On the Merits of “Nerding Out” at #ALAMW17

We all know the feeling – you’re walking along,  minding your own business, when, like a bolt from the blue, you spot a Something.

Maybe it’s a new edition of your favorite book. Maybe it’s a person carrying the cutest tote bag you’ve ever seen in your life. Maybe it’s some new tech you’ve been itching to try. Maybe it’s even someone you haven’t seen in a while, or admire but have never met. Your heartbeat increases, you light up like a firefly, you’re excited – youre nerding out! But sometimes, just after that moment, a bitter little voice chimes up in your mind — “shhhh!” (I KNOW – the voice needs to get real about dated librarian stereotypes, right?). The voice doesn’t want you to say anything. It thinks you’re too busy, and hey, you’ll probably just be annoying, right? Just keep quiet and keep going!

Don’t listen to that voice!! Some of the best moments both at ALA (and, well, everywhere) can come out of those spur-of-the-moment chance encounters. You pause at a booth to comment on something you recognize, and it turns out they also have just the thing you needed for your new outreach campaign. You compliment a badge ribbon of someone you’re waiting next to on the shuttle line, and discover you work a county away from each other and could collaborate on future endeavors. You spot an old acquaintance and chat, and you clue them in to an upcoming meeting thats perfect for them. Something catches your eye, and because you take the time to make a connection, doors open.

So try not to listen to the voice that wants to stifle your enthusiasm, because enthusiasm can be the catalyst that helps you discover new opportunities and forge new relationships. This has happened to me more than a few times this Midwinter, and I’m always a little stunned by the notion that if I hadn’t taken the time to pause, or if someone else hadn’t done the same, an amazing connection would have been fully lost.

Nerding out — it’s what brings us together!