MemberBlog

Joint student members are members of ALA and one of 16 state chapters: Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Beginning Sept 1, 2008, these joint memberships are $35.00.

In addition, ALA has joint library support staff memberships with Alabama, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and New York. From September 1, 2008, to August 31, 2009, the joint support staff price will be $61.00; after September 1, 2009, it will be $65.00.

For more information, and to apply for joint membership, please find, print out, and fill out your appropriate application (PDF) at

http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/cro/chapters/jointmembership/jointmembership.cfm

Applications may be mailed (address is on form) or faxed to (312) 280-4392. At this time it is not possible to apply online for joint membership.

ALA Student to Staff Program at Annual

Each year 40 library students are chosen to assist ALA staff during ALA Annual Conference. In exchange for working about four hours a day, these students receive free conference registration, housing, and a per diem for meal expenses. During free time, they may attend programs and participate in other conference activities. To qualify for the ALA student-to-staff program, each student must be a current ALA member and a student chapter member, and cannot have previously participated in the program. Qualifying students are chosen by their schools. For more visit

http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/cro/chapters/studentchapters/studenttostaffprogram.cfm

From Tom Peters, OPAL Coordinator and convener of the ALA Connections Salon.

The ALA Connections Salon series of free online programs, an initiative of ALA President Jim Rettig, continues this Friday (Oct. 17th) with an interview and discussion with Pat Scales, the President of ALSC, the Association of Library Services to Children. The interview will last approximately one hour, with a salon-like discussion following. Details are below. To access this and all upcoming free OPAL online programs, please visit the following URL:

http://www.opal-online.org/progschrono.htm

Friday, October 17, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 1:00 Central, noon Mountain, 11:00 a.m. Pacific, and 7:00 p.m. GMT/UTC/Zulu:
ALA Connections Salon: Kid Connections with Guest Pat Scales

The October installment in the series of ALA President Jim Rettig's ALA Connections Salons will be an online discussion with Pat Scales, President of the Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC). Throughout her 36 years as a middle school librarian and advocate for students' right to read, Scales has been passionate about helping young people find books that are just right for them. Following the interview participants will be free to ask questions and engage with Scales and with one another to discuss the joys and challenges of bringing books and kids together.

Like European discussion salons, the ALA Connections Salon provides a relaxed environment (online, of course) where ALA members can participate in formal and informal discussions centered around a timely topic.

Host: American Library Association

Location: ALA OPAL Large Online Room

Future dates and topics of ALA Connections Salons are:

• Nov. 21, 2008: Political Connections
• Dec. 19, 2008: Gaming Connections
• Feb. 20, 2009: ALA Connections
• March 20, 2009: Next Generation Catalog Connections
• April 17, 2009: Advocacy Connections
• May 15, 2009: Education and Recruitment Connections
• June 19, 2009: Future Connections

For more information about all of ALA President Jim Rettig's initiatives, please visit the following URL:

http://jimrettig.org/content/initiatives/initiatives.htm

Tom Peters, OPAL Coordinator

ALA-APA is looking for writers for Library Worklife: HR E-News for Today's Leaders, a monthly electronic publication that goes to thousands of ALA member libraries and subscribers.

ALA-APA continues to inform readers about issues—career advancement, certification, human resources practice, pay equity, recruitment, research, work/life balance—that concern all library workers. One way to ensure that the publication reflects your concerns and celebrates your victories is to become a featured author. Articles are 1200 words or less.

Research, best and worst practices, and personal stories of triumph are welcome.

For more information, please see our Call for Submissions. Contact our office if you have questions at jgrady@ala.org or 800-545-2433, x2424. Writers who commit to three articles in a 12 month period receive a free subscription.

If you'd like to write, please email me the topic and your preferred deadline. Thank you!

Sample ideas:

• Talking about politics in the workplace
• Handling office romances
• Developing a great relationship with your boss
• Finding a job when you're trailing your partner
• Why you would take a lateral career move
• Learning style assessments
• Personality assessments
• Management assessments
• Conflict management in the office
• Explaining why you left an organization or seem to "move a lot" and how to talk about a bad situation without burning a bridge or yourself
• Sloppy speech habits like "uh"
• Developing a personal budget and financial goals
• Great staff development programs (yes, I'm still looking)
• How to get someone to critique your resume and how not to get caught in the critique cycle
• Business ethics
• Interviewer styles
• How to follow up after an interview
• Asking for a raise during a promotion
• Tips for working from home
• How a career coach can make a difference
• What every library employee needs to keep in/on their desk