When I was chosen to set up the Rutgers booth exhibit at the American Association of School Librarian Conference in Minneapolis, I felt like a kid anticipating a theme park adventure. AASL did not disappoint. I walked into the exhibit hall visually bombarded by books and displays. The enormous size of the hall matched the wealth of useful knowledge, and next time I will be sure to leave room in my suitcase for the brochures, tote bags, gadgets, and books. Surprises were everywhere, from favorite authors signing books to Captain America ready to pose with you for a souvenir photograph. Yet, the best part of the conference was the learning opportunities from keynote speakers, the Exploratorium poster sessions, and the concurrent sessions. From the sessions I was able to attend, I brought home practical strategies to help students and partner with teachers in a school library program. As a student, I sometimes wonder how this all works in real life, but by attending the conference, I was able to see progress in action. The best part of the trip was the tools and knowledge I gained to impact learning. To all MLIS students, school library track and other specialties, I recommend getting involved in your professional organization and attending a conference. The gains both professionally and personally will be beyond anything you imagined. As you talk with other librarians, you will realize that we all face the same obstacles, but we all have different approaches for success. And, like any big destination adventure, you can start planning ahead. Many of the librarians I met, not all though, paid their own way to the conference. For all the future school librarians out there, the next AASL conference will be in Hartford, Connecticut, November 14-16, 2013. In the meantime, if you are in New Jersey, you can attend the NJASL conference December 2-3 in Long Branch, NJ. Look for me, I will be there!
-Guest Blogger and MLIS student, Jean Stock
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