RMRT (Retired Members Round Table)

 View Only
last person joined: yesterday 

The Retired Members Round Table (RMRT) shall exist to develop programs of particular interest to retired persons from all types of libraries and all forms of library services, including formal opportunities for continued involvement and learning; a variety of leadership training and opportunities for mentoring; lifelong professional involvement and networking; and active engagement in the American Library Association and the profession of librarianship.

Visit the Retired Members Round Table (RMRT) on the ALA website.

  • 1.  Hi Everyone, Does this group include retired academic librarians or is it mainly a public library group? Thank you,

    Posted Nov 06, 2024 08:09 PM
    Laura Bowering Mullen


  • 2.  RE: Hi Everyone, Does this group include retired academic librarians or is it mainly a public library group? Thank you,

    Posted Nov 06, 2024 08:18 PM
    It's open to everyone! I'm retired from a research university where I worked in the library!

    "When in doubt, go to the library" - J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets

    Lisa R. Kippur



    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Hi Everyone, Does this group include retired academic librarians or is it mainly a public library group? Thank you,

    Posted Nov 08, 2024 10:17 AM
    Thank you, Lisa for the information. I appreciate it! Are there ever meetups at conferences? If so, what type of agenda would there be? For instance, advocacy or programming?
    Thanks again!
    Laura


    Laura Bowering Mullen (she/her)

    Science Librarian/Open Access Specialist, retired/freelance

    Rutgers University Libraries Faculty Emerita

    Editor in Chief, Journal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication (JLSC)

    lbmullen@rutgers.edu


    Please see my new OA monograph:  Mullen, L. B. (2024). Open Access, Scholarly Communication, and Open Science in Psychology: An Overview for Researchers. Sage Open, 14(1_suppl). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231205390  See "contents" on the epub version




    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Hi Everyone, Does this group include retired academic librarians or is it mainly a public library group? Thank you,

    Posted Nov 08, 2024 10:35 AM

    Hi Laura!

     

    We have a great time at the conference. On Friday night we have a dinner at one of the local restaurants, my friend Shelley and I are working on that now.

     

    On Saturday morning we typically do some sort of walking tour, I believe we will be doing this at one of the libraries, on Saturday afternoon we have our membership meeting followed by our 5th Sunday bookclub (on Saturdays during the conference). On Sunday we are having a speaker from an Art Museum, I think, have a presentation at the conference, we are hosting a panel with United for Libraries and I believe we are having a mixer with NMRT (New Member Round Table). On Monday we have a sponsored table for the United for Libraries Author's Tea in which the RMRT Board is attending but an RMRT member who would like to purchase a ticket will know that we are attending.

     

    Let me know if you have other questions.

     

    --Lisa

     




    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Hi Everyone, Does this group include retired academic librarians or is it mainly a public library group? Thank you,

    Posted Nov 08, 2024 12:55 PM

    Hi, Laura --

    Thanks for your interest in RMRT.     As Lisa said,  membership is open to any ALA member whether librarian, support staff, trustee, or Friend.   Some join when they are "aspiring to retirement."    For me it's been so great to keep in touch with colleagues and an absolute delight to meet people whose work and ALA involvement has been different from my path. 

    We have a group dinner on Friday evening.

    We have a Saturday morning  field trip.  In Philadelphia we'll tour of the Rosenbach Library, the private rare books/research library.    Last year we went to the Geisel Library at UCSD and saw all the Dr. Seuss stuff.  In 2023 we went to the Newberry Library in Chicago. In 2022 we went to Planet Word in Washington . 

    RMRT has a business meeting that all are welcome to attend.   We try for Saturday afternoon of the conference.   Right after the meeting we have a session of the RMRT Book Club.   (The Book Club meets by Zoom each month there is a 5th Sunday.)   Rather than everyone-read-the-same-book, we use prompts--whatever you've read that you think goes with the prompt is fine.

    THEN we have a President's Program--usually Sunday morning.   It's in the convention hall.   Last year we heard about the San Diego Zoo's library and the Zoo's international conservation efforts.   In 2023 we learned about Edith Rockefeller McCormick.  In 2022 we had the author of a book about a fascinating madam (sorry, I'm drawing a blank about the details).  In 2021 (online) we had an art historian from Northwestern talk about the mysterious photographer Vivian Meyer.  

    Oh, and another draw:   RMRT awards two conference travel grants each year.   The requirement is that the recipient be a member of RMRT.  



    ------------------------------
    Nann Hilyard
    Librarian*Quiltmaker*Volunteer
    Winthrop Harbor, Illinois
    https://withstringsattached.blogspot.com
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Hi Everyone, Does this group include retired academic librarians or is it mainly a public library group? Thank you,

    Posted Nov 08, 2024 08:35 PM
    Hi Laura. Thank you for your interest in RMRT. At the annual conference we have a Friday night dinner, a Saturday morning tour, a Membership meeting usually Saturday afternoon (all are invited), a book discussion following the membership meeting and a President's program so there are multiple opportunities to see what we're all about. We are planning an additional joint program with United for Libraries which may fit into the advocacy category. You can also join us at our zoom membership meeting on December 12 at 12PM ET.
    Naomi Angier, Chair of RMRT



    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Hi Everyone, Does this group include retired academic librarians or is it mainly a public library group? Thank you,

    Posted Nov 08, 2024 10:19 PM

    Laura, the diversity of the group is what I love best. As librarians and staff from different aspects of the library world, we have had programing that is as diverse as our members. 

    Our purpose is to develop programs of particular interest to retired members of ALA from all types of libraries and all forms of library service.  This includes opportunities for involvement in leadership training, networking including social functions, and mentoring to foster active engagement in the American Library Association and the profession of librarianship.

    Many RMRT members have been active in leadership positions at every level of ALA and want to continue to contribute to ALA. I think of RMRT as the brain trust of ALA.  Our members have years of service in the profession and  infuse creativity and passion into everything we do. 
     
    Hope to see you in Philly. Make sure that you join us for Friday night dinner and the tours as these are more informal than the meetings and programs at conference. N



    ------------------------------
    Ann Marie Pipkin
    apipkin1@bellsouth.net
    RMRT Board Member
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Hi Everyone, Does this group include retired academic librarians or is it mainly a public library group? Thank you,

    Posted Nov 11, 2024 09:51 AM
    Thank you to everyone who responded. Wow, had no idea that this group was so active but very glad to see. Thanks again! Hope to see you in Philly!
    Laura


    Laura Bowering Mullen (she/her)

    Science Librarian/Open Access Specialist, retired/freelance

    Rutgers University Libraries Faculty Emerita

    Editor in Chief, Journal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication (JLSC)

    lbmullen@rutgers.edu


    Please see my new OA monograph:  Mullen, L. B. (2024). Open Access, Scholarly Communication, and Open Science in Psychology: An Overview for Researchers. Sage Open, 14(1_suppl). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231205390  See "contents" on the epub version




    Original Message