Activity in Professional Associations: The Positive Difference in a Librarian's Career

PARTICIPATING ACTIVELY IN PROFESSIONAL associations can make a positive difference in a librarian’s job and career. Associations are relevant sources of current information. Effective communication and leadership skills are learned or enhanced. Librarians can become familiar with the processes of research and publication. A sense of professional community is nurtured. This article discusses the impact of active participation in professional associations on the librarian’s job and career development. INTRODUCTION When a graduate student completes the formal coursework and requirements for the master’s degree in library and information studies, he or she is simply not aware of the value of professional associations. The student has listened to comments about professional associations, but the comments are more theoretical than meaningful. Context and perspective are missing. When the librarian assumes the responsibilities of his or her first professional position, the realities of professional associations are still somewhat mysterious. What is a professional association? Is it necessary to become involved? If so, in what associations and at what levels since there are local, state, regional, national, and international associations? These are some of the questions entry-level librarians ask. The author of this article started in an academic library in which participation was optional. Soon, he realized that the degree and necessity of participation Donald G. Frank, Library & Information Center, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0900 LIBRARY TRENDS, Vol. 46, No. 2, Fall 1997,pp. 307-319 01997The Board of Trustees, University of Illinois 308 LIBRARY TRENDS/FALL 1997 varied from one library to another. Like other entry-level librarians, he was confused. Participating in the activities of professional associations can contribute positively to a librarian’s professional development. Active participation is likely to facilitate professional success in one’s job and career. This article discusses the impact of participation. As the literature of professional associations is not extensive, several focus groups were also conducted by this author to provide additional information and perspec tive . PROFESSIONAL AS RELEVANT OF INFORMATION ASSOCIATION SOURCES Information professionals need relevant information to be effective in their positions. In her article on the role of professional associations, Virgo (1991) states that associations are a “body of people who collectively have a tremendous wealth of experiences to draw upon in a common field” (p. 189). This collection of experiences underscores the value of professional associations for the librarian. The librarian’s expertise and experiences are initially influenced by the professional associations that participate in the accreditation of graduate schools. The curricula and core competencies of the various schools of library and information studies are influenced and monitored by professional associations, most obviously the American Library Association (ALA). Academic courses studied by graduate students are shaped by a professional association. Before librarians assume their first professional position, they have been influenced significantly by associations such as ALA (Curry, 1992). Practical up-to-date information is readily available and openly shared at conferences conducted or sponsored by professional associations. Formal programs, for example, provide numerous opportunities to obtain information. Participants or speakers with special expertise are recruited to discuss issues and provide various perspectives. A speaker or panel of experts will not only provide information but also stimulate the creation of ideas. Good speakers challenge the audience, providing opportunities for positive discussions in which information is shared and ideas are generated. In addition to formal programs at conferences, discussion groups and other less formal options, such as interest groups, are ideal forums for information sharing. At the American Library Association conferences, for example, the discussion group has become an essential vehicle for the stimulation of ideas on current topics. Examples of discussion groups include the Middle Management Discussion Group and the Interlibrary Loan Discussion Group. Interest group examples include the Geographic Information Systems Interest Group and the Internet Resources Interest Group. These are special opportunities to learn and to keep up FRANK/ACTMTY IN PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS 309 to date on issues, patterns, and trends in librarianship. Members of the focus groups emphasized the importance of the informality in discussion and interest groups, indicating that informal conditions facilitate learning and idea stimulation (Frank, 1997). Active participation on committees in professional associations is a particularly effective option for obtaining relevant information. Librarians occasionally de-emphasize or deride the value of committees in libraries and in professional associations. It is popular to do so, especially in the relatively large associations such as ALA or the Special Libraries Association (SLA). Most professionals realize, nonetheless, that committees are important, and that effectively run committees are fundamental to the success of the associations. Committees and task forces have specific charges or responsibilities. Those who participate become familiar with the committee’s responsibilities as well as the rationale for the existence of the committee. They also become involved in the collection and synthesis of data or information, in various planning processes, and in the implementation of recommendations. These are valuable experiences. Becoming familiar and experienced with collegial processes in professional associations contributes to success “at home” in libraries. Working effectively in groups to examine issues critically and to attain a positive consensus in decisions is a collegial skill that is valued in libraries. Members of the focus groups reiterated the utility of these skills (Frank, 1997). Vendors or exhibitors that populate the various professional conferences constitute another source of information. Indeed, it is occasionally difficult to navigate in the sea of exhibitors that are available and organized at ALA or SLA conferences. Exhibitors may include representatives from private companies, colleges and universities, organizational units of the association, and governmental organizations. For example, at the ALA Annual Conference, one is likely to interact with publishers as well as other information producers from the private and public sectors, representatives of the various divisions such as the Association of College and Research Libraries or the Public Library Association, and representatives from local, state, and national governments. While the information available from these exhibitors tends to be biased toward specific points of view or, in some instances, toward specific companies, the information is relevant to the librarian who is able to listen actively and consider the various points of view from a critical perspective. It is important to look at the overall picture as the patterns and trends are as relevant as the specifics. A librarian’s network of contacts can be cultivated and refined at the conferences sponsored by professional associations. Informal discussions with colleagues at conferences are particularly important. Opportunities to collaborate or network with colleagues over coffee, for example, con310 LIBRARY TRENDS/FM,L 1997 tribute significantly to one’s ability to be effective. The information obtained via these informal contacts is very current and usually practical or to the point. Problem solving is facilitated by the information obtained from colleagues from other institutions. The focus group participants asserted that the information obtained from these contacts is especially applicable and helpful (Frank, 1997). Another benefit of participating actively in professional associations is that it exposes one to a variety of perspectives and viewpoints. As a result of organizational values as well as the realities and consequences of accepted routines, librarians tend to do the same things in the same ways. The resulting routines and associated inertia must be continually challenged in order to move ahead. Formal programs and informal discussions at conferences provide opportunities to be challenged. Librarians at other institutions look at issues and problems differently. If one is actively involved, he or she learns, becomes familiar with new or different options, arid is challenged to consider other approaches, solutions, or perspectives. Creativity and innovation are stimulated. As the librarian’s routines and values are challenged, he or she becomes more effective. Professional associations are producers and disseminators of relevant information. “A primary mark of a profession is the development of a scholarly body of knowledge which continues to grow and be furthered” (Virgo, 1991, p. 195). Associations disseminate information via books, refereed journals, presentations at conferences, and by other formal and informal means. Librarians who are members of professional associations have opportunities to contribute to this “body of knowledge.” As information professionals participate and contribute, they learn and become more familiar with the processes of scholarly communication. CONTRIBUTORS LEADERSHIP TO EFFECTIV Professional associations contribute significantly to the development of effective leadership. Librarians who are active in professional associations have realistic opportunities to improve or enhance their leadership skills. Leadership is a relatively complex concept. One scholar argues that “leadership is largely an intuitive concept for which there can never be a single, agreed-upon definition” (Conger, 1992, p. 18). In their research on leadership, Bennis and Nanus (1985) recorded 350 different definitions of leadership (p. 4). For this article, leaders are “individuals who establish direction for a working group of individuals, who gain commitment from these group members to this direction, and who then motivate these members to achieve the direction’s outcomes” (Conger, 1992, p. 18). Leadership, administration, management, and supervision are interdependent concepts and practices. All are concerned with behaviors and interaction patterns, role relationships, influence, motivation, and goals FRANK/ACTMTY IN PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS 311 or desired outcomes. Additionally, all are concerned with the ability or capacity to provide focus and direction for individuals and groups. Opportunities to develop these skills are numerous via active participation in professional associations. Service on committees, for example, exposes the librarian to various planning and implementation processes. As the librarian is working with information professionals from other states or regions, he or she is also exposed to differences in methodologies. Assuming responsibility for a committee is a particularly valuable experience as committee chairs work with a group of colleagues to define and refine goals, develop strategies to attain these goals, and follow up as needed. Roles and responsibilities are delineated. Specific tasks are delegated. The chair of the committee articulates the rationale for the committee’s activities, relating the work of the committee to other committees or organizational units in the association. He or she becomes more familiar with the dynamics of conducting meetings, including the ability to attain a positive consensus on important decisions. The members of the focus groups stated emphatically that participating as a chair of a committee in a professional association facilitates the development of leadership skills. Several stated that the skills learned and developed as chairs of association committees enabled them to work more effectively with groups to attain desired outcomes. They also became more interested in management. Another librarian noted that she was motivated positively by Patricia Breivik’s “Every Librarian a Leader” theme during Breivik’s term as President of the Association of College and Research Libraries (Frank, 1997). In addition to committees in professional associations, it is possible to become the elected chair or president of the association’s sections or divisions. The responsibilities associated with such positions are significant, and the opportunities to learn and to enhance one’s administrative skills are plentiful. OPPORTUNITIES AND PUBLICATION FOR RESEARCH Participating in professional associations provides opportunities to become familiar with the processes of research and publication. These important processes contribute to the librarian’s professional development. Creativity and innovation are expressed as ideas, concepts are considered and integrated, and new information is generated. Several options for research and publication are available via participation in professional associations. Poster sessions are popular examples. ALA‘s conferences provide opportunities to prepare and present poster sessions. These are not formal presentations or publications but necessitate preparation and the ability to communicate ideas or concepts to others. Additionally, editors of journals occasionally examine the various poster sessions at national conferences looking for ideas or presentations 312 LIBRARY TRENDS/FALL 1997 that might be eventually transformed into published articles. One of the librarians in the focus groups stated that the editor of RQ asked her to write an article on the topic of her poster session (Frank, 1997). Calls for papers are ideal opportunities to become involved in scholarly processes. Sponsored by professional associations at local, state, regional, national, and international levels, calls for papers are opportunities to do research and to discuss the results with a forum of colleagues. As with poster sessions, these scholarly papers and presentations are potential candidates for articles in refereed journals. Also, presenting a paper to a group of peers, listening to their comments and suggestions, and responding to their questions constitute several of the key elements of critical dialogue. These skills are essential to success in libraries. Information professionals are instructors, mediators and facilitators, and advocates for ideas as well as strategic positions or directions. They must communicate effectively with groups. Scholarly presentations at professional conferences provide realistic options to develop these skills. On occasion, committees in professional associations produce documents that are eventually published. The author of this article participated on such a committee in ALA’s Reference and User Services Division. The committee’s activities focused on the importance of collection development policies. As we collected data on policies, we realized that the information was particularly relevant to the work of librarians who have managerial responsibilities related to the development of collections. As a result, we sought options to disseminate the information. The chair of the committee contacted several editors, including the editor of RQ who provided support and practical recommendations. In six months, the members of’the committee completed an article that was published in RQ. It was a valuable experience for all committee members. We participated in a collegial process within the context of a professional association and produced an article that was published in an important journal. Such activities and results are not uncommon in professional associations (American Library Association, 1993). Professional associations are concerned with the creation, organization, and dissemination of information. They are also concerned with the activities related to research and publication. One dictionary defines a profession as a “calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive preparation including instruction in skills and methods as well as in the scientific, historical, or scholarly principles underlying such skills and methods” (Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, 1968, p. 1811). The skills and methods referred to are essential to the success of librarians. By supporting and providing opportunities for research and publication, professional associations of librarians or information professionals FRANK/ACTMTY IN PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS 313 become, in a sense, more professional. In reality, it is also advantageous for professional associations to provide such support: associations gain value for both themselves as organizations and especially for their members; associations and their members gain visibility by publicizing research efforts; by collaborating on activities that one institution cannot do as readily (for example, gathering profession-wide statistics), associations gain