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Value of Membership. Professional contactsStaying current in new developments in professionExpanding my view of the profession, especially the nontraditional aspectsMeeting a variety of vendors and learning about their products. Value of Membership. Professional DevelopmentChapter meetingsConfe
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1. Value of Membership What our members said when asked:
What are your top 3 reasons for belonging to SLA?
What is the value of membership to you?
2. Value of Membership Professional contacts
Staying current in new developments in profession
Expanding my view of the profession, especially the nontraditional aspects
Meeting a variety of vendors and learning about their products
3. Value of Membership Professional Development
Chapter meetings
Conference programming
Click University
Virtual learning
Papers
Publications
4. Value of Membership Networking
Chapter meetings
Interaction with members in my specialty
Annual Conference
Discussion lists
Communities of Practice
Membership Directory
5. Value of Membership Personal Enrichment
�I have made friendships and met colleagues that I would consider to be priceless additions to my professional and personal life.�
Social gatherings
Fun
�My closest professional friends and colleagues were met through 30 years as an SLA member. This network has been a source of moral support, learning and information for more than 3 decades.�
Janet Cooper Weiss
6. Value of Membership Career Advancement
Job leads from professionals in the know
Mentoring
Virtual advisors
Salary survey
Seminars
Articles and resources
7. Value of Membership Career Advancement (cont�d)
Career disruption assistance
Connect@Conference
Membership dues renewal at half price, a member exclusive care package
Assisting members to find qualified applicants
8. Value of Membership Advocacy
Allows us to discuss issues pertinent to libraries in general and in specialized subject areas
Voice of the profession
National governments
International legal and policy issues
To the public and press
To business (employers)
9. Value of Membership Cares for me rather than focusing on political agendas
�SLA provides supportive and nurturing opportunities to learn, network and grow in one�s career.�
Sue Cardinal, Chemistry Librarian, University of Rochester�s Carlson Library
10. Value of Membership Focusing on the future
Mentoring students
Visiting faculty
Faculty advisor to student groups
Chapter liaison to student groups
11. Value of Membership A window to the profession
Tours of libraries
Interaction with a wide variety of practices
Introducing students to apply their skills in other than the public library
Shows me trends, causes me to think about strategies and understand the challenges
12. Value of Membership Opportunity to become known as an expert in the field
From Toronto Chapter member: �It was because of SLA and the many people I came to know in the US that I was recruited for a job�. When my future boss called me and said �We�ve got a problem and a lot of people down here tell me that you are the only person in North America who knows how to solve it.� I was overwhelmed.
13. Value of Membership Reference contacts
Research contacts
Problem solvers in day-to-day tasks
Source of best practices
Source of new opportunities
14. Value of Membership Publications
Information Outlook
Salary Survey
Division and chapter bulletins/publications
15. Value of Membership Leadership opportunities
A place to develop my skills in anon-threatening environment
A place to give back to the profession
A place to learn organizational and interpersonal skills
16. Value of Membership �When I was a chapter officer, the Leadership Summit was invaluable to me, both for my needs right then as a chapter officer and for career development.�
�Being able to participate in the leadership of the organization has helped me to improve my status in my institution.�
17. Value of Membership �SLA has been a wonderful support mechanism and has given me an opportunity to become a leader in my profession and test my skills in various other arenas like seminar planning, conference planning, etc.�
Holly Bussey, MLS, Corporate Account Manager, EBSCO Information Services (my �third� career in the info business and SLA has seen me through all three!
18. Value of Membership Survival
�SLA was absolutely essential in preventing the closure of my library in 2003, due in part to ...documents available from SLA website.�
Promotes the value of the profession
Cites sources credible to management
Essential to tenure and promotion
My employer expects me to be a member
19. Value of Membership Survival (cont�d).
�It helps my non-library colleagues see that I am a professional if I belong to a professional organization.�
Combat loneliness: �I am the only MLS in the region and I have no one else at my worksite with whom I can �talk shop�. I need to belong to a professional association to connect with colleagues in similar circumstances.�
20. Value of Membership ��Through my activities in SLA�I learned management, improved my business research knowledge and skills, received training in the use of the Internet for research, and found a network of colleagues invaluable to those who are sole professional librarians.�
Barbara S. Beverley, Director of Library Services, Records Management Officer Empire State Development New York State Dept of Economic Development
21. Value of Membership A step above the average
�Value is intangible but clear to me: intercourse, discussion, cross-fertilization, innovation, development. Those who have refused to join a professional organization have, in my experience, tended to be the less able, less far-sighted, more insular and self-satisfied among us.�
22. Value of Membership People
Membership is diverse. The insights and expertise of academics, government and business information professionals expand my horizons
My chapter membership gives me the opportunity to work with top professionals in my local area
Gayle Stauffer, Veterans Memorial Library, Cecil Community College
23. Value of Membership A global connection
�I value being part of a professional organization that is international in scope and vision.�
24. Value of Membership Competencies for the Information Professionals of the 21st Century
Defines SLA�s vision of the specific skills and knowledge requirements in our field. Outlines professional and personal competencies supported by practical scenarios. �This is an invaluable tool for professional growth and assessment.�
25. Value of Membership Value for the Price
Chapters offer inexpensive local programs and networking opportunities
Annual Conference is one of the best values around
�I get the appropriate �bang for my buck�
Discounts
26. Value of Membership Networking
�Networking
��Networking
� � �Networking
� � � �Networking
� � � � �Networking covers it all.
27. Value of Membership Business development
A place to meet prospective clients
A place to introduce my products and services to a targeted audience
A place to showcase my business (InfoExpo)
A ready-made target audience through advertising, direct mail, sponsorship
28. Value of Membership �I believe that SLA is one of the most innovative organizations for information professionals, and because I aim to be one of the many players bringing library services to places untapped by our wires, I know I am amongst like-minded people when I am at an SLA event.�
Peter Cole
29. Value of Membership Early innovators
Adopts new technologies and ideas that I may consider
Blogging
E-voting
Communities of Practice
30. Value of Membership Diversity
31. Value of Membership All of the top chemistry/physics librarians and vendors are involved heavily in SLA; its where the action is.
32. Value of Membership Community
One belongs to a community of like-minded individuals working towards a shared goal, vision and/or cause.
SLA is a community of like-minded professionals with common issues�and solutions targeted to our very-specific needs � a niche market
33. Value of Membership Pride
�The fact that I�m a member says to my boss, my chain of command: I�m proud to be a special librarian, a military librarian; I�m proud of my professional organization, and I back this up by joining and renewing my membership every year.�
J.G. Nicula, Ph.D., Chief, Library Division, Joint Forces Staff College
34. Value of Membership
�PRICELESS!