ALSC is for everyone, school librarians included!
Author: ALSC Membership Committee
2022 ALSC Emerging Leaders Team K
LibLearnX came and went in a blur this past month! In addition to the excitement of the Youth Media Awards announcements, another group was also celebrated: the 2022 class of the American Library Association’s Emerging Leaders.
Connecting (Virtually) during LibLearnX 2022
It’s always challenging to network at conferences. It takes energy and a fair bit of gumption to introduce yourself to folks, especially if you’re new to the library world. When a conference is virtual, that adds another barrier. So much of networking is based on happy accidents: finding yourself in the same session/bus/elevator as someone else and taking the opportunity to strike up a conversation. For LibLearnX, the ALSC Membership Committee’s goal is to create an intentional space for happy accidents via Zoom. While it’s not the same as the in person conference events we dream about going back to some day (ALSC 101, small group dinners), we hope it can be a time to make new friends and reconnect with old ones too.
Getting Published within ALSC
Have you recently run a successful virtual program and are looking for more people to share the idea with? Do you have a research passion on the side related to children’s experiences with bibliotherapy? Are you itching to interview a favorite author or talk about your experiences with library mentorship? A great way to scratch that itch, and work on growing your professional network through writing, is by getting published within ALSC. ALA in general has a plethora of ways to get published, but ALSC specifically has three pathways to publication to fit your schedule, desires, and the length of your content.
The Membership Committee Needs Your Help!
Did you know that part of the Membership Committee’s purpose is to “retain and engage existing members by connecting members with ALSC opportunities and resources” and to “plan and assume responsibility for new and existing member engagement events?” What does that mean? It means we get to host fun events for you!
Introducing Recipients of the BIPOC New Member Funding Program
This spring, the Membership Committee undertook a project to intentionally recruit new ALSC members, specifically those who are paraprofessionals or students, and who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color). In alignment with ALSC’s strategic objective of increasing the intentional recruitment and retention of a diverse membership while reducing barriers to participation, 10 BIPOC library students and 10 paraprofessionals/library support staff members were selected to receive two year ALA and ALSC memberships, along with opportunities for meaningful engagement including: regular virtual meetings with other recipients, activities and discussions, mentorship, shadowing committees, and more.
Making the Most of Your Membership
Now more than ever, we are looking to make connections and feel inspired. Personally, I’m feeling this way in regards to my own connections with families at work and in my own relationships with colleagues and friends. As my work setting feels smaller, the more I look to ALSC and the greater library world to inspire me in my work. Committees and conferences are a great way to build community but I have found there are many other ways to make the most of your membership. No matter if you are doing committee work now, taking a break, or haven’t had the chance to serve, there are many other ways to grow and connect. ALSC workshops and webinars: Is there a topic you would like to learn more about? Maybe advocacy, programming, community outreach, or collection development? Check out upcoming workshops (including a course called “The Library in the Middle:…
Introducing Recipients of the BIPOC New Member Funding Program
This spring, the Membership Committee undertook a project to intentionally recruit new ALSC members, specifically those who are paraprofessionals or students who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color). In alignment with ALSC’s strategic objective of increasing the intentional recruitment and retention of a diverse membership while reducing barriers to participation, 10 BIPOC library students and 10 paraprofessionals/library support staff members were selected to receive one year ALA and ALSC memberships, along with opportunities for meaningful engagement including: regular virtual meetings with other recipients, activities and discussions, mentorship, shadowing committees, and more. We, as the Membership Committee, know that for many potential members, there’s a lack of institutional support, financial or otherwise. For those new to the profession, they may not be aware of all the amazing opportunities our professional organization provides. We want to seek diverse voices and ensure they have the opportunity to become more involved with…