As you may or may not know, the Young Librarians Task Force has been asking some questions lately. Here are some of your responses (and please feel free to add more in the comments below):
“I don’t know where to start?”
I like instruction, and there are several ALA instruction sections. How do I know which to join? What’s the difference?
Everyone encourages students to join ALA. Why? How can students be involved? What are the benefits & limits?
Why is so much programming done only at conference? Can we shorten conferences and have more regional/virtual events?
“80% of success is showing up — Woody Allen”
“What positive changes can ALA make to better fit your needs?”
“How would you make ALA a better fit for you?”
Have more regular reviews of the work that committees are doing to make sure they contribute to the furtherance of ALA mission and goals.
Make ALA membership & conference attendance an unforgettable user experience.
Review experiences with committees and chairs so that chairs who get consistently bad reviews don’t get re-appointed.
Virtual participation for committees.
Use less jargon to name IG’s and work groups.
Have fewer committees but more smaller work groups (that can exist without board approval) that can “git ‘er done.”
FAQ for new members for ALA in general or for conference.
More formal mentoring program for new members (or opt-in for all new members). Have veteran members be conference buddies and get new members acquainted with the structure of ALA.
Said before, said again: VIRTUAL.
It would be great if we could affect change without passing a resolution and waiting a year. More opportunities for quick action.
Welcome people like ACRL does. Provide welcome e-mail with link to easy to follow instructions on how to participate. Provide person willing to answer questions.
Demand accountability for committee work.