Join us
Benefits of Membership
SLA-Europe offers a regular newsletter, a discussion list, a dedicated Board and a programme of events throughout the year.
In addition, all members of SLA Europe enjoy the full benefits of the SLA
network of contacts - 12,000 information professionals around the world. In Europe, there are approximately 250 members, mainly from the UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Belgium and Italy.
Membership Directory - web-based directory giving full address, telephone and fax numbers of the entire SLA membership.
Information Outlook - monthly magazine containing news, advice on professional development and addressing technical and managerial issues.
Divisions - free membership of one of the 25 subject Divisions and the opportunity to join others for a small membership fee. The divisions are the key to developing your personal network.
Chapters - free membership of your regional Chapter plus others for a small additional membership fee.
Annual Conference - the annual SLA Conference is attended by several thousand delegates in June each year. With enormous support from all the Divisions and Chapters, the Conference offers a wide choice of sessions on a very diverse range of relevant subjects; the exhibition is comprehensive and includes all types of products and services; and the social programme allows extensive networking among delegates.
Member services - reduced rates on events, continuing education programmes, job postings, and much more.
Membership Fees
Annual Salary ≥ US $35,000 : €128 or £88
Annual Salary ≤ US $35,000 : €79 or £54
Organizational Member: €250 or £358
Student Member: €28 or £19
For more details see our membership page
Top ten reasons to join SLA Europe
Make Professional Contacts
1. The best reason to for joining is to access a unique and unrivalled network of more than 12,000 information professionals located throughout the world, representing more than 25 different disciplines and 83 countries. You can reach information professionals from Rio de Janeiro to Tokyo, working in industries as diversified as biotechnology, art museums, financial services, not-for-profits, advertising agencies, governments, and many more.
2. Accessing the members’ network is easy. The members’ database is available anytime by logging in to the SLA web site. You can search members by location, employer, industry or regional chapter.
3. With an average of 10 events and joint meetings per year, it’s easy to get to know your local peers and strengthen your professional relationships. SLA Europe also encourages you to get involved and join a committee – we welcome your new ideas and energy.
Build Your Knowledge & Stay Ahead Of The Information Curve
4. You may join an industry-specific division, and subscribe to its member discussion list The division lists are often where industry knowledge is passed on by informed colleagues. We share best practices, provide priceless advice, discuss past and future challenges. Participate in the exchanges or just read the emails – it’s up to you.
5. You automatically receive the monthly publication Information Outlook which features cutting-edge and comprehensive articles on the information profession. Just in the past few months, Information Outlook published stories about evidence-based management, telecommuting using virtual reference, the SLA Salary Survey, storytelling, library public relations, effective communications via email. You will also receive the well regarded SLA Europe Newsletter three times a year.
6. Throughout the year, SLA, SLA Europe and several of the Divisions organise stimulating learning events (e.g. workshops, guest speakers, debates, virtual seminars) for their members. Hear first-hand from practitioners – in the past year, the SLA Europe events calendar has included a networking breakfast, a professional skills development workshop, a BBC intranet demonstration and a copyright seminar.
Get A Mentor
7. Several members of SLA Europe have expressed an interest in meeting members to build mentoring relationships. This is an exceptional opportunity to be teamed with a colleague and get insights into the industry, advice on your professional development, and the views of someone with extensive or different experience.
Focus On Your Career
8. SLA offers a variety of professional development and career services via its web site: virtual learning series, job postings, salary survey, lists of journals, books, articles related to career search for librarians. Check out Click University, an online learning community for the benefit of SLA members only, and the article “Job Power: Career Management Resources” by one of SLA Europe’s board members.
9. In June 2003, SLA redrafted its Competencies for Information Professionals of the 21st Century. This critical document defines SLA’s vision of the specific skills and knowledge requirements of our field. It outlines professional competencies (e.g., “Information professionals contribute effectively to senior management strategies and decisions regarding information applications, tools and technologies, and policies for the organization”) as well as personal competencies (e.g., “Information professionals see the big picture, take calculated risks”). Practical scenarios are presented for each set of competencies. This is an invaluable tool for your professional growth and assessment, so please take advantage of it.
Save Money!
10. SLA is very affordable. The rate of €110 (£70) includes your affiliation to one region, one industry Division and access to the entire network of people and resources that SLA offers.