Several members of the ZSR Library recently attended the 12th annual Triad Academic Library Association (TALA) Conference hosted this year at UNC Greensboro. Their reflections are below.

Meg Sturdevant

This was my first TALA conference, and it was an enlightening experience. There were so many points I found delightful. During the keynote presentation our dean was aware enough to build in breaks, allowing us to discuss how our personal experiences align with the interconnected nature of library service, and how that, to use her words, “create[s] the conditions for belonging, learning, and care.” It was affirming to hear the stories from those gathered about how they connect with students, faculty and each other in ways that surpass expectations. To be frank, librarians and patrons can easily dismiss or overlook the value of library work, and those were good moments to reflect on how small yet significant our individual jobs are.

I was particularly touched by the story Dean Presely shared, about the girl who, when finding a book in the library, also found connection to every individual involved in bringing that work to her, even (and perhaps especially) if that work began decades before she was ever a student. This touches on why I became a librarian in the first place, to add a net positive to the universe and to play a meaningful role in supporting the learning journeys of others.

Kristen Morgan

I had a great time at the 12th annual TALA conference at UNCG. UNCG is a great venue and I appreciate their hospitality and the work of the TALA conference planning committee (Melde Rutledge and James Harper are ZSR Library’s Reps). Our Dean Lauren’s keynote; What Libraries Make Possible: Conditions for Belonging, Learning, and Care was filled with excellent information! It was both informative and interactive! I also attended Get In the Game: Library Programming the O’Kelly Way – Presented by Sharnette Evans and Joan Hill. It was so interesting to hear how their library does gaming programming and we even played spades! Gaming helps build community, supports student engagement, enhances critical thinking skills and reduces stress. I also enjoyed spending time with my ZSR Library colleagues, who I don’t usually get to see every day. Looking forward to next year.

Lauren Pressley

This was also my first TALA conference. These meetings started just as I left, so it was fun to get to be part of an event I had only followed from afar. Spending time with Wanda was a real highlight, as was getting to see so many NC library people I hadn’t crossed paths with in far too long. It is really meaningful to return to a community you’ve been away from and find the connections still there. I also loved learning more about the renovations underway at UNCG. It’s exciting to see how the space is evolving, and particularly so as we have our own spaces we’d like to update.

I really felt welcomed into the community, being invited to share a keynote presentation. I landed on What Libraries Make Possible: Conditions for Belonging, Learning, and Care. The room engaged with the content and when we took moments to break out into small group discussions the crowd was really receptive to sharing. The conversations during the breaks and the stories people offered were generous and thoughtful.

Thank you to the TALA planning committee, and to Melde and James for representing ZSR so well. I’m already looking forward to next year.

Jemma Johnson

TALA is my favorite conference and this year’s conference was no exception! I enjoy both the panels and the opportunity to connect with our colleagues from around the Triad.

Dean Pressley’s morning keynote gave me a chance to reflect on the relationships that make ZSR work so well. Her emphasis on the work we do for each other was especially prescient because that work is easy to overlook (or take for granted) with the library world’s focus on user-centered design.

The keynote dovetailed into the two sessions I attended afterward: “Get In the Game: Library Programming the O’Kelly Way,” presented by Sharnette Evans and Joan Hill, and the networking table discussion on student workers. The “O’Kelly Way” of using gaming to foster literacy and community was underscored perfectly by the way we all immediately connected to learn and play spades together. The session was definitely the highlight of the day for me (the lunch’s mac ‘n cheese was a close second)!

The following networking session on student workers was a great discussion on how each of our libraries—large and small, public and private, four and two-year—approached student employment. The collaborative spirit of the group to share what worked well and ask for insight for what wasn’t opened my mind to the opportunity of a local working group in this area. I look forward to working with our TALA colleagues on new and better ways to support our student employees at ZSR.

Melde Rutledge

This was my second time attending TALA, and also my second year serving on the planning committee with James Harper as the two ZSR representatives. It’s always cool to see all of the planning and organizing come to life and result in a great event.

Echoing my colleagues, Lauren’s keynote was a highlight of the conference. Lauren’s interactively styled approach was engaging, and prompted members of the audience to provide insights that resonated with me. I also attended the breakout session titled “Get In the Game: Library Programming the O’Kelly Way”, where participants learned about creative library programming initiatives through gaming at WSSU. We even had a chance to play a Spades game.

Beyond the sessions, it was wonderful catching up with colleagues, and also meeting new faces. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the food. It was delicious.

Although I am rotating off the planning committee, my involvement with TALA certainly is not. The conference has become one that I now look forward to attending each year.