So, when I signed up to blog for the PLA, I fully expected to be posting at least every day, with all of the exciting new insights I would gather as a library student at his first professional conference.  Between school, volunteering and work (and much to the chagrin of some of my library friends) I just wasn’t able to pull it off.

I did learn an important lesson: You can’t do it all.

However, to salvage my pride, I feel like I should try and get one post up describing some of my experiences:

I had an AMAZING time volunteering at the local arrangements desk. I had three two hour shifts over the course of the conference, and each shift felt like a blink of an eye. As one blogger mentioned previously, working one of these desks felt like conducting a reference interview…for reference librarians!! Thankfully, I love living here in Portland, and I take great pride in showing it off. After answering “Where is a good place to eat?” dozens and dozens of times, I left each shift pretty hungry.

I also had a great time getting to know the folks I was volunteering with. Most (but not all) where from Oregon, and many were alumni from the same library program in which I am currently enrolled.

It was also fun to see some of the folks I met – from both across the desk and behind it – out around Portland, whether on the MAX or at an event, such as the OYAN/YALSA/Inter Library Lush at Berbati’s Pan Thursday evening- it was great to see (new)familiar faces around town!

The other unforgettable moment was the opportunity to hear Sarah Vowell Speak. From The Incredibles to The Wordy Shipmates, I’ve become a big fan, and this event was a major contributor to wanting to attend PLA this year (along with meeting so many wonderful librarians, of course).  She was everything I hoped for (intelligent, and hilarious) and a little more than I bargained for (a little callous and mean). I loved it. She drew together readings from her different works, and as I listened, I understood the importance of our work – the fight against censorship, the protectors of democracy,  the gatekeepers of knowledge, the guides through the mires of information literacy, and every other cliché generalization to describe the role of librarians, all seemed to come together in my mind… and then she refused a voodoo donut and the inspirational thread was lost….

Overall, I had an amazing experience at PLA, and I’m already scheming a way to cross the country and try and get to ALA in D.C. this summer – maybe I’ll see some of you there?