Innovative User Group Conference
May 10 – 13, 2023
The Central New York Libraries Resources Council (CLRC)’s Professional Development Grant enabled me to present at and attend the Innovative User Group (IUG) Conference. The conference was held in Phoenix, Arizona and brought together information professionals who use various Innovative products including Sierra, Polaris and Vega. I recently started in a new position as Systems Librarian at Le Moyne College. I have managed and administered many library systems throughout my career, but I’m new to Sierra and most of the library systems used at Le Moyne. Attending this conference has given me the opportunity to learn more about Sierra and also network with other information professionals using this product. I also presented at the conference. The title of my session was Sierra Newbies Onboarding: Do’s & Don’ts.
Here are some specific highlights from the conference.
Expanding Horizons through an Engaging Keynote
The conference featured an impressive keynote speaker, Anat Baron, who delivered a thought-provoking presentation on the future of information, titled “The Next Great Transformation” The presentation focused heavily on the potential role artificial intelligence (AI) could take in our future. I learned a new phrase from her presentation “AI hallucinations”. She described this phenomenon as what AI does when it doesn’t know the answer or have the information you seek. The photo I provided for this conference summary is from her presentation. This quote definitely gave attendees a lot to think about.
Practical Workshops and Interactive Sessions
In addition to the enlightening keynote, the conference offered practical workshops and interactive sessions. Attendees had the opportunity to experience the latest programming tools, coding tricks, and API solutions firsthand. From coding workshops to API integrations, these activities allowed participants to gain practical skills and explore innovative applications in a dynamic environment.
Networking Opportunities and Knowledge Exchange
One of the key aspects of the conference was the networking opportunities it provided. Attendees were able to connect with like-minded professionals, industry experts, and potential collaborators. The exchange of ideas, experiences, and best practices fostered a vibrant atmosphere of learning and collaboration. It definitely has expanded my professional library network and I look forward to connecting with attendees in the future.
The IUG Conference proved to be a remarkable gathering of tech enthusiasts and industry leaders. I am grateful to CLRC for their support. I made some great connections with people from across IUG and I now have a foundation of specialized Sierra knowledge that I can draw from and build upon as I continue to learn how to manage and administer this library system.
Pauline Lynch Shostack, Le Moyne College