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Support Staff Division (SSD)

 

    Updated 6/21/26 by Rinny Lakin

Goal: inspire and promote professional growth through networking, conferences, workshops, and mentoring.

Vision

SSD recognizes support staff's need for opportunities promoting awareness of library issues
as well as practical application of knowledge and skill, both ethical and technological.

 

SSD will provide a forum in order to encourage new ideas, discuss concerns, and solve problems
while envisioning and adapting to changes in the profession. 

 

Looking for this? Go to: Support Staff Division Conference

 

Meetings 

Virtual SSD meetings are the 1st Tuesday

2:45 pm - 4:00 pm

Email [email protected] for an invitation

The most effective members get support from their libraries to do this work and are paid for their time.
If you need help getting that support, email the chair, Rinny Lakin at [email protected].
Let's identify barriers in your way and strategize.

 

 

Your opportunity to shine!

Grow your network and professional development! 

 

Treasurer - Aug 2026 - Aug 2028

Easy, easy, easy. Two year commitment for institutional continuity.

  • No bank accounts, no checkbook! Basic math skills required.
  • Attend monthly, virtual, SSD meetings; facilitate these meetings if chair is unable
  • Can go to OLA Board meetings and can attend the OLA Board retreat as desired, or go in place of Chair for voting purposes
  • Work with SSD Board and the OLA Business Rep to create an estimated budget for the year (the latter keeps track in Quickbooks for us!)
  • Follow simple process to submit invoices/receipts to OLA Business Manager, who does the rest
  • Conference committee member: help plan (keep expenses reasonable!), run the conference, bring cash for the raffle and make the nametags

Chair - Aug 2026 - Aug 2028

Leading the Division! It averages ~10 hours/month and is a 2 year commitment. 

What? Wow! Why 10 hours?
  • Prepare the agenda and facilitate the monthly SSD Meetings ~2 hours/month
  • Write the SSD newsletters, OLA Hotline articles, respond to emails and the year end report ~3 hours/year?
  • Prepare the SSD Unit report and attend the OLA Meetings ~1 hours/month
  • Plan and facilitate the SSD Leadership retreat ~20 hours/year + travel
  • Lead the SSD Conference Committee (unless there is a Conference chair!), support the SSD Conference in person ~2 hours/month + 16 hours on site of conference + time to do any tasks you committed to doing + travel
  • Take up the work of unfilled positions
  • Attend the OLA Conference to promote SSD and the SSD Conference ~30 hours on site + prep + travel
    • Set up and run an SSD Booth
    • Often presenting, or supporting presenters
    • Usually there is an SSD Social to organize
    • OLA Board usually has a business meeting 
BUT you will have the past chair backing you up, (it’s me, Rinny again) and a great network of support.

It is far easier when you have support from your employer to do some of the work paid, and they are willing to pay for you to attend the OLA and SSD Conferences and Leadership Retreats.

The position is also MUCH easier when there is a separate Conference Committee Chair and Digital Communications Specialist! Invite your friends!

 
Member at Large - Aug 2026 - Aug 2027
The easiest of all the easy positions!
  • This is a learning position that attends Google Meets SSD board meetings
  • Weighs in on what is important to library staff right now and votes when needed
  • Assists with conference planning/tasks as comfortable and if you have capacity.
  • Attends (in person or virtually) the annual SSD Leadership Retreat.

It is very low pressure and there are no hard feelings if you decide to leave at the end of your term. No joke, we get it!

The SSD Conference is now every two years, coming in early will let you participate in the September 11th, 2026 SSD Conference
(We hear that being a Member at Large without a conference is not as fun.)

We can have up to four Members at Large, so make it really fun and bring your friends!

 

 
"Who me? I'm not a capital "L" librarian or director." 
Yes, exactly you! Be part of something special and shine! Are you looking to gain important project management and event coordination skills, but your library position offers limited opportunities to show and grow your skills? There is a wide range of professional development and network opportunities that are automatically built into this experience. You will be working alongside seasoned conference committee members and rising above the noise. (Psst. I can't promise you that this work will lead to a promotion, but if you look at past conference committee members, chances are good.)
 
Your commitment could look like this:
  • 2 hours/month for virtual SSD meetings. The April meeting is replaced by the SSD Social at the OLA Conference.
  • This part is super important, we expect you to come in person to help set-up, support the conference logistics and tear down for the September 2026 SSD conference. There are tasks that don't require public speaking.
  • Depending on which tasks you take on and how many people end up on the committee, expect 1-4 additional hours/month to complete your tasks. You will also be invited to the SSD Leadership retreat (maybe October 2026) to begin planning the next year for SSD. This has been 2.5 days at the beach for several years, but we have had virtual attendees as well.
Want in? Need more info? Email the chair, Rinny Lakin: [email protected]
_____________________

"Does SSD support staff, or are the members all support staff?" Yes.

Our name is tied to a National movement for inclusion.

We welcome suggestions for updating the name of our division.

Email ideas to [email protected]