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EnglishWhat is GPLLA (Greater Philadelphia Law Library Association)?
Updated
GPLLA is the Greater Philadelphia Law Library Association, a regional chapter of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL). It serves law librarians and other legal information professionals across the greater Philadelphia area—including those working in law firms, academia, and government—by fostering cooperation, communication, and camaraderie. If you work with legal information in or around Philadelphia and want a local professional network, events, and resources, GPLLA is the relevant organization.
Who it serves
The association's stated scope covers three main settings:
- Law firms — librarians and information professionals supporting practice groups
- Academia — law school and academic library staff
- Government — public-sector legal information roles
Membership is oriented toward law librarians and "other legal information professionals," so the fit is broader than just those with a library degree.
What it offers members
GPLLA describes several concrete benefits:
| Offering | What it is |
|---|---|
| Educational and networking events | Sponsored programming and gatherings for the local community |
| Member directory | A searchable listing of members |
| Job board | Postings relevant to law librarianship |
| GPLLA Forum | The primary member communication channel, which replaced the former listserv in 2020 |
| Scholarships and grants | Support for students interested in law librarianship |
The Forum is worth noting if you're deciding whether to join: it delivers GPLLA news, member updates, and job postings to your inbox. To sign up, you visit the Forum (login required) and click "Subscribe to forum" near the top of the page—so access depends on having a member login.
Membership timing and cost
GPLLA membership runs June 1 to May 31 each year. The site states that dues for a partial-year membership are not available, which matters if you're considering joining mid-cycle: you'd pay for the full membership year regardless of when you join. Specific dues amounts and any payment methods are not listed on the page reviewed, so contact the association at [email protected] for current pricing.
How to get involved
- Join or renew — use the "Join us/Renew" link on the site.
- Subscribe to the Forum — log in and click "Subscribe to forum" to receive news, updates, and job postings.
- Check the events calendar — upcoming events are listed on the site; recent examples include a GPLLA Institute on March 20 with registration announced in February.
- Read the newsletters — the Winter and Spring newsletters are posted as news items.
For questions about membership, the listed contact is [email protected]; site issues go to the webmaster.
Is it right for you?
GPLLA is a good fit if you are a law librarian or legal information professional in the greater Philadelphia region and want a local chapter affiliation alongside AALL, regular networking and educational events, and a job board and forum in one place. It is less relevant if you work outside the region or are looking for a national-only membership—in that case, AALL itself is the parent organization. Because membership is annual and partial-year dues aren't offered, timing your join date near June 1 gives you the fullest year of benefits.