Library science is an enormous field, home to every interest you could imagine! This means that there are many organizations out there for you to join, in order to connect with other people who share your professional interests.

So even if you work alone in your library, there are other people out there doing work similar to yours! Each week we will highlight a different library association for you to learn more about, and depending on your work, potentially join! You can also check out our page dedicated to Library Associations.

This week we’ll learn about the Polish American Librarians’ Association (PALA). This organization’s mission is to “positively impact services provided to library patrons of Polish descent and individuals interested in Polish culture.”

PALA is having their annual meeting on April 28th in Chicago. The agenda includes a speaker on ALA’s role in reconstructing Polish libraries after WWII, a panel discussion on the 100th anniversary of Poland’s independence, and a preview of a new documentary.

Their website has a great list of resources to help with Collection Development, targeted at “non-Polish speaking librarians responsible for Polish language collections at public libraries.” The list includes classic works of Polish literature, winners of the Nike Literary Award (the Polish Pulitzer Prize), and a helpful list of notable/popular Polish authors.

Their site also has an awesome Programming page that lists ideas and examples of ways to include Polish programming at your own library, particularly in the month of October which is Polish Heritage Month. Some of these ideas include inviting a folk dance group to perform at your library, hosting a traditional Polish folk art workshop, or inviting a Polish restaurant/bakery in for a cooking demonstration of favorite Polish foods.

If you’d like more information about PALA, check out their FAQ page. And no, it’s not required to be of Polish descent to become a member! Get more membership information from their page.