The New York Library Association Conference
Saratoga Springs, NY
November 2023
I am very grateful to CLRC for helping me attend the 2023 NYLA conference in Saratoga Springs. This was my first library conference, and I had a wonderful time. I made a lot of connections with fellow YSS librarians and learned so much about our profession.
I am a new YSS librarian, so most of my sessions focused on kids, specifically program planning. The three sessions that I learned the most from were Rethinking Summer Reading, Active Programming for Families, and Where the Wild Teens are. Rethinking Summer Reading focused on how the Summer Reading Program has evolved, and if what we’re doing as librarians over the summer to encourage reading is really helping kids. It helped me look at SRP in a different light, and made me consider making changes to the way we run our program. I got many great program ideas from the Active Programming for Families session. The presenters focused on programs that involve the whole family, encouraging parents to be actively involved with their children. I can’t wait to start planning some of their program ideas at my library. The third session, Where the Wild Teens Are, was presented by a teen librarian who runs a very successful teen program at her library. She was giving tips and tricks on how to start, recruit, and maintain a teen program. We do very little programming for teens, so this session was the most interesting to me. I thought she had some helpful ideas on things that I can do at our library.
I came away from the 2023 NYLA conference refreshed, and ready to incorporate everything I learned at my library. I am so appreciative to CLRC for helping me attend this experience!
Mackenzie Lynch
Youth Services Librarian, Frank J. Basloe Library
Are you interested in being our next Professional Development Award recipient? Check out the award page for the rules & requirements!