles.lib.la.us
Web Oversight
Jane F. Vidrine
Email: jmvidrine@louisiana.edu
421 South 4th Street
Eunice, Louisiana 70535
337-550-7890 (voice)
337-550-7846 (fax)
Member services: 877-550-7890 (toll free)
E-Mail: office@llaonline.org
Conference
Chair
Bethany Ryder
Email: bryder@state.lib.la.us
Phone: (318) 872-6100
Fax: (318) 872-6120Program Chair
Ginger Bryan
Email: gbryan@bpcc.edu
Phone: (318) 678-6000
Fax: (318) 678-6400Exhibits Chair
Catherine Allen Smith
Email: catlib2000@yahoo.com
Phone: (318) 797-9547Local Arrangements Chair
David Duggar
Email: ddugga@lsuhsc.edu
Phone: (318) 675-5472
Fax: (318) 675-5442Publicity Chair
Cynthia Ortego
Phone: (318) 226-5881
Fax: (318) 226-4780Registration Chair
Delbert Terry
Email: dterry@state.lib.la.us
Phone: (318) 746-1693
Fax: (318) 746-7768