Re: Why join ALA and AASL and go to conference

[Marian Mackey <MKMackey@AOL.COM>]

In response to Mike's encouragement to join our national Association,
 HEAR...HEAR!  I have been a school librarian for 30 years and have been a
member of ALA for perhaps 5 of those years off and on.  Never two years in a
row.  After following the comments - all of the discussions and posts about
all topics - on LM_NET, I decided it was time to get off my duff and really
pay attention to what was going on outside my own little corner of the world.
 (Some of us are a bit slow!)  I have sent my application for membership and
am eagerly awaiting the reply.  I've seen great changes in the profession
over the years.  About the only things that have remained the same, or nearly
so, are Dewey, Sears, and LC.  Our responsibilities have increased within the
entire school community as well as within the media center itself.  If we
want to receive the respect which we rightly deserve, we must join forces and
let our voices be heard at the national level as well as the state and local
levels.  I haven't that long to go before retirement, but I do intend to
become more active during that time.  You younger folks have a lifetime ahead
of you to change things that need to be changed and bring our profession into
the limelight where it belongs.

Enjoy the challenge!

Marian Mackey, Librarian             Knowledge is of two kinds:
Perkiomen Valley High School      we know a subject ourselves, or
509 Gravel Pike                            we know where we can find
Graterford, PA  19426                   information upon it. - S. Johnson
fax: 610-489-1921
email: mkmackey@aol.com