Top 5 of #TXLA19

The Texas Library Association Conference ended on Thursday, and I am still processing all of the amazing things I learned. The conference was Monday-Thursday, and I used ALL of my time learning, connecting and taking it all in.  You can check out all my sketchnotes from the various sessions at my Beeinthebookends Instagram. I learned more than 5 things while at the conference, but these were by far the things that stood out to me.

Top 5 of  #TXLA19
1- Mindfulness 101 with James Butler and Rachelle Finck out of all the sessions I went to, this was the one that I needed the most.  Living with someone that has mental health issues, I understand the importance of needing to teach children (and adults) mindfulness.  Working in a middle school I have also seen first hand how students need help in learning different coping skills to help them through life and middle school (middle school is hard!)  I was so excited to be one of the first people in line to purchase James new book Mindful Classrooms as I plan to incorporate some of these ideas in the library next year.

2-Listening to Sylvia Acevedo keynote the first general session.  I have talked about her before as she is the CEO of Girl Scouts.  She shares such a powerful story of her own journey of being very poor to being a rocket scientist.

3-The general session with Scott Pelley.  I could have listened to him speak all day! His book Truth Worth Telling will be coming out in May. TXLA19 was his first book event, and what a masterful story teller he is.  Before he shared some of the stories that have changed his life, he mentioned that so often we are trying to find the meaning of life.  We are asking the wrong question.  We should not be asking the meaning of life, but what is the meaning of you.  In my bag.. I had packed everything I needed but Kleenexes!

4- Connecting with librarians!  Being a librarian is one of the best but also hardest job that I have ever had.  I work on a great campus, but I am still the only librarian on the campus.. so sometimes it gets a little lonely.  During the conference I was able to connect with not only Irving librarians, but also librarians from across the state that are doing some amazing things.  In having conversations, it also helped me realize that I am doing pretty cool things too.

5- The authors and illustrators. I know that these authors and illustrators realize that they are going to be bombarded by crazy librarians wanting autographs, pictures, and conversations. But that just makes them even more awesome for being so patient and listening.

Dawn and I went to watch the bats and ran into AMAZING Illustrator Chris Hsu.  He is the illustrator for The Boo Boos that Changed the World

When I found out that there was going to be a Comic book day on Wednesday, I was super excited to become Vera from Be Prepared. Even better, the author Vera Brosgol was going to be signing books!

I have now had a chance to see this guy twice! Sean Easley is the author of the Hotel Between Series. 

 6- My bonus takeaway! I feel as if I do social media pretty well, but I really enjoyed going to Steven Vrooman over social media.  I look forward to telling my library story even better next year!

I am sure that you have noticed by now, one of my favorite things to do is take selfies! I LOVED that TXLA captured this one of me taking a selfie of the Comic Day Group.

On our way out of town, we also stopped at the new Austin Public Library Central Location. All I can say.. is wow!! There were so many more selfies, so many more people, and so much more learning that happened. I can't WAIT to go back and rethink some of things that I am doing, tweak other things, and evaluate those programs that I am doing.

Did you attend #TXLA19? What were your favorite sessions?

What's In My Bag

The Texas Librarian Association Conference (#TLA19 or #TXLA19) is coming up this next week! I am SO excited about learning and connecting with so many different people.  The Girl Scout in me is always prepared too! I have had the opportunity to attend various conferences over the past 10 years and I have gotten a little smarter each time about what I included in my bag.  Am I going to forget something.. of course? Am I still going to pack too much.. you better believe it!

I started carrying a backpack a few years ago and I love my Ogio (which I also had my logo stitched into it... Horizon Imprinting always does such an AMAZING job)

I usually do take my laptop with me, but end up leaving it in the hotel.  I do this so I can possibly blog or look at various websites on a bigger screen rather than just my phone or iPad.  I remember when I used to go to conference I would take every possible device with me and my bag was SO heavy.. and I would only end up using one device.

Here is what I carry with me in my bag (I am including links when I can.. no I am not getting paid for anything, just what I enjoy using)

-When traveling to conferences, I ALWAYS pack my own snacks.  I usually have a granola bar and some sort of salty snack on me.  I also always pack a few water bottles and diet sodas to keep at the hotel. This way I don't always have to spend the extra money.

-I also always carry my own reusable cup.  I fill this up in the hotel in the morning and then often times will ask the restaurant I might be eating at to top it off. I am a HUGE water drinker, and I love that this keeps my water super cold. I have the Wal-Mart brand and of course have my logo on it.

-There never seems to be enough outlets so I have this Surge protector on hand. I can use it in the hotel room, or I can drop it in my bag during the day.

-I always have a portable charger on me.  I tend to use my phone the most during conferences, and this has been a life saver.  The one I use also has 3 USB hubs.  I make friends with everyone! I charge it in the evenings and then it is ready to go during the day.

-I use my phone for social media, but I have really enjoyed taking my own type of sketchnotes. I LOVE the Sharpie Pens.  These are great because they don't tend to bleed. I have tried the flair pens.. and I love that people use them, they just weren't for me.

-For my scetchnoting I use Canson Mix Media XL from Michaels

-I have one pouch for all my Sharpie Pens, but I also have another pouch full of sticky notes, scissors (you would be surprised how often people ask for these) glue stick, and other assorted pens.

-I take my own coffee coozie (I love a conversation starter and I love when I can promote my super talented friends)

-Business cards (going to these conferences, I also know a ton of people that print off already ready stickers with their information on it for various door prizes)

-Cable and bricks for charging devices

-iPad

-gum

-Medicine! I have my RX migraine medicine, but I also always have ibuprofen, migraine meds, and benedryl on hand (and fingernail clippers) I also carry a couple of oils with me. I have found that when I go to conferences my brain gets super overloaded.. and I get overwhelmed which can lead to my migraines.. so I always have my Tranquil roll-on 

-I also have an umbrella and a sweater (love that my friend Laura made me a specific one for librarians! She also did the logo for my cup.. you can find her at Preserve the Moments)

-Of course I also have Max! Max was given to me by my husband.. and he goes EVERYwhere with me!

What is a must have in your bag? Are you attending TLA? I would LOVE to meet you in person! I will be posting throughout the conference on Twitter and Instagram