I got an interesting piece of advice this week about attending Computers In Libraries for the first time, and it goes a little something like this:
CIL is a great conference, and you’ll come away with so many fantastic ideas that I’ll likely end up on the verge of a meltdown trying to learn and do everything the minute I get back.
Has anyone found this to be true? 
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April 3rd, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Meltdown might be a little extreme, but I always come away with my head spinning. It IS a great conference. And make sure you mingle. The people who go are amazing and very generous. I learn as much just hanging out and absorbing as I do in the sessions.
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Yes, I’m a big believer in the value of conference talks sometimes being superseded by the value of having lunch with someone interesting.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:28 pm
The first time I went I would say that was true. By the second time around I knew I had to temper my enthusiasm. Just keep your ears open and don’t try to remember everything.
April 5th, 2008 at 12:43 am
Yep, just remember that most of the presenters have placed their slides in the big fat book you will get at check in. If you can’t go to the actual presentation, just check out the slide and email the presenter, go to their blog/site, or find them at the conference. Its all good.
April 5th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
I’m actually more concerned about melting down AFTER the conference– when I have such a long “To Do” list that i can’t possibly get it all done. Or can I?
April 8th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Just accept the fact that you can’t do it all.
April 8th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
This is my first time here, too, but I learned my lesson from my first trip to ALA. I strategically scheduled my workshops, took copious notes, came home with these great ideas of new things to implement, which all went down the tubes when the reality of my workload hit me back at my desk. This time, though, I have about 3 things that I will def. do and the rest can sit on the backburner for later!
April 8th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Diane- yes, but I want to do SOMETHING.
Shannon- the trouble of course, is that the backburnere stuff sometimes sits there forever. But I guess that’s life.