HIT: Part 2: ALA/AASL conference attendance

[Mary Ann Shaffer <ShafferMAS@AOL.COM>]

----------------------------------------------
I began library school in the summer of 1997 and had final examines during=20
ALA time that year and the next. =A0No one even mentioned the 1997 AASL=20
Conference at my library school. =A0I found out about it when I finally paid=
 my=20
dues to join the organization in 1998. =A0The two conferences since have bee=
n=20
the same week as our annual state conferences. =A0When you are a new teacher=
 in=20
a SFA school where library is a "special" and you also have to teach reading=
=20
for a daily 90 min. block it is very unlikely that you will be allowed the=20
time to go to a full week of conferences, even if you are willing to pay for=
=20
them yourself. =A0Affording to pay when you are the single mother of two in=20
college is impossible. =A0I "afford" the state conference by "volunteering"=20=
as=20
the A/V co-ordinator. =A0I get to sit in on any session I can fit in between=
=20
equipment set-ups.
------------------------------------------
I've been a media specialist for 12 years.=A0 Never been to any conference=20
because I would have had to pay my own way (and I believe use personal=20
days!)=A0 With a family of 4 kids to raise, I have never been able to afford=
=20
it.=A0 Eventually!
-------------------------------------------
How many media specialists have never gone to a national conference? --Never=
.=20

How many pay for themselves but the school gives them time off? --I did ask=20
several times for different districts. None would let me off except one but=20=
I=20
would have to use my sick days. I would also have to pay my own way.

Let me know if you have been a media specialist for 7 completed years=20
---------------------------------------------

I have been to one ala and one asla.=A0 I will go to ASLA in fall.=A0 My sch=
ool=20
will pay as my other one did before.=A0 I used to go to TLA every year when=20=
I=20
live in Texas.=A0 Since it was so big I didn't really need the nationals as=20
much.=A0 Over 7 years.
---------------------------------------------
I've never been to ALA.=A0 I have been Media Specialist since 1987.=A0 I go=20=
to=20
our state conference - MAME.=A0 Rarely does the district pay.=A0 Occasionall=
y the=20
district gives us sub time.
---------------------------------------------
=A0I have been to only two national conferences.=A0=20
ALA Washington 1998
ALA Chicago 2000
Have not decided about Atlanta 2002, but I doubt it right now.=20
I am still thinking about AASL Indianapolis November 2001 I still don't quit=
e=20
understand these national conferences yet although I have spent 31/2 days at=
=20
the both of them.=A0=A0 There have been=A0 many missed opportunities because=
 I used=20
to have a summer job that made it impossible for me to go to these summer=20
conferences.=A0=20
The conferences=A0 I have really found useful are the state conferences.=A0=20=
I=20
have been to them in Iowa,=A0 Missouri, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.=A0=
=A0=20
=A0Whatever make your decision early as early registration saves a lot of=20
money.=A0=20
I have been a school librarian over 20 years in Missouri and Iowa.=A0=20
--------------------------------------------
Just completed my 6th year at our school. I have never been to a national
conference, but I would really like to.
----------------------------------------
I have never been to a National Conference. It was never in the budget.
I have gone to my State (ISLMA) conference every year. Next year (01-02) I=20
will have control of my own budget. The National conference, however, is=20
scheduled right after the state conference and since I am the only librarian=
=20
in the school I hesitate to ask for the time off. I will rethink this for th=
e=20
following year.
=A0 =A0 I have just finished my 5th year as a high school librarian.
------------------------------------------
I have been a media specialist for 7 years.=A0 (I just completed my 7th). I=20
have never gone to a national convention, and have gone to very few state=20
conventions unless they are local. The main reason is financial.=A0 I=A0have=
 to=20
pay my own way to go to anything.=A0 My principals (over the years) have let=
 me=20
have a substitute for a day, but I must pay my own way.=A0 To get more than=20=
1=20
day, I have to take=A0a personal leave day.=A0 I am not willing to do that.
---------------------------------------
Have never attended a national event but many local state ones.=A0 I have
been a librarian for 9 years.
-----------------------------------------------
I have never been to either.=A0 Our district coordinator is encouraging us t=
o=20
attend AASL in Indiana this year.=A0 She thinks that AASL is better for us b=
ut=20
she goes to both.=20
My school district gives us 4 personal days and 1 private day. Workshops=20
count as personal days. We are allotted approx. $75. so the rest of the=20
expense is ours. (Which is why a lot of people hesitate.) I just finished my=
=20
7th year as a media specialist.=A0 I started late in life at 46.
------------------------------------
I have been a school librarian (media specialist), for 13 years.=A0 I have b=
een=20
to 7 ALA
Conferences.=A0 I have never been to an AASLConference though I have been=20
thinking of attending this year's AASL Conference in Indianapolis. I=A0 make=
 a=20
special effort to attend my state library conferences. My union negotiated=
=A0=20
up to $2400.00 each
year to be paid by the state for me to attend conferences or do course work.=
=A0=20
I am not atending ALA this summer because I have been to San Francisco=20
several times for ALA and would prefer another site.=A0 I do think attending=
=20
conferences is very valuable.
----------------------------------------
Media specialist 1-3 years; never attended a national conference, just MSLMA=
=20
(Massachusetts)
---------------------------------------
I am going to ALA today- first time! I am paying f-----------or myself. I=20
have not
been to AASL. I have been a LMT for 4 - 7 years.
----------------------------------------------
I am a 1-3 year librarian.=A0 Last summer went to ALA in Chicago because it=20
=A0was here at home.=A0 Next fall will try to attend AASL because it is clos=
e in=20
Indianapolis.=A0 Don't know if I could actually afford to travel to one. I m=
ust=20
say, I think I spent most of my time getting books signed, and going through=
=20
the exhibits.
-------------------------------------------------
I have just retired as an LMC Director after ten years of service.=A0 During=
=20
that time I have attended ALA three times in Chicago, and once in San=20
Francisco and New Orleans.=A0 I attended AASL in Birmingham, Portland and=20
Indianapolis.=A0 ALA has a much larger vendor and trade display and gives yo=
u=20
an opportunity to be exposed to more national authors, and product displays.=
=20
AASL gives a more specific picture of the Library media center.=A0 Current=20
trends (Big Six, Flexible scheduling, etc) are covered by leading presenters=
=20
in great detail.=A0 Attending either conference is a great energizer and in=20=
our=20
district's case a chance to appreciate what we have.=A0 We met and heard of=20
districts and libraries from around the country who are stuggling to
maintain their programs due to lack of funding, interest, and caring for the=
=20
principles of our profession.=A0 We have been fortunate as our district not=20
only gives us time to attend conferences but funds them as well.I would=20
encourage you to attend one of the national conferences.=A0 Good Luck!=20
--------------------------------------
I've been a school librarian for over 25 years, and I've gone to ALA (far=20
away) twice, once to New Orleans and once to Chicago, =A0when my districts=20
paid.=A0 I've also gone for a day each to New York =A0and midwinter in=20
Philadelphia and DC, plus AASL when it was in =A0Baltimore, but those were a=
ll=20
car or train trips of 2 hours or less, and I didn't stay over. Right now I'm=
=20
waiting to hear whether my request to attend AASL=20
has been approved!
-------------------------------------------
How many of you have gone to an ALA conference? I haven't=20
How many to an AASL conference?=A0 Once
Which do you prefer? AASL because more of the conference will be of interest=
=20
to me
How many media specialists have never gone to a national conference? Me
How many pay for themselves but the school gives them time off? I paid part=20
and the school paid part=20
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=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0I've been a media specialist for 2=
2 years.
-----------------------------------
I've been a media specialist for more than seven years.=A0 I try to go to a=20
national conference every year.=A0 ALA is in the summer so I don't need time=
=20
off.=A0 I do to ALA when there isn't AASL.=A0 I pay most of my expenses.=20
Sometimes the school has paid my registration and they do pay my sub for=20
AASL.=A0 I value this type of professional development.=A0 Also, it gives me=
=20
visibility as a professional to my administration.=A0 I usually write a summ=
ary=20
of what sessions I attended, what's new in the field, etc.
--------------------------------------
I've been a library media specialist for three years. The only ALA=20
conferences I have attended are the ones that have been in Washington, DC.=20
This was the first year I was able to attend the conference in San Francisco=
=20
and only because I was just elected President of the District of Columbia=20
Association of School Librarians (DCASL). They provided $750.00 for me to go=
=20
as a delegate to the AASL Affiliate meeting. =A0I have not attended an AASL=20
conference (money issue as always) I'm hoping that my principal will release=
=20
funds for me to go to the AASL conference in Indiana.
-------------------------------------------
I have been a librarian for ove 20 years and have never gone to ALA.=A0 Have=
=20
=A0gone to NYLA=A0 (New York LIb. Associ. Conve) when in my city or within=20
=A0reasonable driving distance.=A0 For one thing it is just way to expensive=
 --=20
=A0for plane, and hotel--I am in a private high school--they pay for the=20
=A0actual reg. fees but are not about to foot the rest of the bill.=A0 And=20=
=A0while=20
they look great i am=A0 not sure how much is just one big social hour. =A0I=20=
have=20
kids and parents to take care of and 4 or 5 days away would be difficult.=
=A0=20
Plus the kids and teachers here at school would not be =A0thrilled either
-------------------------------------------------
I have attend 2 ALA Annuals (currently out in San Francisco at this years=20
now!), 1 ALA Midwinter, and will attend my first AASL this fall in Indy.=A0=20
This upcoming school year will be my 4th in the profession.=A0 The school wi=
ll=20
typically help me out by
maybe covering the conference fees, but that is usually as far as they will=20
go.
------------------------------------------
I've just returned from attending my second ALA conference.=A0 I've been to=20=
one=20
AASL conference.=A0 So far as workshops/sessions, AASL is FAR superior to AL=
A!=A0=20
I really couldn't find much useful stuff for my situation at ALA.=A0 However=
, I=20
greatly enjoyed the exhibits, author signings, and Newbery/Caldecott banquet=
=20
offered at ALA.

AASL in Birmingham gave me so many good opportunities to learn new things=20
directly related to my job and I met so many nice people!

I've been a librarian for 7 years.=A0 I pay my own way to these conferences,=
=20
but during the school year, my school does pay for my sub.=A0 By the way, I=20=
won=20
my trip to AASL from my state library organization!=A0 I definitely recommen=
d=20
that method.=A0 : )
-----------------------------------------
I have only been to one AASL conference, but it was wonderful.=20
------------------------------------------
I have never been to an ALA/AASL conference or any national conference for=20
that matter.=A0 I've been an SLMS for 1 yr.=A0 Our school district and schoo=
l=20
board are very generous and liberal policy when it comes to any conference o=
r=20
workshop that we want to go to during the school year. I haven't heard of=20
them denying anyone.=A0 You didn't say how long you have been around, but if=
=20
you haven't heard of Bureau of Education and research (BER)=20
workshop/conferences they are wonderful!=A0 I went to 2 of these this year a=
nd=20
they have them all over the country.=A0 The 2 I went to were What's New in=20
Children's Literature & How to Use it in Your Program by Dr. Peggy
Sharp and The Best Children's Books of the Decade and HOw to Use Them in
Your Program K-6 by Judy Freeman.=A0 Both were great!=A0 Lots of ideas to ta=
ke
back to the library and resource books included.=A0 Dr. Peggy Sharp also has=
 a
rolling calendar of events and publishes a quarterly newsletter that has
lots of useful info.=A0=20
---------------------------------------------------
I have been to both ALA and AASL several times, sometimes fully funded by th=
e=20
school and sometimes at my own expense.=A0 I have been in the profession sin=
ce=20
1978 at all levels K-12, always in independent schools.=A0 I'll be intereste=
d=20
in the results.=A0 I just got home from ALA last night, with sore shoulders=20
from carrying all the books, posters, and catalogs home!
------------------------------------------------
I go to both ALA and AASL conferences. WHY?=A0 I am ususally on a committee=20=
and=20
committees meeting during ALA summer and midwinter conferences--that's where
the business of the association is done. I go to AASL conferences because=20
they are ONLY for school librarians with programs galore.=A0 I come back wit=
h=20
so many
ideas I don't know where to start.=A0 The exhibitors are just for school=20
libraries, too.=A0 So many good things to bring home.=A0 At the ALA conferen=
ces=20
there are things for school
librarians, too, but not quite as much. I also go to travel around and see=20
other parts of the country and talk to other librarians.=A0 The networks I h=
ave=20
built have been invaluable.=A0 I can't imagine NOT going to a conference. I=20
have been a SLMS for 23? years--who keeps track.=A0 I went to my first=20
conference in my second year as a SLMS and have been to two or three=20
conferences every year since. My district pays for nothing.=A0 I have paid f=
or=20
all of my own.=A0 It's my tax deductible vacation.
------------------------------------------------
I go to ALA each year and I always attend AASL also.=A0 I get more obviously=
=20
from AASL, particularly when they don't have any programming strands at ALA=20
during their conference years.=A0 This is natural because it is just for sch=
ool=20
library media professionals.=A0 However, ALA conferences are still good for=20=
me,=20
be cause I can interact with other professionals in different areas and see=20
more exhibits than you may see at AASL.=A0 I pay my own way for ALA always,=20=
but=20
I am getting AASL paid for this year.=A0 I will pay my travel to AASL, but t=
hat=20
is minimal since I live on the west side of Indianapolis anyway, and will=20
just burn about 10 miles of gas each way every day.=A0 I have been a media=20
specialist for more than 7 years.
--------------------------------------------
I just returned from ALA and usually attend every other year or so.=A0 I als=
o=20
try to go to AASL; this one is paid for sometimes by the school.=A0 I pay fo=
r=20
ALA.=A0 I like both conferences for different reasons.=A0 ALA is more global=
 and=20
I always find out things I never planned on hearing about.=A0 AASL is very=20
specific to schools and so I also learn a lot there.=A0 I have been a School=
=20
librarian for 20 years.
-----------------------------------------------
I've been a school librarian for 36 years, and have been to about 12 ALA=20
conferences over the years, if they've been after my school year is over,=20
and/or in the NorthEast (where I live). I've been to all 9 of the previous=20
AASL conferences, wherever they are held: I consider attending them an=20
invaluable part of my own professional development.=A0 My current school=20
district will pay the registration fees, but usually I've had to pay for=20
everything myself. The time off is counted as 'professional days.'
Alice Yucht, Teacher-Librarian=20
Heritage Middle School, Livingston NJ
aliceinfo@excite.com

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
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/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=