ALA Midwinter 2010 for School Librarians-What was HOT!
Jan 18th, 2010 by Cathy Jo Nelson
First let me say no, I’ve never been to ALA Midwinter, and GASP, not even ALA Annual. But I am a standing member, and now that I use tools to stay connected, I can follow events at these conferences when they are offered. So this post is strictly from the view of an outsider looking in.
I give to you a list of reflective comments based on lurking or things I think were most popular for school librarians from the ALA Midwinter 2010 Conference:
- ALA Youth Media (Book) Awards
- Campaign kick-offs for ALA President Elect / Flat Sara. Sara Kelly Johns was hugely popular throughout the conference, and where Sara could not be physically, there her Flat Sara stood in.
- AASL renames the school library media specialist to that of “School Librarian”
- Vendor hall design and layout was a classic #fail; I read so many complaints about the exhibit/vendor area it became funny! At big conferences I do attend, the Bloggers cafe and uncommons area compete for my time, and they usually win. I really have to have a purpose to be in the exhibit/vendor hall.
- Networking Uncommons Learning area super success – Impromptu BattleDecks, sharing, networking, more. I know many used Flip cameras to video the impromptu sessions. Joyce Valenza is said to have done an quick session on widgets. Looking forward to these videos surfacing in the coming days.
- Sessions Ustreamed or video streamed out using Qik got me into YALSA’s session led by their Teen board members – Best Book for Young Adults program and one other.
How to follow such big conferences from afar?
- Twitter feeds (search #mwala10 here.)
- Friends in attendance
- Netvibes from attendees
Some photos that I was impressed with or struck by:
A youth member suggested “Could it be that…we (teens) are depressed because we picked up a book like this…” Drew lots of laughter form the audience!(Photo from americanlibraries‘s Photostream)
“Set Sail to Fail” impromptu session in the Networking Uncommons at Midwinter. Look I see Buffy Hamilton on the right taking photo. (Photo from ALA Staff’s Photostream)
Seems like “Flat Sara” got lots of photo ops throughout the conference! I see Sara, Polly, and Buffy from my PLN. (Photos from Michael Golrick‘s Photostream and Pollyalida‘s Photostream)
Why LOOK!! I see Amanda Leblanc and Joe Myers, our 2009-2010 SCASL president and president-elect. (Photo from the americanlibraries‘ photostream)
Now that ALA Midwinter is over, I hope Amanda and Joe will be sharing their learnings and ah-ha moments with SCASL members. I for one can’t wait. Isn’t it fantastic that SCASL has representation annually at such an event? Come on Amanda and Joe–please share with us not there!
I like 21st century conferences that you could follow online. Unfortunately I will not be at Educon this year but I look forward to the networking online. I hope to be there in 2011. Educon this year fall on wife’s and daughter’s birthday.
I hope to return to Educon someday. No conferences have matched the learning and takeaways from my experience at the first ever Educon. Not even a library conference. Thanks for stopping by Bill.
My conference dance card so far has included NECC08 (with a quick visit to SEDTA), EduCon 2.1, AASL Charlotte. In the works: EduCon 2.2 and (possibly) ALA D.C.
NECC was overwhelming, Charlotte an incredible networking experience. EduCon remains my ideal of a small, friendly, focused gathering.
Virtual attendance is certainly better than no presence at all, but I spend so much time online every day, that connecting and interacting with “real” people in real time is a very special opportunity.
I’m really surprised you heard complaints about the exhibit layout – for the first time (I think) like vendors were grouped together. Made it so much easier to find the ones I needed!
Laura this just underscores my need to physically get off my duff and GO to an ALA conference. Thanks for dropping by.