What’s it like to be an ArLiSNAP Co-Moderator?

I’ve had a few questions about the responsibilities surrounding the Co-Moderator position, so I thought I’d share my thoughts on my experience with ArLiSNAP over the past two years.

What are the main responsibilities?

ArLiSNAP Co-Moderators are the main contacts for the group to the ARLIS/NA Board. We alert them to any issues raised by students and new professionals, and submit an annual report on the group’s activities, as well as updates on projects throughout the year. Through this and our other projects, I’ve met many wonderful and supportive people in ARLIS/NA, and learned a lot about how these professional organizations function.

The most common work you would do as Co-Moderator is to respond to inquiries about the group via email, and update liaisons and other members on current ArLiSNAP news. Around conference time, you would also help to organize events at the ARLIS/NA conference – check out what we have planned for this year here. If you choose to, you also have the opportunity to help plan events like our virtual conference, which provided a platform for students and new professionals to connect and share their work without any of the costs associated with presenting at a physical conference.

What are some of the benefits?

As Co-Moderator, you will also be organizing the efforts of our volunteers. If you don’t have any supervisory experience on your resume, this is a great opportunity to take advantage of, as it gives you the chance to hone your leadership skills. ArLiSNAP has grown into a great little community – the liaisons support one another, and grow to become friends the longer you work together. During my tenure as Co-Moderator, I’ve met so many fantastic people from across Canada and the US. I’ve also greatly increased my number of contacts in the art libraries world; if you’re serious about making a career as a librarian or archivist in an arts-related field, being a Co-Moderator for the group is a great step to take.

How much time will I have to commit?

If you can commit at least one hour per week to the group, you’ll be helping to keep ArLiSNAP thriving and active. The workload is a bit heavier when we’re gearing up for a big event, like the ARLIS/NA conference this month; and it’s a bit lighter at other times, like during the summer. If you choose to make other events happen, like our virtual conference, that will also take a bit more time, but you will have the support of many volunteers backing you up.

I hope that answers most of the questions for those of you who are considering becoming our next Co-Moderator! To submit your candidacy, comment on this post. If you have any other questions, feel free to email myself (Ellen) or Rachel (emails found in sidebar). Good luck to all candidates!

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