Heidi McManus, CLRC Professional Development Award Recipient, Talks about the Public Library Association Conference

The only downfall to having so much relevant content is having to make hard decisions on what presentations to attend. My top priority was information related to collection diversity, as our library will be undertaking a DEI collection audit as part of our long range plan. Several of the sessions I went to featured information on audits using the Ingram software iCurate inClusive and the practicalities of maintaining a diverse collection post-audit. I also met with our Ingram representative to discuss the inClusive software and related costs. Best of all, I sat next to a librarian at my first session who was presenting about this very topic later in the week, and I have her contact information for follow up questions.

I also attended sessions on creating safe and supportive work environments, using data for decision making, and programming for individuals with disabilities, which is an area of personal passion for me. This particular presenter was so engaging that I ended up joining her Facebook group so I can connect with other librarians who are running programs for those with disabilities.

Every conference has a few highlight moments. One of mine was a visit to the main branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library. I spent a bit of time exploring the original Carnegie building, the modern addition where the main collections and service points are located, and the surrounding grounds that include a topiary garden. Another was a surprise appearance by Mychal Threets, the California librarian who went viral on social media with his inspirational videos sharing “library joy.”