Ex. 5. Work with a partner. Discuss the benefits of joining a professional organization using the ideas below43.
A Member Newsletter and Web Forums A professional organization often publishes a monthly or quarterly newsletter or magazine for its members. All of the articles and advertisers (if any) are specifically tailored to the needs of that industry. Keeping up with industry news alerts you to changes in legislation and innovative new products that can help you work smarter. Additionally, some professional organizations have special web forums for their members, where visitors can ask questions of others in their industry and communicate freely and openly with other members. Access to printable documents and the ability to chat with others are benefits to many professional organizations members. Networking Many professional organizations, like chambers of commerce, give members the opportunity to mingle with others who do business in the same industry or locale. Some people join a professional organization so that they can make friends in the business and meet potential clients. Whether you are looking for clients, an internship, professional advice or a business partner for your next venture, it is good to have friends in business. |
B Conferences and Conventions Professional organizations usually hold annual and sometimes quarterly regional conferences for their members. Seminars, workshops and vendors that cater specifically to the needs of the members make conventions a great way to learn more about the industry. In addition to being a tax write-off, many conferences and conventions are held in vacation destinations, so you can relax and network while improving your craft or adding to your business knowledge base.
Member Discounts Professional organizations are able to offer bulk discounts to their members for things like insurance, financial services and other industry-specific services. Some people join a professional organization because it helps them save money annually on things they already need. Additionally, if you are going to school to work in a specific field, you may be able to join at a discounted rate. This is a great way to get an edge up on your classmates and find an internship or make wiser decisions as you start off. |
Ex. 6. Read the information about ALA44. Find the right heading for each paragraph (see the box). Discuss with your partner the advantages of being an ALA member.
Membership Activities and published periodicals |
Governing structure History
|
Conferences Introduction |
American
Library Association
1)………………………………………
The American Library Association (ALA) is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members.
2)………………………………………
It was founded in Philadelphia in 1876 during the Centennial Exposition. At the end of the meeting, the register was passed around for all to sign who wished to become charter members. 90 men and 13 women signed the resolution, making October 6, 1876 to (-) be ALA's birthday. The aim of the Association was "to enable librarians to do their present work more easily and at less expense." The Association has worked throughout its history to define, extend, protect and advocate for equity of access to information.
3)……………………………………..
ALA is affiliated with regional, state, and student chapters across the country. The membership is open to any person or organization, though most of its members are libraries or librarians. Most members live and work in the United States, with international members comprising 3.5% of total membership.
4)…………………………………….
The ALA is governed by an elected council and an executive board. Policies and programs are administered by various committees and round tables. One of the organization's most visible tasks is overseen by the Office for Accreditation, which formally reviews and authorizes American and Canadian academic institutions that offer degree programs in library and information science.
5)……………………………………
The official purpose of the association is "to promote library service and librarianship." Members may join one or more of eleven membership divisions that deal with specialized topics such as academic, school, or public libraries, technical or reference services, and library administration. Members may also join any of seventeen round tables that are grouped around more specific interests and issues than the broader set of ALA divisions. The ALA organizes conferences, participates in library standards development, and publishes a number of books and periodicals. The ALA publishes the magazines American Libraries and Booklist.
6)…………………………………..
The ALA and its divisions hold numerous conferences throughout the year. The two largest conferences are the annual conference and the midwinter meeting. The latter is typically held in January and focused on internal business, while the annual conference is typically held in June and focused on exhibits and presentations. The ALA annual conference is notable for being one of the largest professional conferences in existence, typically drawing over 25,000 attendees.
SKILLS
From the list of Professional Associations based in the USA45 choose one of the associations that matches your professional interests. Using its official website, prepare a short presentation of five to seven minutes following the plan from the exercise above.
UNIT 9.