Part of being a professional is being able to grow with your chosen profession. If you are reading this article, then your chosen profession probably has something to do with libraries. Throughout library school and our early careers, going to professional conferences such as the recent American Library Association Conference in Boston is touted as being the way to develop professionally and network with other people who are in similar circles as ourselves. There is such a wealth of these conferences on a national, local and even international level that there has to be something out there for everyone, right?

Yes. But as a new person in the field, there may not be a way to explore and find out which is for you, or even to attend any conference at all in some cases. Some workplaces do not have money to support professional development, some specify which conferences they will support, some give an allotted amount of money and let you choose…there are many different scenarios.

So the question is: how do you pick between so many opportunities? This is a short primer on picking which conferences to attend and finding ways to fund them.

1. Learn what the conference is all about.
The American Library Association Annual Conference each summer is the conference with a little something for everyone. There are professional development opportunities for every level and type of librarian, library school student, and even library support staff. There are social gatherings, committee meetings, etc. This is the big one; the Mecca for library professionals. That also means that a lot of people attend, another point to consider (see #3). The American Library Association Midwinter meeting, however, is a different story. Yes, there are still professional development opportunities and some social gatherings, but this conference focuses on meetings. Business meetings, committee meetings…if you are on an ALA committee that meets face to face, you will probably have a meeting here.

Even among just one association the conferences are very different; among the whole spectrum there is a huge variety. Check an association’s web page and literature to see if a conference or meeting is for you. Many places put their preliminary programs on the web before early bird registration is over. From ALA to IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions – 2005 conference in Oslo, Norway) to your local library association, find out what you can ahead of time.

2. Find your comfort zone.
Do you like big cities? Do you like to travel? Do you like to stay close to home? Everyone has different comfort levels in different situations. If you are uncomfortable in crowds, try a local association conference for starters; they tend to be smaller. Or some national conferences are smaller by specialization.

If you like to go to interesting places, check where the conferences you are interested in will be in the next year. There are opportunities to see some of the sights in your time off, or sometimes incorporated into events you may attend – at ALA Annual in Orlando, Florida, the Scholarship Bash was at Universal Studios!

If you are afraid of leaving the significant other, kids, pets, and/or house plants on their own, there are some conferences where you can take them with you. I am not suggesting that meeting on ‘information literacy in grammar school’ for your 3rd grader, but s/he may like a day or two at some attraction near the conference of your choice. Also the option of a local association conference comes up here again; if you commute an hour to the conference, it is like you never left.

3. $$$
Whether you are fully funded for everything through your institution or through your own pocket, money finds a way to be an issue with every conference. There are many articles on how to SAVE money at conferences so I will leave that to the experts, but something else to keep in mind is how to GET money.

Scholarships and grants are available for many conferences, often geared towards specific groups, such as new librarians or library school students. A tip from someone who has actually reviewed similar applications: cover what the application requires you to cover and read all the instructions. When you are getting the details of the conference, check the website and any connected site for funding opportunities that might be available.

These are not the only things to consider when looking for a conference or other professional development opportunity. Other items to consider range from immediate results such as how attending this will help you function at work upon your return, to getting involved in a new project or committee, to almost endless possibilities. I am not saying don’t go to a conference; I am saying go to more conferences. There is so much out there to do, why not do it all?