On My Way to CiL

My open-ended ALA sabbatical really started when I witnessed  the birth of my accidental family, the ragtag, attention-deficited kids of The Library Society of the World about a year ago.  But today, I am officially off the teat and climbing out from under the saggy, smothering bosom of my library association mama and looking to see if I can get my minimum daily professional development requirements elsewhere.  After years of longingly following the adventures of Computers in Libraries  (CiL) and Internet Librarian attendees from afar, I am just hours away from my very first CiL.  I'm not sure what my expectations are, in terms of professional development.  My last several years of ALA attendance was almost wholly spent in governance activities.  It's been a long time since I went to a conference as a n00b and as a learner/consumer.   

I'm also going so that I can get the lay of the presentation land.  It's time for me to think about sharing my expertise from out behind the keyboard, so I'll be studying presentations and presenters as much as I will be their content.  Mostly, though, I am excited about meeting my new Library Society of the World and Twitter pals, and seeing old friends again.  All the snazziest PowerPoints in the world are nothing compared what I expect to get from the intensive, fun, F2F with some of the funniest and smartest people I've had the pleasure to meet.

Don't cry, Mama ALA!  I'm not running away or disowning you.  I just want to get out of the yard and run down to the playground to see what the other kids are doing.

Comments

[K.R.]

P.S. Those LSW people sound like jerks, I am sorry to say. Even the ones I know. You library bloggers hold grudges like crazy!

[Tim K]

I thought you came to CiL 2008 to keep an eye on me! I hardly saw you!

[krr]

You are breaking my heart.

Also, I am still involved with ALA because I don't know too many queer librarians in my regular life, and I don't really see them at smaller conferences. (I mean, they're there, but it's not like there is time set aside to talk about queer librarian issues.)

[Andy Morton]

I've found smaller, more focused conferences to be MUCH more useful and relevant over the past few years. ALA is so overwhelming, and it's clear that younger librarians are questioning ALA's role in their career (see recent virtual attendance discussions). Anyway, yes there are some great smaller, focused conferences/workshops out there that can provide much more engaging levels of professional development than running from hotel to hotel at ALA. I also just received a reminder to renew and I'm struggling with having to stroke a $150 check (includes LITA). I'd love just to join LITA, but I have to go through "mama" first. Thanks for the interesting post!