I cannot overstate how much being a member of the LAI has increased my sense of belonging to the library and info professional community. I’ve attended LAI-run events for years and have always been overwhelmed by the welcoming atmosphere and the sense of dedication that I’ve found at them. I can also honestly say that I’ve never been to a conference or CPD event run by the LAI that I haven’t learned something at! But it’s only recently that I decided to get involved with committee-work. Some months ago at an event run by the LAI Career Development Group I asked the chair of the group how to go about applying to be a committtee member. As a young and vibrant group that’s focussed on helping new and mid-career librarians to establish themselves and develop their skills and confidence, it seemed like a great place to start contributing. She told me to send her an email – which I promptly did – and she replied, saying that all I had to do was fill out a form and have it signed by two other LAI members.
Just like that I became a part of the committee and got involved by pitching at and tweeting about their next event – Libcamp 2015 (an unconference). Soon after that I became the secretary and we are now beavering away at organising our AGM and CPD event “Abstract to audience: a guide to conference presentations” which will take place in the NLI on the 2nd October. The beautiful thing about being involved with a committee is that you get to brush up your skills and try things you never had before – from using tools like Storify and Eventbrite, to project management and communicating with venues and speakers, opportunities for growth abound. You also get to flex your creative muscles by coming up with new ideas in a supportive environment. We’re currently looking for new members to beef up our group, and are hoping to recruit a few at the AGM. There is a bit of work involved and a monthly meeting to discuss upcoming events, but if you’re the type of person who enjoys librarianship you won’t look back.
I’m also a member of CILIP. Upon joining in a professional capacity they sent me a Professional Knowledge and Skills Base pack which allows you to assess and monitor your career goals. You also get sent CILIP update, which is packed with UK-based news and information. I’m also curious about chartership – I joined the FB group discussing their progress with chartering and am thinking about applying in the future. Afterall, you can’t have too many letters after your name!
thelivedinlibrarian 