1. Formal and Informal Aspects
PaLA Information Flow
Formal and Informal Aspects

2. Organization Chart
Executive Director
PaLA website

3. Information flow
PaLA looks like a typical hierarchical structure with 1 main difference. In accordance with its original intent to serve PA librarians, Members have been listed above the Board of Directors.
Note also how bottom heavy the organization seems, with its multitude of divisions, chapters, committee’s and round tables. However, information does flow in both directions, with the Board responsible for disseminating the information back to its members.
There’s an almost circular information flow since members make up the various Divisions, Chapters, Committees, Round Tables, Council and Board of Directors. No member may serve on more than 3 areas at one time.
All areas send reports and notes to the Board and are also responsible for updating their information on the PaLA website. The website is available to all members.

4. Formal & Informal Information Methods
Formal Methods
Board meetings
Annual meeting & conference
Chapter, Division, & Committee meetings
Commonwealth Reports
External information auditors
PaLA website
PaLA newsletter:
The Bulletin
Informal Methods
Round tables
Focus groups
Listservs
Members
Library literature and news sources
Social Media
Twitter, Facebook
External auditors consist mostly of Greenlee & Associates, PPO&S out of Harrisburg (a public relations firm), ALA Washington office, and the ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries).

5. Information Users PaLA members Trustees of Public Libraries
Non-member librarians and library staff
Legislators
Pa Forward partners and advisory board
PaLA Board of Directors
Executive Director

6. Gatekeepers/Gaps
The President of the Board is the main gatekeeper of information in PaLA.
Information flows from the various areas to the President who sends that information to the appropriate parties. (i.e. the website, an message, Executive director, administration, members, etc…)
Information gaps include information overload and limited use of the website.
The new website is very interactive, but how often is it used and how can the board ensure members utilize it?
There is a lot of information on the website. Add to that the information coming from various listservs and you have information overload.
Overload for members and the board, especially the president, who has even more information to weed through.

7. References
PaLA (2012). Mission Statement & History. Pennsylvania Library Association. Retrieved from
I certify that: This post/presentation is entirely my own work. I have not quoted the words of any other person from a printed source or website
without indicating what has been quoted and providing an appropriate citation. I have not submitted this post/presentation to satisfy the requirements of any other course. Signature ___Alicemarie Collins_____ Date _____5/20/2012__________