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
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
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