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15 Dec 09 What Opportunities Do You Want to Know about?

Opportunities ExchangeI’ve mentioned the forthcoming “Opportunities Exchange” for ALA Connect before, but we’re getting close to a soft launch rollout for testing. Here’s a general outline of how it works.

It’s an integrated service where any ALA member can add any opportunity available to the profession (except for jobs, because we already have JobList for those). When you enter the opportunity, you’ll be able to attach subjects to it, along with all of the standard details (who, what, where, when, etc.).

The database of open opportunities will be available for the whole world to see, including folks who aren’t even logged in to the site. Of course, if you want to comment on an opportunity, leave a question, or contact the submitter, you’ll have to log in, but just viewing will be free to everyone. Logging in will also give you the ability to save searches.

Here’s where it gets fun, though. ALA members will be able to check off a list of “interests” in their profiles, and whenever a new opportunity that matches one of those interests is submitted to the Exchange, Connect will send those members an email notice about it. That way, you don’t have to keep checking back for new opportunities.

So far, these are the types of opportunities we’re listing in the OppEx:

  • Assistantships
  • Awards
  • Fellowships
  • Grants
  • Internships
  • Job Exchanges
  • Publishing
  • Residencies
  • Scholarships
  • Speaking/presenting
  • Travel Grants
  • Volunteering

I’m sure there’s more that we’re missing, though. Other than jobs, what other kinds of opportunities should we include? What other types of opportunities within the profession can we aggregate for you?

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