Each state chapter is represented by an elected chapter councilor with full voting rights in ALA's governing assembly. The interests of chapters are represented within the association by the Chapter Relations Office and the Chapter Relations Committee. The following descriptive information about ALA chapters is taken from a 1996 survey, with 37 of 57 chapters responding. All chapters responding to the survey report having an annual conference. The overwhelming majority of chapters have progressive dues structures, tied to salary levels.
Several chapters offer sustaining membership at higher levels.
Dues often include membership in one or more sections or roundtables. Ten chapters report having no paid staff. All chapters report having at least one official publication, typically either a newsletter or journal. One-half of respondents, or 18 chapters, have home pages under construction or mounted. Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Mountain Plains, Nebraska, New England, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Southeastern, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming.