Will it be better when we get there?

Earlier this week, Erin wrote about how to engage yourself with the doings of ALA at Midwinter.  I'd like to add to that list of possible happenings with some other recommendations.

Take advantage of career services. The ALA JobLIST Placement & Career Development Center offers a range of services at ALA conferences. Most notable to me is the photography service. If you have twenty dollars, it is worth twenty dollars to get or update your professional photograph. What are you gonna use when you win the Nobel Peace Prize? When you're named the Most Essential Person on Earth? Gotta get a nice photo. There is excellent networking opportunities when you're standing in line. The PCDC also offers a resume review service, coaching, mentoring, and some conference sessions. Check out the link above to see if there is anything that strikes your fancy. While you're at it, get up the nerve to ask for what you want. If you run into someone that you want to talk to about career development in the hall, go ahead and ask them if they'd be willing to chat with you longer. They may not be able or willing to, but you can't get something you don't ask for.

Check out some social events. In the scheduler, choose "Social Event" as meeting type and Submit. You don't have to be engaged with the groups to go to their socials and start to make some connections with like-minded folks.

If you can't stand not knowing, the presidential inauguration will be livestreamed on Friday in GWCC B403. I hope they've got plenty of outlets to fuel your tweets.

Throughout the conference there is a track of events you can find under the Symposium on the Future of Libraries. Friends and heroes of the blog are presenting as part of the Symposium, so check out all those offerings.

OITP is ALA's Office of Information Technology Policy. While we have opportunities for individual positions and individual actions, OITP is setting the organizational (professional?) party line on policy. OITP has a number of open meetings which you can find in the scheduler by searching "OITP." They're working on copyright, e-rate, digital content, technology literacy, and more. They also have a number of sessions you may be interested in.

Diversity, Inclusion, Activism:
Look these sessions up on the scheduler for more information, I don't want to bore you too much.

Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services (ODLOS) Town Hall Meeting 

Friday, January 20 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM GWCC B203 

Inclusive Practices at Your Library: Creating a Welcoming Environment for Your Patrons with Disabilities
Saturday, January 21 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM GWCC B313

Rescheduled: WO Breakout Session - Library Professionals Lead: Influencing the agenda of the 45th President and the 115th Congress
Saturday, January 21 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM GWCC A302
From the program: Facilitated by ALA Past President Courtney Young, a panel of experts will share ALA's strategy on policy priorities and plans for the first 100 days of the new administration as well as explore how library advocates can engage with elected officials and their staff to impact the policy decisions of the new administration and Congress. The session will include an opportunity for panelists to field questions from attendees.

Coalition & Resource Sharing: Using the June is GLBT Book Month campaign to build advocacy and relationships.
Saturday, January 21 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM GWCC B406

Inclusive Programming: The Power of Accessible Board Games
Saturday, January 21 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM GWCC A304

“Documenting the Impact of Diversity Recruitment and Retention Programs” Focus Group
Saturday, January 21 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Marriott, A708

LITA Diversity and Inclusion Committee - Kitchen Table Conversation
Saturday, January 21 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM GWCC B316 

Supporting Diversity and Inclusion in the Current Social Climate: Why, How, and What Happens When ...
Saturday, January 21 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM GWCC, B405 

Racial Justice at Your Library hosted by Libraries4BlackLives 

Monday, January 23 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM GWCC B405

Stories

Competencies and Education for a Career in Cataloging (ALCTS CaMMS)
Friday, January 20 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM GWCC B215
The CaMMS program is focused on cataloging and metadata internship or fellowship experiences.

LLAMA Leadership Development Seminar
Sunday, January 22 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM GWCC B207
Maureen Sullivan is the presenter of this seminar. She is fantastic and comes highly personally recommended by me, @rachelmfleming.

An Archivist, Librarian and Museum Professional Walk into a Conference ...
Sunday, January 22 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM GWCC B405
Tell me more about these collaborative efforts and how to bring them to my library.

How People Fit Information and Libraries into their Lives
Monday, January 23 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM GWCC B407
Lee Rainie from the Pew Research Center will review recent research. Pew's research sets the national conversation, and it behooves us to be able to integrate it into our stories, challenge it, complicate it, and just get in there.

Libraries: A Powerful Platform for Change
Sunday, January 22 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM GWCC, B407
From the program: The New York Library Association's Sustainability Initiative is off to a strong start, helping libraries of all types understand their role as catalyst and convener to create sustainable, resilient and regenerative communities.

Update on Value of Academic Libraries Initiative
Sunday, January 22 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM GWCC, B407
If you're in academic libraries you know how important this is.

Unified Library Scene

Oh, did we mention that we're going to be there? Look don't be shy, say hello, let us know. We care about you and would definitely say hello back to you.

Keep Rockin'
Rachel