New England Library Support Staff Assocation (NELSSA)

What is NELSSA?

NELSSA grew out of NELA's Paraprofessional/Support Staff Interest Group, which was established in October 1993 to explore the need for and interest in founding a support staff section. With the support of the NELA leadership, NELSSA was voted a section by unanimous vote at the May 1996 NELA Executive Board Meeting.

Since that time, NELSSA members have served within the section and in NELA in a variety of capacities.

Unfortunately, due to inactivity, the NELSSA section is currently being dissolved. According to NELA bylaws, the NELA Executive Board can dissolve a section by vote at two consecutive annual meetings. A first vote was taken at the 2008 annual meeting.

NELSSA's Mission

• To sponsor programs on support staff issues.
• To present opportunities for professional development.
• To provide networking with counterparts throughout New England.
• To act as a conduit for communication between state associations.

Opportunities to Help

There are many ways to participate in and benefit from NELSSA and NELA. We welcome all library staff. NELSSA members serve on established NELA committees and plan programs of interest to its membership.

Some NELSSA Sponsored Programs

2002	Conflict Resolution
2001	The Professional in All of Us Speaker : Gene Kinnaly from the Library of Congress
2000	Paraprofessionals in the Reference Setting (co-sponsored with Academic Librarians section)
1999	Continuing Education Opportunities for Support Staff Speaker: Delores Payne
1998	Program on certification: Past, Present, and Future Possibilities: Certification for Library/Media Support Staff Speaker: Dorothy Morgan