Take a walk through MLA|SLA '23 contributed content with Liz Morris (pictured) as she shares her experience at the annual conference.
I’m wrapping up my second day at MLA|SLA ’23 and feel like I’m at summer camp. The interior journey here is like the summer excursions of my youth – a bit of trepidation about hanging out with a bunch of strangers to start, followed by enthusiasm for new ideas and the opportunity to operate outside my normal routine, concluding with an inevitable desire to be best friends with everyone forever. (Or to remain highly collaborative, at least!)
The Contributed Content sessions are a fantastic way to foster post-conference collaboration. I’ve attended Lightning Talks, Clinical Support Papers, and Health Equity and Global Health Papers sessions thus far. I’ve also tuned in to some virtual programming and am impressed by the breadth of poster presentations. In each instance, the presenters have been enthusiastic, and the question-and-answer dialogue has been generative. I’m a first-time attendee, and while I’ve attended several professional conferences in the library and patient advocacy communities, this event’s high-volume approach to presentations strikes me as very egalitarian and communal. My brain is buzzing with new perspectives on addressing health information, supporting clinical inquiry, and promoting health literacy. And my bag is full of business cards from colleagues who are not only willing but appear genuinely eager, to keep sharing ideas and resources. Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a seasoned pro in the medical and special library community, this conference truly has something for everyone. Now if only we can get some bracelet beading stations …