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ARIZONA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ · EIN 866052350 · Form 990 · FY2022 · Small ($100K-$1M) · azla.org
revenue
$240K
expenses
$255K
net assets
$1.2M
employees
0
volunteers
7
program ratio
90%
mission · from form 990

THE MISSION OF THE ARIZONA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION SHALL BE TO PROMOTE LIBRARY SERVICE AND LIBRARIANSHIP IN LIBRARIES OF ALL TYPES IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

profile · synthesized from sources

Professional association supporting libraries and librarians across Arizona through advocacy, professional development, and an annual conference. The organization fosters networking, education, and collaboration among library staff, educators, trustees, and vendors. It promotes library services and intellectual freedom within the state.

named programs · 3 · from sources

what they call their work

Advocacy Committee
Organizes advocacy efforts including panels, workshops, and legislative monitoring to promote intellectual freedom and library funding in Arizona
Annual Conference
Three-day event featuring keynote speakers, program sessions, networking opportunities, exhibits, and awards to support professional development and advocacy for Arizona librarians
State Library Leadership Summit
Annual summit held in conjunction with the conference to bring together library leaders for strategic discussions and professional growth
activities · 3 groups

what they do

  • Library Workforce Development & Resource Access 9 activities
    • Administer scholarships for library professionals
      Sponsors the Horner Fellowship Scholarship to support professional growth and development within the library community in Arizona.
    • Administer the Horner Fellowship Scholarship
      Sponsors and manages the Horner Fellowship Scholarship, which supports professional growth and development for librarians in Arizona.
    • Horner Fellowship Scholarship
      Sponsors the Horner Fellowship Scholarship to support professional development or educational advancement for librarians in Arizona.
    • Negotiate statewide library materials purchasing contracts
      Develops and manages statewide contracts for the purchase of library materials, supporting cost efficiency and resource access for libraries across Arizona.
    • Negotiate statewide library purchasing contracts
      Develops and maintains statewide materials purchasing contracts to support Arizona libraries with cost-effective access to resources.
    • Professional development and capacity building
      Supports the professional growth of Arizona librarians through initiatives such as continuing education credits for school librarians, nomination of emerging leaders to the Snowbird Leadership Institute, and regional forums to collect statewide input. Also develops statewide materials purchasing contracts to improve library resource access.
    • Provide continuing education and professional development for librarians
      Offers continuing education opportunities for library professionals, including access to conference session materials, regional forums for statewide input, and nomination of emerging librarians to the Snowbird Leadership Institute. Also provides continuing education credits for school librarians.
    • Support professional development and leadership capacity of Arizona librarians
      Builds capacity within Arizona’s library workforce by providing continuing education credits for school librarians, developing statewide materials purchasing contracts, organizing regional forums for statewide input, and nominating emerging librarians to the Snowbird Leadership Institute.
    • Support professional development and leadership training
      Provides continuing education credits for school librarians, sponsors the Horner Fellowship Scholarship, nominates emerging librarians to the Snowbird Leadership Institute, and organizes regional forums to gather input and build capacity across the state library community.
  • Library Friends Group Support 4 activities
    • Advocate for library-friendly legislation and monitor policy
      Monitors state legislation affecting library services through a Legislative Committee Chair and contracted lobbyist. Engages in advocacy efforts such as lobbying to eliminate use taxes on books and hosting advocacy-focused programming, including a closing keynote panel on library advocacy at the 2025 conference.
    • Advocate for library-friendly legislation in Arizona
      Monitors state legislation affecting library services through a dedicated Legislative Committee Chair and contracted lobbyist, and engages in advocacy efforts such as lobbying to eliminate use taxes on books and hosting advocacy-focused programming, including a closing keynote panel on library advocacy at the 2025 AzLA Conference.
    • Advocate for pro-library legislation and policies
      Monitors Arizona legislation affecting library services through a dedicated Legislative Committee Chair and lobbyist, and has actively lobbied to eliminate use taxes on books; also promotes advocacy awareness through conference programming such as a 2025 closing keynote panel on library advocacy.
    • Statewide library advocacy
      Monitors Arizona legislation affecting library services through a dedicated Legislative Committee Chair and external lobbyist, and advocates for policy changes such as the elimination of use taxes on books. Advocacy themes are also integrated into conference programming, including keynote panels.
  • Uncategorized 4 activities
    • Annual AzLA Conference
      Organizes and hosts an annual conference for library professionals, educators, authors, publishers, and library supporters across Arizona, featuring program sessions, an exhibit hall, keynote speakers, leadership transitions, and continuing education opportunities. The conference includes in-person registration, access to session materials, and special events such as tours and awards lunches.
    • Host annual AzLA Conference for library professionals
      Organizes and hosts the annual Arizona Library Association (AzLA) Conference, a multi-day event that includes program sessions, keynote speakers, an exhibit hall, networking mixers, leadership transitions, and awards. The conference convenes librarians, library staff, educators, authors, publishers, trustees, friends of libraries, and exhibitors across Arizona to support education, networking, and knowledge sharing.
    • Host annual AzLA Conference for library professionals
      Organizes and hosts the annual Arizona Library Association (AzLA) Conference, a multi-day event that includes program sessions, keynote speakers, an exhibit hall, networking opportunities, and leadership transitions, convening librarians, library staff, educators, authors, publishers, trustees, and other stakeholders across the state.
    • Host annual AzLA Conference for library professionals
      Organizes and hosts the annual Arizona Library Association (AzLA) Conference, a multi-day event that includes program sessions, keynote speakers, an exhibit hall, networking mixers, leadership transitions, and awards. The conference convenes librarians, library staff, educators, authors, publishers, trustees, friends of libraries, and exhibitors across Arizona to support education, networking, and knowledge sharing.
financials · form 990 · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$240K
Contributions & grants$88K37%
Program service revenue$140K58%
Investment income$13K5%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$255K
Program expenses90%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$6K
Grants paid out$96K
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$1.15M
Cash$490K
Investments$664K
Liabilities$0
Net assets$1.15M
Liquid reserves54.4 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue -81.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
MELISA LEWIS PRESIDENT 10 $6K
board members · 11
  • AMADEE RICKETS — MPLA REPRESENTATIVE UNTIL 10/2022
  • AMBER KENT — SECRETARY
  • CASEY VAN HAREN — PRESIDENT ELECT
  • DEBRA WINLOCK — NORTHERN REPRESENTATIVE START 6/2023
  • ELIZABETH GARCIA — ALA COUNCILOR
  • JOHN WALSH — PAST PRESIDENT UNTIL 10/2022
  • JOSEPH DIAZ — SOUTHERN REPRESENTATIVE
  • NATALIE MENGES — TREASURER
  • PAMELA GALOVICH — NORTHERN REPRESENTATIVE UNTIL 10/2022
  • SHELLEY REDDY — CENTRAL REPRESENTATIVE
  • TAMARA NORWOOD — NORTHERN REPRESENTATIVE UNTIL 4/2023
relationships · 15

who they work with

  • American Library Association Partner — Featured Lisa Varga, Associate Executive Director of the American Library Association's Public Policy and Advocacy Office, as a keynote speaker.
  • American Library Association Partner — Lisa Varga, Associate Executive Director of the American Library Association's Public Policy and Advocacy Office, participated in a keynote panel.
  • Casa Grande Elementary School District Partner — Lisa Morris-Wilkey, District Librarian for the Casa Grande Elementary School District, participated in a keynote panel.
  • Casa Grande Union High School Partner — Lisa Morris Wilkey, Librarian at Casa Grande Union High School, participated in a keynote panel.
  • Casino Del Sol Partner — Host venue for the AZLA 2026 Annual Conference
  • Casino Del Sol Pool Partner — Hosted the AZLA Welcome Mixer
  • Phoenix Public Library Partner — Erin MacFarlane, Library Services Director for Phoenix Public Library, participated in a keynote panel and chairs AzLA's Legislative Committee.
  • Pima County Public Library- Sahuarita Library Partner — Hosted a tour during the AZLA conference
  • Snowbird Leadership Institute Partner — Nominates young librarians to the institute.
  • University of Arizona Partner — Hosted an alumni mixer at the conference terrace
  • University of Arizona Alumni Partner — Hosted a mixer for University of Arizona Alumni at the conference.
  • University of Arizona Libraries Partner — Cheryl Gerken, Course Content Initiatives Manager at University of Arizona Libraries, moderated a keynote panel.
  • University of Arizona- Main Library Partner — Hosted a tour during the AZLA conference
  • University of Arizona- Poetry Center Partner — Hosted a tour during the AZLA conference
  • conference@azla.org Partner — Contact point for conference-related inquiries, indicating internal coordination for annual conference operations.