C&RL News September 2018 424 Eight hundred and thirty-seven library school students can’t be wrong! As aspir- ing research and academic librarians, they’ve chose ACRL as their professional home. Why? We understand the challenges you face finding a job or making a job change, expanding your knowledge and level of expertise, and devel- oping your professional network and personal connections, all on a budget. For a limited time, ACRL membership dues for students are just $5. Your ACRL membership will sup- port the profession, increase your skillset and marketability, and provide a network of peers through online communities and opportunities to socialize at ACRL and ACRL conferences. Learn about your profession and access the information you need A prospective academic or research librar- ian loves to learn and has an inquiring mind, so let ACRL introduce you to the world of academic and research librarianship and the higher education ecosystem. Learn about the current issues, trends, and the future of academic librarianship by reading College & Research Libraries (the premier journal in the field) and College & Research Librar- ies News, which recently featured an article introducing library students to the world of library conferences. You’ll also enjoy Keeping Up With . . ., our online current awareness publication with concise briefs on trends in academic librarianship and higher education. Each edition focuses on a single issue includ- ing an introduction to the topic and summa- ries of key points, including implications for academic libraries. As an aspiring academic librarian, it is incredibly important for me to stay informed of the current issues and conversations surrounding academic and research libraries. The wealth of learning and professional development opportunities offered by ACRL will help me work toward this goal throughout my career.—Christina Hilburger, stu- dent, McGill University Student members can subscribe to ACRL Update and ACRL Insider to keep abreast of scholarship deadlines for ACRL conferences and institutes. ACRL offers free e-learning, so be sure to check out the archived editions of recent webcasts. I live in a rural place, so being able to access all of the webinars, recordings, publications, etc. online is important to me.—Savannah Sessions, student, University of Washington Students can also take advantage of mem- ber discounts to purchase ACRL publications in the ALA online bookstore, where you can find Mary Jane Petrowski is ACRL associate director, email: mpetrowksi@ala.org © 2018 Mary Jane Petrowski Mary Jane Petrowski Start your career by joining ACRL The largest network of college and research librarians mailto:mpetrowksi%40ala.org?subject= September 2018 425 C&RL News the latest edition of The Changing Academic Library: Operations, Culture, Environments by John Budd. Find mentors and build relationships ACRL offers a strong community of scholars and professionals who think deeply and deliberately about their work. ACRL is not just a professional organization, but a real community of scholars who are working to ensure that students and other library users get the most out of their library experience. Making professional connections can provide you with mentorship and guidance on how the field is developing and how best to de- velop your skills to support your passions and career goals. Students can apply for scholarships to attend the ACRL 2019 conference in Cleveland, either in person or virtually, by October 5, 2018. Registered attendees have access to presentations from the ACRL conference for a year after the event. I was truly excited when I learned I had been selected for an ACRL 2017 student scholarship. What I did not know was how instrumental the sessions I attended in Baltimore would prove in preparing for a successful job interview two weeks later. Whether it was the opening keynote ad- dress on data visualization or a workshop on the Framework for Information Literacy, my experiences at ACRL 2017 helped me secure my first position in the profession.— Winn W. Wasson, ACRL 2017 Conference Scholarship Recipient Navigating the ever-changing worlds of higher education and libraries requires knowl- edge and expertise, which is why ACRL works to connect students with a community of dedi- cated and passionate professionals. Students can take advantage of “buddy” programs at ALA Annual Conference as well as the ACRL confer- ence. Many ACRL communities of practice offer social events and mentorship programs, includ- ing the Instruction Section, Rare Books and Manuscripts Section, Science and Technology Section, and the E. J. Josey Spectrum Scholar Mentor Committee. I think having the opportunity to interact with other academic librarians and learn from their experiences is one of the things I most look forward to.—Hadeer Elsbai, student Find the position and career path that’s right for you ACRL helps students build networks, find employ- ment opportunities, and plan their careers. Access ACRL employment and career services through ALA JobLIST to search for entry-level positions in academic libraries, internships, or residency posi- tions. You can use ALA JobLIST to manage your search, resumes, and alerts and access a robust toolkit of career development resources. Each year ALA JobLIST sponsors placement centers at ALA and ACRL conferences, so you won’t want to miss these interview opportunities coming to Seattle, Cleveland, and Washington, D.C. in 2019. The ALA JobLIST Facebook page offers a treasure trove of timely articles on interviewing, network- ing, and changing jobs. ACRL will be instrumental in helping me network when I’m ready to go on the job market.—Mara Lasky, student, Long Island University ACRL also offers career advice through section and interest group discussion lists, so be sure to affiliate with a section or interest group that appeals to you. There are many other online discussion lists to choose from, and you’ll discover many job openings are posted on the various lists. Students won’t want to miss our most popular webcast, “Where Do You See Yourself in 10 Years?” This offer won’t last long If you are enrolled in a program for a certificate or a degree in library and information studies, you can join ACRL at the student rate of $5 (in ad- dition to ALA student membership rate of $37). Membership information is available at www.ala. org/membership/ala-personal-membership#ALA. Certain state library associations (chapters) offer joint memberships with ALA. Please note that stu- dent membership is limited to five total years.