I strongly encourage all ALSC members to become involved with the organization. I know there are many ALSC members who aren’t involved because they aren’t sure they are needed. You are!
Committee involvement requires time. When I served as the chair of the ALSC Children and Technology Committee, I felt very guilty when a few committee members resigned from the committee for various reasons, valid reasons that left them with too little time to do the committee work that I was asking them to do. At first, I wanted to encourage them to stay on the committee, to say that the rest of the committee members could pick up what they were unable to do, to suggest that I might be asking too much of everyone. But they knew and I soon realized that this attitude is not helpful to them, to the rest of the committee, or to our organization.
Due to financial and family reasons, last year I declined an opportunity to seek involvement in ALSC leadership. Instead, I asked and was accepted to serve as a virtual member of the Children and Technology committee. I meet with the rest of our committee through online chat meetings. We use Google documents. We send emails. I am still an active member of ALSC.
We are over 4000 strong in membership. We need active members to ensure that our important work — improving and ensuring the future of the nation through exemplary library service to children, their families, and others who work with children — is accomplished. Each of us must be realistic about what we have room for on our own plate. Those of you who have been considering an active role, please do so by completing a committee volunteer form. (You can download one from the ALSC home page.) Those of you who have had to limit your involvement, thanks for all your work. We look forward to your return when you have the time.