LIbraryAssociations

Our local spring library media regional conference was this month and I was not able to attend. I believe this is my first missed conference in years! However, my wonderful face to face students got to attend and they wrote some super reflections on their experiences. I would say over 90 per cent of them talked about how much they learned during this one day conference. Now I will tell you, Virginia Educational Media Association puts on some awesome conferences. It is pure science! After reading their reflections, I began to think about the folks in the school libraries who do not join their state association. First thought- I just felt sorry for them! I love our VEMA, always have. I joined as a library student. Attended my first conference with my librarian friend, Debbie and was overwhelmed. I was overwhelmed by the comraderie, the vastness of the conference, the awesome think tank of presenters, the friendliness of everyone and lastly, a welcome to VEMA mug ( still have that). And so I keep sending in my membership money and I keep going to back to conferences and I keep reading my newsletters! I want to learn everything I can about being a better librarian. In addition, I still have VEMA friends whom I met during that conference. I have VEMA friends from serving on committees. I have VEMA friends all over the state. I have VEMA friends who have taught me how to be a better librarian! So who can beat all that for one misly little membership fee! Now do you see why my first thought was, I feel sorry for them? What about you? Why do join or not join your state association? If you think it doesn't provide what you need, then get in there and pitch in to make it better. Do you think it is too much money, then divide it up by the number of days you teach and see if it isn't worth every penny? Write to me and tell me what you think!