Hi, I’m Pamela Akins, Community Engagement Specialist back with a feature overview on the New ALA Connect.

Today’s sneak peek will cover features on the digital space where online users come together, aka, the Community home page, as well as a view of the profile!

From the ALA Connect Home page, there are a variety of navigation options, including the Find It Fast section of buttons that allow for quick access. You can also browse communities that exist which you are able to join using the All Communities menu selection.
As a logged in user, My Communities takes me to a filtered list of communities that I am a part of.

As you can see in the resulting list of groups, selecting a group title takes you to that group’s home page, indicating the mission or welcome statement, latest discussions, shared files and members. It should be noted that Committees and official ALA working groups are managed by our membership database since they are closed to only current members of those groups.

Discussions are listed by thread and can be accessed from the list of Latest or in the Discussion tab. By clicking on the subject of the thread, I can respond in-line, as well as “recommend” a post or take one of the other actions beneath this dropdown. Note: Discussion posts generate emails to all the members of that group, so be careful not to hit the “submit” button if you are simply exploring in discovery.

The Repository is a place where you can upload files organizing them using Library entries, (think of them like file folders) that describe and can compile files you want to upload into the group’s digital space. Accepting over 70 different file formats, this powerful tool can handle well over 100GB in a single Entry!

The Member list, displays each of the members with their contact information and with a link to their profile.

Speaking of the profile, users can add a photo or avatar, bio/education info and more. In later updates, we will talk more about account management, managing opt-outs, demographics, address updates and more!

Thanks again for your continued attention. Stay tuned for the next update in this series, entitled, “Divisions and Round Tables”

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