Core Library Consulting Interest Group

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Consultants Networking Luncheon hosted by ASCLA Library Consultants Interest Group

12 – 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25

Do you consider yourself a library consultant? Would you like to become a library consultant? Lunch and learn with colleagues! The Library Consultants’ Networking Luncheon provides an opportunity to meet others and discuss the skills, craft, and business of consulting. Jamie Hollier will share tips and exercises to for relaxation and focus in Preparing to Speak. Brenda Hough will offer techniques for Presenting online: How do you engage a virtual audience? The event is hosted by ASCLA’s Library Consultants Interest Group (http://connect.ala.org/node/151445). Join us in Philadelphia to network and learn.

The event, scheduled for Saturday January 25, 2014 from 12:00 - 2:00 during the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia is a ticketed event. You can add this event to your Midwinter registration or may attend without registering for the full conference. REGISTRATION RATES: ASCLA members, $79; ALA members, $95; non-ALA members, $99; Student/Retired members of ALA, $79.

I'm thinking of signing up for the luncheon but thought I'd ask about it before doing so (like everyone else, I'm watching my pennies).  I'm a member of ASCLA and the LCIG, although I won't be retiring for another year, nine months, 25 days and 3 hours (but who's counting!).  I'm not sure if I want to be a "library consultant" in the sense of being hired privately by a particular library (or libraries) or type of same, but I know I want to be a consulting librarian and information professional in different fields (including but not limited to genealogy and consumer-health information) and for individuals seeking researchers as well as such organizations as museums, historical societies and health- and social-advocacy associations.  Working full-time at the Free Library of Philadelphia keeps me pretty busy, so I've been making preliminary plans for a post-retirement independent information business, but can't yet do as much as I'll be able to. 

Knowing that much about me, would you suggest I sign up for the luncheon?  I took "Assembling a Consulting Toolkit" at Annual in DC in 2010 and it was absolutely wonderful; I've saved my notes from it and have been urging people to take it ever since, if they're thinking along lines similar to mine!

Thanks...Barbara Pilvin

Barbara

Thanks for your thoughtful inquiry, and I do hope you decide to attend the Consultants Networking Luncheon in Philadelphia. Last year's luncheon had attendees who had been consulting for a number of years as well as those starting out and those still thinking about it. The luncheon was planned with a number of interactive activities to initiate conversations and help people to know each other and learn about what they do. We hope that the same dynamic atmosphere will be created at this year's event. If nothing else, we would hope that attendees will feel energized and positive through networking with other who have chosen (or will choose) to be library consultants.

I hope to see you at this year's luncheon.

Jeannette Smithee
past chair of Library Consultants Interest Group (LCIG)