We hope you are reading this issue of Interface as an ASCLA members, but if not, here is a quick overview of the membership benefits you can achieve.
A cornucopia of professional development and learning opportunities—with great member rates.
The advantage of big savings on online learning opportunities such as our valuable online course “Improving Library Services to People With Disabilities”.
The best rates on ASCLA workshops at the ALA Annual Conference.
A venue for finding and exchanging valuable information.
ASCLA produces guidelines and publications that serve your profession—most notably, “Think Accessible Before You Buy” and “Library Accessibility: What You Need to Know.” ASCLA members have also been involved with the “Prisoners’ Right to Read”, which was recently passed by ALA Council. More resources can be found under the Professional Tools section of our website.
There are also several communication options for staying current with division and professional news: Interface, our quarterly e-newsletter; the ASCLA blog, http://ascla.ala.org/blog; and listservs like ASCLA-L (sign up at http://lists.ala.org).
A strong and supportive professional network.
Your ASCLA colleagues are the glue that will hold you together when times are tough, and they’ll also rally around your victories. Connect with these colleagues by joining one of our special interest sections. Don’t see a section representing your type of work? Create your own! More information is available at the ASCLA website.
Make connections at Annual and Midwinter by participating in ASCLA discussion groups, too. These open forums at Annual and Midwinter provide a forum for sharing challenges and successes with your peers, and collaborating on effective solutions.
An opportunity to be a leader, a decision-maker, and to bring about change.
Members can volunteer for ASCLA committees and ASCLA discussion group facilitator roles, lead an interest group, serve on the ASCLA board, and contribute to other ASCLA initiatives. Check out a complete list of committees at our website.
Members can also represent ASCLA on a larger stage by holding an ALA Councilor position or serving as liaison to ALA-wide committees.
Our association relies on the support and talent of its members to succeed, and we are very thankful to have you as a part of this group. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at ascla@ala.org or 312-280-4395 if you have questions.