ALA-APA Restructures To Save Money
Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 01/16/2009
- Costs outpacing revenues
- Staffers’ time to be shared with ALA
- Certification program a success
The ALA-APA (American Library Association-Allied Professional Association), faced with costs outpacing revenue, has been restructured by moving more of APA Director Jenifer Grady’s time to ALA activities and half the time of the APA support staff to a grant the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) provided to develop support staff standards.
According to a document circulated on the ALA Council electronic mailing list, that means ALA-APA will operate with a staff of .60 FTE Director and .50 support staff, and a reduced operating budget. ALA had already assumed 23% of Grady’s time and salary for the three-year grant period (2008-2010).
Increasing the share of Grady's ALA time results from the decision to have ALA’s Office for Research and Statistics (ORS) again assume responsibility for administering the Librarian Salary Survey—which it previously administered—and the new Non-MLS Salary Survey. Revenue from sales of the report hasn’t covered costs of preparation. The ALA-APA will still be responsible for formatting survey results and coordinating the printing and distribution of the publication. Grady will assist in survey administration under a contract with ORS.
Background
ALA provided the ALA-APA, established in 2003, with a loan of $250,000, intended for support until ALA-APA gained self-sufficiency via certification programs, an online subscription-based newsletter, the salary survey, the provision of training and consulting services, and contributions.
Given the realignments, ALA-APA should begin repaying the loan interest and principal in FY2009, and revenues are expected to increase as the Certified Public Library Administrator (CPLA) program continues its growth—115 individuals are now enrolled—and as other ALA-APA products and services are developed.
The ALA-APA generated $171,000 in revenue last year. Its initial 2009 budget called for $277,377 in revenues and $245,282 in expenses. Its revised budget presumes $205,675 in revenues and $183,815 in expenses.
