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Sharing the Benefits of Membership
by Julia Nims
Over the past seven years, I have belonged to the state library association wherever I have lived. I am the current chair of the Michigan Library Association's (MLA) Membership Committee, and am involved in a number of task forces and special ad hoc committees. However, I failed to fully realize how helpful membership has been to me until I started to discuss the benefits of state association membership with others.
In early 2001, the Michigan Library Association (MLA) Membership Committee acted on an initiative to increase the association's visibility and membership among library science students in the state. There are two library schools in Michigan -- the University of Michigan's School of Information and Wayne State University's Library Science Program. Many graduates stay in Michigan and become our colleagues. We believed that this group deserved special attention from us:
- We wanted to make certain that Michigan library students knew
about the Michigan Library Association and were eager to join it.
- Even if the students found jobs outside the state of Michigan
after they graduated, we hoped that they would seek out membership
in the state library organization wherever they worked.
- We thought that they would be eager to immerse themselves in all
areas of their chosen profession, and would welcome the opportunity
to learn about the benefits of joining MLA and other professional
associations.
- The Michigan Library Association and the American Library Association have a special joint membership program for library school students in the state. Students may join both associations for the (very) reduced rate of $25/year. If these students got in the habit of association involvement at the lower rate and experienced its benefits for themselves, they might get into the habit of renewing their memberships with both MLA and ALA.
Some of us formed a panel to visit Michigan library students on site. We wanted to make a good impression on our audiences, and certainly didn't want to turn them off to what we hoped would be a lively discussion. While the primary roles of MLA are to represent library interests to the Michigan Legislature and to promote the interests of Michigan residents by protecting libraries, promoting intellectual freedom, and offering continuing education opportunities to librarians and library staff, we chose to spend most of our time discussing the personal, more tangible benefits of membership in MLA.
Networking
The greatest benefit of belonging to a professional organization is the opportunity to network with colleagues. By attending meetings and workshops, serving on committees and task forces, reading and contributing to newsletters and publications, you get to meet with your fellow librarians and staff members. The relationships you form with other association members may lead you to career leads and professional development opportunities, to a mentor relationship or leadership roles in the association itself.
Panelists also point out that the world of Michigan libraries is actually quite small. Many of us know each other through association activities or other facets of our work. By participating in the primary professional association for librarians and library staff in the state, members have a way to "get in the loop" of Michigan libraries.
Workshops and Conferences
Recent graduates of library programs generally have excellent tech skills. They can build web pages, write computer scripts, and maneuver through almost any software package. They are at the top of the technology game, and they and their new co-workers know it. The situation can change quickly, however. Within a few years, there will be a new crop of graduates who are equally comfortable with even newer technologies. It is only too easy to find yourself lagging behind in new technologies and their applications in libraries.
Furthermore, new librarians are expected to gain new skills as they take on more responsibilities -- most jobs in libraries demand an array of both technical and people skills. We also have to keep up with the constantly growing number of databases, as well as with traditional library information sources. To remain in top form, all librarians, including recent graduates, need to attend conferences, workshops, and presentations to learn about new ideas, gain new skills, and remain current on library technologies and issues.
Professional library associations, particularly those at the state and regional level, provide wonderful opportunities for professional development. Because these opportunities are reasonably priced, and often relatively close, associations are one of the first places to check for workshops and presentations on the topics that matter most to your professional success.
Service Opportunities
Library associations would not exist without volunteers. This is particularly true at the state level. Volunteers are needed to develop policies, decide on workshop topics, represent interests of special groups, and do other work that keeps the association relevant and important in the day-to-day lives of librarians. There are ample opportunities to become involved in state library associations on committees, roundtables, taskforces, and other units. Not only does serving on committees demonstrate your interest in and commitment to your chosen profession (and might be part of your job description), but it also provides opportunities to work on real work issues. For all that you read in books and study in library school, it is not the same as working to solve an issue that impacts your library, position, or profession.
Input
Individuals can make a difference in state library associations. Michigan Library Association is not so large that one person cannot have a significant impact on the association and how it operates. Ideas for workshops, participation in governance and other forms of input are welcomed and encouraged at the state association level. If you want meaningful involvement in a professional association, you'll find opportunities at the state association level.
Serving on the panel and discussing the advantages and benefits of membership with my future colleagues have helped me realize how fortunate I am to be a member of the Michigan Library Association. I have colleagues I like, admire and respect, and I have found a forum where my opinions and service are valued and appreciated. MLA has been and will continue to be a source of significant personal and professional growth and support for me.
Julia K. Nims is the Welcome Center/Public Relations Librarian at Eastern Michigan University's Bruce T. Halle Library and Chair of the Michigan Library Association's Membership Committee. She can be reached at jnims@online.emich.edu or at 734/487-0020, ext. 2139.