LM_NET: Library Media Networking
Well, it took me a little longer than a week to post this HIT - but I'm stil=
l=20
under a month. =A0A fast synopsis: Among the eight respondents who have been=
a=20
media specialist for 1 - 3 years:
1 has been to ALA, 1 to both conferences and 6 to neither;
respondents who have been media specialists for 3 - 7 years:=20
1 to ALA, 2 to AASL; 3 to both conferences and 8 to neither;=20
respondents who have been media specialists for 7 -24 years:=20
2 to ALA; 3 to AASL; 10 to both conferences and 13 to neither;=20
and lastly, those who have been media specialists for over 25 years:
1 to AASL; 2 to both; and 6 to neither. =A0
Alice Yucht's reply is at the end of part 2. =A0I liked it and asked her=20
permission to include her name. =A0Now I will save all the comments that=20
include statements about how important it is to go and give them to my=20
principal the next time AASL has a conference!
This will be in two parts as it is too long for one. And I apologize once=20
again for being on AOL. It works great - except for a few minor=20
annoyances......
Mary Ann Shaffer=A0 =A0=20
Media Specialist
Carver Middle School
Orlando, FL
shaffermas@aol.com
I have been a Media Specialist for 4 years.
I have been to ALA once and AASL once. Both times were sponsored visits from
grants I received. Otherwise, (like this year) I wouldn't have been able to=20
go. =A0I really liked ALA, very busy, bustling, filled with energy. Lots to=20
see, =A0many interesting side trips and specials. Nice to meet people from=20
around the world. =A0I also liked AASL, for different reasons. It was so=20
relevant, got to meet people from LM_NET, got to link in with Internation=20
school librarians. The workshops were great. I was a Volunteer. I loved doin=
g=20
that. Would definitely go again.
-----------------------------------------
I have been to about 8 ALA annual conferences over my 30 year career. I paid=
.=20
It was during summer vacation. I have been to 3 or 4 midwinter ALA=20
conferences. I paid but district gave release times as I was on a committee=20
for 2 midwinter conferences. I have never been to an AASL conference. Our=20
district gives 3 days release time for us to go to our state conference in=20
the spring but we have to pay our own way. That is the Texas Library Assn.=20
One or 2 years they did pay the registration fee. But, most years we had to=20
pay the registration fee ourselves. Texas has a large library assn.I have=20
been to about 8 state conferences. I did not start going until they gave us=20
release time as I did not want to use my business days.
--------------------------------
I've attended an AASL conference. It was the one in 1999 in Birmingham, AL.=20
At the time I was just 3 hours away in Georgia. My school paid my fees, gas,=
=20
and food. I went to college in Birmingham, so I had a friend I could stay=20
with. Therefore, my school didn't have to pay for the lodging. I paid for my=
=20
ALA and AASL membership fees. It was a wonderful experience. I was the only=20
one from my county that attended. At a meeting others were speaking of the=20
cost, but I don't think anyone else asked to attend. When I approached my=20
principal about going, I prefaced it with how much I would learn and the fac=
t=20
that I would have free lodging.=20
--------------------
I am completing my first year as a LMS and have never attended a national=20
conference. I don't anticipate being able to attend one unless it's held in=20=
a=20
nearby major city, like Boston or New York, and I go at my own expense. My=20
district does pay, though, for us to attend the state conference. One of my=20
co-workers is president of the Connecticut Educational Media Association, ou=
r=20
state association of LMS.
------------------
Never gone!!=A0=A0 More than 7 years working (lots more!)
----------------------------
I've been a media specialist for 8 full years now and have never attended an=
=20
ALA convention, nor have I ever attended the AASL convention.=A0 I do go to=20=
the=20
yearly convention of the association in my state for 2-3 days per year. My=20
school will pay for the registration fee and a few other things (mileage,=20
some meals), but not for a hotel room.=A0 So I pay for that myself.=A0 If I=20=
were=20
to go to a national convention (like ALA), I'd have to pay for almost=20
everything myself.=A0=A0 However, I would like to attend a conference like t=
hat=20
... someday.
---------------------------------------
I've been around longer than 7 years and have NEVER gone to a national=20
conference.=A0 My school would probably give me the time off, but I'd have t=
o=20
pay for it out of my own pocket.
-------------------------------------
I've been a media specialist for 2 years in AZ and have never been to a=20
conference - but will have support (time off; $ - I don't know) when I am=20
able to do so!
-----------------------------------------
I have been to two AASL conferences and they were absolutely wonderful. =A0T=
he=20
first one I paid all expenses (it was within reasonable driving distance);=20
the second the district reimbursed me some but not all. I have been a media=20
specialist 23 years and have just retired!=A0=A0 Go to AASL if you get the c=
hance!
---------------------------------
Never been to ALA
Attended AASL twice before, and have plans to attend Indy, Fall 2001 School=20
system generally provides about $250 - $350 ( this does not cover many of th=
e=20
expenses, much less membership) =A0=A0=A0=A0LMS experience, 16 years
-----------------------------------
I've never been to a National Conference (I just joined ALA last Nov.). I've=
=20
been a Library Teacher for 8 years (two as a long-term sub).
------------------------------------
=A0 =A0 I have just completed my 26th year as a school library media special=
ist I=20
try to attend state conferences yearly (library/media has one and the=20
technology group has another). These are generally at my expense, but I have=
=20
been given time off to go. I was fortunate to attend a national conference=20
for computers in conjunction with a grant we received. That was paid for by=20
outside sources, but the district I was at then almost didn't let me attend.=
=20
I would love to go to ALA someday, but with school=20
and personal finances it will have to wait. I also attend 1 day conferences=20
within driving distance at my own expense and usually on weekends to keep my=
=20
professional skills up.
----------------------------------------
attend state meeting never gone to ala or aasl or act 28 year
-------------------------------------------
I'm a library coordinator for the district (a quasi-administrator) so I have=
=20
had my way paid to one ALA convention and one AASL conference, with the time=
=20
off going on the "professional leave" tally, so no personal/vacation/sick=20
time is taken away.=A0 I would say the AASL conference was the better of the=
=20
two for me because of the schools sessions.=A0 ALA was very crowded, but of=20
course, a better variety of topics.
-----------------------------------------------
I was=A0 a school media specialist for more than 7 years and attended both A=
LA=20
and AASL; naturally I liked AASL better because it was geared directly to=20
school librarians especially the workshops.
But I also enjoyed ALA; you get to meet lots of different librarians which i=
s=20
fun.=A0 Most of the authors who are there to sign books are children's and=20
young adult authors and it is fun to buy their books, get them signed and=20
meet them.=A0 The exhibits are the best part; almost every publisher has=20
wonderful posters for free and everyone has lots of free goodies.=A0 Take an=
=20
extra suitcase.
Books-new ones-are 40% off; sometimes you can get paperbacks for 1/2 price;=20
the last day is good because some publishers will give you even more off=20
their books because they don't want to carry them all back.
The cities where ALA is are wonderful and there are so many things to do.
One problem with ALA is everything is so spread out and it takes awhile to=20
get from one place to another-there may be a workshop in one hotel and the=20
next one in another hotel across the city-thank goodness for the free shuttl=
e=20
buses which are great but there is still time involved but you get to meet=20
people on the bus.
ALA must be experienced-pick one in a neat city like San Francisco; avoid=20
Miami in June; almost any other place they hold them are fun if you have=20
never been there.=A0 San Antonio is wonderful for Mid-Winter conference.=20
I always paid for them myself; did get reimbursed for all the books I bought=
=20
and always made sure I brought things back for my teachers and told my=20
principal all about it.
Since AASL is only held every two years ALA is better; but if you have never=
=20
gone to a conference I definitely recommend AASL this Fall; you will be blow=
n=20
away!!!!!=A0 I felt it was worth my time and money to attend.=A0 If the=20
conference fell during school days the district did me time off for the=20
conference.
----------------------------------------
This is my third year as a media specialist and I have never been to a=20
conference.=A0 If I went, I would have to pay my way.
------------------------------------------
I am going into my 3rd year as a media specialist.
I have been to both--prefer AASL.
School gave me time off.=A0 I paid for AASL (signed up before I was=20
hired)--book fair paid for ALA last summer in Chicago.=A0 Loved both---AASL=20
seemed to be more for us as opposed to public librarians.
I plan on attending AASL in November--book fair will reimburse.
------------------------------------------
I am going into my 3rd year as a media specialist. =A0=A0I have been to=20
both--prefer AASL.
School gave me time off.=A0 I paid for AASL (signed up before I was=20
hired)--book fair paid for ALA last summer in Chicago.=A0 Loved both---AASL=20
seemed to be more for us as opposed to public librarians. =A0=A0=A0
I plan on attending AASL in November--book fair will reimburse.
----------------------------------------------------
ALA - just to exhibits when in NYC
AASL - have missed one of the last 4, plan to go to one in Nov
Definitely prefer AASL
I pay first with hope of being reimbursed for some portion
more than 7years as media specialist
only wished publishers supported the AASL like they do the ALA - not as many
exhibit - nor do they provide as many authors
------------------------------------------------
I have been a Media Specialist for 1 year and have never been to an ALA or a=
n=20
AASL conference.
-------------------------------------------------
ALA conference - No
AASL conference - No
Attend state and regional conferences instead
District gives $200 toward professional development
Been an LMS for more than seven years.
--------------------------------------------------
I have never been to a national conference. Our budget would never cover the=
=20
travel, lodging and entrance fees.=A0 I would pay myself to go to ALA=20
(especially in SF) but apparently they do not have school librarians in mind=
=20
when they schedule the conference in Mid-June. A week later and I would have=
=20
been able to go. I have a wonderfully supportive principal but I would not=20
ask for time off just as school is finishing up.
----------------------------------------------
I've been to only one ALA conference, when it was close by in Atlanta.=A0 I'=
ll=20
probably go again when it comes back in the area.
I've been to four AASL conferences.=A0 Both were great, but the ALA is=20
overwhelming with all the sessions to attend.=A0 I prefer the AASL because i=
t=20
deals directly with my job and is smaller.=A0 I'll be headed to Indianapolis=
=20
again in November.=A0 I pay all expenses, but my principal gives me=20
professional leave and pays my sub.
I've been a media specialist for 18 years, 13 in my current school district=20
(North Carolina), 4 in Pennsylvania and one in South Carolina.=A0 All of it=20=
has=20
been elementary except the year in a SC high school.
----------------------------------------------
Have gone to both more than once.=A0=20
Each has a different focus, so one is not necessarily better than the other.=
=A0=20
Most of the time I have paid my own way.=20
Yes, they give me the time off.
more than 7 years.... (actually 22)
-------------------------------------------------
I attend both ALA and AASL, but I admit I find AASL better in terms of focus=
=20
and events specific to me.=A0 My school doesn't pay, I do, but they do give=20=
me=20
the time off.
------------------------------------------------
I have more than 20 years library experience.=A0 =A0 Whenever I have attende=
d=20
national conferences ALA or AASL they have been at my own expense.=A0 Until=20
recently we needed to use personal days for such meetings but now can get=20
aconference day.=A0=A0 ALA being in the summer means time off from school is=
n't=20
an issue.=A0 Both conferences have beneficial workshops.
---------------------------------------------------
I am a Library Media Tech. --have been for 13 years.=A0 I have been to ALA o=
nce=20
and AASL once. Plan to go to ALA in SF this time. I think I prefer ALA=20
because it goes beyond the children/students. My school gave me the time off=
,=20
but it has always been at my own expense, so I appreciated getting something=
=20
more than just professionally.
----------------------------------------------------
I have been a SLMS for 7 years, and have been to 1 ALA and 1 AASL, and am
planning on AASL this year.=A0 My school paid for the ALA, and last time I p=
aid=20
for AASL (they gave me the time) but this time my school will pay.=A0 =A0I f=
ind=20
ALA a bit overwhelming--I can usually find a better focus at AASL.
-----------------------------------------------
How many of you have gone to an ALA conference?=A0 NO - I'm not a member, ei=
ther
How many to an AASL conference?=A0 NO=A0 Not a member of this, either
Which do you prefer? DON"T KNOW
How many media specialists have never gone to a national conference? I AM=20
ONE=A0 Can't afford it - Can't leave my family, either
How many pay for themselves but the school gives them time off?=A0 NO WAY
Let me know if you have been a media specialist for 1-3 years, 4-7 years or=20
more than 7 years=A0=A0 18
------------------------------------------
I have been a media specialist for 23 years, and I have never been to a=20
national conference. However, I do go to my state conference faithfully and=20
am the chair of a state committee.
------------------------------------------------
I just completed my fourth year as middle school librarian. =A0I have never=20
been to a national conference. =A0I hate to admit it but have never joined A=
LA.=20
=A0I have attended TLA (Texas Library Asso) but only exhibits, never any of=20
conference. =A0Our district allows us to go to exhibits, we take a "school=20
business" day but we have to pay for our own parking, entry fee, and lunch.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law.
To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST, etc.) send email to:
listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER:
1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST
4) SET LM_NET MAIL * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv.
For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.shtml
See also EL-Announce for announcements from library media vendors:
http://www.mindspring.com/~el-announce/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=
LM_NET
Mailing List Home