over the last few weeks i have turned down offers to participate on two american library association committees. i am stepping down at the end of my term as chair of the mlgsca’s government relations & bylaws committee. this is both awesome and not so awesome.
why this is awesome:
i’m busy, and i’ve only been in a professional position for two years
the organizations i’m involved in are all recruiting young people to positions of leadership, and we’re excelling in them. these are exciting times, when traditional slow paths to authority are supplanted by quick rises due to retirements. for example, i’ve just been elected secretary of my university’s medical faculty assembly. i was honored to even be asked to run, and i want to do an excellent job.
why this may not be so awesome:
i’m *very* busy, and i’m concerned about burnout
i’ve had to very quickly get good at saying no to things. organizations need people to fill key positions, but as a young professional i need protected time to develop relationships with colleagues and develop my research agenda. i noticed at the recent meeting of the medical library association that there were a lot of the same people doing multiple presentations, acting as mentors, working on task forces, etc. i think organizations will need to be sensitive to the people they tap to act on their behalf so that those people will eagerly accept appointments to boards and not begin to dread the invitations.
i’m not sure i have a resolution to these issues, but it is something i’m thinking about and wonder if others young in the profession are also considering this.
