Published: July 18, 2024 by Shannon Broden

The American Library Association National Conference took place from June 27 to July 2, 2024 in San Diego, California. With the assistance of funds from the San José State University School of Information to cover travel expenses to San Diego and promote student leadership of the school’s ALA Student Chapter and the User Experience Student Group, I was able to attend a pre-conference, as well as some panels organized by ALA CORE. ALA’s CORE: Leadership, Infrastructure and Futures association focuses on “buildings & operations, leadership & management, metadata & collections, and technology.” (Source: https://www.ala.org/core)

The Friday pre-conference was called the “Core AvramCamp: An Unconference for Women and Non-Binary Technology Workers,” an all-day gathering designed to encourage dialogue about common challenges that are faced. It is also intended to help in building support networks and discuss ways to promote diversity and equity in tech environments. The event was put together by the AvramCamp planning committee, led by Christine Mune, associate dean of innovation and resource management for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library at San José State University.

Saturday’s activities included several poster presentations. For the first presentation, several of us who had been on the Constitutional Revision subcommittee of San José State University’s ALA Student Chapter pitched a national poster detailing the group’s efforts. It was accepted, and the three of us who created it took turns presenting it in the Convention Center’s Sails Pavilion.

Afterward, I headed off to the SJSU iSchool reception to showcase my own poster. Reflecting my own interests in emerging technology and my growing concern for wellness among practitioners in the field, my poster detailed my efforts in sharing educator and librarian wellness information in three separate virtual environments. I focused on both the similarities and differences between the various virtual environments offered.

Sunday and Monday were packed attending various panels on technology and artificial intelligence. One highlight included the SJSU iSchool’s presentation on the latest status of the “Seeking Immortality” research project. This involves helping the Northern Cheyenne tribe of Native Americans preserve their stories and language to be able to pass it down to the generations to follow. A pre-recorded demonstration of a public focused pow-wow area was included as part of the presentation.

Additionally, I went along with several other board members to the New Members Round Table social and applauded the SJSU iSchool’s ALA Student Chapter for being named ALA Student Chapter of the Year. I really enjoyed getting to see fellow students in person throughout the duration of the conference.

Overall, the ALA National Conference offered me a balanced exposure to new ideas, while being able to showcase ideas I had learned during my enrollment at the SJSU iSchool.

Editor’s Note: The SJSU iSchool highly encourages students to attend professional conferences but also realizes that it can be cost prohibitive. Travel grants are available to eligible students to help lessen the financial burden and increase conference participation. iSchool student Shannon Broden received one of these travel grants.