•  

  • What advantages do you think unconferences might bring to the library field?

My first and foremost hope is that librarians don't waste too much time with this concept of “unconference.” It seems rather to be a false dichotomy as there is nothing intrinsically staid or stupefying about conferences. A definition of conference is merely a meeting of individuals or groups for the purpose of discussions or consultation. That conferences can be boring and non-participatory has to do with the organization of the conference, not with its name.

But alas I am already wasting too much time on the semantics. If I am to judge from the readings that an “unconference” is a participatory forum which avoids high fees and sponsored presentations, well of course, every field in the universe, including the library field, could benefit from less pomp and more participation. I'd dare say this kind of grassroots organizing is already going on – look at all the conferences and meetings reported on at SLIS. Seems to me that most of them are rather bare-bones and participatory because who has the money to pay for fancy speakers.

I haven't attended any official library conferences but somehow don't imagine them as being especially over-priced and corporate sponsored. Face it, librarians for the most part are independent cusses and don't travel too much with the extravagantly empty.

Too I want to put in a word for official conferences, the ones that someone can only attend if her/his organization puts up the exorbitant fee. It's nice to pick up all the attractive brochures and maybe glance at a few of them, nice to be able to complain with others about the insipidity of the speakers and nice to explore dalliances with others who are also ducking out from the presentations!

Really the only advantage I can see is that those people attending an “unconference” would already be the hip ones who dug the idea of an “un” name. That way you would know that people were all starting on the same page when it came to certain issues. But then again, how much is lost when you have a conference of people who already see eye to eye on many things? I guess you can end the meetings sooner and adjourn for a beer!

Bookmark/Search this post with:

 •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •