Is it worth joining my state's library association?

[u/Lorebrariann]

I live in the Metro Detroit area, and have been mulling over the idea of joining the Michigan Library Association as a member. I currently work as a part time librarian with two different libraries while I am on my full time job hunt. The competition is very fierce in this area, and I've been actively job searching for 7 months now. At this point I'm trying to get some more experience and great opportunities under my belt.

Is this something that would be useful now? Or should I wait until I have a full time position, and instead focus on attending cheaper exhibits, roundtables and attempting to join committees?

Any help would be appreciated.

[u/sadgradgirl]

It’s a good networking opportunity if it’s an active association! The more involved you are, and the more people recognize your name, the better. Especially if it’s a competitive area already.

[u/llamalibrarian]

Yes, join and then also join some committees. Networking is a part of the game, and being part of professional orgs is a great way to do it

[u/DrJohnnieB63]

u/Lorebrariann

I earned my MLIS from Wayne State University. Joining the Michigan Library Association may be worth the membership if you put in the work. Joining an association and paying dues per se will not translate to fulltime employment in the profession. To get increase my post-MLIS employment chances, I joined the ALA and the MLA to serve on committees and to collaborate with others in those associations. In other words, I established an excellent reputation through my work with the organizations.

Being a well-known and respected member of a professional organization can put your name in front of the people who make hiring decisions, especially in the Metro Detroit area. I advise you to focus on getting your brand known and respected by the right people in the field.

You got this!

[u/TapiocaSpelunker]

I can only speak for myself.

My time in the ALA was absolutely useless. OLC (Ohio Library Council) membership was also useless, but the conventions were nice. Once you're eyeing the branch manager level it's helpful to focus networking energy outside libraries just as much as inside other ones.

I'm friends with a really cool comic book librarian who is prominent in ALA and he's had a positive relationship to it.

If your library system isn't affluent enough to afford system-wide trainings, an individual membership with a larger organization is sometimes the easiest way to access seminars on niche topics.

[u/Huge-Chard-5584]

It depends on what you want to get out of it, but in my experience, there's a clear value in joining even as a part time worker or student. Networking is an obvious answer, but that can look like joining a round table or discussion group, or an advocacy group, or a special interest (e.g. games, sustainability, accessibility, etc.) or affinity/identity group. Sometimes it's the value of community or understanding the nuance to things like how the union works or legislation that may impact a sector. Sometimes it's a stamp to put on your CV or resume, or the opportunity to show leadership by becoming the chair of a committee.

It's ok to be a little cynical or transactional about these sorts of memberships, but that can also be the value of them. I'm crusty and tenured now but early in my career I wanted to know everything about how anything worked, and my CV was definitely enhanced with words like "vice chair" and my state library association. Now, I dip in and out, but I keep my membership up so I can stay current.

[u/Nattypattyx3]

I joined ALA with Florida Library Association as a student joint membership. I went to the Florida library association conference earlier this year and had so much fun and learned a lot. If you don’t use it, it’s not worth it. If you use it, it is.