Observing, Learning, and Socializing at ALA Annual in Chicago

During the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, I had the opportunity to observe many of the inner-workings of the ACRL Board of Directors, Budget and Finance Committee and Professional Development Coordinating Committee, among others with which I am more familiar already such as the Communities of Practice Assembly (formerly the Sections Council). None of the work of these groups is secret but I, like most ACRL members, hadn't spent time attending these meetings as an observer before. There is a lot of work in both the preparation for and execution of these many meetings and their accomplishments!

I learned a great deal and in large part due to the gracious efforts of Erika Linke, then ACRL President, Lori Goetsch, then ACRL Vice-President, and Mary Ellen Davis, then and now ACRL Executive Director, along with all of the talented ACRL staff. I began to feel acculturated to the organization in a new way and socialized into my upcoming roles. I also gained a great appreciation for the dedication and commitment that we all bring to the joint effort of making ACRL the best possible organization that it can be.

It was also just plain fun! Interacting with wonderful people, while also pursuing meaningful goals, is really a joy and how I believe work should be.