I love librarian conferences. Library conferences are one of the few places where one can identify with individuals who truly understand what it means to be a librarian.
When I go to these conferences I make amazing new friends, come up with new ideas and return to work reenergized and ready to go!
There’s more to conferences than that. I realized that if I step outside my comfort zone to the world outside of libraries, I could learn many new ideas that go against my norm and craft me into a more well-rounded librarian.
Here are some examples of different types of conferences that can help broaden your horizons:
TEDx
These community-driven events are local gatherings where live TED-like talks and videos previously recorded at TED conferences are shared with the community.
They feature speakers who present amazing new ideas- some that could be the starting point for a project at your library and some that could simply be entertaining. Many events even have fun field trips before the conference. In Naperville this year, one field trip was to a printing press and another to the public library.
Early Literacy Conferences
Attending a conference for early literacy providers other than librarians can help you make community connections and learn about new initiatives you may want to implement in your library. These could be held through local museums, bookstores or schools. Other ideas of events to attend include local author visits, book groups and museum or park events.
Storytelling Conferences
Professional storytellers take one of the most treasured aspects of our job and practice it solely. The wealth of experience and wisdom professional storytellers can offer could take your story times to a whole new level.
Working Professional Conferences
As generic as the title sounds, these conferences can be the most engaging. It could be through your community, church, or a national organization. Many times these conferences focus on important topics such as workplace culture and stress, keeping active and making personal goals.
I’m not telling you to never go to a library conference again (especially with all the cool events coming up next year), but simply to try something different. You never know what the possibilities are.
(Photo courtesy of guest blogger.)
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Today’s guest blogger is Emily Bayci. Emily is a children’s services librarian at theNaperville Public Library. Her philosophy is to always have just as much fun as the children, if not more fun.
Please note that as a guest post, the views expressed here do not represent the official position of ALA or ALSC
If you’d like to write a guest post for the ALSC Blog, please contact Mary Voors, ALSC Blog manager, at alscblog@gmail.com.