I am a huge conference connoisseur. I love them, and especially AASL!

I look forward to AASL every two years for many reasons: the chance to check out a city different from my own, a much needed mid-semester recharge, a chance to be in space with people who do work similar to my own, and most importantly, time to learn.

I have said this often, but conference time gives me a chance to remind myself and others of the importance of building and maintaining relationships. With that, here are my

TOP 5 CONFERENCE TIPS FOR HUGE INTROVERTS

  1. Self-Care: whether this is your first national conference or 100th, you gotta take care of yourself! Comfortable shoes & clothes, hydration, nutrition, down time, and strategic planning all make or break a conference experience. Shoes matter – you are probably going to walk a ton and spend time waiting in lines. Take care of your feets so they can take care of you. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Bring snacks to keep you going between meals. Plan for processing time in the mornings, midday, evenings – whenever you do your best thinking. Strategically plan your session attendance, exhibit hall time, events, keynotes, and other activities – have a backup session or 2 in mind in case your 1st choice fills up.
  2. Packing – Bring enough to help you thrive, but not so much that you can’t take books and swag home. PRO TIP: ship stuff to yourself. Most convention centers have a shipping center. Use it instead of lugging and checking a stuffed suitcase full of goodies, which can be $$$. I always carry a backpack at conferences (and every day), but before travel, I unload it of various box cutters and stuff that TSA might not like. Make time to lighten your load and your backpack/bag.
  3. Make Opportunities to Connect – I am the world’s worst about posting up in a corner or at a table, surrounded by amazing, fascinating people, then hyper-focusing on my laptop or phone. Make eye contact. Smile. Put down your device and be present. We don’t often get chances to connect with others from all over the country who get us – who are doing the same work, facing many of the same challenges, and solving many of the same problems. Our profession is full of interesting, smart, capable people, all of whom have something valuable to share. Meet people and listen to their awesomeness!
  4. Talk to Vendors – one of the most important part of my conference experience is research. I want to stay on top of innovations in our field, and talking to vendors is one way to stay informed. I always spend some of the conference in the vendor hall, visiting my existing contacts and stopping to learn from a company I might not currently have a relationship with. I collect books and swag to give away at our professional learning events, and I usually leave with a full bag and a head full of ideas. Vendors are also great at helping us connect with each other. Since sales folks tend to be more extroverted than librarians, their presence can forge connections we may not be as able to on our own.
  5. Get Involved – if you have never volunteered at a conference, doing so can help you make connections with presenters, authors, and other attendees. I have volunteered at many conferences, and it is a great way to learn and connect, if you have the time.

There’s no wrong way to attend a conference, and just showing up will provide many benefits. Whether you are new to conferences or an experienced conference enthusiast like me, keeping these tips in mind might help enhance your experience. See you in St. Louis!