The stuff conferences are made of

I dropped by two separate IT conferences this week, which was a pretty hectic week for the IT industry. To know more about these activities, click here.

I am referring to the IT Security Conference at the Hotel Intercon and the LinuxWorld 05 at the Dusit Hotel. Going around the booths and seeing the participants with plenty of corporate give-aways made me reflect on how we librarians run our own conferences/activities. I admit I was a bit jealous because these conferences were bustling with activities, sponsors, and parallel sessions. I have yet to attend a local conference that offered a myriad of activities that's why I'm so looking forward to the CONSAL in 2006.

I've been to a lot of library-related forums, seminars & workshops and even organized a number of them but much is left to be desired. They're so formulaic bordering on the traditional and on the basics. This is the reason why I haven't been attending any for the past two years for lack of interest. And some of them are but rehash of previous forums/seminars, same dog different collar.

Library associations are afraid to test unknown waters because organizing any activity is supposed to bring in money to these associations to help keep them afloat. Membership fees alone are not enough to sustain an organization. Even the Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. is having a difficult time collecting fees from its members.

On the other hand, maybe they should start thinking outside the box and bring in other partners besides book sellers and library vendors. Library associations have long been dependent on them for support that they choose the activities they support on a first come, first serve basis because of limited funds.

See for example the posts of Filipino Librarian Von on his SLA experience. Could we even see something close to this in the near future? I can only guess. But what I know is it's about time we up the ante and engage in library activities that are in tune with the times and bring in fresh ideas. Let's make professional development activities more than social occasions and make it a truly learning experience.

But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. (Lk 8:15)