tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12528992.post116248892693674397..comments2024-01-29T00:28:36.402-05:00Comments on The Itinerant Librarian: My "why I did not apply to be an emerging leader" pieceA. Riverahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07446685621376561207noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12528992.post-1162572722038300852006-11-03T11:52:00.000-05:002006-11-03T11:52:00.000-05:00Hey Mark: I don't recall, but you may be on your w...Hey Mark: I don't recall, but you may be on your way to Austin. Hope it's fun. I did agonize a little whether posting it or not, but being at JCLC sort of served as the catalyst. Yea, the ALA does have some good things, like their intellectual freedom work (I would definitely support that even if the rest of ALA went down the wayside). The recruitment thing, for me, it is reaching the point where I don't think serious librarians or library students should even grace it with an answer. Best, and keep on blogging.A. Riverahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07446685621376561207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12528992.post-1162511273432669542006-11-02T18:47:00.000-05:002006-11-02T18:47:00.000-05:00Excellent post Angel! Seems you managed to tread ...Excellent post Angel! Seems you managed to tread a fine line here. As you know, I didn't apply either for pretty much the same reasons as you and Brian Matthews.<BR/><BR/>All of that travel, time and expense is out of the question. And as you and others say, it seems more about service to the professional organization than to the profession or, more importantly, to your local professional context.<BR/><BR/>It can be argued that service to the professional organization *is* service to the profession, but I would question that in many cases. I often wonder how much "my" (main) professional organization even supports the profession itself.<BR/><BR/>Much of what ALA does is very important, but much of it is at best an indirect benefit to the profession as a whole, and sometimes even a "hindrance." I am glad they take on censorship and such because someone needs to fight the good fight, but being labeled "porn pushers" doesn't "help" the profession.<BR/><BR/>Then there's the whole librarian shortage/recruitment thing. Now that is a REAL help!<BR/><BR/>Anyway, good job Angel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com