Trying to Find Money In This Economy
I have been planning on attending the MLA Conference in Hawaii. It won't all be fun in the sun, I am on a few committees and I plan on presenting. My library had originally told me they would support my trip, just like they did when I attended the conference in Chicago. Unfortunately yesterday an email was sent out to all hospital employees detailing some ways that the hospital will be tightening its financial belt in these tough economic times. One of those ways is to halt travel. "Travel should be limited to trips that are critical to our organization's mission." Uh oh.
So I immediately did what any librarian would do, I jumped on to the computer and started looking for travel grants. Fortunately I found quite a few grants that might work. Unfortunately it is too late apply for most of them. It is either past the deadline (MLA grants) or it will take too long to get funding, as is the case for the NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings grant, the process takes approximately 6 – 9 months from the application receipt date.
For me this has nothing to do with the fact that the conference is in Hawaii. Aside from airfare, the cost to go to the conference in Chicago and Hawaii are fairly close. Basically, I wouldn't be able to attend an MLA conference in any city (except Cleveland) without institutional support. I value that institutional support, without it I would not be able to be as active in the profession as I am. Note, there are no MLA grants for mid career librarians who have attended the conference before, even if it was 20 years ago.
Now I am looking for money in other places. CNN recently published an article, "Unusual and Legal Ways to Make Money" where a woman was paid $1,200 for 27 inches of her hair that she sold on HairTrader.com. That won't work, I just cut my long hair last month.
I have made commitments that require my attendance at the annual meeting. I agreed to them before the change in my organization's travel policies. I will stand by my commitments. Short of finding any money in the walls of my 90 year old house (note to all contractors I will split it with you 50/50 to avoid the legal craziness), I will just have to go with the tried and true method of trying to sock away a little each month to go. Easier said than done when there are life commitments, as anonymous points out.
For those of you going, how are you paying for it? Please share, because I am sure that the information will benefit more than just me.
Labels: Annual Meeting, Hawaii, MLA
posted by The Krafty Librarian @ 11:04 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
I'm going to have to skip MLA in Hawaii...in fact a turned down the opportunity for a section job because I couldn't afford the trip. My hospital gave me no money for the last MLA in spite of committe work and programs they had approved me working on. Sigh! I wonder if hospital librarians (not academic medical center librarians)will be able to be much involved in MLA. Money is SO TIGHT and so many hospital librarian jobs have been cut that I fear for the future of this part of librarianship. It is SUCH a rewarding job to be part of the healthcare team, to provide information you know helps the care to a particular patient, to see the results of the research you've done result in new programs, changes in care, etc. I've had the opportunity to work with some fantastic doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dieticians, etc. (Note the WITH!) I fear for the future of care in community hospitals, non-academic hospitals without access to the skills of a good librarian.
My University also cut my funding for Hawaii in the effort of cutting "extra expenses." Fortunately I have managed to keep the rest of my training and continuing education (including tuition grants) in place but I have a feeling the financial folks are eyeing that "pot" next. Sadly I think this is something that we are all going to see happening for the forseeable future.
This is probably unique to my organization but we have a hospital in Honolulu. I set up training sessions (Pubmed, etc) at the medical center for staff in anticipation of problems with travel money. These commitments have so far assured I can go with institutional funding. Although I won't feel it is guaranteed until I get on that plane.
Maybe this economy will finally get the attention of MLA that they MUST stop planning conventions on the notion that most of those attending will be fully funded. Lots of folks want to attend but they can't afford it. They have to make choices, as in do they want to eat or go to the conference? Or go on a real vacation with their family, or any other expense that comes up. MLA is not an exclusive club. It's supposed to be working in our favor. Unfortunately, high cost conventions make it seem a little too exclusive at times.
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