I am very interested in services to special needs populations, and I know a lot of other librarians are, too. So I booked the Networking Uncommons this afternoon for an hour, which basically means my name and topic appear on the Uncommons schedule (and we have primary access to any tech we need in there: mics, projectors, etc). Then, it’s just a matter of spreading the word and hoping people show up to talk and share ideas.
About 15 people came, ranging from librarians who are already doing work with this population (hi, Tess and Renee!) to people who are going to be trying something soon or are just starting to look for ideas.
Aside from all the ambient noise that necessitated the use of a mic, which made me feel like our friendly chat became more “official,” it was a great hour filled with useful discussion and connections made. Topics that came up included how to find and market to your audience, how to define and measure success, what outside organizations or people to partner with, and what types of programs to try (besides storytime).
So consider using the Networking Uncommons to engage with your community of like-minded librarians! Earlier in the day, there was a Guerrilla Storytime, a Flannel Friday petting zoo, and a YA smackdown. What are some topics you would like to discuss with peers in the Uncommons?