While pursuing her master’s in Library & Information Studies, Michelle Fisher MAx’24 is also a practicing library professional, overseeing the circulation and welcome desks as a night and weekend supervisor at UW–Madison’s bustling Memorial Library. When she saw that the Information School’s Back in Circulation conference—which brings together diverse library professionals from around the country—was happening at UW–Madison this fall, she thought, “This looks really cool.”
As a graduate student, covering the cost of professional conferences that offer essential networking and professional development opportunities can be a challenge. Recognizing this, Fisher applied for scholarship funding offered by the iSchool to support student participation in such events. She was awarded funding from the iSchool’s Annual Fund made possible by donations from alumni and friends, which enables student awards, scholarships and practicum opportunities.
Fisher expressed gratitude for the opportunity to attend Back in Circulation, where she said “I met some great people and made new connections,” adding, “It was especially interesting to compare how things work in the academic library I’m used to, versus the public library,” particularly as libraries continue to integrate the latest information technologies into their workflows and services. Fisher also cited presentations about major library transformations in Baldwin (MI) Public Library and innovative staffing structures at Ball State University as particularly insightful.
Additionally, Fisher noticed, some of the sessions at Back in Circulation overlapped with course material from her studies at the iSchool. The opening keynote, delivered by Freedom Lifted CEO Mia Henry, was about how libraries can share their power with the communities they serve. “My two classes this semester cover community engagement and services to diverse populations. Both are very thematically related to what Mia Henry was talking about,” Fisher said, focused on “how to form meaningful relationships and engage in transformational collaboration with community groups and community members.”
Fisher recently completed her practicum at Rosemary Garfoot Public Library in Cross Plains, WI, just west of Madison, and hopes to continue a career in public libraries after graduation. In addition to attending Back in Circulation, Fisher also leveraged iSchool funding to go to the Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) Annual Conference in 2023.
“Getting to talk to people at those conferences and hear about their actual experiences in public libraries has been really valuable,” she said.
The iSchool’s Continuing Education unit continues to host unique and popular conferences (and online courses) for library and information professionals—and students. As Fisher has learned, the conferences can be golden opportunities to develop a professional network, connect with peers from around the country, and grow into a leader in the library and information professions.
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