Hello: Like all the stalwarts of the profession, I also agree that there is no need for another apex body. We should strengten ILA and also make a charter of expectations from ILA, also ensure that all Library schools are involved more in ensuring that fresh graduates also enrol this will encourage the young professionasl and modernise the profession. Regarding having meetings etc..physically going out to meet at the end of day or on a holiday is not possible for most of us. hence involvement and enrichment of our association suffers...Since we are in the information field and use ICT regularly we myst devise a Facebook or a Blog for each district or local,statewise and national lebels. where like LIS forum many issues locally can be resolved and those of national interst will be forwarded to the national blog with comments from all of us for whom it is effected. It will give uniform representation and since the matter is also discussed extensively. mnay private ofirms have used facebook very effectively to report day to day activities to the colllegues etc. Regarding the many conferences and meetings I have attended very few have added substance and value to us. Quite often there is a lot of absentism after the first day, hence we must think how better and how effectively we can come together without leaving our offices. Regarding the issues which trouble our profession the most important one is lack of a strong association at national level. It does not have any funding and if so its not enough to create more open forums for discussions and informal meetings if necessary. Like many of the educational alumni Library schools also should have a mandatory Assocition membership of the professional body of ILA. In today's time a sum of Rs 500 / eg. can be made mandatory. Once this money is collected this should be used only under the guidance of a committee and only to address professional problems we face. Quiet often it is the salary structure, and misuse of our professional expertise. For those of us who are working many a time the parent organisation does not appreciate our involvement in Library associtions and hence we will not be alloed to participate actively.Nor will we be allowed to leave our premises, hence we can only play a support role and participate in local statelevel and national forums blogs facebook etc. Due to the changing times and the deeper involvement of cooperation to succed in our work we must have a very strong participatory representation. Chitra Rao NITIE Mumbai 022 28573371 Extn 337 -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.