On the Job: Develop Professionally

Today through Wednesday, I am attending the Computers in Libraries conference. Techie library nerd win! This is the second professional conference I have attended in a year. (The other was Center for Intellectual Property's symposium on Hybrid Copyright.) I picked these conferences for two reasons 1) I enjoy the subject matter and 2) they allow me to develop more professional connections, skills, and knowledge.

Professional development is a "must do" aspect of librarianship. Information forms, functions, and communities are always changing and adapting to suit the needs of society. Librarianship is not a static profession, and the requirements of our job are always shifting. To keep up, you have to take proactive steps to build your skill and knowledge base. This means reading professional journals, blogs, newspapers, and other information based publications.

In addition, one should take steps to attend as many professional conferences as possible. You may get lucky and have an employer who will fund your trips (fully or partially). While that is awesome, sometimes it's worth shelling out a few (hundred) dollars to attend a conference or two. Conferences allow you to hear current developments from the experts and professionals. These events also let you network with those who share interest in your field. These connections can add value to the work you do because you're sharing knowledge and trading professional ideas. And, should you choose to pursue other career options, professional relationships can help jump start your job search. (Always remember to bring business cards to these events.)

Conferences are always a whirlwind. You learn a lot in a very short period of time, you meet more new people than you can hope to keep track of, and you're zooming around large facilities to get to everything on your list. You will be exhausted, but it is worth it. Conferences are professional crash courses that keep you informed and connected.

Final aside: While many of these conferences offer loads of free stuff, don't take everything. A tote bag full of stuff may sound awesome, but carrying it will only be a pain and you end up tossing or giving away most of it anyway. I take only what I find to me the most relevant and interesting material (while also keeping an eye out for things my colleagues will enjoy.)

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