zhie | ACRL Day Three.1

I just realized, smaller updates make for happier LJ friend pages. So, here's the midday update!

Went to a round table discussion this morning about the 21st century library leader -- it was great. There were only four people, the facilitator and three of us, so we had a great conversation and there was time for all to speak their minds. Never done one of these round tables like this before... oh, wait, DragonCon 'Children of Hurin' was a round table, wasn't it? Okay, so, um, I've never gone to one I haven't facilitated before. Yeah! That works! Anyhow, the facilitator talked about the idea of the four of us collaborating on a scholarly paper on the topic. So, probably one of the more productive hours I've had here thus far.

After that, I had an hour to kill, so I wandered around the poster sessions (for those who aren't regular conference attendees -- poster sessions means a room with people who have big posters [duh] usually about three to four feet by six feet with some sort of program or project or data or something they are presenting. Think of them as an idea fest. They would either be too short to set up for an hour, or too boring to attract anyone for a long session. So, they have these instead, you walk around and mingle and see what people are thinking up.

About 9:45 I head to the hotel where the focus group for the database my boss is really interested in us getting is being held. When I finally make it up to the 27th floor, I discover that the database rep gave me the wrong time, and, the session is nearly over. I think the pouty glare gave the guy in the room the idea that I was not in my happy pants over that one. He's going to try to get us into the beta testing. (Although, if he doesn't, to be honest, there was another DB company with a similar database, and theirs is already launched, so I would wager if we can't get in on beta test, then we'll likely go to this already finished product instead)

So, I head back to the convention center and try to figure out what to do now with my open time slot. I seriously did not want to spend another hour wandering (the reps at the book/supply companies were getting antsy... I had one woman who looked like she was going to slip her logo covered rain poncho into my bag if I didn't take it -- I hate rain ponchos, I also hate taking things from reps if I'm not actually going to use them, (hence my declining to enter my name into drawings for Starbucks cards) so I kindly told her I didn't need one as I hadn't started melting yet. She kinda maybe got the reference, not sure....t

---NOTE: something weird happened, and LJ ate this chunk... it's going to disconnect, but, that's just how it is, I'm not retyping it... basically, it was a rant about how people don't have common sense about recycling, and water management, and turning off lights....and, we're back....

Apparently, some of these things were not so apparent to everyone. Also, there was 'chat with your peers' time, to discuss the sorts of conventions we have run in the past or will run in the future.

Talkin' DragonCon with librarians... research/academic librarians... while holding my Gondolin travel mug... with my notebook open (hope they didn't notice) with fanfic written in it instead of notes from the session as I realized I could skim the power points later.

But, that's okay, I'm taking the 'I'll probably never see these people again in my life' stance. Oh, but, hey, as I went walking through the vendor hall to get to the pastry tables (yum, peach pastry, muse happy)... the guy who sat behind me on the plane recognized me, flagged me down, chatted with me about a book he's using in his course. It was awesome to get the info, it was an... 'oh crap, I should really put away my Kindle, it's on chapter naughty of Unforgettable' moment.

Lunch was spent at a table discussing the topic of student advisory committees. There was someone there who reminded me a lot of someone I used to work with, and she mentioned more than once re: not liking her director. I have to wonder how many jackass directors are running libraries into the ground out there, and also, are there stereotypes within librarianship? (or, is it just really types, not stereotypes, if they really do all act the same).

Poster sessions again after that, and my feet were really starting to hurt. Decided that I was not that interested in... whatever session I was going to hit at 1:30. Something about student success. It's probably going to be as disappointing as the one yesterday and the one this morning were -- so much of this stuff, where I'm thinking 'this is awesome, the veteran librarians can help edjumacate me' it's turning out, I know more or have more experience. And that, is scary.

And means I should write up a proposal to *Fin muse shakes his head and slides keyboard away*

*grabbing keyboard back* I should... I won't... well, I'll try hard not to. Slightly frustrating, though. (interestingly enough, that was one of the things we discussed at the leaders session in the morning -- frustrations of long-time librarians being adverse to change).

Part two to follow, including a visit to EMP. (Experience Music Project). Stay tuned.

Besides, you don't have much of a choice...