Ugh. Way too much time has passed since my last blog post. Really unconscionable! Much has happened since March, but I will not bore anyone (including myself) with any details. My life in the library has kept me in a steady stream of activity, and that is what is worth discussing here.
I attended the ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries) 2009 conference this year. It was awesome; and not just because I was one of the lucky recipients of an ACRL Scholarship. Reviewing the program schedule prior to arriving in Seattle, I was a little nervous about the few workshops being offered; however, was immediately drawn to the several panel sessions on the schedule. I noted a few on my conference planner with the hope of stumbling upon others upon my arrival. This approach paid off — in spades! My schedule over the two and a half days spent at the conference was jammed with panel sessions and my newest discovery: poster sessions! Poster sessions are a wonderful event whereby participants develop a one-shot presentation of their research. Topics ranged from reference service; information literacy instruction; strategic planning, and collection development. Presenters were easily accessible and available to further discuss their topic (networking opportunity!) without the pressure of a microphone or large, restless audience. Poster sessions were offered three times per day, with the presenters and topics rotating with each poster session. With up to thirty presenters at each session, this provided a large and diverse forum of sharing, collaborating, and networking for all parties!
Some time ago, a colleague of mine and I were chatting about various issues in our respective libraries when we discovered that we shared a common experience with a certain issue. After a chuckle over our “jinks you owe me a Coke moment,” she suggested that we should consider developing a poster session for an upcoming conference. I remember bristling at the idea out of shyness and insecurity; however, after observing the poster sessions at ACRL, I feel inspired to work on a “rough draft proposal” and submit it just to see what happens. You know what they say, “you never know until you try.” What a great way to ease into active participation in my professional organization!
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