by Kristine Techavanich, APALA ALA Travel Grant Recipient
I’m so grateful to have received APALA’s travel grant to attend the 2022 American Library Association Annual Conference held in Washington, D.C. The experience of sharing space with those passionate about libraries, people, and the power of stories was incredibly enlightening and impactful.
In reviewing the conference schedule, I had expected to attend informative presentations and take diligent notes to share with my colleagues at the public library where I work as a youth services librarian. I was prepared to be realistic about what my luggage could actually hold when visiting the exhibition hall, and I knew that just navigating the convention center could be a challenge in itself. I was most pleasantly surprised by the moments that I did not anticipate—moments that highlighted for me how much representation matters and were sparked by the Asian American illustrators, writers, and library professionals who shared their personal stories and experiences.
While attending APALA President’s Program: Change in and Barriers to Library Leadership for Asian and Pacific American Library Workers: A Panel Discussion, I found it affirming to hear about various approaches to leadership that counter the dominant forms of leadership that value competition over collaboration and individualism over community. I appreciated hearing firsthand how finding community in APALA has helped panelists foster a sense of belonging, develop a support system, and encourage professional growth. After a full day of back-to-back sessions, the APALA Membership Social was a warm and validating space thanks to friendly members who quickly made me feel welcomed. This opportunity to reconnect and form new connections with APALA members was especially invaluable after relocating across the country this year and taking on a new role in small-town America.
I also found myself deeply affected and inspired by Grace Lin’s 2022 Children’s Literature Legacy Award Acceptance at the Newbery-Caldecott-Legacy Banquet. Lin addressed book creators, her fellow Asian Americans, and educators with humility, appreciation and gratitude. She led the audience in drawing a firefly with levity and joy and left a lasting impression on me when she said “when others will only see us as bugs, let’s show them that we are fireflies. We are the fireflies that can change the landscape of the night, transforming a landscape of depressing gloom into one of twinkling, magical hope.”
The themes of the conference were timely and inspiring, ranging from topics that spoke to core values of librarianship like preserving intellectual freedom, enhancing the well-being of library staff and patrons, and supporting historically margnialized LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities. Since the conference registration included access to the Digital Experience, I was glad to be able to attend sessions that I would have otherwise missed due to competing events and revisit presentations that I needed to pause in order to absorb the words being spoken.
Thank you APALA! I feel honored that my first time attending this annual conference was one in which I was able to witness the leadership of Patricia (Patty) Wong, the first Asian American to serve as president of the American Library Association. I’m inspired to continue connecting and learning.