Community Advisory Council
Community Advisory Council
Part of being a community resource center is involving the community in our planning and decision-making. We want the people who use the Library Partnership to guide the way. If you are interested you can join our Community Advisory Council. To apply for the Council or to volunteer stop by the Library Partnership, call 334-016 or email Angelica Suarez at angelica suarez.
Purpose of the Community Advisory Council:
The Library Partnership exists to provide services and support to the families of East Gainesville so that families are strong and healthy and the risks of child abuse and neglect are reduced. We believe that every family and community has resources and strengths. The challenge is to effectively bring these assets together to help families succeed and thrive. The purpose and function of the Community Advisory Council is to help facilitate this process.
These are the essential principles that the Library Partnership Community Advisory Council follows:
- The Community Advisory Council leads by serving the interests and priorities of the entire community; no one is excluded or overlooked.
- The members represent all segments of the community and reflect its racial and ethnic diversity.
- All members have an equal voice in the process.
- Partnership for Strong Families, Alachua County Library District and the Florida Department of Children and Families are partners in the Library Partnership and have representation on the Community Advisory Council.
- Parents’ input and leadership is essential to the composition and focus of the Council.
These are the essential duties of the Library Partnership Community Advisory Council:
- To provide direction in programming;
- To advocate for the community and Library Partnership at the local, state and national level;
- To promote the Library Partnership to the community
Membership:
The Community Advisory Council membership should reflect the community as a whole. Each member will be a contributor to this effort individually, professionally, and as an agent for the interest of Library Partnership or the organization they represent, and the membership should include the following:
- Community residents and volunteers;
- Parents (including parents who participate in the Library Partnership);
- Partnership for Strong Families, Alachua County Library District, and the Department of Children and Families representatives;
- Community organizations, health, businesses, education, and entrepreneurial citizens
The Council meets every month a total of 10 times a year. Council members will serve for no more than two consecutive three-year terms. Every three years a community resident, volunteer or parent member will serve as Chair of the Council. Attendance and minutes of the meetings will be available to each member. Partnership for Strong Families, Alachua County Library District and the Department of Children and Families may assign an employee to represent the agency at Council meetings. The Council membership should be no fewer than twelve, but no more than twenty members. There is no mandated quorum for an information meeting. The Council is an advisory council and has no authority over budgetary issues. However, the Council will support efforts to raise funds for the annual operating budget.
