My Experience at SLA Chicago

This blog post was originally published on the Philadelphia SLA Chapter website, then reformatted for the DUSLA blog, and has now made its way here. It has been edited to reflect my current status as a library professional.

I know it's a bit late to share my experiences of SLA's 2012 annual conference, considering SLA 2013 is right around the corner, but I figured I would re-post it here anyway. If you are a current or recently graduated library student, I want to reinforce the importance of participating in association activities. Not only do they help you create and grow your career, it propels the field of information services forward.   Consider becoming more active in your local SLA (or library) association. You won't regret it.

My dear friend Allison De Weerd and I were the lucky recipients of the 2012 Knower Fund, an annual scholarship program managed by the Philadelphia Chapter of the SLA, for the purpose of attending the annual conference. And I am so grateful to have had the opportunity. Lucky for us, the 2012 conference was held in the great city of Chicago. 

Allison and I

I met a lot of great people, ranging in expertise, experience and career choice at the conference. I credit this experience to the broadening of my own career aspirations. Furthermore, it was a great supplement for the lack of discussion concerning special libraries in the classroom. Traditional (and current) library curriculum tend to focus on public and academic librarianship with little discourse offered beyond these career paths.

As I met more and more attendees, I was in awe of how many career options existed in the the realm of librarianship. For example, I met a librarian who works for a well known non profit, focusing on women's healthcare. I also encountered folks who work as information analysts for the military and professionals who are client services manages for academic publishers. These were options I had not considered previously, and would have looked over due to my lack of awareness. It was important for me to meet people within these types of professional roles. One take away was the term "librarian" was not the end all be all of my pending career. 

SLA Chicago conference instilled a confidence in my career path (and subsequently myself) I had not experienced prior to attendance. Part of this newly found assurance was due to the exposure of possible career opportunities; however, most of it was due to the acceptance of this vast library community.  Everyone I met was interested and vested, in my success as an information professional. At every networking event someone offered to look over my resume, gave me valuable advice or wanted to establish a long lasting professional relationship. I would have never understood the value in professional community had I not attended this marvelous event. 

On a boat tour of Chicago. 

I am determined to continue my participation within the SLA community and plan to attend future conferences. I now truly understand the value of this association. It propels the library & information profession forward. I hope in the near future, I will be in a position to help library students find their footing and to pay forward the generosity that has been bestowed upon me. 

I want to extend my gratitude to the Philadelphia Chapter for busting their bums year after year to ensure students have this great opportunity.