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By Kiyomi, March 3, 2010 11:43 AM

Get to know your fellow professionals!

This post was written as a supplement to Conference Attendance Advice by Erin Dorney.   Erin’s post covers a lot of ground, but I have a few more additions based on my own conference experiences both locally, and at ALA MidWinter.  I suggested an addition in the comments section of Erin’s post, and I’ll start with that.

1. Invited Parties and Receptions: Try and attend all of the receptions/parties you are personally invited to, and if you can fit them in, try and attend some of the open invitation receptions/parties. The ones you are invited to are usually based on your membership in a group and will provide great semi-relaxed places to get to know others with similar interests. The open receptions are more intimidating, but the people are just as interesting to get to know. Of course you should keep in mind Erin’s #6 and pace yourself.
2. Talk & Panel Etiquette: If you are attending a talk or panel session you are probably very interested in the topic, so is everyone else in the room.  If you are uncomfortable sitting for long periods of time take a seat at the back or sides of the room so that you won’t disturb others when you need to stand.  Limit yourself to 2 questions per session, 3 absolute maximum in extenuating circumstances.  The speakers are there for everyone and it is not only rude to dominate the entire presentation, it makes it difficult for the speaker to present all of their material if they are being constantly interrupted.  If you have a lot of questions think about walking up to the speaker after the session is over, unless they are in a hurry most speakers enjoy speaking with enthusiastic listeners.  Again, be courteous, if you have a lot to talk about but there are other people waiting for the speaker exchange information and contact them at a later time.
3. Expo Goodies: If you like to read don’t bother bringing any books with you.  There are free and discounted books ($3-$5 paperback, $5-$15 hardback) in every genre.  Think about under packing on your way to a conference if you are a bibliophile, that way you won’t be over your weight limits on your way home.  There are plenty of reusable bags being given away if you want to save some space in your luggage.  The most giveaways are at opening and closing.
4. Take Care of Yourself: Erin touches on this in her #6 Make a Schedule, but I’d like to emphasize the importance of taking care of yourself at these events.  Drink lots of water, if water is provided and your table runs out don’t be shy about flagging down a waiter or grabbing some off of a deserted table.  Wear layers, hotels often have the heat set high in the winter, and the AC set for freezing in the summer.  A thin jacket or sweater that easily fits in your bag is ideal for personal temperature management.  If you are wiped out take a break and have a nap.  The only things you absolutely have to attend are your own committee meetings, and paid workshops, everything else is negotiable.
5. Add People You’ve Met to Your Personal Network: It is best to do this as soon as possible after meeting them.  I spent the morning I left adding the majority of the people I met.  Not all the people you will connect with will currently be librarians.  Several vendors and recruiters are former librarians and you’ll be surprised how easy it is to connect with them.
6. Be Generous With Job Leads: In this trying time a lot of librarians and library school students are searching for jobs.  If you speak with someone who is looking, and you know of a job that is a good fit, tell him or her, even if you are applying too.  You may be scratching your head at this point thinking, why would I give away a job lead?  This seems counter intuitive but ask yourself these questions:  Do you want to work for someone knowing that they settled for you instead of choosing you because you were exactly what they wanted?  If you are chosen because the hiring manager is settling how will your co-workers view you?  The best reason to pass on a job lead is because it feels good to help others.

I hope these tips, combined with Erin’s, help you have a fun and meaningful conference experience.  See you at ALA Annual!

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By Kiyomi, January 27, 2010 8:30 AM

8:15 AM  Log-on to computer.  Check Twitter feed for any relevant library news or job postings, read those.

8:32 AM  Move on the school E-mail, decide RSS feeds can wait till later.  Most of my e-mail was ACRL: Residency Interest Group related, offered to hook up applicant with current resident to help review their material before submission.

8:48 AM Login to Blackboard and catch up on message board posts for 3 classes and Graduate Student community.  Only light posting, not unexpected for the beginning of the week, decide to see if I can’t finish listening to and reading my Social Science Resources Lecture for the week (Drexel Weeks run Monday – Sunday).

9:15 AM  Not quite done with lecture, but will have to save the rest for later, time to go be a volunteer intern at RSABG.

9:45 AM Arrive at RSABG’s research library.  Sign-in and catch-up, it’s my first day back after a 3 week break due to the start of classes coinciding with ALA MidWinter.  Start researching the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for a possible grant proposal and open access repository models.

10:30 AM  Get handed a Japanese serial publication for original cataloging, plus 3 other Chinese titles.  Look up Jim Breen’s WWWJDIC and start looking up characters by radicals.  Realize how long it’s been since I’ve studied kanji. Eventually get all the publication data in Japanese input correctly in Connexion.

1:30 PM  Take a lunch break.  Finish Social Sciences Resources Readings and posting for the day.

2:30 PM  Back to cataloging the Japanese serial publication.  Now that I have the correct characters it’s time to start putting the information in the correct fields.  As I start inputing the item description I realize that the book contains articles which are given in both Japanese and English,  with some Latin descriptions, look up Latin language code, it’s LAT.  Start checking fields for all necessary foreign language additions, measure size of book.

4:00 PM  Decide to call it a day since it takes a while to work my way through the CONSER website to check my serials cataloging.  Get gas and groceries on the way home.

5:30 PM  Log-on to computer, check school e-mail and discussion boards while eating dinner.

6:05 PM  Decide to start writing my 3-4 page Learning Context Paper for Information Literacy Instruction Class.  It feels overwhelming, but I’ll just start and follow the directions and then it’ll stop being so intimidating.

6:45  PM  Finished a little over a page of my paper.  Must stop for now, time to go be Assistant Director for the play Self Help.

10:52  PM  Back from rehearsal, time to check the Drexel message boards and then work on that paper again.

11:39 PM  A little over 2 pages are written, with a little light editing.  Fading fast, time to call it a day after a quick look at my RSS Feed, mainly library related.

Comments (1)

By Kiyomi, December 18, 2009 7:52 PM

A year ago I was the quality control manager at an environmental testing laboratory, and I had just received my acceptance letter for Drexel’s MLIS program.  I’d always known that I wanted to earn at least one advanced degree, and my goal to begin working on one by the end of 2009 was achieved. (Take that the “you’ll never go back if you don’t do a second degree right away” line of thinking!)

Starting classes in March felt a bit like being on the spinning teacups ride at Disneyland, but I found my balance.  I started interning at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden’s research library, attended my first library conference,  became a 2009-1011 ARL Diversity Scholar.  To a little more detail you can read my post Catching Up.  In November I submitted my first job application with editorial help from Megan Perez and Missy Harvey.  I was unfamiliar with this some of this quarter’s topics of study: collection development, and foundations of information systems. So, I did what I always do when stressed, researched and read until comfort was achieved.  There was a lot of reading going on.  On November 30^th I was honored to be named the ACRL member of the week.

Three quarters down, two to go!  Next quarter I’ll be studying Resources in Social Science, Instructional Role Information Specialist, and Academic Library Service.  Drexel’s quarter begins January 4^th, 2010 and I’ll be at ALA Midwinter January 14^th-19^th.  If anyone is interested in meeting up I have time the 17^th after about 4pm until I leave on the 19^th.  Several of my instructors kindly provided me with the readings from the beginning of the quarter so I can get ahead before things get crazy, thank you.

A year ago I was a chemist, today I am librarian, a young librarian, but a librarian nonetheless.  Everything I’ve learned about writing, dealing with the public, organization, being in charge, and performing research, is built upon my experiences as a student at a liberal arts institution, a laboratory instructor, a chemist, a quality control manager, a library school student, and as a volunteer intern at a research library, have shaped who I am today.  I’ve been fortunate to find several librarians who are both willing, and capable, mentors. I have several people I can contact with questions, or for help proof reading.  I have people who will not only tell me what not to do, but why.  Much of my transformation from chemist to librarian is due to these individuals, and any success I achieve is due in large part to their generous advice and encouragement.

In the future I plan to pursue my interests in promoting literacy, science, and preservation.  So the question is, what will I be doing in 10 years?  My goal is to study and become fluent in Japanese, teach literacy and library science classes, continue studying preservation, cataloging, science (broad term), and e-resources, and do original research on the user group(s) who frequent my library.

My questions for anyone reading are:

How have you changed in the last year?  How would you like to change in the future?

May you all have a peaceful and relaxing rest of the year, catch you in 2010!