Since I’ve been going to MLA for a few years now as a Conference Committee member, I’d like to talk about some of the other aspects of MLA I’ve found valuable, especially as a SLRC outreach provider.
Presenting
Jeanne, Ray, and I organized a panel on outreach to adults titled “Connecting Resources: Becoming a Link to Local Industries.” We had very good attendance (exact numbers TBD), and I received two requests for SLRC services on the spot with a third following a few days later. There is often a lack of understanding for what SLRC does, and while that was not the central topic of the panel, it gave us a chance to explain what we do to a statewide audience. Also, I think I get CEUs for my own presentation?
Volunteering
This was my fifth (maybe sixth?) MLA conference, though it was my first year volunteering at the registration table. One of the main reasons I go to MLA is to network with other librarians in the state and learn directly from the source about the new things happening in their regions. Volunteering at the registration table turned out to be by far the best way to do this. Not only did I get to see all of the attendees I already knew, but I was also able to meet several new people via the other volunteers working at the table. I was able to coordinate with my co-presenters, field questions about SLRC services, and ask about upcoming presentations. I can’t even remember the number of business cards I received. I found it an extremely valuable two hours of my life and I highly recommend it.
Vendor Presentations
MLA is a smaller conference and the vendor presentations are often poorly attended as a result. I attended three presentations: OverDrive, a library architectural firm, and a bilingual teen magazine “Motivos.” I was able to ask direct questions about their services and hear about the new and upcoming features (especially in the case of OverDrive).
Aryn Dagirmanjian
Social Science and History Department
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