During recent focus groups, members were asked why they joined SLA. Their answers that follow may help information professionals justify why membership in SLA is important. The respondents also suggest the benefits of SLA membership far outweigh the monetary costs.

Five focus group sessions were conducted, two in January 1998 in Crystal City, VA, with members of the Washington, DC, and Virginia chapters and three in June 1998 in Indianapolis, IN, with attendants at annual conference. There were ten to twelve participants in each session, who were recruited primarily through telephone calls by SLA staff. During recruitment, efforts were made to enlist members from a cross-section of SLA divisions, in order to get a range of industries and types of organizations (i.e., academic, corporate, public). For the June sessions, geographical diversity of members was also considered during recruitment.

When asked for why they joined SLA, several themes emerged across the five sessions. Many participants referred to the need to stay up-to-date with changes in the field. They did this through networking and posting questions to the SLA listservs, enrolling in professional development courses, and attending sessions and exhibits at the annual conference.

Here's what they had to say:

So much is changing now so rapidly, I felt I needed a way of keeping track of what's going on-- not just in the profession but in information technology in general. I wasn't necessarily so concerned about specific technology as opposed to what's happening in all kinds of information technology. I thought this would be a good way. I especially thought the conference would be a good way.

You learn a lot, particularly on the listservs...It has been extremely helpful to be online and to listen to the advice that people have. I think they've got people who are willing to share and who care.

I've been watching this thread that we've been having on our listservs about integrated library systems, which comes up once in a while. "We're about to put one in, what are you using?" "What do people like about this one or that one?" That affords all of us the opportunity to see what people are using without going to a site and questioning the people. It enlarges your circle of colleagues so easily and so quickly. You're getting all of this information about what your colleagues are doing, effortlessly, which is terrific.

In regard to professional development, whenever I would see the title of a program, I would think, "I need to know about that." I need to know about this for information professionals. And that is what drew me to SLA.

Members were also drawn to SLA because of its corporate emphasis, and the subject foci of its divisions. Furthermore, the publications and research geared toward the needs of special librarians and information professionals are valued.

Comments included:

It's the one library association that is focused on special libraries. When you go to library school a lot of things are focused on the public library and you find that your situation is always different; SLA's charter is different.

I was trying to seek out a professional organization that would give me background on environmental librarianship, and this [association] was the only one that I could locate that had the Environment & Resource Management division. And I've really, really enjoyed it. That's why I joined.

I keep thinking about what was said earlier about the emphasis on special and corporate libraries. Things are being downsized and people that are still in libraries are trying to cope with management. Your publications have really helped to be able to present ideas to people that don't care about the flow of information, and move my career into the business world and deal with these folks--that helps a lot.

I always look forward to getting Information Outlook in the mail. I immediately look to see what is included. So often there's an article that I need to support a position I may be taking at work, that I need to share with other people to constantly educate them about what we do. So that's often really helpful for me.

The Salary Survey is very helpful in arguing for higher salaries for staff members or yourself.

These are just a few of the comments made in the focus group sessions. The Membership and Research staff would like to thank all focus group participants. Your comments and suggestions are appreciated and they will be used to improve the products and services SLA provides to its members.

REMINDER: The proposal deadline for the 1999 Steven I. Goldspiel Research Grant is February 28, 1999. Submissions are sought from information professionals in all work settings, especially corporate practitioners.

For more information on Research Briefs or to contribute to the column, please contact Director, Research Ruth Arnold, Ph.D. (ruth@sla.org).