Small Library, Big Conference: A Rural Librarian’s First ALA

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As someone still new to the library profession, I had no idea what to expect from my first ALA Annual Conference. Being selected as a recipient of the 2026 Penguin Random House Young Readers Group Award made attending this milestone event possible. While I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity, I also felt pressure to make the most of every minute.

Would everyone sense my imposter syndrome? What should I prioritize in the marketplace? Will the sessions apply to my small library or be geared towards libraries with staff coming out of ears and a budget I could only dream about? How do I take advantage of everything a conference this size has to offer?

When you’re from a small town, “big” is a relative term. I grew up in Sheldon, North Dakota, where less than 100 people call home. Everyone knows (or is related to) everyone. The town consists of one church, a bar, and a post office that is only open a few mornings a week. There isn’t a stoplight and the only paved road is Main Street.

Today, I have the privilege of serving as the Children’s Librarian at Lake Region Public Library in Devils Lake, ND. Our library has a staff of six, including only two full-time positions. While Devils Lake’s population of around 7,000 feels like a bustling metropolis compared to where I grew up, our library serves many surrounding rural communities that remind me of my hometown.

I’d never been to Chicago before. More people live in Chicago than in my entire state. Believe it or not, walking into a conference with more than 15,000 librarians, authors, educators, and book lovers from around the country and world was intimidating and overwhelming. Despite my initial nerves, I quickly discovered how valuable the ALA Convention could be for someone like me.

I attended sessions led by experienced library professionals on serving Deaf patrons, creating successful teen programs, and making storytimes more inclusive. Each one challenged my thinking while offering practical ideas I could immediately bring back to my library.

The lineup of keynote speakers was incredible. After rereading The Giver quartet just last year, to hear Lois Lowry speak in person was surreal. Speaking of surreal, watching LeVar Burton walk onto the main stage to the Reading Rainbow theme song, as thousands of librarians cheered and sang along, is something I will never forget.

Rachel Maddow was my personal favorite. In a time when many librarians are facing increasing scrutiny and pressure from groups seeking to restrict access to books, listening to Rachel gush about her love of libraries, personal collection of “weeds” and the importance of access to information was refreshing and hilarious.

Some of my other favorite moments included meeting Jeneva Rose, contributing to a collaborative mural with Loren Long, attending the Newbery-Caldecott-Legacy Awards Banquet, and having LeUyen Pham draw a Kitty-Corn version of me.

More than anything, though, it was the people who made the conference unforgettable. Being surrounded by librarians, authors, and advocates who share the same passion for public service and intellectual freedom was energizing.

I think most people would be surprised to discover how easy it is to experience burnout while working in a library. When I began my career at LRPL, I was hired as a Circulation Assistant. Like many people, I had a few preconceived notions about what library work involved. I quickly learned that today’s librarians wear many hats—far beyond the traditional image of someone who simply checks out books. We are listeners, problem-solvers, counselors, event planners, and tech support.

In fact, I was late submitting the first draft of this blog post because, somewhere between cataloging books and wrapping up Summer Reading, I was also supervising unattended children, calling paramedics for an unresponsive individual, recording a radio advertisement, and tracking down the owner of a dog that wandered into the library solo. “WRITE ALSC BLOG POST” kept getting bumped farther down my never-ending to-do list.

I left ALA feeling more confident, reassured, and reminded that no matter the size of your town, library, or staff, our work matters. I also left with enough free books to justify purchasing a new carry-on in my hotel lobby just to get them — and all the other resources I collected — home.

Attending the ALA Annual Conference was an investment in both myself and my library. If you’re on the fence about attending a conference, joining a professional organization, or simply stepping outside your comfort zone, consider this your sign to do it. You don’t have to know everything before you arrive—you just have to be willing to keep learning. After all, isn’t that what libraries are all about?

Photo credit for all pictures: S. Bischof

Today’s guest contributor is Samantha Bischof. Samantha is the Children’s Librarian at Lake Region Public Library in Devils Lake, ND. When she’s not working, she’s chauffeuring her two kids around, tending to her small jungle of houseplants, picking up pretty rocks, or reading—duh.

Please note that as a guest post, the views expressed here do not represent the official position of ALA or ALSC.

If you are interested in submitting a guest post, please read and fill out our Guest Blogging Interest Form. We would love to hear from you!

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