When Leadership Falls Short: The Crisis of Care in Library Work
Posted on in Blog Posts
Unbound Learning: Why Academic Librarians Belong at Non-Library Conferences
Posted on December 10, 2025 in Blog Posts
Authors:
Jamia Williams
For the last couple of years, I’ve been intentional about stepping outside of traditional library spaces and attending non-library conferences. Health sciences librarianship can be a niche area of support, and I’ve learned that in order to truly understand the people and communities I serve, I must engage beyond our library community. I also genuinely enjoy collaborating with folks in other fields; it keeps my work fresh, connected, and rooted in community-centered conversations. As I continue to deepen my involvement in health equity work in my community, attending conferences that explore topics outside of librarianship just makes sense. I was able to attend the American Public Health Association Conference this year thanks to the Sewell travel grant, which offers librarians the amazing opportunity to not only attend a non-library conference but also receive mentorship from a public health professional. In this blog post, I aim to highlight writings that address this topic and share my thoughts on why attending non-library conferences is so important, particularly for liaison and subject-matter academic librarians.
Writings About Attending Non-Library Conferences
In his insightful blog post, “Why You Should Consider Attending Non-Library Conferences,”Michael DeNotto emphasizes the importance of librarians attending non-library conferences alongside traditional ones, such as ALA and ACRL. With nearly half of his conference experiences being non-library focused, he argues that this diverse exposure enhances librarianship and advocacy. DeNotto acknowledges the financial and logistical challenges many librarians face when selecting conferences but encourages a strategic approach of alternating between library and non-library events. This balance not only prevents isolation within the “library echo chamber” but also fosters engagement with broader academic and professional communities.
DeNotto shares personal experiences presenting at non-library conferences, such as those for the Popular Culture Association and the Association of Writers and Writing Programs. These opportunities have allowed DeNotto to showcase the value of librarianship to new audiences, advocate for libraries, and engage in interdisciplinary scholarship. He highlights the practical benefits of attending these events, including the discovery of new research methodologies and the enhancement of instructional techniques. By actively participating in diverse professional settings, librarians can enhance their visibility, foster stronger collaborations, and ultimately enrich their contributions to the academic landscape.
The article “Academic Librarians’ Participation in Non-Library Conferences” highlights why non-library conferences, or NLCs, as the authors refer to them, matter for academic librarians’ professional growth. Attending NLCs helps librarians stay current with trends in their subject areas, deepen their understanding of faculty and student needs, and build meaningful connections outside the library. Many respondents who participated in the study noted that stepping into non-library spaces breaks the library echo chamber and brings fresh ideas back to their work.
The article also acknowledges real barriers, such as limited funding, time constraints, and uncertainty about whether conference content aligns with library responsibilities. Despite these challenges, the study’s 415 respondents, many of them STEM liaisons from doctoral institutions, overwhelmingly described NLCs as valuable experiences. To increase participation, the authors recommend stronger institutional support, mentorship from senior librarians, and opportunities for librarians to share their knowledge and insights. Together, these strategies can help foster a more engaged and interdisciplinary professional culture.
The Value of Non-Library Conferences
For academic librarians, especially those working as liaisons or subject specialists, attending non-library conferences is beneficial. These gatherings help us deepen our subject knowledge in ways that library conferences simply can’t. When we attend the same professional spaces as our faculty and community partners, we gain a clearer understanding of the conversations shaping their fields. This translates into stronger instruction, better research support, and more grounded collection development. It also positions us as informed collaborators who can speak the language of our disciplines with confidence and credibility.
Non-library conferences also open doors for collaboration that might never emerge within traditional library settings. Many librarians attend these conferences because they wear multiple hats: they are writers, advocates, musicians, researchers, or community leaders. When we present ourselves in these spaces as information professionals, we create an opportunity to demonstrate our skill set and pave the way for collaboration. These connections often lead to co-authored papers, community initiatives, creative projects, and long-term partnerships that expand the representation of librarianship in the world. By engaging with broader professional and cultural communities, we also become more informed, empathetic, and grounded community members.
If your institution hosts share-out meetings after conferences, this is a great opportunity to highlight what you learned and spark conversation among colleagues. It not only helps others stay informed about trends outside their subject areas but also encourages cross-department collaboration. Sharing your takeaways can inspire others to explore non-library conferences and broaden their own professional development paths. Ultimately, attending non-library conferences pushes us out of our comfort zones and invites us into deeper, richer interdisciplinary conversations. It strengthens our work, expands our impact, and reminds us that librarianship doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It is connected to every field, every community, and every story. Investing in these opportunities is not just a professional choice but a commitment to being more thoughtful, informed, and collaborative librarians.
As DeNotto recommends, those wanting to learn more should read Cynthia Tysick’s piece, “Attending Conferences Outside Librarianship,” which explores the benefits of attending non-librarian conferences in greater depth. For guidance on selecting the right events, Robert Tomaszewski and Karen MacDonald’s piece, “Identifying Subject-Specific Conferences as Professional Development Opportunities for the Academic Librarian,” is a great place to start.
About the author:
Jamia Williams (she/her) is a health sciences librarian. She is also the co-creator and co-host of the podcast LibVoices and the founder of The Diversity Fellow’s blog.
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