Well, it seems that somewhere along the Rudaí23 Journey I stepped off the train and forgot to get back on - amazingly it happened on 'attending conferences' so I must have enjoyed the last conference a little too much - ( I do love an opportunity to chat and engage with fellow attendees)
Will post about my experiences shortly and tips I have for getting the most out of attending as soon as I clear the overnight bag and put my recent notes in some order.
This particular post is in relation to Professional Organisations, benefits and opportunities as discussed by the Rudaí23 team.
I have always been interested in membership of professional bodies not just for library services, as I love been able to keep up to date on emerging trends in industry and the snippets of information you receive in either an email or a posted document. I normally combine a membership with a subscription to a trade journal of the industry so I can receive a different perspective on key issues and developments.
Currently, I'm a member of CILIP and the LAI with special interest groups including public libraries, professional development and also regional networks.
I do feel that involvement in special interest groups allows you to build your network, engage with people from different library backgrounds and gives you a different perspective on trends, concerns and problems facing all library providers.
I was treasurer for a number of years of the Public Libraries Section of the LAI and enjoyed the experience, though not the part of chasing up invoices and tracking down receipts!. I was actively involved in hosting, funding and supporting several high profile conferences with large budgets. This not only gave me confidence in dealing with suppliers, hotels and keynote speakers but also allowed me the opportunity to create friendships and links with many other librarians throughout the country.
I also had the opportunity to become Chair of the Western Section of the LAI and while this was brief (I had to resign due to the arrival of my baby girl) I had the chance to engage with librarians from different sectors and really get to see what issues were relevant to them plus we also shared our concerns for the future of our profession as a whole.
While I feel some memberships are better than others, some provide magazines, newsletters and training opportunities - not naming any organisation here, I do see the importance of a common body representing our profession at a higher level. The ability to lobby, engage and promote the industry and sector is vital in todays ever changing economy and our job as members of these organisations is to ensure that our stories, projects, programs, community engagement is noted and appreciated by those in Power. We are the custodians of our profession but it's up to us to keep our profession alive and relevant today.
Trade Journals such as The Bookseller for a perspective on the book industry, Childrens' Books' Ireland for both membership and Journals for literacy and children services, Irish Arts Review Journal for Cultural issues in Ireland, Archaeology Ireland for our rich past and the importance of preserving it and Irish Academy of Management for new trends in the management field plus Time, Forbes and Business Plus Subscriptions mean that I'm receiving information that is of interest to me and my developing career.
Plus is means I get to see the Postman regularly in my rural location - can't go digital for everything in the Wild West of Ireland!
