Whether you’re attending your first professional conference or your fifth, a little preparation can help you make the most of the experience. Here are a few tips from ALASC student leaders who attended the 2026 ALA Annual Conference.
Say Hello and Start Networking
Attending professional conferences offers many opportunities to meet fellow LIS students, professionals, authors, creators, and researchers. Networking doesn’t have to be intimidating. As ALASC Chair, Devina Martinez advises, “Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to the person next to you before or after presentations, or while waiting in exhibition lines.”
Attending social events, such as the iSchool Networking Reception, is a meaningful way to connect with classmates, faculty, and alumni face-to-face.
Grow as an Information Professional
Conferences, like the ALA Annual Conference, offer opportunities to learn and explore topics of interest and even discover new ones. Session topics cover academic freedom, STEAM programming, generative AI, and other current issues. Attending a pre-conference New Member Round Table Orientation may spark your curiosity about topics you hadn’t previously considered.
If you’re interested in presenting your own work, attending conference poster sessions is a great way to see how professionals develop their research projects and learn what makes a successful presentation.
Lindsey Allen, ALASC Social Media Coordinator, notes, “I thoroughly appreciate every learning experience I can get. It is always valuable to learn from different experiences, and I intend to bring what I learned from these experiences into my own organization as I advance in my career.”
Plan Ahead
A little preparation goes a long way. Even before registering, explore different funding options. These could include SJSU iSchool Scholarships, grants for conference travel, or participation in an iSchool student group. Some organizations offer an employee professional development fund, so check with your employer as well.
Prepare and budget for travel, local transportation, food, and lodgings. If there is public transportation available, it’s a good idea to utilize it to help keep travel costs down. Devina notes, “I also knew that I didn’t want to spend too much on travel when I was there, so I mapped out and noted all of the Chicago train and bus stops for the places I wanted to visit.”
Once you’re registered, use the conference scheduler app to note presenters, exhibits, and events of interest. Just remember – you may not be able to see everything. Sessions often overlap, and conference days are long. Take breaks when you need to.
Don’t Forget to Have Fun
Choose your sessions based on what interests you and leave time to explore the exhibit hall. Yuna Miyamoto, ALASC Events Coordinator, suggests, “If you’re traveling from afar, bring checked luggage! It will be cheaper than shipping books back home.”
Beyond the many offerings of the conference itself, take some time to explore the host city too. Sightseeing can be a welcome break; so, visit landmarks, libraries, theaters, and local restaurants if your time and budget allow.
However you spend your time at a professional conference, you’re sure to come away with new ideas, connections, and plenty of inspiration.
See Devina, Yuna, and Lindsey’s full responses and recap here.
Written by Alondra Thomas
