sept09b2.indd C&RL News September 2009 472 Mary Jane Petrowski Now more than ever . . . ACRL benefi ts you Mary Jane Petrowski is ACRL associate director, e-mail: mpetrowski@ala.org © 2009 Mary Jane Petrowski presentation, and service. Members value the growth and leadership opportunities pro- vided by ACRL. Our publications—including C&RL News, C&RL, Choice, books, standards, and blogs—allow members to keep up with (and advance) the fi eld. Our governance structure provides opportunities to lead, create, and shape the profession. Through professional development programs, confer- ences, publications, e-learning, discussion lists, and committee service, ACRL provides a supportive infrastructure for each member to achieve a high level of continuous learning and achievement. In the words of one member, “ACRL is my most valued tool for professional devel- opment.” But wait—there’s more! ACRL is dedicated to developing members who are recognized as leaders in their institutions and in scholarly communities. The higher education commu- nity benefi ts from the ongoing growth and development of academic/research librarians. Institutional enhancement represents the ulti- mate return on your membership investment: “ACRL membership is not just for you but for your library.” Professional common ground: perfect for networking Members can meet and learn from other li- brarians who share their interests, virtually or face-to-face. ACRL brings all members into the wider community of academic librarianship Charting Our Future: ACRL Strategic Plan 2020,” challenges ACRL to position aca- demic and research libraries and librarians as indispensable to advancing learning and scholarship. The 2009 ACRL membership sur- vey shows that ACRL members have a strong desire to learn and succeed and that ACRL plays an important developmental role in helping members become fl exible, dynamic, and entrepreneurial leaders in their institu- tions and scholarly communities. We also continue to interview ACRL mem- bers each week to discover why they join (and what they value). Visit the ACRL Insider blog (www.acrl.ala.org/acrlinsider/category /member-of-the-week/) to read more person- al statements about the value of academic and research librarianship and ACRL membership. Feels like home: ACRL brings us together ACRL is a home and family for almost 12,000 academic and research librarians. One new member calls it her “professional posse.” ACRL brings talented and highly motivated members together by providing critical connections to people, opportuni- ties, and resources. According to the 2009 ACRL membership survey, the most valued personal benefi t is learning. As engaged professionals, ACRL members most value professional development, opportunities to network with other colleagues, and access to current knowledge and research. Professional development: 80-proof career accelerant Advancement involves research, publication, September 2009 473 C&RL News through communities of practice, discussion lists, national conferences, and publications. Academic librarians who may be isolated gain an “essential connection” that is especially valuable. The sharing of experience and ex- pertise among members creates an inclusive, vital, and supportive channel that facilitates networking and collaboration. “I developed several close friendships with other librarians who have continued to help me learn and explore as new technolo- gies were introduced. We learn so much by sharing our experiences with each other and helping each other stay abreast of new developments in our rapidly changing envi- ronment.” In the loop: resources, research, results ACRL members also value “keeping up” and look to ACRL to keep them informed of issues, trends, and best practices. ACRL guidelines, standards, research, statistics, toolkits all help to keep academic and research librarians in the know. Members continuously share infor- mation, provide support, and solve problems via ACRL discussion lists, blogs, wikis, pod- casts, online communities, and publications. As one member noted, “ACRL offered those of us who were new to librarianship a wide variety of resources on which to lean as we made our way in this demanding profession.” Come home to ACRL: knowledge, resources, connections ACRL membership demonstrates solidarity and support for the profession, as well as the work of ACRL in developing standards and guidelines for the profession. As a mem- ber, you support the voice of academic and research librarians in higher education, as well as in the library community. Increase your effectiveness, value, and connection to the profession through ACRL. We will help you connect, contribute, and keep current. Membership application forms are avail- able online at www.acrl.org. Join today and together we can support and improve aca- demic and research libraries. Why “really smart librarians” belong to ACRL “My reason for joining ACRL has stayed my reason for continuing to be a member of ACRL: opportunity. The opportunity to work on projects that build my professional skill set. The opportunity to stay not only informed about, but involved in, emerging professional trends. And the opportunity to meet and work with my professional heroes and make new heroes that inspire, teach, and provoke me into thinking in new and deeper ways.—Randy Hensley, Student Learning Programs and Ser- vices, University of Hawaii-Manoa “I joined ACRL as much to show my support for the organization as to gain support from the organization. ACRL is clearly an organiza- tion of deep-thinking, committed people who understand the issues that are unique to aca- demic libraries.”—Beth Evans, Brooklyn Col- lege Library of the City University of New York “Programs offered by ACRL have not only contributed to my own professional develop- ment, they have also helped me with mentor- ing younger professionals who are becoming leaders in my library.—Teresa (Terri) Fishel, library director, Macalester College “I knew almost immediately in graduate school that I wanted to be a part of an as- sociation that fosters collegiality and com- munication among academic librarians. ACRL is definitely that group! Since joining, I’ve gained insights into this profession that I can always carry with me.”—Melissa Mallon, library instruction coordinator/reference librarian, University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown “I’m an academic librarian. I wanted to get involved in the profession, meet colleagues across the country and around the world, and learn how to do my job better. And ACRL has given me all those things.”—Karen Munro, head, library and learning commons, University of Oregon