Aspen Hill Library Advisory Committee

The Montgomery County LACs Mission is to advise the MCPL Board and the Library Manager on issues of local interest and concern for the benefit of the community and the MCPL system. These issues may include, but are not limited to: Policy Matters, collections, services and facilities. The LACs are the voices of the community operating on a grassroots level for each library branch or services section. In 1951, the Montgomery County government adopted a law creating the MCPL Department and Board under County Executive. Subsequently LACs were created, made up of local residents of each area in which a branch library was located; The LACs would function as a subcommittee of the Library Board and not as an independent committee of the library branch or agency. 

AHLAC SECRETARY SEARCH

- Volunteer Secretary works with the AHLAC Chair and performs the following duties (from the LAC Handbook):  Duties and Responsibilities of the LAC Secretary • Take minutes at each meeting. • Prepare and distribute LAC correspondence as needed. • Maintain accurate and up-to-date membership records. • Notify LAC members, the Library Manager, and MC Library Board liaison of all meetings and/or any change in the meeting date, time, or location. • Ensure that written notice of each LAC meeting is posted in the library, on the MCLB website, and distributed to members at least seven (7) days in advance of the meeting, as provided by the Maryland State Open Meetings Act. Regarding the MCLB website, provide a copy of the LAC meeting schedule for each fiscal year to the MCPL Director’s Office for posting on the board’s/LAC website. The meeting schedule should include the date, time and location of each LAC meeting. • Keep written minutes of all meetings for one year. • Send a copy of the approved minutes of each meeting to the MCLB liaison and Director’s Office within ten (10) business days of minutes approval.

- Monthly time expectation is 2-4 hours (attending general meetings and collaboration meetings with Chair, email follow-ups and taking minutes - by hand or using computer).

- AHLAC Meetings scheduled for Jan to June 2022 start at 7:30pm; Jan 24, Feb 28, Mar 21, Apr 18, May 16, Jun 13 on Zoom.

- Short application process will be initiated for membership.

Benefits of participating as an AHLAC Secretary:

- Join a friendly and talented group of AHLAC members and community leaders

- Learn about the AH Library collections/facilities/services and MC Library Board and Library Department operations

- Approval by the Montgomery County Public Library Board for all members (with successful application process)

- Invited to Joint Meetings for additional insight into MCPL organization, partners and representation

- AHLAC Chair was also an AHLAC Secretary and vows to support the new Secretary in managing duties/roles. 

Volunteers for the Aspen Hill Library Advisory Committee (AHLAC) participate by: 1) Attending monthly Online Meetings for the local Aspen Hill LAC (and when appropriate, attending in-person meetings), 2) Serving as an AHLAC member (application process) or as an Officer. We have two Officer positions for our AHLAC: Chair and Secretary - both positions are open to AHLAC members, are elected by the AHLAC membership and approved by the MCPL Board, 3) Serving as a Secretary (VACANT - we are currently searching for a Secretary), 4) Familiarizing themselves with the MCPL system, participating in local programs/Joint Meetings, and educating the public on MCPL resources, major impacts, library and system-wide needs, 5) Encourage interested individuals to join the AHLAC, 6) Follows LAC Handbook and advises the Library Manager and Board and 7) Encourage general public to attend AHLAC Meetings to learn more about membership and to share information from the local community / neighborhood / affiliation that supports the AHLAC community and the MCPL Mission.