Seeking New Members for Board of Directors

Apply by November 12th

The Alternative Library (AltLib) in Bellingham, Washington on occupied Coast Salish territory seeks to expand our Board of Directors, joining three existing Board Members in reestablishing the visionary circle that will guide the organization forward in the coming years.

About the AltLib
Since its inception in 2007, the AltLib has been dedicated to sustaining a community hub for artists and activists to connect through creative collaboration. We maintain a 10,000+ item lending library, a shared publication studio, and produce an events program for our community of writers, artists, printmakers, organizers, and small publishers to share their work. In an effort to provide equitable access to frequently inaccessible equipment and resources, we provide support for the creation of truly independent media.

Institutional Context
The AltLib was founded with the intention of creating a community-driven art center dedicated to independent media, radical culture, and the arts. Over the years, it has operated with those centralizing themes, and has transformed to exist in diverse incarnations and serve many purposes. In 2014 it was established as a 501c3 nonprofit, and in 2019 we adopted sociocracy as our governance model.

After 16 years of operation we found ourselves unable to secure a suitable location and opted to move our collection and supporting infrastructure into storage and take some time to reassess the best direction for the AltLib to take next. After a year spent in storage, and continued interest and support from our community, we’re again looking for a space to reactivate our lending library, storefront, and connected programming.

Seeking Board Members
In order to launch the next incarnation of the AltLib, we’re looking to expand our Board of Directors and set the foundation that will allow us to provide an accessible center for art, independent media, and radical culture in Bellingham. We’re looking with preference for folks with the following skills/interests/experience:
– Clear and transparent written & visual communication
– Business administration
– Collaborative process and building consensus; diplomacy; advocacy
– Experience writing grant proposals, implementing proposed projects, and reporting to funders
– Budget development and accounting
– Experience with Google Suite
– Passions for independent media, art, and social justice
– Knowledge of library systems and collection cataloging
– Experience with independent/DIY community spaces

Board Duties
Our new board members will join the existing board, and will be responsible for reimagining how the AltLib will serve our community in the coming years. This will include:
– Reviewing and ratifying new bylaws
– Designing and maintaining internal governance systems
– Activating community engagement
– Identifying and developing a site(s) of operation
– Writing funding proposals for granting organizations
– Budget development and accounting
– Structuring volunteer positions
– Building local and international relationships of solidarity
– Guiding overall organizational programing

To Apply
Please email the following materials to info@AltLib.org:
– Cover letter to introduce yourself and your experience that would align with the AltLib vision.
– Résumé/Artist CV
– Writing Sample: 1-2 page writing sample relevant to the position, such as excerpts from grant proposals, workshop program descriptions, marketing materials, annual reports, and/or newsletters.
– Optional: examples of art, writing, or published &/or self-published work