Perhaps one of the more potentially silly ones is I have a computer science background and feared my library background being ignored by those who instantly cast me as a “techie”. I hoped that being a member of ALA showed my commitment to the library as well as to the technology.

A better reason was for social networking. On the other hand, with the price increases I start wondering if it’s worth it. People still tend to be surprised when I mention I consider myself a librarian, despite my obtaining a MSLIS degree. The social networking seems to be able to be found in other places. I had a good experience at the recent Code4Lib, whereas other conferences I’ve attended I still feel somewhat an outsider. Truth be told that at the only ALA annual I’ve been to I wasn’t able to make any of the social activities for LITA, so they’re not entirely at fault there.

I would imagine the social networking will improve as I go to more conferences but there is a lot of money involved in LITA and ALA. My ACM membership is also expensive, but there’s a ton of resources besides just networking available for the expense. LITA just doesn’t seem like it’s offering a lot.

It’s a little late for ALA’s sometimes-offered lifetime membership to do me much good, I suspect. If I conclude that ALA — and LITA, which may be a tougher issue — continue to provide good value for money, I can afford them. The one-two pitch of LITA’s unvoted increase and ALA’s proposed increase (and, three, what appear to be significantly higher conference registration prices) does make it necessary to think about it again.

Thanks for the kind words about my thinking and writing. I expect to continue those as long as (a) my brain works, (b) enough people read what I write to make that worthwhile. And, honestly, what may be the strongest argument for me to stay in ALA is that non-program time at the two annual gatherings is important to refreshing my sense of what’s actually going on.

And, yes, there is a category for retired folks which is much less expensive. I am not a LITA member, and don’t know their rules about “lifetime” or “honorary” membership, but I do know that you can also purchase a lifetime membership to ALA. It is priced higher if you are younger, but isn’t that just fair?

In your benefits of ALA membership you mentioned the Washington Office. One part of that is the Office of Government Relations which organizes our legislative activity. But the other part was created with the last dues increase, and is the Office of Information Technology and Policy. That is a place where you can hear what is happening, and perhaps have an great positive impact. I hope you stay, and that you vote for the dues increase.

In the interest of full disclosure, I need to note that I am a member of the ALA Executive Board.