New Perspectives: A Graduate Student’s First OLA Superconference

By: Meghan Stewart

To all the graduate students out there: Consider the word ‘Librarian’. What comes to mind? Shelves upon shelves, Melville Dewey, quiet zones and books upon books? As I began the Master’s of Library and Information Sciences Program at Western University, I thought the same.

Another side of librarianship exists, hidden from the public, and which only seasoned professionals know about. I didn’t discover it until I completed an 8 month co-op position at McMaster University Library. There are workshops, organizations, committees and groups dedicated to uniting information professionals with their colleagues and spreading new ideas and methods on how to be a librarian. One such event is the OLA Super Conference: a yearly gathering spearheaded by the Ontario Library Association. You definitely do not want to miss this.

Thanks to InsideOCULA, I attended this year’s Super Conference, held January 29th to February 1st at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Having never been to any event like this, I was unsure and somewhat anxious. What exactly happens at a library conference? Who attends? How are workshops organized and how can an event this big help someone like me, looking to break into the professional world and prepare for my future career?

While the ‘O’ in OLA stands for Ontario, the Super Conference is a nationwide affair. Librarians from all over Canada converge upon Toronto like a tidal wave of knowledge. Some panelists, like ALA President Sam Melnick, even came from the US to present their thoughts. If you’ve been to the MTCC, you know it’s large, hosting events like Fan Expo, Toronto Comic-Con or even the regional Yu-Gi-Oh qualifiers; this is the kind of space the Super Conference requires. It was filled with professionals, wearing near identical name tags showcasing their names, roles, and places of work or study. Volunteers distributed ribbons with sayings ranging from normal (‘School Librarian’, or ‘Library Tech’) to unique (‘Holding space for the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity’). I wanted to get my hands on the ‘Sigma Librarian’ ribbon, but alas it wasn’t meant to be. The conference organizers encouraged QR code programs, but I snagged a physical one as a souvenir. Once I had my name tag and my ‘First Timer’ ribbon, I checked the official app for my sessions.

OLA recommends pre-registering to avoid overcrowding, but I didn’t have a problem. Over two days, I visited four presentations, each around 90 minutes. These included panels on career opportunities (‘Prospect Research: A World of Opportunities’ and ‘An Insider’s Guide to Landing a Government Job’), aimed toward new grads or those seeking a career change; a seminar on using retail skills to improve relationships with patrons (‘Librarian or Salesperson?: How the Skills I Learned in Retail Helped Make Me a Better Library Professional’), aimed at librarians in K-12 schools; and last, OCULA’s Lightning Strikes, introducing four graduate students on work they completed in their programs. I never thought that graffiti in the library could be such a deep and fascinating topic, but I was wrong.

While four presentations may not seem like much, I gained expansive knowledge, taking notes as if I was in a lecture back in London, filling pages upon pages of my notebook. Unfortunately, many seminars overlapped, meaning you had to pick those more interesting or important. Meeting with some peers in the MLIS program, we debated one presentation over another. Plenty of events I missed or conflicted with my schedule. These included artistic workshops, reunions (next year I’ll be eligible for the FIMS Alumni Celebration) or tours of the city. I grew up in the GTA, so I’ll have more chances to visit the TIFF Film Library than someone flying from the Maritimes.

I also did not expect an Expo floor. Companies and organizations from everywhere pitched their products and services: Databases, children’s equipment, adaptive tech, media companies, data storage solutions, the list goes on. An entire space was even dedicated to publishers, with authors holding live book signings. The energy was intense, as was the crowd, but I had a fun time exploring booths and picking up free swag. Who doesn’t need a branded pen once in a while?

It may seem unfeasible that a library conference can be loud, fast and exciting, but if you are in the field, or looking to enter, this makes perfect sense. The OLA Super Conference shows off hidden sides of librarianship: networking, partnerships, research and creativity. I ran into over fifteen people I’d known. Imagine going to a conference and running into your childhood librarian, which actually happened to me!

If you’re a student, or new to the field, and unsure whether to attend an event like this, go for it. I never thought a library conference could be so electric and exciting. The advice I gained and the connections I fostered will help me as I grow and develop as a professional.

So, now what do you think when you hear the word ‘librarian’?

Meghan Stewart (she/they) is a 2nd year student in the Master of Library and Information Sciences Program at Western University. Their interests include accessibility, technological programs and services, as well as reader’s advisory work. In her free time, she likes to play with her pet chinchilla and read comics books.  You can contact Meghan at mstew27@uwo.ca