Alaska Library Network General Membership Meeting

The Alaska Library Network work held its Annual Membership Meeting as part of the 2012 AKLA conference in Fairbanks on Saturday February 25, 2012.    Over nineteen representatives of member libraries were present for the meeting.  The Alaska Library Network is a membership organization made up of public, school and academic libraries from across Alaska.  During the meeting members had the opportunity to meet the new board members and hear about current ALN activities.  Although ALN provides many services to its members, ListenAlaska is it most popular.  This subscription service allows member libraries to provide patrons with access to thousands of audio books and eBooks.  ALN also access as the manager of the Alaska Digital Pipeline.  This year the Pipeline added Mango Languages to its statewide database program.  During 2011, ALN added new member benefits through participation in LYRASIS.  LYRASIS is a library membership organization comprised of more than 1,700 libraries.  LYRASIS offers training opportunities, vendor discounts and library advocacy opportunities.  ALN is exploring ways to meet libraries need to meet patron request for access to music.  In 2012, ALN will be exploring ways to provide this service through a group purchase of services like Freegal.