Comments on: The Value of Professional Associations

By: Devil's Librarian

Devil's Librarian — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 02:21:24 +0000

When I read the original comment, I immediately wondered if I was in the commenter’s class. Though it wasn’t something my prof said, rather it was the argument from our textbook. And yes, the argument went something like, “All the other professions have professional organizations–American Medical Association, American Bar Association. We have a professional organization. Therefore, we are professionals!”

By: Drew

Drew — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:18:34 +0000

When in Library School, my college sent out a student membership letter detailing joint ALA and State student discount. After a year, most will discover it’s worthless. ALA knows this; it attempts to sucker students to join so to get revenue. Most librarians are not members! I even wonder if being a librarian is even a profession? Most profession require licensing like with CPAs, lawyers, MDs, State licensed engineers, nurses, architects, teachers with credentials, and so on…The ALA can grow into a real professional organization- but the leaders are not willing….it’s a losers game as students think joining will help them get a job…it will not. Pay the annual due to the ALA with you unemployment checks. Suckers!

By: James

James — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 02:58:06 +0000

>By creating low accreditation
>standards, they guaranteed
>that anyone with tuition money
>can get a degree somewhere.

Truer words have never been spoken.

Someone finally talked me into joining the ALA this year. I’m not going to renew my membership. The reality is that I really get nothing for my money. My state association is far more useful.

By: TeenLibrarian

TeenLibrarian — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 12:11:11 +0000

Why is joining the ALA so expensive? Do they realize how little we make?

By: Midwest SciTech Librarian

Midwest SciTech Librarian — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 17:19:16 +0000

Proud ALA non-member 1998-present

Though, I suffer from not receiving my personal copy of American Libraries *sniff*

By: Post Postmodern Librarian

Post Postmodern Librarian — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:19:27 +0000

The ALA just called me to get me to renew my membership I told them no because I am switching fields to Urban Geography. I have joined the Association of American Geographers. I get two journals access to half a dozen sub groups and their materials etc for about the same price as the ALA. In addition AAG publishes a list of all grants and job opportunistic every month. never seen the grants from ALA. The thing I really like is the open call for presentations for dozens of meetings and conferences. Since June I have been invited to do a poster for a conference in Austria and will be doing a presentation at the AAG annual conference. The point here is the AAG provides more resources, is more open then the cliquish ALA and the opportunities for professional improvement are not reliant on who you know but what you are willing to do. When the ALA opens its doors to all its members not just those who toe the party line and focuses more on improving methodology and practices vs the party line then I would consider the ALA a professional organization.

By: Annie Linney

Annie Linney — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 06:14:38 +0000

Who was the prof who said that?

If we start naming names, perhaps we can get some of them fired.

By: Kim

Kim — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 23:43:16 +0000

Agreed, Laura. I’m on several boards and involved with my state library association and another specialized organization within my region. I’d join ALA if it were more affordable, just to be involved with a few of the divisions. But once I hit year three as a professional, with no raises due to the Great Recession, ALA priced me out of re-joining. Fees go up every year, incomes don’t.

By: dwarf

dwarf — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:31:15 +0000

Not very relevant, but I find Hal Abelson’s retort to Newton’s “giant” statement amusing and perhaps more reflective of the reality for many of us:

“If I have not seen as far as others, it is because giants were standing on my shoulders.”

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:45:29 +0000

I come to librarianship from teaching. As a teacher, I didn’t care about joining my district’s non-union education association and I didn’t care about joining the AFT either. What I did find invaluable was my state and national associations for social studies teachers. It kept me up-to-date, provided good resources, and the conferences were great opportunities.

And the same holds true for me as a library professional. My state and specialized organizations are much more useful, provide the development and networking opportunities that I want, and are small enough to feel responsive. This might not be true in your area, but if ALA doesn’t meet your needs (and it doesn’t meet mine), you might want to consider other professional groups.