Professional Associations and Conferences

Many organizations and conferences offer discounted registration or membership for MLIS students. Check the official websites linked below for the most recent rates.

National Level Professional Associations

• American Library Association (ALA)

  • If you only join one professional organization, make it ALA. ALA is the world's largest library association, and its mission is to improve access to information and learning. The ALA advocates for libraries and librarians, and works to increase public awareness of the value of libraries. 

• ALA offers a joint student membership with your local state chapter for a discounted rate.

• ALA also offers Round Tables so that you may connect with library professionals across the country. Take the Round Tables quiz to find your perfect match! The New Member Round Table is the perfect way to orient yourself to all the great things ALA has to offer.

• American Association of School Librarians (AASL)

  • AASL is the school library division of ALA. They offer a variety of membership options. 

  • New student members have the option to bundle their membership with ALA for a discounted rate.

  • Benefits of membership include a subscription to Knowledge Quest, discounts on continuing education, professional development, and conferences, access to member forums, and 10% off AASL and ALA publications (including a discount on the AASL standards guide!). 

• Society of American Archivists (SAA)

  • SAA is the largest national association for archivists.

  • Benefits of membership include a full online subscription to American Archivists, a complementary subscription to Archival Outlook, membership discounts on the SAA Annual Meeting, course/webcast registration, and SAA-published books as well as participation in Sections and Mentoring Program.

• Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T)

  • ASIS&T is the only professional association that bridges the gap between information science practice and research. For nearly 85 years, ASIS&T has been leading the search for new and better theories, techniques, and technologies to improve access to information.

  • Benefits of membership include a full online subscription to JASIST, access to award programs, continuing education and publication discounts, Inside ASIS&T newsletter and ASIS&T Bulletin, as well as participation in unlimited Special Interest Groups and Mentoring Program.

• On-line Audiovisual Catalogers (OLAC) 

  • OLAC is an ALA Affiliate library organization that provides networking and resources to those involved or interested in the creation, maintenance, and discovery of metadata for all types of non-print materials.

  • Benefits include discounts on registration for the OLAC Conference, scholarships, grants, training for catalogers who need guidance, and additional resources and programming.

  • OLAC offers a free two-year membership for students.

South Carolina Professional Organizations

• South Carolina Library Association (SCLA)

  • SCLA is the state chapter of ALA and consists of librarians, library staff members, and library supporters working together to advocate for and improve library services in South Carolina.

• ALA offers a joint student membership with SCLA at a discounted rate.

• South Carolina Association of School Librarians (SCASL)

  • SCASL is a professional organization for library professionals in South Carolina.

  • In 1976, SCASL created the South Carolina Book Awards (SCBA) which provides South Carolina students with vetted and diverse choices of books to read and enjoy. Unlike national book awards, students have the final say as to which book is the “best” in each SCBA book category (Picture Book Award, Children's Book Award, Junior Book Award, Young Adult Book Award). Students vote for their favorite book and the results are shared with all South Carolina libraries.

• • SCASL releases a quarterly newsletter titled the SCASL Messenger which provides up-to-date information on trends in the library profession, news of activities, success stories of librarians across the state as well as timely articles of interest to South Carolina school librarians.

Conferences

• ALA Annual Conference

  • Students have access to a reduced registration rate 

• LibLearnX

  • Youth media awards are announced each year during LibLearnX.

• SCASL Annual Conference

• The first SCASL conference was held in 1976 and in the years since, has hosted award-winning authors and speakers, provided professional development and continuing education opportunities, and a place for library professionals to network and learn from each other.