For many of us in the VR community, even though we got some institutional support, it was rarely enough to allow us to attend both ARLIS and VRA conferences. I've paid for both most of the years I've been in the profession, even though the stipend here was never enough to cover even one of them. I just wasn't willing to give up either of them. The tax write-off helps, but clearly can't make up for conference costs.
This year is going to be a lean one for almost everyone, and probably next year as well. We all need to come up with creative ways to carpool, find bargain air fares, share rooms, and make very sure no travel award goes unused. Both our conferences have to worry a lot about making our hotel room block commitments, but it's better for people to come and share, or come for fewer days, than not come at all.
More than that, we need each other's professional support as we face difficult times with shrinking budgets, unsympathetic administrators, and pressures to consolidate or merge our operations.
Eileen Fry
Indiana University
From: ART LIBRARIES SOCIETY DISCUSSION LIST [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Henri, Janine
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 1:32 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ARLIS-L] Conference
Hi Anne,
I believe that some ARLIS/NA members have always 'felt the pinch!' I've never received full funding from my employers to attend an ARLIS/NA conference, but have been fortunate to work where time off to attend conferences was always granted. I figured that it was up to me to try to pay for some professional expenses out of my salary, since networking in person with my colleagues has always been important to me (as is viewing vendor exhibits). When I started to itemize deductions on my taxes, I found that the unfunded part of my conference attendance was deductible (meals are only partly deductible, but then we have to eat no matter where we are don't we!), so that's been a help. There have been times when I've shared a room with three others (sharing a bed with a colleague) in order to be able to attend the entire conference: that turned out to be a great way to develop close friendships!; sometimes another option was to have a third roommate on a roll-away bed. I've been known to bring granola bars, peanut butter, crackers, & fruit with me in order to cut down on meal expenses. And don't forget to investigate opportunities to apply for travel awards.
By the way, I know of at least one colleague that did not even get paid time off to attend the ARLIS/NA conference, so he took his personal vacation time in order to attend. It was that important to him.
I think that our conference planners always try to do everything they can to keep the conference costs down---and they are to be commended for that. I look at registration costs for other professional association conferences and still think that we're getting a bargain!
Best,
Janine Henri
Architecture, Design, and Digital Services Librarian
UCLA Arts Library
1400 Public Affairs Building
Box 951392
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1392
[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
office: 310-206-4587
fax: 310-825-1303
________________________________
From: ART LIBRARIES SOCIETY DISCUSSION LIST [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Anne Haas
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 12:37 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [ARLIS-L] Conference
I am reading with envy all the postings about the conference, and was wondering about folks' ability to go this year in light of all the financial woes of so many colleges---we were told 'no conferences' for the most part...
Just wondering how many of you were feeling the pinch!
Best,
Anne
Anne B. Haas
Art Librarian
Bowdoin College
9300 College Station
Brunswick, Maine 04011
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__________________________________________________________________ Mail submissions to [log in to unmask] For information about joining ARLIS/NA see: http://www.arlisna.org/join.html Send administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests, etc) to [log in to unmask] ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance: http://lsv.uky.edu/archives/arlis-l.html Questions may be addressed to list owner (Judy Dyki) at: [log in to unmask] __________________________________________________________________ Mail submissions to [log in to unmask] For information about joining ARLIS/NA see: http://www.arlisna.org/join.html Send administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests, etc) to [log in to unmask] ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance: http://lsv.uky.edu/archives/arlis-l.html Questions may be addressed to list owner (Judy Dyki) at: [log in to unmask]
__________________________________________________________________
Mail submissions to [log in to unmask]
For information about joining ARLIS/NA see:
http://www.arlisna.org/join.html
Send administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests, etc)
to [log in to unmask]
ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance:
http://lsv.uky.edu/archives/arlis-l.html
Questions may be addressed to list owner (Judy Dyki) at: [log in to unmask]
