Library Associations – What’s in it for me? Part 2 (New Librarian)

From the desk of Cheyenne Chontos, Library Technology Coordinator…

South Dakota library staff have many choices if looking for a library association to join:

• SD Library Association https://www.sdlibraryassociation.org/
• Mountain Plains Library Association (MPLA) https://mpla.us/ - 12 state regional library association of which SD is a member
• Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) https://www.arsl.org/

Not to mention larger associations like

• PLA https://www.ala.org/pla/
• ALA https://www.ala.org/
• ACRL https://www.ala.org/acrl/, etc.

Libraries, as a general rule, will not pay dues for staff who want to join an association. Staff members then have to decide if it is worth it to join. Here is the perspective from a newly minted librarian. Read Part 1 of this post series to read the perspective of an 'seasoned' librarian.

Cheyenne: When I started my MLS program in 2019, I was not working in a library, and I did not feel as connected with the library world as my classmates who worked in libraries seemed to be. My advisor suggested that I join the South Dakota Library Association and the American Library Association, and I have been a member ever since! I loved that the library associations offered an opportunity to network and be a part of the library community that I felt like I was missing. When I started at the State Library, I also joined the Mountain Plains Library Association, and they have also been incredibly welcoming and have offered great networking opportunities. The professional publications from the ALA and the newsletter from SDLA and MPLA also keep me connected and up-to-date on everything going on in the library world.

I am grateful not only for those networking and community opportunities but also for the continuing education opportunities these associations offered. I attended ALA Virtual in 2020 and 2021, and both offered incredible speakers and exciting topics to explore. I was also grateful that the conferences were offered at discounted rates for members – a win-win! As Brenda mentioned, the upfront costs can seem intimidating, but the benefits of joining library associations are immeasurable.

Is WiFi Good for Libraries?

John Kerber, co-founder of WhoFi, presented a session entitled How Providing WiFi in Public Libraries Improves Communities at the 2020 SDLA conference. Libraries are stepping up to provide access to internet through free public WiFi, extending the reach of WiFi networks, and lending devices that enable internet access for everyone.

In case you missed the presentation, here are a few facts and stats you can pull out of your pocket when the opportunity arises.

• Access to education is related to access to the internet. That point has certainly been made by recent events. Who offers free access to internet? Libraries!
• In 2002, 5% of American jobs required high digital skills. In 2016, that number increased to 23%. Library WiFi provides equitable access to online information and opportunities.
• In rural America 85% of people use the internet, but 63% have home broadband. Library WiFi plays an important role in diminishing the digital divide.
• A library is not what it has; a library is what it does for its community.

Here's an impressive (but not exhaustive) list of things a library with WiFi does for a community:

online research resources access, homeschooling support, online coursework, higher education and financial aid applications, job search, online resume creation, job training courses, employment exams, employer correspondence, participation in ecommerce, research new skills, work remotely, access information about local government, apply for government benefits, complete the census, access legal resources, get health and medical information, access medical provider portals, access social media, read & send email, learn a language, create or post original media, support underserved communities

So, yes, public WiFi service is good for libraries and great for communities.

SDSL has Internet-related information and resources for public libraries: libguides.library.sd.gov/services/internet