Schmoozing for Beginners | ALA Midwinter Preview 2015

Professional networking and schmoozing are two of the most important skills a librarian can have. They are not taught in MLIS programs, and being proficient at both was one of the hardest lessons I had to learn. In order to get the projects done in my community that I was passionate about, move my library forward, and garner political support, I realized that I needed to take advantage of the many professional and political social opportunities going on around me. Over several years I worked hard to learn how to connect whenever an opportunity arose. The following are things that I’ve learned by watching other people, by reading and learning about networking, and from what has worked for me at events when I don’t know anyone.