PLA Blog

The 16th Reaching Forward Conference for library support staff was held just outside Chicago on Friday, May 19, 2006. Late Friday afternoon all of us on the planning committee breathed a sigh of relief that Sweet 16 is over. Following a wrap-up of this year’s conference, we begin working on next year’s. The date is set: May 18, 2007.

Now about Reaching Forward and how it works… A planning committee from many libraries from the Chicago area puts this dynamic conference together. This year was “Sweet 16,” and sweet it was. More than 1000 staff members from public, academic, school, and special libraries attended.

Long before I joined the committee a friend who attended each year would tell me about this wonderful conference for support staff. In my library, several people from circulation attended, but the rest of the library assistants were not aware that this conference was for us too. That has changed. This year ten of my fellow staff members who work in circulation, technical services, children’s services, and adult services attended.

I have only been a member of the committee for two years, but I am proud to be a part of this great team. It has been said that membership on the committee is a commitment for life…. For all those longtime committee members, I am very grateful.

Through the years, a format that works was developed. It includes breakfast, a keynote address, three sessions of at least ten programs each, lunch, lunch entertainment, and exhibitors. This is a day full of learning, networking, food, and fun.

Planning for next year’s conference begins shortly after the close of this year’s. Evaluations that attendees complete help determine what sessions might be of interest next year. At one of the early planning meetings, committee members throw out ideas for next year’s programs. Every idea goes onto sheets of paper from which topics are narrowed.

Once the program ideas are narrowed down, committee members begin looking for speakers. Everyone is encouraged to participate.

There are several key components to the programs.

The keynote speaker helps attract attendees. This year Loretta LaRoche was scheduled to be the keynote speaker until 48 hours before the conference began! She hurt her back, and travel was not an option. Her staff helped us find a replacement, Mikki Williams, who did a great job. We were so lucky she was available and willing to make our lemon into lemonade. Both women are terrific speakers.

Each year a number of local authors are invited to speak. A special place is provided for them to sell and autograph their books. The author programs are very popular.

The program sessions are planned to interest library assistants working in circulation, technical services, children’s services, and readers’ services. Something for everyone! Several general interest programs are included because this day should be fun as well as educational.
Vendors sell jewelry, clothing, bath products, chocolate, and more. Local colleges promote their programs.

When hundreds of people begin streaming into the conference center, you take a deep breath and smile to yourself. You know you’ve worked hard for this day and hope those attending enjoy the sessions they have chosen.

The committee has about nine scheduled meetings between the conferences with lots of e-mailing in between. We begin with the planning session and end with a wrap-up session. In between we volunteer for the many jobs and then do them. We have developed friendships and look forward to seeing each other.

I think one of the things that had made Reaching Forward successful from its first conference in 1988 is the support from the library systems and the directors of each library who encourage staff to attend.

Reaching Forward is part of the Illinois Library Association. We could not put this conference together without them. The American Library Association and the Public Library Association also support the conference.

If you are thinking about having a conference like Reaching Forward in your area, begin with a committed group of people. For more information about us, check our Web site.

Tags: Reaching Forward 2006

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 25th, 2006 at 8:29 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.