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I've yet to go to a large professional conference--such as ALA or a state library conference. I'd like to go to ALA 2008 but I'm currently job-hunting (fresh out of library school) and low on cash. Does the potential networking/job-finding value in attending a conference* outweigh the financial hurdle? Any thoughts are welcome....thanks!!
*ALA is being held in CA, which is where I want to relocate.
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I've never been to ALA, but I've been to WLA and WAPL (the Wisconsin Library Association's and Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries Conference).
Networking at these things is my #1 priority. Some of the programs can disappoint (and bore you to tears), but the networking opportunities never do. My take: even some small conferences are gold. Make the most of any conference to get your name out there if you are looking for a job; it really does pay off!
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missc wrote:I've yet to go to a large professional conference--such as ALA or a state library conference. I'd like to go to ALA 2008 but I'm currently job-hunting (fresh out of library school) and low on cash. Does the potential networking/job-finding value in attending a conference* outweigh the financial hurdle? Any thoughts are welcome....thanks!!
*ALA is being held in CA, which is where I want to relocate. Value is in what you make of the trip. Are you going to be using the ALA Employment Center? Have your resume reviewed by NMRT? Attend workshops related to job hunting and the job you want? Visit CA libraries in preparation for the future? Are you going to network, network, network?
Brian C. Gray Head of Reference & Engineering Librarian Kelvin Smith Library Case Western Reserve University http://blog.case.edu/bcg8bcg8@case.edu
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If CA is where you want to end up, I'd definitely try everything to go and spend as much time as possible in the recruitment center. I find that it's hard to network at conferences because people tend to travel with people from their own library and rarely do they mingle much. But of course I've never been the best person at just sort of jumping in there and introducing myself. I agree that it's all what you make of it.
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I went to my first conference a few years ago when it was in Chicago, and I found the situation similar to what SaraD posted; although there are tons of people there the networking is rather limited. I used the placement center then (even though I was employed) and only 1 public library showed interest. The center didn’t seem particularly helpful, especially since the libraries represented were the largest ones anyway. To be quite honest – the conference wasn’t all that fabulous or important professionally; it was like cramming several college courses into a few days and I spent a lot of my time sightseeing in the city. But, I happen to live in Anaheim so I’ll be going this year…
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Unless you have the money or you are the kind of person who is very good at networking, I don't think it's worth it. At library conferences, most attendees have been going for a long time and already know each other. I could go to one now and have a great time because I know enough people, from schools and other libraries where I've worked. But when I was still in school, ALA Mid-Winter was interesting but far from that useful professionally except to add to my CV as a librarian-type thing I had done.
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Thanks for the feedback everyone. There's also a statewide conference coming up; I may go to that instead although with gas and hotel I'd not really saving much since I'd be staying with relatives in CA. I definitely need some professional development activities to add to my CV, though, even if the networking doesn't pan out...
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The trick is to just sit near people you do not know and introduce yourself. Also, there are meetings and activities that bring together people that are not all from the same library. Many will try to spread out so to cover as many different types of programs as possible. SaraD wrote:If CA is where you want to end up, I'd definitely try everything to go and spend as much time as possible in the recruitment center. I find that it's hard to network at conferences because people tend to travel with people from their own library and rarely do they mingle much. But of course I've never been the best person at just sort of jumping in there and introducing myself. I agree that it's all what you make of it.
Brian C. Gray Head of Reference & Engineering Librarian Kelvin Smith Library Case Western Reserve University http://blog.case.edu/bcg8bcg8@case.edu
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readabitt wrote:I went to my first conference a few years ago when it was in Chicago, and I found the situation similar to what SaraD posted; although there are tons of people there the networking is rather limited. I used the placement center then (even though I was employed) and only 1 public library showed interest. The center didn’t seem particularly helpful, especially since the libraries represented were the largest ones anyway. To be quite honest – the conference wasn’t all that fabulous or important professionally; it was like cramming several college courses into a few days and I spent a lot of my time sightseeing in the city. But, I happen to live in Anaheim so I’ll be going this year… You mention networking is limited. Did you attend sessions around your interests? Did you participate in sessions with discussion or interaction included? Did you attend the social activities such as lunches, dinners, or other activities? How about talking to vendors? They all know which libraries are looking, who is having budget problems, or who is expanding. How many times did you sit down next to someone and introduce yourself? Did you collect business cards? Did you hand out business cards? It seems hard not to network and meet people when 10-15k attend. If you spent time sightseeing, maybe you just limited your interactions too much. People are very open to meeting new people and especially in helping students or new professionals.
Brian C. Gray Head of Reference & Engineering Librarian Kelvin Smith Library Case Western Reserve University http://blog.case.edu/bcg8bcg8@case.edu
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I recommend you check out some of these articles about networking. http://www.liscareer.com/networking.htm
Brian C. Gray Head of Reference & Engineering Librarian Kelvin Smith Library Case Western Reserve University http://blog.case.edu/bcg8bcg8@case.edu
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