Reaching Forward Forum for Library Support Staff
Sally Schuster, Addison Public Library

There is still time to register for the 2009 Empowerment Conference for Library Support Staff which will be held during the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, Saturday and Sunday, July 11 and 12. This year’s conference — Who’s Da Boss: Leadership for Library Support Staff — has been designed specifically to meet the needs of the library support staff that supervise others, manage departments, and want to be leaders.

Registration for Empowerment 2009 is automatically included with a full Annual Conference registration. Separate registration is also available. Registration for ALA Library Support Staff Interests Round Table (LSSIRT) members is $160 on-site. ALA members and anyone else can register for this two day conference for $210 including on-site. Co-sponsors are LSSIRT and the ALA Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR). In addition, several members of the Reaching Forward Committee are involved.

Register online for the Empowerment Conference. Choose the Empowerment Conference as a registration type, but remember it is included automatically with a full Annual Conference Registration.

This leadership journey begins with such library favorites as Maureen Sullivan, Tom Rich, and those gals from Face to Face Communications, Gail Johnson and Pam Parr. Learn about what it takes to be a good leader from Al Gini, Professor of Business Ethics, Graduate School of Business at Loyola University Chicago. Discover how to use colors to determine your style with Patricia Faughn. Good conversations, great programs, and ideal networking opportunities abound at the world’s largest library exposition.

The 2009 Reaching Forward Conference is over, and it was a success. This was our first try at using online evaluations. More than 250 attendees completed the form, which gives the Committee vital information when planning the next conference, which will begin in August. Reaching Forward will celebrate its 20th anniversary on April 30, 2010, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. The committee hopes to make it a conference to remember.

One of my favorite comments about Michael Stephens, the 2009 keynote speaker, is “I never heard such a buzz of excitement after the presentation was over.” He made you want to try out some of these gizmos and incorporate them into your library’s communication plan! He certainly has a dynamic, energetic delivery style. He never stayed in one place long enough to take his photograph! Judy Hoffman, our photographer from NSLS, didn’t even try.

Erin Weed (“Girls Fight Back!”), Tracie Hall (“May I Please Blow Up This Reference Desk?”), and Patricia Faughn (“What Color Is Your Personality?”) were three of the day’s favorite speakers. Many others receive favorable comments.

Although many enjoyed the lunchtime speaker, Elizabeth Berg, the consensus is that between the noisy wait staff and conversing library staff, it is difficult to give the speaker or performer the attention he or she deserves. Therefore, programs during lunchtime are probably a thing of the past. It was also suggested that the awards be given in the morning before or after the keynote address for the same reasons. The committee will consider these changes.

One thing we will emphasize next year is to pay your parking fee when you arrive rather than when you leave. The lines were long and slow. I know because I was in one of them. Next year, I’ll pay when I get to the Convention Center. The good news is that the machines take credit cards if you do not have cash. The bad news is that the fee was raised to $13 this year. We do not know what it will be next year. Hopefully, the parking lot will NOT be under construction next year. A lot of us were confused by the lack of signage.

The committee has also addressed the annual problem with the escalator which always seems to break down sometime during the day. The conference will all be on the main floor next year. I hear we may have more bathrooms too! Unfortunately, we cannot regulate the temperature. It’s always best to dress in layers so you can be comfortable all day.

We have already begun talking about the vegetarian meals and the best way to get them to the people who ordered them. One idea is that at registration you choose chicken kabob or vegetarian lasagna; then, nametags (one idea) would indicate the meal choice for the wait staff.

The committee hopes to celebrate the 20th conference with the best programs from past conferences. If you have a favorite you would love to see again, please complete the form on our Web site. Or, contact one of the committee members. We will meet in August to brainstorm about next year’s programs.