Although I have been a librarian for 25 years, and have been attending ALA and Midwinter for as many years, this is my very first PLA conference. I must admit I’ve been a little nervous about being the new kid on the block. It’s been a mix of the familiar and shiny new to me.
Since it is smaller in scale than ALA Annual, I think it would be a great first conference for new library staff to test the waters.
Some of the things I’ve liked the most are the scheduled breaks, free coat check, snacks and bevvies on the exhibit floor, and the fact that the featured speakers are not in competition with programs and meetings. For me it has been easier to have a more rounded conference experience.
I also really enjoyed the yoga class in the Wellness Center this morning. There are still openings for the classes on Friday and Saturday morning.
Nashville has a very walkable downtown, and the music scene is amazing. I’m having a blast after hours, too.
I’m still processing all the information that I’ve ingested in the past couple of days and will have lots more to write soon. Several programs have already inspired me and my brain is busy processing all the possibilities.