Celebrating 10 Years of Knowledge and Support: Why Knowledge Communities are more than just Resume Builders

Many new professionals look to Knowledge Communities (KC) to further their careers.  In our pitch to prospective volunteers, we talk about the knowledge, the experience, the title, and of course, the value our knowledge communities hold.  For many, these positions may last a year or two, but ultimately the professional moves on to new places. Through these transitions, it can be easy to miss just how strong the relationships and mentoring can be in a KC.

As the ALSC KC celebrates its tenth anniversary, I think back to my time as a fledgling master’s student trying to navigate the world of higher education. I cannot help but think back to all the support I received from the Adult Learners and Students with Children Knowledge Community.   From Sylvia Scott first onboarding me to the rep position to now, it has been a magical five years with the knowledge community.  This “resume builder” helped me teach GED students after my masters, write refereed articles during my doctorate, and celebrated my success when I finished my first co-authored book.

For those who are considering positions within a KC, I strongly encourage you to apply.  Try out the different KC’s you like, find your knowledge community home, and continue to build a better, brighter future for your community.  While you may not stay for five years, the relationships you gain may last a lifetime.

Shameless Plug: ALSC KC 10 Years Anniversary newsletter