Well, it is that time of year again! Time to renew my ALA membership. It lapsed in October, but I haven’t renewed it yet because earlier this month I decided I wanted to buy a bus pass and food instead of writing out a check to ALA for $160.00 (Basic membership fees + ACRL + LIRT). I am amazed yet again that even though every year I fill out the form to make changes to my membership codes, ALA still lists me as being a library school student. They still charge me the full price for membership though!
So every year I like to play the game, “What else could I buy with my ALA membership fees?”
$160 could get me:
An expensive Hanne Falkenberg sweater kit
or
The Box Set for Last Exile
or
These Fluevog Boots
or
12 volumes of Fruits Basket
or
5 copies of We Love Katamari
6:29 am on November 10th, 2005 1
As a Fluevog nut for the last decade, it didn’t occur to me until now that I could add another pair to my wardrobe by dropping my ALA membership. As a New Yorker pounding the pavement everyday, I really appreciate the cushy soles on Fluevogs. As a librarian, I would like to say that standing on my feet at the reference desk all day is made possible by Fluevogs, but sadly, I spend much more of my time on my butt in front of a computer in my office.
8:16 am on November 10th, 2005 2
Ha! I own way too many pairs of Fluevogs. They are very comfy and good to wear when the weather in Boston is miserable.
8:38 am on November 10th, 2005 3
A metric ton of “One of the Blog People” buttons?
10:09 am on November 10th, 2005 4
That would also work. I’m not sure what I would do with a metric ton of blog people buttons. Maybe some installation art at the next ALA conference?
2:34 pm on November 10th, 2005 5
You could mail them to Gorman, one a day, for a very long time…
7:56 pm on November 10th, 2005 6
Tempting, although I’m not sure if Mr. Gorman is woth the money I’d spend on postage.
10:20 pm on November 10th, 2005 7
You could join the Optical Society of America and have enough change left over to buy a blue polyester shirt at Sears. Or you could be half way to paying your American Chemical Society dues. This proves that ALA has learned more from ACS than OSA, and you should be glad they haven’t yet decided to base their pricing strategy on that of The Publisher Whose Name We Dare Not Mention.
12:39 am on November 11th, 2005 8
I think on average, chemists make much more money than librarians!
12:56 am on November 13th, 2005 9
But to hear them tell it, you’d never know it. Whine, whine, whine.
3:45 pm on November 17th, 2005 10
I let my ALA membership lapse a little over two years ago for similar reasons. I’ve been contemplating starting it up again, but I haven’t found the spare cash yet, nor a very compelling reason to do it. Gorman certainly hasn’t encouraged my interest in being a part of that organization.
9:01 pm on November 17th, 2005 11
I ended up renewing my membership, but I dropped ACRL and LIRT.