WILL UNWOUND #665: “Conference or Convention…the Choice is Yours”
January 25, 2012To read the funniest newspaper article I have ever read about librarians by a non-librarian please click on The Librarians of America Just About Destroyed Wild Salsa on Saturday Night. It’s about librarian revelry (i.e. eating and drinking and partying) at the late great ALA Midwinter Conference that closed down yesterday in Dallas.
I wasn’t there but I did the next best thing: I followed the 24/7 Twitter streaming of the conference, and, yeah, there did seem to be a lot of partying going on. In fact there was one lively group of librarians ironically calling itself the ALA Think Tank that seemed to be unapologetically dedicated to the concept of partying hard. Certainly seems to me like an alternative to sitting around, drinking coffee, and discussing linked open data. I think this ALA Think Tank is on to something important. Might be a good incentive to join ALA if you are so inclined.
Many years ago (possibly 1972) as a young pup reference librarian working the night shift at the Hammond (IN) Public Library, just an oil slick east of Chicago, I asked my director, Mr. Hayward, for time off to attend the annual convention of the American Library Association.
“No,” he replied sternly, “but I will give you time off to go to the Annual Conference of the American Library Association.”
“Conference, convention. I don’t get it. What’s the difference?”
In his most magisterial voice he replied, “Plumbers go to conventions; librarians go to conferences.”
I never really understood the distinction until years later when I found myself in an Atlantic City hotel that was serving as headquarters for a large convention of plumbers. Instantly, I knew what Mr. Hayward was talking about. The lobby was filled with pot bellied plumbers wearing funny hats, singing rowdy songs, blowing high pitched noise makers, and being followed around by short skirted young women selling gambling chips and other human services.
What I had stumbled into was a convention, the purpose of which seemed wholly to have fun. Further research corroborated this hypothesis. With the objectivity of an anthropologist observing a tribe of South Sea Islanders, I discovered that indeed conventions are rowdy binges of excess characterized by ubiquitous kegs of beer, wandering brass bands, and exotic dancers popping out of 6 foot cakes.
Conferences, on the other hand, are characterized by meetings, forums, speeches, lectures, workshops, seminars, exhibits, and resolutions about world problems. Oops, I forgot to mention the social aspects of a conference. For fun, conference goers drink cheap wine and eat stale cheese provided by exhibitors and run two and a half miles (mostly uphill) in something ironically called a “Fun Run.”
Seems to me from reading the Dallas newspaper story that the ALA Think Tank is doing its job well and turning ALA conferences into conventions. Who’d have thunk it?
Question of the Day: For you what is the true value of library conferences/conventions:
- Getting advance readers editions and other swag at exhibit booths.
- Attending Council meetings and passing resolutions about publisher ebook policies.
- Protesting SOPA.
- Attending motivational seminars by guru types.
- Sitting in the coffee shop and trading library director horror stories.
- Sitting in the Uncommons area and discussing linked open data.
- Attending speeches by Hollywood celebrities who a) tell librarians how to dress, b) wax rhapsodically about how much their library meant to them growing up, and c) scare everybody about global warming.
- Networking.
- Voting on Notable Books Lists.
- Going to author events.
- Wearing a tee shirt that proclaims “I WILL BE YOUR SLAVE” in the placement center while looking for a job.
- Eating, drinking, and reveling.
- Other
Speaking of conferences: My 2012 speaking calendar is filling up quickly, so if you want me at your conference/convention please get in touch with me asap. You can get all my speaking info by clicking on: How to Hire Will for a Presentation.
OK, I am a nerd. In what I consider to be a high compliment, one of my direct reports once called me a “loveable nerd” when I did happy dances at the announcement of the upcoming Dune book about the Bene Gesserit.
I go to conferences to a) go to sessions that will make me a better librarian and boss and b) network with others who have the same on-the-job stressors that I do and c) enjoy a couple of nice restaurants and drinks with friends. I have grown too old for the party scene described above, although I remember the old Ebsco parties with great fondness. I do hit some vendor receptions to get enough cheese, crackers and crudites so that I can save some money and not have to buy dinner that night. I do usually avoid the bad wine. As one colleague said at one of these things a number of years ago: “This is swill. It’s too bad to drink even if it’s free” I’m usually back in my room by 9 or 10.
But seriously, I go for the sessions and I almost always learn useful things to take back. I was not in Dallas, but reading the blogs it seemed like a successful time both professionally and socially…
Mimi, not sure if you are old enough to remember the Encyclopedia Brittanica parties. They were lavish, elegant, and very limited in their invitation list. I loved figuring out creative ways to crash them. EB always had the highest class of librarian drunks.
Will, I’m probably old enough, but wasn’t important or creative enough to get in! In 1980, in New York, my husband made it his mission to get an invite to the Time-Warner party, at the top of their skyscraper. He hung around the booth so long the rep finally gave him one so he could talk up some actual potential customers! Wow…what a party!
Yes, that party was epic.
… and never forget that ALA Annual is a ‘Conference’ and the Midwinter a ‘Meeting.’
Okay, Michael, educate me. What is the fine distinction?
Traditionally, as I understand it, Midwinter was a “meeting” of the groups that carried out the business of the organization–Council, committees, etc. It was not so much considered a time for informational sessions. So summer was a conference, with general sessions while Midwinter was for serious business. Then the committees’ meetings became more open discussion (some of them) and talk tables were like mini-programs, and it started going from there.
As a former EB member, and genuine ALA policy-wonk, I can tell you.
What Mimi says (below? above?) is true. The Midwinter Meeting is to transact the business of the association. There are no “Programs” at Midwinter.
Annual includes programs, award ceremonies, and the business stuff.
That being said, it is now honored more in the breach. That is why some divisions have “discussion groups” whose “business” at Midwinter cam be very, very close to a program.
Now as I scroll down, I see that Sue Kamm has also commented on the difference.
I have been involved in governance, and love it. My wife (the academic librarian – for now) hates the governance stuff. However, I have made good friends over the years, and have been known to partake in evening activities. My claim, through the 2006 Annual Conference was that in New Orleans, I had never gotten up and gone to bed on the same day.
According to the people I’ve spoken with, the Meeting is business oriented, while the Conference is professional development oriented. However, within the past few years, non-business aspects to Midwinter have crept in: tours, pre-conference events and – this year – a discussion on librarianship led by David Lenkes. From what I’ve heard that’s because ALA recognizes that more people want to be part of Midwinter and hey, if they’re willing to pay, why not entertain them?
Former, so you were an EB “A Lister?”
At our library, conferences were mainly used as an excuse to hit the exhibits. The year we were building a new library, our director filled two vans with staff to go to Chicago to look at library furniture, etc. The last ALA Conference I attended years ago in Dallas was when we were beginning to look at automated systems.
I was too much of a nobody to be invited to parties by any vendor, but I lucked onto the VIP floor in my hotel (for the conference price) and was able to save money on food by eating the free nibbles set out on the floor lobby. The waiter was a basketball fan and, when he found out I was from Indiana, couldn’t talk about anything else.
Beth, those are the kind of cool stories that people tend to remember about conferences…not the programs.
I went to ALA annual a couple of years ago. I didn’t have committee work and only a couple of the talks really appealed to me (one of which I ended up leaving early mumbling something like: “I’ll bet the only reason you’re presenting is to put it in your tenure portfolio.”). I enjoyed myself, but I left with the impression that it was a lot like going to Las Vegas: something everyone should do once in their lives, but only once unless you’ve got a compelling reason to return.
On the other end of things, I attended symposium titled “The Future of the Liberal Arts College Library” last year. It was co-sponsored by the Council on Library and Information Resources and the Council of Independent Colleges, and every single person in attendance worked at libraries at small, liberal arts college libraries. I learned so much from being around those people, and I know I added to the conversation as well. It’s a bit trite, but being there was being with my tribe. If they run it again, I’ll go again. The experience was so professionally invigorating that I’ll go every chance I get, even if it has to come out of my pocket.
Having explained the difference in my experiences between a big budget, big name conference and a small, intimate symposium, I also feel the need to admit that I drank many mojitos at both professional gatherings.
Jessica, every time you mention that you reside in the small liberal arts college corner of Biblioterra, I am extremely jealous.
I do love it here. I feel like this setting gives me the best of academic and public library settings (just wish I had a bigger budget).
I actually do find that conferences really can help me become better at my job. There are always a number of sessions that make me think new ways, discuss better ways to do things, and make me think about what we should stop doing. ALA Annual is loaded with stuff like this – I really do generally learn a lot and come back with a long, but energizing to-do list. Our user group conference for our ILS is even better.
As I’ve gotten braver, I also have finally started to dip my toe into the networking waters, and have met some people who have helped me and who I have helped with a variety of problems and other issues. Some meetings I set up, and sometimes I just horn in on interesting conversations.
The more I go to conferences, the more I learn to hone down my activities to those with the most value.
The restaurants and the parties are a nice side benefit, and the exhibits are a great chance to see what’s new that I should know about, but I still think the greatest value in any conference is in what you learn and what you bring back.
Sarah, excellent comment. I have spoken at some ILS user group meetings and I agree that they are extremely valuable. The camaraderie there is also very good.
Will, the gathering of librarians just past is the Midwinter MEETING, not Conference. ALA’s Annual CONFERENCE is held in the summer, frequently in a city that approximates a steam bath. To confuse matters further, the exhibitors may refer to it as a SHOW. ALA’s gatherings of librarians are large trade shows, aka exhibits, where vendors display wares ranging from large, expensive books, to more expensive electronic systems which allegedly streamline library operations such as acquisitions, cataloging, and circulation.
The midwinter meeting has primarily served as a venue where ALA unit members can discuss business without the conflict of programs. However, we in ALA are rethinking Midwinter’s function, as more programs and speakers are included.
When I was working, I spent a lot of time in the exhibits, scouting new resources and services for my library. [Only one other library colleague attended ALA events.] Since I retired, I mainly visit the exhibits to see any reps I’ve known and to enter raffles and pick up loot.
My primary reason for attending ALA gatherings is to participate in Council work. I’ve been a councilor-at-large since the mid ’90s. Participating in ALA is my way of giving back to the profession. [Lawrence Clark Powell, who was dean of the UCLA School of Library Service when I was a student, told me to go out and raise hell. I have tried to follow his orders.
]
Council was much less contentious this year. We considered resolutions dealing specifically with issues directly affecting libraries in the U.S. One important discussion was about the Tuscon, AZ Unified School District’s cancelling a program of Mexican American Studies. The issue for us was the district’s denial of access to the materials by removing them from classrooms and libraries. Yes, we did discuss SOPA and PIPA.
Because no one presented resolutions that many Councilors consider outside our mession, we sped through our agendas in near-record time. The finaly Council session took about an hour and forty-five minutes to complete.
BTW, publishers’ e-book policies are indeed a matter of concern to many public libraries. Publishers of e-books have either refused to sell them to libraries, or place restrictions on their use. At least one publisher announced their e-books would be available for only 26 circulations, after which the library would presumably have to purchase another copy. I personally prefer to read books in dead-tree format.
One issue that WASN’T raised in Council meetings was the trend of some jurisdictions toward contrating out library management to for-profit businesses. ALA has developed a toolkit of talking points to aid library advocates in keeping public libraries’ management in public hands.
In conclusion, hotel managers, cab drivers, and others in the convention/conference/meeting industry like having librarians in their cities. First, we attend meetings during the day, thus allowing housekeepers to clean our rooms. Second, we are good tippers. Finally, we don’t get into drunken brawls.
Drunken brawls are my favorite conference events
Walt, you must have been at that Nevada Library Association Convention in the late 80s. I think it was Ely…maybe…Elko. Some cowboy with shit still on his boots fought another cowboy (I think he had shit on his boots too) over the right to buy some comely librarian a drink. All hell broke loose. I dove under the nearest table I could find.
Missed the Nevada conference but I sure as hell did not miss any Ohio Library Association (now, for some reason, called the Ohio Library Council) conferences. One guest speaker told us we wouldn’t have a literacy problem if people read as much as librarians drank. And, Akron-Summit County librarians…oh, I’ve said too much already…
@Sue
Hopefully P.L.A. will address the contracting / outsourcing issue somehow?
Sue, I hope Council is on the whole ebook library rights issue.
I’ll let you know in 1075 days. Until then, my conference pleasures remain secret (on the advice of counsel).
Okay…so I was right. You were there.
More than one librarian/librarian marriage was sparked at a conference.
Here’s one: http://willmanley.com/wills-short-story-3-a-library-love-story/
I meant real ones.
Oh.
Glad I went to Wild Salsa on Monday night after the hoards had left. (and the blog was correct – darn good tacos and so-so margaritas – but maybe they were low on tequila after the weekend).
I actually like the Midwinter Meeting better than Annual Conference. Working in the consortia corner of biblioterra it’s a lot harder to just bop next door and talk to other librarians with similar jobs. Yes, I go to my committee meetings and trudge through the exhibits, but the discussion groups at Midwinter can be lively and informative. This year, they were also a chance to know that it’s not just California that seems hellbent on destroying organized library cooperation. Misery loves company – and tequila.
Just curious, how many of those ALA tweets were about the “beverage situation” at the convention center?
A homonym digression — can a horde hoard? or is hoarding a solitary passion?
Last ALA I attended was in Chicago — a day’s drive away & I intentionally loaded my vehicle with bag after bag from the exhibits — publishers’ advance copies, posters, etc. to use back in the library.
BTW the “local welcome” speakers at that conference were a couple of pols named Daley & Obama. The mayor talked about how investing in new public library branches was revitalizing neighborhoods & helping push up property values. I forget the Senator’s main idea.
The convention center or the convention center hotel bars???
The city of Dallas awarded all soda concessions to a Dr. Pepper distributor. The only diet soda to be had was Diet Dr. Pepper – unless you walked all the way to end of the A concourse, where you could get a Diet 7-Up. Not a Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi, or even Diet Rite to be had at the convention center. And there were signs all over the place prohibiting outside food or drink – not that us desperate Diet Coke drinkers paid any attention.
And Stan – After being on the road for 2 1/2 weeks the fact that I could put together a semi-coherence sentence is an achievement and I never could spell worth a damn. Or maybe I did just have librarian exhibit hall behavior on the brain.
met…yes, there were a number of anti Dr. Pepper tweets. Now they make sense.
I haven’t been to an ALA Conference or meeting since the lat 1980′s. Too rich for this very small, plains state library budget. However, I remember when Cliff Stoll came and talked about his book Cuckoo’s Egg. He was climbing on the tables, walked into the audience and stole someones drink and another persons snack (M&M’s?) No, he didn’t give them back. It was hysterically funny! I’d read the book before I saw him and knew he was quirky but that performance was more than I expected.
pma…love to have been there. How long ago was it?
Late 80′s, either 87 or 88 I think.
I felt bad that I had to miss this conference because it looked like the ALA finally figured it out when it came to what workshops, speakers, etc. would be well worth my time. I really wanted to go to the ACRL WESS session, since they were having a call for papers. I think, in general, I’d rather go to a conference over a convention because I think the conferences filter out the b.s. whereas the conventions, because they are longer, they throw in a lot of b.s., a lot of which has nothing to do with libraries. I could care less to see famous people who have nothing to do with librarianship. I’m glad it was about more than just a bunch of (yawn!) droning speeches about libraries and technology.
Jeannine…I agree. The celebrities? Really, what’s the point. It’s always very patronizing.
While some on this blog seemed to be pleased with the guy from What Not To Wear who spoke at the one ACRL conference in Philadelphia, I was outraged. Really?! When I told my sisters (who are as far away from librarianship as one can get) and my 17-year old niece (who watches shows like that all the time; she wants to be a writer for fashion magazines), they couldn’t believe it.
Agree!
When I attend events in my hometown, I get the feeling that members of my family and some of their friends are the few left who still provide alcohol at their gatherings (besides expense, I know there are legal implications that go along with that that people simply don’t want to deal with). I wasn’t surprised when I went to a mercy luncheon for a woman who was from a ginormous Irish Catholic family almost 3 weeks ago (her maiden name is associated with some politicians and a judge in the area) that her 9 children had alcohol. As an aside, her funeral Mass was held on the same day as the birth of her 7th great-grandchild.
I have to admit that is lost (celebrating life) when the story about Cana is even mentioned. Talk about missing the point when interpreting the Bible.
Library conferences are what you choose to make of them. Timely continuing education, productive face time with vendors, and networking have mostly been my goals. I gave up on ALA Midwinter many years ago (mostly irrelevant unless you are an ALA committee or governance junkie), but last Saturday I made the three-hour drive to Dallas with a dozen of my staff to spend a day in the exhibits. It was time well spent. I was able to move several items of business forward that would have been a lot harder otherwise.
As a public librarian, I have found the biennial PLA conferences to be the best return on the investment of time and money. I try not to miss them. The ALA summer conference is hit-or-miss, sometimes with excellent programs and usually with lots of vendors. For a good mix of everything, you can’t beat the joint conferences that the Mountain Plains Library Association has every year with its twelve member state associations. Good programs, great networking, plenty of fun in places like Billings, Tahoe, Salt Lake, Albuquerque, etc., most of which will never see the huge numbers of an ALA conference.
The business of ALA, PLA, or other library conferences is mostly done in the daytime (including weekdays.) After spending a full day learning and connecting, the evening is properly reserved for social time. While there are plenty of librarians who love to party, and some who go to extremes, my observation has been that we tend to be better informed about where the good experiences are and to eat and drink with more class than the average convention-goer. But sometimes it is good to just crash in the hotel room and read a good book after a busy day, without interruptions. That, too, can be time well spent.
Wayne, I don’t think I’ve ever been to a PLA conference. What makes them so valuable?
PLA conferences are focused on public libraries and public library concerns. ALA is much more diffuse in its programming, which can make it harder to find programs really relevant to your needs.
Thanks, Wayne.
Hey Will! Thanks for the good words about the ALA Think Tank. If you want more info about what it is really, read about it here – http://pcsweeney.com/2011/02/21/the-revolution-wont-be-televised-but-it-will-be-facebooked/
or, more importantly, you can get involved and join the FB page. http://www.facebook.com/groups/ALAthinkTANK/
pc…thanks for the links. Congrats on the impact the Think Tank is having. You’re doing great work.
I’ve only ever really gone to one major library conference. I went to NYLA two years ago.
I do go to system level meetings but usually I’m too busy working at my library to go to conferences and I’ve never been to a convention at all but they sound like fun.
Maybe we can put one on in the Tavern some Friday night!
Linda, great idea. I think I have a post for Friday Fun Day. Many thanks.
I’m all for that! Why do conventions and/or conferences have to be so “stuffy”? All I would be looking for is meeting other librarians and of course alcoholic beverages would have to be made available for those who wish to drink alcohol (I don’t know know about you, Will, but the Catholics sure know how to put away the booze).
Jeannine, I agree with you completely.
Well, wine does play a big part in the Old and New Testaments. Christ’s first miracle was changing the vats of water into wine at the wedding at Cana. To me that miracle was all about celebrating life.
Speaking of great conference parties, my vote still goes to the Gale party at the Far West Rodeo in San Antonio many years back. Great western band and huge dance floor, a mechanical bull, live rodeo, pool tables, great food & drinks, gave out little beanie baby horses at the end – is was a seriously good time. Not sure if it’s a coincidence or not that Gale never threw another big conference party. (the Elsevier party this year was a pale imitation)
Yes…but were there real cowboys brawling over the right to buy a comely librarian a drink?
My conference experience pretty limited compared to some of you (probably been to less than ten of the national), but I do remember having a lot of fun and learning some very useful things at PLA in Atlanta (1993?). I usually try to cram in some sightseeing when I go. Now that I am retired if I go it is MOSTLY about sightseeing and just hitting a few of the general things. I am probably among the few who do not LOVE the exhibits. The exhibit hall trips every agoraphobic bone I have in my body. Can just dip in a little bit before panic attack kicks in. Was fortunate to attend Mid-Winter in Chicago one year..Attended a 2 day program about library construction. I felt like I brought back some information that was very useful. Fun time too and good stightseeing. TheThe sightseeing all of course out of MY pocket.
Wynette, sometimes the exhibit aisles feel like a California freeway at rush hour.
You see to think that it needs to be one or the other Will? Why on earth would you think that. It’s always been both, if you know where to look and whom to hang out with.
Hard to talk about open link data after a night with the ALA Think Tank!