Networking on the Web is undoubtedly fundamental to being an active member of the library community, but nothing beats the in-person connections we make with our colleagues at conferences. Careful planning is key to gaining the most value from attending a conference.
Choose
For help finding the right conference for you, ALA has a Conference and Event Calendar. Additionally, WebJunction’s Upcoming Events is a great place for conference selection; it includes an event calendar and a link to a discussion thread where members share their own conferences and events.
Prepare
Your goals for attending have an influence on what you will do while there. Are you going for work or for personal reasons? Will you be in the audience or behind the podium, presenting? If you would like to brush up on your oration skills, check out WebJunction’s course: Improving Your Communication Skills: Presentation Skills for Librarians. If you’re using a slideshow program, the Microsoft Office: PowerPoint course will help you make the best visual impact. For some specific ideas on what you can contribute, ALA has deadlines for proposals here. Also visit A Library Writer’s Blog for a comprehensive, regularly updated collection of presentation opportunities for librarians.
Attend
This is the fun part, and it’s important to enjoy yourself. Absorb the new atmosphere, learn new things, meet new people. You are there for the experience so allow yourself to really engage in your surroundings!
Return
A conference can cost money and takes time, so you want to get the most out of it. Sharing what you learned with your coworkers and applying new tools to your work is a critical part of attending a conference. WebJunction’s Conferences and Workshops discussion serves as a great place to share (and store) your new knowledge. Also, don’t forget to stay in touch with new contacts you made while networking!
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