The ABCs of ALA

By Mary Kamela, University at Buffalo

Get to Know ALA

As a new academic year gets underway, students across the country are learning their ABCs. At ALA, many new members may also need a refresher on the various acronyms that make up our organization. For anyone feeling like they’re stuck in a pot of alphabet soup, here’s a review of ALA’s overarching structure and acronyms you may encounter:

  • ALA – American Library Association, the oldest and largest library association in the world!
  • Divisions—Due to ALA’s size, the organization is broken down into divisions that focus on specific roles and library environments. These eight divisions include:
    • AASL—American Association of School Librarians
    • ALSC—Association for Library Service to Children
    • ACRL—Association of College and Research Libraries
    • Core—Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures
    • PLA—Public Library Association
    • RUSA—Reference and User Services
    • YALSA—Young Adult Library Services
  • Round Tables—Round Tables are groups created to address aspects of librarianship that don’t fall within the scope of any single division. Current round tables include:
    • CSKBART—Coretta  Scott King Book Awards Round Table
    • EMIERT—Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table
    • FMRT—Film and Media Round Table
    • GAMERT—Games and Gaming Round Table
    • GODORT—Government Documents Round Table
    • GNCRT—Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table
    • IFRT—Intellectual Freedom Round Table
    • IRRT—International Relations Round Table
    • LHRT—Library History Round Table
    • LIRT—Library Instruction Round Table
    • LRRT—Library Research Round Table
    • LSSRT—Library Support Staff Round Table
    • MAGIRT—Map and Geospatial Information Round Table
    • NMRT—New Members Round Table
    • RRT—Rainbow Round Table
    • RMRT—Retired Members Round Table
    • SRRT—Social Responsibilities Round Table

Members of ALA can opt to add Division and Round Table memberships of their choosing to their ALA membership; pro-rated dues apply.

So, I’m a member of New Members Round Table. Now what?

If you’re reading this blog post, you’re likely a member of New Members Round Table, or at least new to the profession or organization. Here are just a few of the opportunities available with your NMRT Membership.

  • Get Involved—NMRT members can get involved by joining one of our committees! These committees help our Round Table run efficiently and from conference planning to mentoring, there are committees for every interest! Go to https://www.ala.org/rt/nmrt/oversightgroups/comm to learn more about our committees.
  • Stay Connected—As a member of NMRT, you have access to our space on ALA Connect. Make sure you stay connected by turning on email notifications for the NMRT (New Members Round Table) group (found under Settings on ALA Connect). You can also follow NMRT on Twitter @alanmrt and stay up to date with our NMRT Notes blog.
  • Take Advantage of Professional Development Opportunities—NMRT offers many services to help new members navigate the profession. One is our Resume Review Service, which helps newer information professionals perfect their application materials. To help new members navigate ALA Annual, NMRT also hosts an annual conference orientation. Look for more information in 2024!

Want to get started right away? The Resume Review Service is also looking for volunteers to review resumes–volunteer now!

Still unsure about what to do with NMRT or whether or not to join? Check out this document from ALA.

Readers, we’d love to hear from you! Feel free to sound off in the comments.

  • How has NMRT helped you?
  • What questions do you have about NMRT or Round Tables in general?
  • Is there any specific content you’d like to see highlighted on the blog this year?

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Open Call for Resume Reviewers

Help ALA members refine resumes, acclaim achievements, and solidify success!

The New Members Round Table Resume Review Service Committee is looking for volunteers to review resumes for our virtual review service. Reviewers should have at least 5 years of professional work experience and involvement in hiring or service on a search committee is a plus. We especially need reviewers from public, school, and subject/special libraries. 

If interested, please contact the NMRT Resume Review Service at resumereviewnmrt@gmail.com to volunteer!  

Please include the information listed below in the body of your email: 

Name:

Employer:

Job Title/Position:

Library Type:

Area of Specialization (i.e., reference, cataloging, archives, children’s, etc.):

E-mail address:

We always seek to match a reviewer with someone from the same library type and specialization!

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NMRT Conference Orientation for ALA 2023 – Friday June 23, 1:30pm

The New Members Round Table will be hosting its annual Conference Orientation on Friday, June 23 1:30-3:00pm in W187B at McCormick Place at the ALA 2023 Annual Conference. The orientation will include information about ALA and NMRT to orient new conference attendees, remarks from ALA and NMRT leadership, and a panel discussion about getting involved in ALA, conference tips, and information about Chicago from a local. Previous conference attendees are welcome to attend as well!

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Job Resources for Librarians and Information Professionals

By Tristan Draper, DeKalb Public Library

Looking for a new job, or a first job, in the library field can be daunting. The application and interview process can often seem like an endless cycle. For new library workers with fewer professional connections, finding a job can feel impossible, but there are resources that can help you find jobs and ace your interviews. This blog post is intended to highlight a few of the many library and information science career resources that can help you in your job search.  

Exploring and Planning Career Paths

Whether you’re new to the library and information sciences field or interested in a career change, the below resources can help you learn about the wide variety of library careers.

  • The ALA offers information about library careers including education and financial help as well as career pathways: link to ALA Career Information
  • The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics offers information on a number of careers. The following link will direct you to the Library Occupation page, where you can find information on entry-level education requirements, wages, number of jobs, and job outlook in a variety of library related fields: link to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • Blogs and social media can also be a good place to find information about working in libraries directly from library workers. These resources can give you a better idea of the day to day work that people do in different library careers. Some examples include the I Need a Library Job Facebook group and the LIS Career Options LinkedIn Group.

Job Boards

Now that you have an idea of what career pathways exist in the library science field, it’s time to start the job search! But where to look first? Below are a few of the many job boards you can look at to find library jobs.

  • The ALA has a job board that features a variety of library and information science job postings that can be filtered by location, job function, and job type. This is not an exhaustive list of available jobs, but it is a good place to start: link to ALA Job List.
  • I Need a Library Job is a popular job board for information professionals. Users can search by keyword or location to find available jobs: link to INALJ.
  • USAJobs lists federal government jobs, and they are often hiring librarians and/or information professionals for a variety of roles. Make sure to research the application process before submitting your application, however, as there are important guidelines for applying: link to USA Jobs.
  • Lib Gig is another job board that focuses on library and information science jobs. Jobs can be filtered by location, job function, and other factors: link to Lib Gig.
  • In addition to the above job boards that are more general in scope, make sure to look at specialized job boards as well. Professional societies often host their own job boards.
  • Colleges and Universities often offer job assistance to current students and alumni. They also often have career resource pages that are available online to the general public. These pages can be valuable resources themselves, or help you find other resources.
  • Don’t forget to check local library consortiums, library vendors, and state and local library associations for job postings. Thinking creatively about your skill set can open up a wide variety of job opportunities both within and outside of the library field.

Resume and Cover Letter Help

Good news, you’ve found a few jobs that you’re interested in applying for! All that’s left to do is fill out the application. Below are a few resources you can use to help make your resume/CV and cover letter stand out.

Interview Help

Your application was successful and you’ve landed an interview. Not sure how to prepare, what to wear, or what questions might be asked? The below resources can help you out!

Hopefully, with these resources you can feel more confident in your job search. Remember to think creatively about the skills you already have and don’t be afraid to reach out to your connections and network to ask for help. Best of luck in your career planning and job search!

Posted in Communications Committee, Finding jobs | Leave a comment

ALA Annual Games & Gaming Round Table Events

If you’re attending ALA Annual 2023, stop by the Games & Gaming Round Table booth in the Graphic Novels & Gaming Pavilion! Pick up some resources about gaming collections and programming, geek out with us about your favorite games and fandoms, play a game, or grab a sticker! You can find GameRT at Booth 1319. For more information about GameRT at ALA, email gamert@ala.org.

GameRT is also hosting some epic programs this year! Here is the GameRT schedule of events:

ALA Play
June 23, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM (CT)

Location: Hilton Chicago, International North

The Games and Gaming Round Table (GameRT) is back at ALA with another incredible ALA Play session! Gamers of all stripes are invited to join us for this free event, enjoy an evening of awesome games, and meet up with other awesome people who aren’t afraid to let their geek flag fly. We will also be announcing the 2023 Game On! Grant recipient.

GameRT Board Meeting at ALA Annual
June 24, 1:00 PM – 02:00 PM (CT)

Location: Hyatt Regency McCormick, Huron

Meeting of the Games & Gaming Round Table Board. All GameRT members are welcome to attend board meetings. If you’re not a GameRT member and would like to learn more about GameRT, please join us at this ALA Annual Conference meeting. Meet the board members and committee teams, hear updates on GameRT initiatives, and ask questions. Agendas for board meetings are posted in the GameRT ALA Connect forum.

Gaming in School Libraries
June 24, 4:00 PM – 05:00 PM (CT)

Location: McCormick Place, W183b

Presenter: Carolyn Vibbert, NBCT (she/her/hers), School Librarian, Sudley Elementary

Learn more about gaming programs for school libraries.

GameRT President’s Program: Creating Role-Playing Games in the Library
June 25, 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM (CT)

Location: McCormick Place, W193

Learn how to run a game jam and create a role-playing game at your library.

ALA Trivia Championship
June 25, 7:00 PM – 09:00 PM (CT)

Location: Hyatt Regency McCormick, Grant Park ABC

It’s well known that librarians are the best at trivia, but who is the best of the best? Join us at this national championship cosponsored by GameRT, RUSA, and NMRT and compete for the title of “Reference Champions of America” in this team-based trivia event.

In addition to conference attendance, event tickets are required for this event. Purchase via conference registration or event scheduler. And if you missed the signup during conference registration, we’d still love to have you – tickets can be bought onsite!

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ALA Annual Conference: NMRT Events & Customized Google Map

ALA Annual 2023 in Chicago is right around the corner and NMRT Committees have been busy putting together resources and events related to the conference. Whether this is your first ALA Annual or you have attended before, the resources and events listed below are meant to assist you in having the best conference experience that you can.

To help attendees find conference hotels, session locations, great restaurants, and attractions to visit while in Chicago, the Annual Conference Local Information Committee created a
customized Google Map. The map, which can be found here, is sure to be useful in planning
your time in Chicago.

Throughout the conference, NMRT’s Resume Review Service Committee will offer its popular
Resume Review Service in the placement center. Stay tuned for more information about how to
register for an appointment to have your resume looked at by individuals with hiring experience. The service attempts to match up reviewer and reviewee by library type to ensure you get feedback specific to the type of library you work in or are looking to work in.

The first NMRT event planned for the Annual Conference is the NMRT Field Trip on Thursday, June 22 from 1-4 p.m. The NMRT Field Trip this year will consist of grabbing lunch and going on a walking tour of downtown Chicago. This ticketed event is sold out, but we look forward to a fun afternoon of exploring and networking for those attending.

NMRT’s Conference Orientation, geared towards first time conference attendees, will take place on Friday, June 23 from 1:30-3 p.m. This session will include information about ALA and NMRT, followed by a panel discussion about getting involved in ALA, conference tips, and information about Chicago from a local.

NMRT’s President’s Program is on Saturday, June 24 from 1-2 p.m. Titled “Preserving the Past, Providing Access and Anticipating Future Needs,” the session will feature presentations by three librarians who are doing innovative work with preservation, access and user experience.

The Executive Board will hold its meeting on Sunday, June 25 at 8:30 a.m. Executive Board
meetings are open to everyone and I encourage those interested in learning more about how
governance works in ALA’s round tables to attend.


On Sunday night, join NMRT for a night of networking and fun at the Annual Social from 5-7
p.m. at Pinstripes (435 E Illinois Street). The Annual Social is a great opportunity to meet
current and former NMRT members. NMRT’s award winners will be honored at this event.
We hope to see you at one or more of NMRT’s events during the ALA Annual Conference in
Chicago!

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Five Simple Rules for Navigating a National Conference

By Mary Kamela, University at Buffalo

In March 2023, I attended my first national library conference: ACRL 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. Although I was initially worried about the size of the conference and the number of programs, I found the experience to be very manageable, as well as fun and informative!

Here are some of my biggest tips for others embarking on their first large library conferences:

  • Be flexible – When a conference has its full program available online, it’s great to go in ahead of time and pre-select sessions that seem the most interesting to you. That being said, some of my best conference experiences have come from last-minute changes, whether I end up randomly selecting a different session or following an invite from a colleague to something out of my comfort zone.
  • Make connections early on – Of course, networking is valid at any point of a conference, but I found that, with a longer event like ACRL, socializing and networking in my earlier sessions really added to my experience. I was able to find friendly faces at later events or related sessions and build meaningful connections that will hopefully lead to future connections and collaborations.
  • Take a break – The David L. Convention Center in Pittsburgh is a beautiful building with plenty of indoor and outdoor space to relax. We were lucky enough to experience some early spring weather, so taking advantage of the roof deck with its views of the Allegheny River was a definite highlight. I also found secluded spaces inside to unwind with a book or my phone when needed. In addition to relaxing, also consider taking a snack break! ACRL offered excellent morning coffee and afternoon snacks, including ice cream bars! If you’re feeling restless, take a stroll around the exhibit area and meet some of the vendors.

View of the Allegheny River from an observation deck at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center

  • Don’t fall victim to FOMO – There’s no possible way to do everything you want to at ACRL or a similar conference, so go in with the mindset that you may not be able to do everything you plan to! After a long day of conferencing, an evening event might feel like simply too much to take on, or a planned session may get replaced with a long lunch with a colleague. It’s okay! You can always catch up with online materials or reach out to presenters if you’d like more information.
  • Take time to explore – If you’re at an in-person conference, make sure you’re taking time to venture out into the host city. In Pittsburgh, I visited the Heinz History Center, which featured an excellent Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood exhibit featuring sets and puppets from the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. I also enjoyed some Pittsburgh cuisine—lots of sandwiches with French fries, pepperoni rolls, and, of course, Heinz ketchup! If you’re attending a virtual or hybrid conference, consider taking advantage of virtual connection options. At ACRL, I attended an online team trivia contest that was a fun way to connect with virtual and in-person attendees alike.
An exhibit about the history of Heinz Products at the Heinz History Center
King Friday XIII’s castle on display at the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood exhibit

We’d love to hear about your conference experiences. Let us know in the comments if you have any tips or anecdotes to share with the NMRT community. Enjoy your upcoming summer conference season!

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Professional Development: Beyond the Conference

By Laura Birkenhauer

When thinking about professional development, we most likely think of attending webinars, workshops, classes, and conferences, or reading trade and professional publications. But the options for professional learning extend far beyond these choices.

The NMRT Online Discussion Forum Committee asked NMRT members to share how they’re engaging in professional development, with a focus on unconventional approaches (Birkenhauer, 2023). Members shared virtual, internal and DIY options — both formal and informal — for growing as a professional.

Virtual Options

While a select number of opportunities for wider audiences have historically included virtual attendance options — for example, the ACRL ULS Academic Outreach Committee’s online roundtable discussions — more and more professional development offerings have been made available in hybrid and online formats in recent years. While online professional development options are hardly novel post-2020, NMRT members shared some intriguing possibilities you’ll want to consider for yourself.

Formal

NMRT member Clarissa Ihssen detailed their experience with the Great Lakes Science Boot Camp for Librarians and the flexibility afforded due to the fact it took place virtually. “I was able to have a couple days for professional development because they took place over the summer and were virtual, so my boss had no problem giving me that time. If you’re a science librarian (or looking at becoming a science librarian) I highly recommend trying to attend one!” (Ihssen, 2023).

Informal

Online options can also make casual professional conversations accommodating and budget-friendly. “I have really enjoyed the shift to virtual for some PD activities. It grants so much flexibility. I was recently invited to join a bi-monthly, informal, virtual discussion with other Student Success Librarians in the state of Ohio. What a terrific chance to network and learn from others – without having to pay anything for gas money” (Birkenhauer, 2023).

Internal Opportunities

Internal opportunities will vary by institution. May these suggestions inspire you to suggest, expand or lead something brand new at your organization.

Formal

As a method for encouraging professional development, libraries can maintain an online guide dedicated to professional development. “The Professional Development LibGuide for my organization recently began to list memberships for many of our librarians and staff in order to facilitate questions […] For example, you may see in the LibGuide list that a fellow librarian is a member of an ALA roundtable on a topic you’re interested in. You can then reach out and get more information directly from that individual” (Birkenhauer, 2023).

Informal

“Coffee hour” conversations on subjects of interest may be a draw to those looking to learn and connect with colleagues. These may look like a casual discussion over a caffeinated beverage, a presentation with slides, a hands-on workshop… or something else altogether!

DIY Professional Development

Another outside the box approach: do-it-yourself (DIY) professional development. This self-led strategy puts you in charge of your professional learning.

Formal

NMRT member Bithiah Brown engages in proactive cross-training. After first requesting permission from their manager, Brown shares “I have started to reach out to other areas in my department to request anything to enhance my skills. An example would be our social media department[.] I wanted hands-on experience in creating videos or reels. I was allowed to create a video with [the] Tiktok app and researched how to improve it. They liked it and shared it on our official account” (2023).

Informal

Social media is another avenue to explore for self-guided professional development. For example, an ALSC blog post by Chelsey Roos details the learning that can happen on TikTok (2023). Instagram is another platform that NMRT members may think of as a primarily personal tool, but accounts like @lifeoflibrarians share tools, techniques, experiences and insight from librarians in all areas of the field.

References

Birkenhauer, Laura. (2023, March 8). Online Discussion Forum March 2023 Topic: Professional Development. Message posted to https://connect.ala.org/nmrt/communities/community-home/

Brown, Bithiah. (2023, March 4). Re: Online Discussion Forum March 2023 Topic: Professional Development. Message posted to https://connect.ala.org/nmrt/communities/community-home/

Ihssen, Clarissa. (2023, March 8). Re: Online Discussion Forum March 2023 Topic: Professional Development. Message posted to https://connect.ala.org/nmrt/communities/community-home/

Roos, C. (2023, February 16). I Learned It on TikTok: Professional Development from an Unlikely Source. ALSC Blog. https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2023/02/i-learned-it-on-tiktok-professional-development-from-an-unlikely-source/

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NMRT Annual Conference Professional Development Attendance Award

The NMRT Annual Conference Professional Development Attendance Award fosters active involvement in ALA through various special events at the Annual Conference. The Annual Conference Professional Development Attendance Award is presented to two NMRT members each year. The award provides professional development and networking opportunities to NMRT members by providing a ticket to attend the event of their choice at the ALA Annual Conference.

To apply, please fill out the application at this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdKpO1aMBb_pM7VMvLhv2-bZHHUw8mrt35e8wSoTWs6vWPfmA/viewform. A list of ticketed events at ALA Annual 2023 can be found here: https://2023.alaannual.org/ticketed-events.

Applications are due by Friday, April 21, 2023. Winners will be notified the week of May 1, 2023. Questions can be directed to NMRT President Annice Sevett at asevett@selco.info.

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NMRT Communications Committee – April Blog Post

by Caroline Akervik

The ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition is taking place from June 22-27, 2023, at McCormick Place Chicago in Chicago, IL. Per the conference FAQs, “Librarians, authors, publishers, business professionals, educators and students—anyone who is passionate about books, libraries, and eager to learn and shape the future of the industry.”

Okay, well, I qualify. I am currently a library media coordinator for a public school district in western Wisconsin and I have worked in or supported school libraries for going on sixteen years. I have never attended an ALA conference. As I completed my registration for this conference, I felt more than a little overwhelmed.

I have spent some time exploring the conference pages. I had a total fan girl moment when I read that Rick Riordan and Brian Pinkney will be speaking at the conference. Cool beans! I continued to explore the conference pages and then decided to put a feeler out to the real experts on My Connect. I was overwhelmed by the generosity of the library people who responded. (One truism of library folk is that they tend to be exceedingly generous with knowledge.) Annice Sevett, Library Director of the Albert Lea Public Library, suggested the following:

“New Members Round Table has quite a few services that are extremely valuable for first-time conference attendees. First, I highly recommend attending the Conference Orientation session that will happen on Friday, June 23 at 1:30 p.m. The event features a panel discussion that talks about tips and tricks for getting the most out of the conference in addition to having a local recommend must see things in Chicago. It’s also a great opportunity to network with other first-time conference attendees and ask questions.

The second thing we offer is an ALA Annual Conference Mentoring Program, where first time attendees are matched with seasoned conference goers. This opportunity provides a chance to get all your questions answered from someone and hopefully an opportunity to meet up with them in person at the conference. I have been a mentor a few times for that program and met with individuals I was matched up with on Zoom beforehand to answer whatever questions they had and provide tips that I have for getting the most out of your conference experience. This program will open for applicants closer to the conference.”


Next, I heard from Kacy Helwick, the Youth Collection Development library at New Orleans Public Library. She shared these fabulous suggestions for attendees:

“There’s a lot that happens on Friday, so I usually like to book my flight to arrive on Thursday, and I’ll leave late on Tuesday afternoon. The opening reception of the exhibit hall on Friday night is always fun, especially if you’re looking for free stuff. There’s usually like this advertising/coupon book that you get when you pick up your conference badge and it tells you which booth is giving out giveaway items and when to get them. I actually try not to take too much stuff home when I attend, but I’ve still gotten t-shirts, scarves, mugs, pins, pens, notepads, wine and delicious frozen beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and of course books and tote bags. You can also decide if you want to be a person with a few or a lot of ribbons on your conference badge and get those at the ribbon bar when you pick up your badge and in the exhibit hall, especially at the comics publishers’ booths (I included a picture of my last 2 badges as examples). I think they make for a good conversation starter when you meet new people. 

If there are any ALA division and roundtables you belong to or are interested in joining, you should keep an eye out if they are doing any events. I’m not sure what will be happening this year, but I’m a member of ALSC and there’s often a membership networking event, last year it was a meet up at the Planet Word Museum and a really great time. GNCRT usually hosts a Friday Forum, a free pre-conference on Friday late morning/early afternoon that is a highlight of my ALA every time I attend, and they’ll also be doing a ticketed event: the Magical Comics Tea. I’m not a member of the GAMERT, but they usually host an ALA Play evening on Friday night after the opening reception and it’s a great opportunity to try out games for library programs. Rainbow RT is having a gala on Sunday night to celebrate their 50th anniversary, free for members and $25 for guests of members. 

If you have any existing relationships with any vendors, like if you buy books from Follett or Baker & Taylor or have Sora from Overdrive for your school district, reach out to your sales reps to let them know you’ll be attending the conference and that it’s your first time. You can set up meetings to talk in person with people, or just get on their email lists to find out if they’re doing any special events (like having authors sign books in their booths or if they’re hosting a lunch you can be invited to). 

This is already very long, but lastly, conference sessions can be spread out across the convention center and nearby hotels. Pay attention to maps and how far apart everything is when you’re making your schedule. There will probably be so many relevant sessions for you to attend, but I would make sure I had at least 20-30 minutes in between events. I was late to so many sessions my first year because I didn’t realize how far an exhibit hall stage was from a program in a different area of the convention center. Also it’s good to keep your schedule a little open or flexible so you have the opportunity to discover a session you hadn’t noticed or have an unexpected conversation you don’t need to rush away from.”

Many thanks to the librarians who so generously shared their suggestions. Their words and the sense of library camaraderie those words evoked in me have contributed to my anticipatory excitement. I also have a better understanding of my preconference homework. I will check out the offerings of the divisions and round tables. I plan to work out logistics upon arrival. Most importantly, I look forward to seeing all you library folk who plan to attend ALA this year!

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