gplla.org

GPLLA membership gives law librarians and legal information professionals in the greater Philadelphia area access to educational and networking events, a member directory, a job board, the GPLLA Forum, and scholarships and grants for students interested in law librarianship. Membership runs from June 1 to May 31 each year, and the association does not offer dues for a partial year. To confirm current dues, event eligibility, and how to join, use the contact and join links on gplla.org.

Who the membership is for

GPLLA (the Greater Philadelphia Law Library Association) is a regional chapter of the American Association of Law Libraries. Its stated goal is to foster cooperation, communication, and camaraderie among law librarians and other legal information professionals in the greater Philadelphia area, including those working in law firms, academia, and government.

If you work with legal information in that region—or are a student considering law librarianship—the membership resources below are the main reasons to join.

What membership includes

The Members Forum in practice

The Forum is where day-to-day member communication happens. According to the site, you sign up by visiting the Forum (login required) and clicking the "Subscribe to forum" button near the top of the page. Once subscribed, news, member updates, and job postings arrive by email—the site describes this as getting updates "straight to your inbox."

Two practical points follow from that description:

• You need an account first. The Forum sits behind a login, so plan to create or receive your member login before you try to subscribe.
• Expect email volume. Because the Forum carries news, member updates, and job postings together, it is a working communication channel rather than an occasional newsletter. If you only want periodic updates, the site also publishes newsletters (a Winter Newsletter in March and a Spring Newsletter in May appear in the news list).

Newsletters and announcements

The news section is public-facing and lists items such as the Spring and Winter newsletters and institute registration announcements. These are useful for judging whether the association's programming matches your interests before you commit to a membership year.

Timing and cost considerations

• Membership year: June 1 through May 31. If you join mid-year, you still pay for the full year—the site states that dues for a partial year membership are not available. Joining shortly before June 1 therefore means renewing soon after.
• Dues amount: The site excerpt does not state a dues figure. Check the "Join us/Renew" page or email [email protected] for the current amount.
• Scholarships and grants: These are described as offered to students interested in law librarianship. The site does not list amounts, deadlines, or application steps in the available material, so ask the association directly if you are a student relying on this benefit.

How to join or get answers

1. Go to gplla.org and use the "Join us/Renew" link in the navigation.
2. If you have questions about dues, the membership year, or eligibility, contact [email protected].
3. After joining, log in and subscribe to the Forum so you receive news, member updates, and job postings.
4. For technical problems with the site or Forum, the site directs users to its Webmaster contact.

The site runs on Wild Apricot membership software, which is why member login and forum subscription are handled through the same account area.

Is it worth joining?

Join if you are a law librarian or legal information professional in the greater Philadelphia area and want local networking, continuing education, a job board, and a direct line to peers through the Forum. The full-year dues structure matters most if you are considering joining late in the membership year. If you are a student, ask about the scholarship and grant process before joining, since the public pages do not spell out the details.

To subscribe to the GPLLA Members Forum, log in to gplla.org, open the Forum, and click the “Subscribe to forum” button near the top of the page. The Forum is the association’s primary channel for member connection—it replaced the former listserv in 2020—and subscribing delivers GPLLA news, member updates, and job postings to your inbox. A login is required, so you need an existing GPLLA account before you can subscribe.

What you need before starting

• A GPLLA account. The site’s own instructions say the Forum requires login. If you are not yet a member, see the membership section below.
• Access to the email address tied to your account, since that is where Forum updates are delivered.
• A few minutes on gplla.org—the whole process is a short sequence of clicks once you are signed in.

Step-by-step: subscribing

1. Go to gplla.org and log in. Use the “Log in” link in the site navigation. If you don’t have credentials, you’ll need to join first (see below).
2. Open the Forum. From the logged-in site, navigate to the Forum. The homepage announcement describes it as the place where members connect and notes that sign-up happens there.
3. Click “Subscribe to forum.” The button is located near the top of the Forum page.
4. Confirm your subscription. After clicking, you should see confirmation that you are subscribed. From then on, GPLLA news, member updates, and job postings arrive by email.

How to verify it worked

• Return to the Forum page while logged in and check that the subscribe control now shows you as subscribed (the button typically changes state once you’ve joined).
• Watch your inbox for the next GPLLA update. Recent examples of what the Forum carries include the Spring Newsletter (posted 12 May 2026), the Winter Newsletter (3 Mar 2026), and registration announcements such as the GPLLA Institute on March 20 (13 Feb 2026).

Common sticking points

• “I can’t find the subscribe button.” It sits near the top of the Forum page, and it only appears in a usable form once you are logged in. If you’re browsing logged out, log in first and reload the Forum.
• “I don’t have a login.” Forum access is tied to membership. GPLLA membership runs from June 1 to May 31 each year, and the site states that dues for a partial-year membership are not available—so joining mid-year still covers the full membership year.
• “I was on the old listserv.” The listserv was officially replaced by the Forum in 2020. Being on the old list does not carry over; you need to subscribe to the Forum itself.
• Questions about membership or access. The site lists [email protected] as the contact for membership information, and a webmaster contact for site problems.

Is the Forum the right channel for you?

If you are not a member and only want occasional public news, the site’s News section is visible without subscribing; the Forum is aimed at members who want updates pushed to them.

Related: joining so you can subscribe

GPLLA is a regional chapter of the American Association of Law Libraries, serving law librarians and legal information professionals in the greater Philadelphia area across law firms, academia, and government. Membership includes access to the member directory, job board, the Forum, and the association’s educational and networking events, plus scholarships and grants for students interested in law librarianship. To join or renew, use the “Join us/Renew” option on the site; for specifics, contact [email protected].

To join or renew, use the Join us/Renew link in the site navigation at gplla.org and complete the membership process there. GPLLA membership runs from June 1 to May 31 each year, and the site states that dues for a partial-year membership are not available — so time your join or renewal to the membership year rather than expecting a prorated rate. For membership questions, contact [email protected].

What you are joining

GPLLA (the Greater Philadelphia Law Library Association) is a regional chapter of the American Association of Law Libraries. Its stated goal is to foster cooperation, communication, and camaraderie among law librarians and other legal information professionals in the greater Philadelphia area, including those in law firms, academia, and government.

Membership connects you to:

• Educational and networking events
• A member directory
• A job board
• The GPLLA Forum (which replaced the former listserv in 2020) — the primary way members connect and receive news, member updates, and job postings by email
• Scholarships and grants for students interested in law librarianship

Steps to join or renew

1. Go to gplla.org and select Join us/Renew from the navigation menu.
2. Complete the membership form for the current membership year (June 1–May 31).
3. Submit payment through the membership system. The site runs on Wild Apricot membership software; the public page does not list dues amounts or payment methods, so confirm the current fee during the join/renew flow.
4. Verify your membership — after joining, you should be able to log in to the member area.
5. Subscribe to the Forum (optional but recommended): log in, open the Forum, and click "Subscribe to forum" near the top of the page to receive news, member updates, and job postings by email.

Timing and renewal notes

Because partial-year dues are not offered, joining late in the cycle still covers only the remainder of that membership year. If you are close to June 1, it is worth deciding whether to join now or wait for the new year to begin — the site does not describe any credit or carryover for late joins.

Common snags

• Forum access requires login. If the "Subscribe to forum" button isn't visible, you are likely not signed in or your membership isn't yet active.
• No published dues on the public page. Don't assume a price from third-party sources; check the amount shown during the join/renew process.
• Questions about eligibility or payment go to [email protected] rather than the webmaster contact, which is intended for site problems.

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:

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

1. Join or renew — use the "Join us/Renew" link on the site.
2. Subscribe to the Forum — log in and click "Subscribe to forum" to receive news, updates, and job postings.
3. 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.
4. 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.

GPLLA (the Greater Philadelphia Law Library Association) offers four main things beyond membership itself: educational and networking events, newsletters, a job board, and a members-only forum. It also runs committees and publishes contact points for questions. The association describes itself as a regional chapter of the American Association of Law Libraries, serving law librarians and legal information professionals in law firms, academia, and government across the greater Philadelphia area. Most of these resources are aimed at members, so joining is usually the first step if you want full access.

Events and Education

GPLLA sponsors educational and networking events throughout the year. The site's news feed shows a concrete example: registration opened in February 2026 for a GPLLA Institute on March 20. The association also lists upcoming events and an education section in its main navigation, so the events page is the place to check for current dates and registration status.

If you're deciding whether an event is worth your time, look at two things on the listing: whether registration is open (the Institute announcement is a good model—it names the date and confirms registration is live) and whether the format is educational or purely social. The association frames its events as both, so expect a mix of programming and networking.

News and Publications

GPLLA publishes newsletters that summarize association activity. Recent examples on the site include a Spring Newsletter (May 2026) and a Winter Newsletter (March 2026). These are the quickest way to catch up on member updates and association business without attending an event.

The association also maintains a members forum that replaced its former listserv in 2020. According to the site, the forum is now the primary way members connect and is where GPLLA news, member updates, and job postings are distributed. Signing up requires logging in and clicking "Subscribe to forum" near the top of the forum page.

Job Board and Member Directory

Two practical resources stand out for anyone working in or entering the field:

• Job board — postings for legal information professionals, also pushed to members through the forum.
• Member directory — a searchable list of GPLLA members, useful for finding colleagues by institution or specialty.

Both are listed in the site's main navigation. The directory is a member benefit, so access depends on your membership status.

Scholarships and Grants

GPLLA offers scholarships and grants to students interested in law librarianship. This is the association's main pipeline for people considering the profession rather than already working in it. The site doesn't publish award amounts or deadlines in the material available, so contact the association directly ([email protected]) for current details before applying.

Committees and Contact

GPLLA runs committees, listed under a Committees page in the navigation, which is where volunteer and leadership opportunities sit. For general questions, membership inquiries, or website problems, the site gives two contacts:

How to Decide Where to Start

• If you want to attend programming: check the events page for the next Institute or networking event and confirm registration is open.
• If you want news and job leads: join the association, then subscribe to the members forum, which the site describes as the primary channel for news, updates, and postings.
• If you're a student: ask about scholarships and grants by email before the academic year starts.
• If you want to get involved beyond attending: look at the committees page and raise your interest with the association.

One timing note: GPLLA membership runs June 1 to May 31 each year, and the site states that partial-year dues are not available. If you're joining mainly to access the forum or job board, that calendar matters for when you sign up.