I was able to attend MLA this October which was inspiring and informative. While there I attended a variety of workshops. I will provide a brief overview:
Merchandising: Using Sales Techniques to Enhance Your Collection. This was such an eye-opening session about the visual aesthetics of arranging books on the shelves as well as within displays. This workshop has led to us investigating how to improve areas within the children’s department so that we can have more materials face out. It has also led to our displays being more streamlined. It has me rethinking how we utilize our space and how to make the books more appealing to the families and children who use them.
The Point Encounter: Selection Criteria for Revolutionary Read Alouds: This presentation was amazing. The insight that the presenter was able to share in regard to choosing read alouds that inspire empathy, critical thinking, and change was concise and clear. It was such an informative session. I am now looking at read alouds with a more discerning eye, especially those that I am able to share with older students during times of outreach.
I was able to attend two sessions in which local children’s authors shared the inspiration for their books. These were eye-opening and interesting.
A presentation demonstrating the value and impact of the library provided some advice/tips/applications on how to convey the value of the library to members of the communities we serve. While some of the statistical information was very technical, there were many avenues and ideas that could be translated into useful tactics for making people aware of all that a library provides.
I also attended a presentation of child-ed art within library programming. The speaker did a wonderful job sharing how child-led art leads to sensory exploration, increases imaginative skills, and has been successful in her library. I took this information and put it into practice the following day with my preschool storytime. The art program I hosted was well received by parents and children alike.
Thank you for the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues, be inspired, and learn at the Minnesota Library Association gathering.