Christine Fleischer, CLRC Professional Development Award Recipient, Talks about the New York Library Association Annual Conference

Thanks in part to CLRC, I had the opportunity to attend this year’s NYLA Conference. As usual, I met new colleagues and reconnected with older acquaintances. Also as usual, I came away with a lot of new ideas. The keynote speaker, Amanda Jones, is the author of “That Librarian”. Her book details the censorship battle she has faced and the subsequent repercussions. I know we all face the same possibility of a book challenge, but she gave me new insight, because I have to admit, I never thought about the aftermath of such a battle, or the toll it can take on personal lives and careers, especially in a small town environment.

I attended several of the sessions, and they all provided insight. But I was especially interested in three of them. Creating an Effective Community Report has already proven valuable, as our library is in the midst of a battle with our local government. We were able to create an infographic that clearly displays our impact on our community. Another session, Finding Valuable Volunteers, gave me some new ideas on recruiting new Friends and library workers, and keeping them. The last session I really liked was also the most fun. Teen Swag Bags described a subscription program for tweens, building a sense of excitement in these kids and giving them reasons to love and use the library.

I have received this award in the past and always appreciate the many ways CLRC supports their members, everything from advocacy, to training, to professional development.