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SLA First Timer's Hints |
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Getting the most out of your 2003 SLA Conference Experience The Basics * Turn your cel phone off or set it to vibrate. * Survival includes aspirin or ibuprofen, water bottle (conference venues tend to be very dry), and layered clothing (temperatures and room comfort varies widely and there is precious little conference organizers can do about that). * Bring at least two pairs of shoes (you'll need the change and variety!). * Bring an extra bag for bringing stuff home (clothes expand somehow while away!). * Bring an office prepaid courier slip to courier the brochures and materials back to the office (You're not a mule!). * You MUST have business cards - either make your own on the laser printer or photocopier or have extras made up by your employer. * Wear your nametag high so people can see it. Take it off when you leave the venues. You don't want assorted homeless people calling you by name! * Upon arrival, orient yourself. Familiarize yourself with all of the conference locations (convention centre, hotels, special events locations). KNOW where the coffee is - you'll be surprised how much you'll want it. Know where the washrooms are. Nothing's more frustrating than being lost in a strange place. If you're lost - ask a local. There's usually a map in the conference program - study it. It's amazing how confusing big convention centres can be! We're in a few different NY hotels this year - so - for safety's sake - know where you are and where you're going. Before the Conference * Book your hotel (use the web to find cheaper rates). I understand there are a few deals this year due to the tourism slump. * Use your discussion lists to find room-mates to save a few bucks. * Check out the host city's website and book or schedule as few side trips as well. * If you can, add a vacation day or two on to the conference and enjoy the museums, art galleries and sights. * Use the conference planner on the web site - it works and it makes things easier when you get there. * Make appointments with those vendors you must see. Make an exhibit hall map in advance so you 'work' the hall strategically. * If you work with special library / information pros folks from around the world or you're in a global company, SLA is a great place to meet each other - for a meeting, coffee, lunch, dinner, drink, or just to say hi! Give these folks an e-mail or phone call and see if they're going to the conference. Networking is so much richer when you have seen your closest contact's face (insert Internet irony here) The Sessions * Make your schedule in advance (at least at the start of the day, but earlier if possible). Include all of the options you might like so that if one desired session is cancelled or doesn't meet your expectations or needs then you can hop over to another. Make sure you note the room locations so you can evaluate how much time you have to get there between sessions. * Plan to attend the First Timers reception and make a few new friends and get an orientation! * If a session isn't meeting your needs, leave. Your time at this conference is important and you should get the most out of your investment in time, effort and money. If you don't see another session you want then that means head for the Exhibits. * Generally you are 'allowed' to attend all sessions, including business meetings of the Association, divisions, and committees unless these are specifically marked 'in camera' or 'executive session'. SLA is a very open association and you should see how your association works for you. It's also a great way to find out what you might like to get involved in and volunteer. * Make sure you get your tickets early for ticketed events. If you miss out on one event that you desperately want to attend - check out the message board area where there is often a ticket exchange for extra tickets. * If you attend a business meeting and wish to be heard on an issue, you have a right to speak as long as you are in order. Just ask permission and you will be heard. If not, get out your Robert's Rules and make them work for you. * If you want a good seat at a session, arrive a little early. If you're late, have a little courage and take a seat. Don't hover and shuffle at the back of the room or in the door. Librarians tend to sit in the end seat of every row and you'll have to shuffle theatre style to get a good seat in the middle of a row. Whatever you do, don't stand for an hour - you'll regret it. * Always try to go to the opening plenary - then you'll have something in common to talk about with new people you meet for the rest of the conference. The Plenaries are usually designed to be engaging and challenging. * Evaluate programs from many directions - speaker, topic, title, blurb, sponsor, convenor. If you're not sure it's for you the speaker can usually be asked what level they will be speaking at just before the session. Then again, even if you're at an advanced level on a certain topic it's always useful to learn how to communicate the topic at an introductory level so you can use it for users and management! The Exhibits * Remember your business cards. Your can enter draws. You can have materials sent to you later. You can have contacts follow up later with more detailed information. You can look professional. * Write on the back of the business cards you pick up to remind you what you learned or what you'd like to follow up on later - even if it's just to visit an exhibitor's website or request a product trial. * The top three questions 1. What do you have that's new? 2. Can you demo something interesting for me about your new/enhanced/improved products? 3. Are you making (Have you made) any announcements at SLA this year? * Learn a stump speech about you and your employer to answer the booth staff's questions. They are trying to learn about YOU in order to make sure that they can give you the information you need in context. Being shy or furtive about your needs denies you the right to ever complain that your vendors don't understand you! * Some Exhibitors host hospitality suites for their best or prospective customers. If you're invited, go. They're often fun and you'll meet key players in the library world. * Don't be embarrassing! Hoovering through the exhibit hall looking for free pens and avoiding eye contact with anything resembling booth staff is not the image librarians want to project. * Please remember that often vendor staff are also professional librarians. Booth staff are often not only account managers but often vendor executive teams and key training or customer service staff come to SLA. * DO pace yourself. Look at the map and choose whom you absolutely MUST see and go there first. Better yet - make appointments in advance. * DO ask as many questions as you like. If the booth person doesn't know the answer they will find someone who does and get back to you later. * DO attend vendor demos in the booth - these give you an idea of what's there that might be new or they might serve as mini-training sessions. * Do help yourself to the marketing materials in the booths - that's what they're there for! If the vendor offers a 'goodie', make sure you have a conversation and learn what's new. * DON'T assume that your old familiar vendors haven't changed and that you know everything about them. This is your opportunity to learn what's new and different. * If you have no idea what a vendor does - they're completely new to you - ASK. This is your opportunity to learn something new. Booth designs are notorious for not telling you WHY you'd want to talk the people there - overcome that barrier. * Remember that vendor staff are people first. Don't stereotype. Don't be combative just for the fun of it - vendor bashing is a sport where no one wins. Be open to their suggestions - they've usually seen lots of libraries and library situations and have something to share. * DO wear comfortable shoes. There are rarely many places to sit in the Hall. * DON'T be reluctant to say "No Thank You" if you're not interested. * DO thank the vendors for sponsoring the conference in so many ways. Your conference experience would definitely be less rich and much more expensive without them. Networking and Social Events * Do not feel guilty for taking time for yourself on field tips, tours, or social events. You are working much longer hours at a conference than 'average' and it is just fine to take a break. You'll definitely absorb more if you rest occasionally! * Learn these 'Ice Breaker Questions'. Even if you're shy, they will often induce even the most recalcitrant and shy person to open up. 1. "Hi - I'm yournamehere and I'm from yourtownorlibraryhere. Where are you from?" 2. "What's new at your shop?" 3. "See anything new at the conference?" "Attend and great sessions?" "Learn something new?" * Come to the conference with specific people, institutions and contacts you'd like to meet. Learn the art of the nametag glance to see what networking opportunities you might find. Don't project false cliques or status on people - ALL of the people you'll meet were in your shoes once. * You're going to be lots of lines (for food, for coffee, for meetings, etc.) at SLA. Network with your line buddies - don't just stand there. * Leave the office at the office - professional networking does not ALWAYS have to have a 'pure' business purpose. It's great to have professional friends and acquaintances who are outside of your normal 'box'. It stretches you and it's one of the great values of the SLA Conference. * Don't horde your business cards - they're not gold in your pocket - they're like smiles - they only have value when they're given away. * In general, assume anyone who's wearing a ribbon is extra-approachable. They will tend to be people who have volunteered to make SLA a success. Help them by networking with them. * Local librarians usually staff a hospitality booth - ask their advice for restaurants and sights. They know. They live there! * Don't be afraid to ask people to join you for dinner or to set up dinner groups - eating is a great networking opportunity. Getting Involved * Be positive - no one wants to be involved with a whiner. Librarians will listen because they're polite but don't take that as endorsement for bashing SLA, individuals or vendors. People remember your positive contributions and interactions in a better way than negative ones. * You'll probably meet your next employer at a conference. First impressions are important. Dress for the job you want. * Write a report or memo to your boss or team and explain the value of the conference to you and what you learned. Start laying the groundwork for coming back next year in Nashville! * Volunteer - let people know that you're interested in trying new things or experimenting with a role in your association, commitee, unit, chapter or division. It's the classic win/win situation! The Association * Please make a point of attending the Annual Business Meeting (Wednesday morning). We have a few key decisions and votes this year (Including our Association's name). It's also when you can see the real work accomplished by the Association's leadership and volunteers this year. * You'll also likely meet our Association's new Executive Director at this conference. She or he will be in a listening mode - so speak! Valuing Your Conference Experience Here's what I think are the best benchmarks that I use to value my SLA conference experience: 1. I met one new person every day. 2. I learned one useful thing I didn't know in a session every day. 3. I had one substantive discussion with a vendor about a new product that I might need. 4. I had fun, every day. You might have more of your own. Have a great SLA 2003 Conference in New York! * These hints owe a huge debt to the Special Libraries Association Fellows and in particular Dan Trefethen and Susan Klopper, who created a First Timers Package for the Los Angeles SLA International Conference in June 2002. Stephen Abram, MLS and SLA Fellow Vice President, Corporate Development Micromedia ProQuest 20 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 2N8 Phone (416) 369-2594 Fax (416) 362-1699 or 362-5743 Toll free 1-800-387-2689 ext. 2594 URL http://www.micromedia.ca E-mail sabram at micromedia.ca |
| Copyright 2003 - The Park Library - School of Journalism and Mass Communication - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |