Maybe you’ve heard about ALSC’s Road Show…but in case you haven’t, it’s this cool opportunity where any ALSC members can apply for funds or material to spread the joy of our professional organization. It’s a way to reach new possible members and to continue the networking that happens at conferences to your backyard in the way that makes the most sense. You can ask for funds to support a networking event or pay for a conference booth and/or ask for printed materials…whichever you prefer. The application takes a mere five minutes to fill out.
When I first heard about the Road Show I had trouble imagining how it might be useful—I didn’t get all the possibilities until I actually read the fabulous blogpost written by a fellow Membership Committee Member last year (d’oh-head slap) . Since then, I’ve had tons of ideas on how you could use the program. Here are a few Choose Your Own Adventure style ideas:
- You go to a state conference where there might be potential members and ask for funding for booth space and materials; you staff the booth as you can (ideally with some friends), and represent.
- You go to a state conference and plan a social gathering for children’s librarians who are members (and non-members of ALSC) to network and talk about the organization.
- You teach at an MLIS programs and want ALSC materials to give to your class when you talk about Award-Winning Books or professional organizations.
- You live in an urban area where a lot of ALSC members live and want to organize a Meet Up to network; ALSC can reimburse you for appetizers.
- You live in a rural area and you want to organize an idea swap for summer reading with nearby libraries to see if there are opportunities to cost share and share performers; you can ask ALSC for funds for snacks and promote the organization.
- You are booktalking diverse books and talking about time on a committee and you want any copies of booklists ALSC has preprinted that promote the organization (this actually happened!)
- You want to organize a training to support a core ALSC value and make it available to children’s librarians regionally (I don’t know if this will work, but, hey, why not apply?) and need supplemental funds
- You are a state librarian and you want to organize a Mock Caldecott for children’s librarians in your state and need financial support to help with the event.
This is only a handful of the ideas out there…I’m sure some of you have great ideas. The point is, it’s a great opportunity to localize ALSC and take ownership over networking while promoting the organization. Although funds are limited, in the last year, the ALSC office only received a few applications—and it would be great to see wider involvement.
How do you think you could utilize the Road Show Program?
Jennifer Knight wrote this post as a member of the ALSC Membership committee.
This post addresses the following ALSC Core Competencies: VII Professionalism and Professional Development.