The MLA '18 poster sessions (there were four) can be called a successful programming element of this year's annual conference. No surprise. Though they were located in a space that was not part of the exhibit hall, and the only refreshment to be found was good old H20 (water), it didn't matter. As soon as one walked into the ballroom, one could feel the hustle and bustle. Poster session time slots often required selection to be there, that is, NOT going to another session (a unit meeting or other), or slipping in just for a short time before proceeding elsewhere.
Some folks strolled through, whether poster presenters were on duty or not. Others were very deliberate and marked on their schedules in advance the posters they wanted to view. Some attendees made sure to stop and greet poster presenters who were their work colleagues or professional friends. Others may have opted to view the posters and abstracts online rather than view the posters in person. All were choices conference attendees made...
This year's conference posters provided highlights and spotlights- of individual's and group's research projects, of library events and services, of "library as place" (renovations, new uses of spaces). There were analyses of e-books and institutional author publication patterns, visuals and text describing a consumer health library in a hotel, osteopathic history through postcards, or a glimpse of medical library services and resources in countries outside North America. Data management plans, graphic medicine, faculty and student outreach services- all could be found as topics of this year's posters. After a bit of effort (to create a poster or to schedule time to be there), the 2018 poster sessions were fun for presenters and attendees alike.
