Benefits of professional associations. Invited presentation to the Resume Review and Speakers workshop at Cal State-Fullerton 5 March 2011, sponsored by San Jose State U School of Library and Info Science's LISSTEN and ALASC groups.

1. Sara R. Tompson
• Director (at large) 5 March, 2011
Special Libraries
Association (SLA)
For San Jose State
Board and University SLIS:
• Associate Dean for
Library Public LISSTEN/ALASC
Service, University of
Southern California Workshop
Super ROI – Professional
Associations
Why those in, or soon to be in, the library
and information professions should join!

2. 2
Introductions
 You and your library interests?
 Me
 Science/engineering librarian by trade
 Have always been a joiner – work well in teams
 SLA since 1990, various offices
 Also ACRL, ALISE, ALA
 Aviator (in a flying club!)

3. 3
Some Data on Joining from
SLA Leadership Summit
 Susan Robertson, VP of ASAE – the
association of association executives,
shared some interesting data on why
people join associations.
 http://www.asaecenter.org/Resources/
decisiontojoin.cfm
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIoW7z-
zv_s

4. 4
Some Data on Joining from
SLA Leadership Summit
 #1 reason to join – to have an impact
(on society, on profession, etc.)
 #2 reason – personal benefits (from
being engaged; unengaged
members not reaping many/as many
benefits)

5. 5
Some of the Benefits of
associations members
reported to ASAE:
 Access to up-to-date info
 Professional development
programming; career information
 Networking with colleagues
 Leadership opportunities

6. 6
Decision to Volunteer ASAE
study – a few results:
 #1 reason people do not volunteer –
they don’t know about opportunities!
 There does have to be some WIIFM
ROI
 I think benefits list partially fills
 Alignment with personal values a key

7. 7
Some Data on Joining from
SLA Leadership Summit
 Susan Robertson:
http://www.asaecenter.org/Profile/
CommunityCloseUp.cfm?
ExternalID=507805
 Slides (SLA members only):
http://www.sla.org/Presentations/
11leadsumm/012111_robertson.ppt

8. 8
Why did YOU Join ALA or
SLA or LISSTEN?

9. 9
Why I Join…..
 “To Be of Use”!
 Marge Piercy poem says it all
 “I want to be with people who
submerge in the task….who are not
parlor generals and field deserters / but
move in a common rhythm…”
 Very relevant to service profession like
librarianship
 http://www.northnode.org/poem.htm

10. 10
Some relevant links:
(see also handouts!)
 Remember, student memberships
are discounted!
 Look for links on Facebook, and for associations’
blogs, etc.
 http://www.sla.org/content/membership/joinsla/
index.cfm
 http://www.ala.org/ala/membership/index.cfm
 http://www.acrl.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/about/
membership/index.cfm
 http://www.aiip.org/JoinAIIP

11. 11
Super ROI: QUESTIONS?
Now or later, both fine
 saratifr@gmail.com or
sarat@usc.edu
 www.facebook.com/
sara.tompson
 www.linkedin.com/in/
saratompson
 http://isd.usc.edu/~sarat/SRTCV.pdf