ALA annual - what should I be doing?
June 8, 2017 3:33 PM Subscribe
I find myself headed back to the annual American Library Association conference for the first time in quite a while and, as in the past, feeling a little overwhelmed. Sessions I can hack, but it's all the other, ancillary stuff - receptions, actually worthwhile vendor dinners, etc., etc., etc. - that I always seem to overlook and miss out on. So, librarians of MeFi, do you know of anything happening outside the regular conference sessions that I should try to make it to? How can I feel like I really wrung the full value out of my registration and travel costs?
I am not going, but I was at Midwinter last year. For me it always helps to find a routine, and being honest with yourself about how much you can handle. So ask a few questions
- Do you like to party? (this can help pick what sort of evening things to do)
- Do you want to eat meals with others or on your own? (I often plan to meet people for coffee or lunch and then maybe we grab a bunch of other people and then I meet people. If not, I hide and eat power bars or whatever and then power through my planned activities)
- Do you want to meet new people, or see the people you want to see, or see no one? (see above for making plans, you can almost always tag along with someone else's plans)
- Do you want to "do Chicago" or do work stuff, or both? (go to the downtown library, for example, also the Chicago MeFites are AMAZING)
- Are you staying near the venue or away from it? (if away, look for things on your route to not make travel all nutty)
I usually find a group I am interested in and see if they are doing social stuff or, barring that, I go to the GLBTRT Social party which is always inclusive and always a very good time (Sunday 6 pm). ALA Think Tank used to do a "Where are the parties at?" sort of handout but I don't see one this time around. EveryLibrary is doing this which is a fundraiser but is always a good time. RSVP and you can see who else you know is going.
I often try to do my socializing early on in the conference so I can ask people what else they are going to because maybe they have better intel than I do. The app is (or has been) good for keyword searching and nerds should probably try to see Gene Luen Yang and Andy Weir. First timer resources on the website are never a bad idea to read again. I usually allow at least half a day to exhibits.
posted by jessamyn at 7:21 PM on June 8, 2017
- Do you like to party? (this can help pick what sort of evening things to do)
- Do you want to eat meals with others or on your own? (I often plan to meet people for coffee or lunch and then maybe we grab a bunch of other people and then I meet people. If not, I hide and eat power bars or whatever and then power through my planned activities)
- Do you want to meet new people, or see the people you want to see, or see no one? (see above for making plans, you can almost always tag along with someone else's plans)
- Do you want to "do Chicago" or do work stuff, or both? (go to the downtown library, for example, also the Chicago MeFites are AMAZING)
- Are you staying near the venue or away from it? (if away, look for things on your route to not make travel all nutty)
I usually find a group I am interested in and see if they are doing social stuff or, barring that, I go to the GLBTRT Social party which is always inclusive and always a very good time (Sunday 6 pm). ALA Think Tank used to do a "Where are the parties at?" sort of handout but I don't see one this time around. EveryLibrary is doing this which is a fundraiser but is always a good time. RSVP and you can see who else you know is going.
I often try to do my socializing early on in the conference so I can ask people what else they are going to because maybe they have better intel than I do. The app is (or has been) good for keyword searching and nerds should probably try to see Gene Luen Yang and Andy Weir. First timer resources on the website are never a bad idea to read again. I usually allow at least half a day to exhibits.
posted by jessamyn at 7:21 PM on June 8, 2017
Not keyed into events since I'm not going this year, but EveryLibrary always has the best parties.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 7:29 PM on June 8, 2017
posted by rabbitrabbit at 7:29 PM on June 8, 2017
Hillary Clinton is the closing speaker- so that would top my list...
And I love Book Buzz talks as well.
I also try to find interesting foods or restaurants to try-- preferably off the beaten path.
Sometimes there are groups that will meet for dinner- check the message board.
posted by calgirl at 10:19 PM on June 8, 2017
And I love Book Buzz talks as well.
I also try to find interesting foods or restaurants to try-- preferably off the beaten path.
Sometimes there are groups that will meet for dinner- check the message board.
posted by calgirl at 10:19 PM on June 8, 2017
Saw this relevant post in my feedly today: 12 Tricks to Get Yourself Talking to Strangers at Conferences from the 5 Minute Librarian.
posted by lyssabee at 8:27 AM on June 10, 2017
posted by lyssabee at 8:27 AM on June 10, 2017
Another thing I would be doing if I were at this conference: National Digital Inclusion Alliance ALA Meetup. I'm a part of this group but it's an open invite to people who want to talk about digital inclusion stuff in Chicago.
posted by jessamyn at 1:12 PM on June 17, 2017
posted by jessamyn at 1:12 PM on June 17, 2017
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Hit up your vendors and see if they have anything going on. Do you buy from Baker & Taylor? They're usually good for something or another.
I like going to the Book Buzz talks when I can.
Have fun!
posted by lyssabee at 4:21 PM on June 8, 2017 [1 favorite]