Ten Tips for Comfortable Conferences

This is a great list for new attendees, or as a reminder for the seasoned conference veteran.

• Take a sweater/jacket even if the weather is warm, as the conference hall and session rooms may be glacial.  Dress in layers and wear comfortable shoes.  
• Take a refillable water bottle and keep it filled.  Top up at every opportunity.  You never know when you might get stuck in a session without water or start coughing during a keynote.  Fill it before you leave for the day to avoid having to buy $4 bottles of water at your hotel.
• Charge you devices frequently, for they will run out of power at the most inconvenient time.  One tip is to take a power strip with you, that way you don't have to fight for outlets, and you'll be a hero to other attendees.  The best option is to purchase a recharger that you can carry with you, but be sure you have all the cords you need before you leave your hotel.
• Arrive at sessions early where possible to get a good seat (or even a seat at all).  Aisle seats go fast, as do table seats that face the presenter.
• Carry baby wipes, or face cleansing wipes in case of stickiness or greasy food at lunch.
• If there is a huge vendor area, review the list and make notes of those you actually want to meet.  It makes it easier to traverse the vendor jungle and not get lost among the booths.  You also won't "miss" any really important companies.
• Take a small bag of mint/hard candy/breath strips in case of garlic at lunch (not gum).
• Check Amazon.com before buying books at the conference, unless you want to take them to author signings.  Often conference prices aren't the best price and you won't have to haul them back in your suitcase.
• Check the conference app (if there is one) for presentations and slide decks before the first day of the event.  Not only will this save photocopying, but in some cases you can get a sense of the program from the slides and decide if you really want to attend that program.
• Get in a line, it's a great way to meet people.  Lines for registration, meals, general sessions, and even the bathroom are ways to make contact with new people in a more casual way.  The movement of the line also helps keep the conversation brief and can give you a opening to the conversation.  "Have you seen the bags they are giving out this year? or "That lunch yesterday was interesting, I hope today we have better options."

Top 5 Tips for Networking at Conferences

One of the best things about conferences is meeting new people and making connections.  Here are 5 tips to help make the most of this opportunity.

- Take your business cards with you and have them handy at all times.  This is a quick way to share information with new people, and also to enter give-away events during sessions.  Many conferences are using QR codes on name badges, but physical cards are still a great way to make connections.

- If you take someone's business card, take a minute to jot a few notes on the back - who is this person, where did you meet, what did you discuss, what is your followup, or even a physical description in case you run into them later.

- If the conference has a "meet to eat" option, where you sign up to go out for meals, then sign up for these.  It's a great way to meet people in a more casual atmosphere but still with the conference connection.  Also great if you are the only one from your system at the event.

- Sit with someone new in breakout sessions and at meals, especially if you are with other staff members from your system.  Don't huddle together in a group, spread out and say hello.

- Get in a line.  Meal lines, registration, even lines for the bathroom are great places to meet people in a natural way and this has the advantage of limited time to talk so you won't get stuck in an awkward conversation.

Bonus tip -- Look up from your phone at meals and before breakout sessions.  Look around and try to meet the people sitting near you, rather than sitting with your head down and ignoring everyone. 

Top Five Qualities of a Successful Goals and Intentions Statement

Your Goals and Intentions Statement doesn't have to be long, but it does need to have all of the necessary information.  Here are the top five aspects of a well-written Goals and Intentions Statement:

1. The statement briefly describes the event, its intended audience, and its purpose (2-3 sentences maximum)
2. The requesting staff member clearly demonstrates their interest in the event/program and why they wish to attend.
3. A clear connection is made between the purpose of the training/conference and the position of the staff member.
4. The statement includes information about what the staff member hopes to learn at the program.
5. The staff member explains what she/he/they want to do with the information learned at the event once they return to the library.

Here's what it might look like all together:

I would like to attend the MLA/DLA Joint Library Conference in Cambridge, MD from May 1-3, 2019  The MLA conference brings together library staff from across Maryland to discuss relevant topics and issues. 

There are many programs offered at this year’s conference that would benefit the library, the HR department, and the SD&T office.  On Wednesday morning, there is a pre-conference on making sense of library management.  This program will be very helpful when we start to plan the new EPFL leadership program.   

On Thursday, there are programs supporting inclusion at the library, as well as creating engaging multimedia and updates on statewide MLA programs.  There is also a program discussing methods for teaching adults, which might offer new information that would support our program offerings.  

On Friday, there is a program about teaching online, which is something I’d like to start doing in the future to expand SD&T programming, as well as a program on getting staff to advocate for their library.

The sessions offered at the MLA conference this year will support and contribute to the programs offered by SD&T in the upcoming year.  I will also be sharing the leadership program information with other HR staff at an upcoming meeting, and updating them on various state-wide issues we've been discussing this year.