What I DIdn’t Learn In Library School: Making Conferences Successful: Christie’s Version
If you know anything by now, you know I don’t tend to run in normal circles, no matter what I look like. So it stands to reason that I don’t do conferences as a normal, either. Maybe it’s the anxiety, maybe it’s my brain, who knows, but I just don’t seem to fit a typical conference go-er. I like doing it my way, and it works- I come back energized refreshed, and ready to tackle new things and ideas. It’s completely the point of a conference to me. How do I do it?
ALSC is having Speed Dating.The New Membership Round Table is having a a social. YALSA’s having a Happy Hour. GLBT-RT is having a Social. Great places to meet people who share your passion, and at the most, you’re out a couple of hours of time at a great place!
Everyone always says wear your normal work clothes- I wear what I’m comfortable in, which is my t-shirts and jeans, and no one seems to mind. I’ve also got spare batteries for my smart phone because I can never find a charger, and I pack a surge protector as That Guy and I have more gadgets than the hotel room has outlets, and running out the door at 6 a.m. for a session with this sign: is a doomed day.
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Filed under: ALA Midwinter, conferences, Networking

About Karen Jensen, MLS
Karen Jensen has been a Teen Services Librarian for almost 30 years. She created TLT in 2011 and is the co-editor of The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services with Heather Booth (ALA Editions, 2014).
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Thanks for the post, Christie. Now I've seen it, I might do the YALSA happy hour to meet librarians for Library Lions interviews.
Janet
Awesome tips! I've been to ALA Midwinter twice now and I really wish I had read your advice and tricks before I went that first time! Invaluable. One thing I learned the hard way is wear sneakers! No one seems to mind and wearing those cute but uncomfortable shoes will kill your feet (and your mood).
Have a great conference and thanks again! 🙂