Comments on: The Castle

By: josh

josh — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 21:55:09 +0000

Hi, Jenny! I probably agree with most of the political positions ALA takes, and I don’t think you can separate politics from professional life. And yet, I do think it should spend at least as much time and effort on professional development as it does on political activity. When I was an ALA member, I didn’t feel like I got that professional support (although I will admit that maybe I didn’t make enough effort to seek the support out).

By: jenny

jenny — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 21:47:54 +0000

Hey–I found your blog from the Internet Librarian wiki. I am not an ALA member mainly because I feel like they act less like a professional org and more like a political org/tenure justification. I don’t necessarily disagree with their political positions, but I just would prefer I had a professional org that mainly helped me get jobs and do my actual job better.

By: Mickey

Mickey — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:15:07 +0000

Josh, I second Royce’s comment about KLA. I am a believer in “local investment,” and we are fortunate to have serving us, as Kansas librarians, a solid state library association, KLA, as well as an outstanding regional library association, Mountain Plains Library Association (MPLA). The Missouri Library Association is excellent, too, and living as we do on the state line, it makes sense to stay involved with them for a modest annual individual membership fee.

I’ve chosen to put my eggs in the MPLA basket for the next few years, though I retain membership in ALA out of a sense of obligation.

There are many ways to pay it back and pay it forward. Just be sure to pay!

By: josh

josh — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 13:33:14 +0000

Thanks, Ray! I joined ALA as a student (at it’s low low student membership fee) and then let it lapse, too. And while I’m complained about ALA’s fees before, looking over what it would cost me to renew my membership, it’s not really that bad. Of course, I’ll have to wait until at least August before we have enough in our bank account for me to renew, but I can do it.

By: ray

ray — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 00:23:02 +0000

Josh-

I like reading about your torn feelings regarding the ALA. My membership ran out after I graduated and never bothered to renew. I’m in the SAA and that’s enough for me (both money and time wise, that is). Keep the faith, wherever it takes you!

By: josh

josh — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 15:00:56 +0000

Well, gee, thanks, Royce! Not only have you given me a compliment, you’ve given me more to think about.

By: royce

royce — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 14:04:13 +0000

The Kansas Library Association could use your enthusiasm if you get fed up with ALA. You can be one of tens of thousands of members, or one of a few who really work to bring good things to the Kansas Library Community.

Not only is this my opinion, but my opinions are usually the ones I agree with the most.

Whoever gets ya, will be lucky to have you.

By: K.G. Schneider

K.G. Schneider — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 15:09:25 +0000

I say join and change things. It’s not easy, not everything you want to change will EVER be changed… it’s a huge organization and truth told, a lot of people like it Just The Way It Is.

But it is YOUR association, and the association we leave to our descendants.

By: josh

josh — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 12:29:34 +0000

Thank you very much, Lee! I’ll be interested to read what you have to say.

By: lee leblanc

lee leblanc — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 03:28:47 +0000

Really enjoy your blog; and the style/format.

Currently I am debating the decision: do I join or do I not?

I’m going to blog about it soon. I’m sure that is as exciting as it sounds -not really. But I do hope to build off your thoughts since I’m mulling over the same mental fodder.