Dear Student,

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on making the decision to join our library and information professional community. Welcome! You are embarking on a life-long journey that will be both rewarding and enriching.

Please allow me to introduce you to the Canadian Library Association (www.cla.ca). As the national voice for Canada’s library communities, the Canadian Library Association and our members:

• Champion library values and the value of libraries;
• Influence public policy impacting libraries;
• Inspire and support member learning; and
• Collaborate to strengthen the library community

CLA recognizes that an active and engaged membership is crucial to our success and we strongly believe that this engagement begins as soon as students begin their studies in librarianship.

We encourage you to get involved and invite you to consider becoming a CLA Student member and joining the CLA Student Chapter at your school. I can assure you that involvement in the Association will give you a broader perspective on the profession in addition to the courses you choose to take in your program.

As a CLA student member, you have input into the Association’s directions and priorities by exercising your vote. Like all personal members, students are eligible to serve on CLA committees and join our more than 25Network groups, so there are opportunities for you to get involved in issues about which you feel passionate.

A CLA Student Membership is an attractive $25 per year and this price carries through to the first year after your graduation. You can join online by clicking HERE.
Additionally, joining your CLA Student Chapter will enable you to network with your fellow students and faculty at your school, and will also provide opportunities to meet others who share your values.

You can get involved in issues that interest you, find out about mentoring and professional partnering, and discover the benefits a membership in CLA has to offer. Association involvement is also the best way to prepare yourself for the job market: you will leave school with a clearer idea of what you want to do and where you want to go.

Among the tangible benefits of belonging to a CLA Student Chapter is the Students to CLA Program. This program provides an opportunity to CLA and library and information school programs to work together to support student participation in a national professional program. Students chosen to participate (one from each school) should have leadership characteristics, be outgoing and flexible and have an interest in becoming actively involved in the Canadian Library Association.

One of the objectives of this program is to both identify and inspire the future leaders of our community. Students who have participated in the past have found the conference to be an excellent opportunity to network with professionals from across Canada and learn more about the profession: the challenges and the opportunities.

I encourage you to share your feedback regarding what is important to you or what changes you would like to see in our Association with myself and my colleagues on CLA’s Executive Council. We want to know what constitutes value for you.

If you have any questions about CLA membership, please don’t hesitate to contact Geraldine Hyland, CLA Member Services Manager at (613) 232-9625 ext. 301 or ghyland@cla.ca.

This is your association, and your input is highly valued.

With best wishes for your success,

Marie DeYoung
President

Letter to students from CLA President