Local Library Conferences

Today I attended the Indiana Library Federation's District 5/7 conference, where I presented a session. Yes, it's a small conference, but there is still a wealth of information to be gained from such conferences. This year's conference featured workshops on blogging, social networking sites and the ways teens are using them, historical databases, and more. Additionally, the keynote speaker was Margaret McMullan, author of several books, including How I Found the Strong and When I Crossed No-Bob. All said, the conference was a pretty good deal at only $35 a person--which also included a decent hot lunch (with dessert!).

So why were there so few people there? I pondered that question as I drove home from the conference...in the rain... for quite some distance. Are library staff too busy to attend conferences? Do they think local conferences don't have anything to teach them? Are their budgets so drained that they can't afford to pay the registration fee and mileage? Are they simply not interested? Did they have other programs and events scheduled today which prevented them from attending? I haven't yet found the answer. All I know is that a lot of library staff in the southern part of Indiana missed a really good conference today.

My congratulations to the board that put together the event--especially to Larry Oathout, district president and director of the Tell City PL.