Face-to-face conferences are my preferred way to grow professionally. This year so far I have been very fortunate that there have been two conferences in my home city. No airfares or hotel expenses has meant that these professional development opportunities are not very expensive at all.

In the days of virtual conferences, webinars and online professional learning networks I still find face-to-face conferences richer and deeper. I still participate in all of the technology professional development and completed my Master’s degree online. Yet there is something so much more satisfying about meeting people and having conversations in person. As Karen Munro explains even though much of her work is done remotely through technology when she does take time to meet people in person those days are, “..wonderfully productive in other ways—in building relationships, getting to know people, understanding complex issues,” (Antell, Strothmann, Munro, & McClure, 2014, pp. 38 – 39). Those in-depth discussions can occur because you can see and hear the person’s expression and emphasis. They are not hampered by poor Skype connection or ambiguity of an email message.

Another great reason to attend face-to-face conferences, workshops and meetings is that it is good for morale. Most Teacher Librarians work alone and even almost all work in a way that is mostly invisible to the rest of the school ( a sign that you are doing a great job but can lead to a lack of recognition and appreciation). Margaux DelGuidice in her article about avoiding school librarians burnout states that attending a professional development event means that you share ideas, hear other people’s stories and return to work with renewed enthusiasm (2011, p. 22). Those friendships forged at events can help when the going gets tough, provide colleagues who can be sounding boards for new ideas, and offer opportunities to give back to your professional community. “I’m not sure how, without face-to-face conferences, I would have found some of the formative librarian friendships and connections that have influenced and educated me, brought me new opportunities, buoyed my morale through rough patches, and broadened my perspectives,” (Antell, Strothmann, Munro, & McClure, 2014, pp. 38).

It is not enough just to chat over coffee and make new friends of course. The best strategy at conferences is to go with specific goals in mind. One way is to look at guidelines or evaluation models for your library or for yourself as Teacher Librarian. Judi Moreillon offers the American Association of School Librarians in Empowering Learners; Guidelines for School Library Programs (AASL 2009) as a useful tool. The description of the five roles to guide best practices for 21st-century school librarians: leader, instructional partner, information specialist, teacher, and program administrator can become a checklist for professional development (2012, p. 49). By asking what I am working well in and what areas do I need to strengthen then attending workshops in those areas you certainly will maximise the usefulness of the conference.

The best conferences provide strategies and ideas that you can take back to school. Throughout the years I have returned to my school with Battle of the Books – now an established part of our library programme, how to market the library including using a library logo, how to make the most of our library space and where our students can locate amazing resources about Istanbul (last conference I attended).

To attend the International Association of School Librarianship (IASL) conference for a whole week is a great privilege and responsibility. I am looking forward to what I will bring back to school from this conference – watch this space to find out.

References

Antell, K., Strothmann, M., Munro, K., & McClure, M. (2014). Is the face-to-face conference still essential? Reference & User Services Quarterl, 54(2), 37-40. Retrieved from EBSCO Professional Development Collections database. (Accession No. 100188430)

DelGuidice, M. (2011). Avoiding School Librarian burnout: simple steps to ensure your personal best. Library Media Connection, 29, 22-23. Retrieved from ERIC database. (Accession No. EJ914332)

Moreilln, J. (2012). Before you pack your bag: how to maximize your professional development opportunities at state-level conferences . Library Media Connection, 31(1), 48-50.