To:                   Your Supervisor
From:             You
Re:                   Attendance at 2020 OLA Super Conference
Date:              As early as possible

The OLA Super Conference in downtown Toronto is a top educational and networking event for library staff. For over 20 years, the conference challenges attendees to transform both themselves and their libraries. With over 4,600 attendees from across the nation, the conference has an outstanding track record for bringing long-term professional benefits, including sharing ideas and best practices throughout the field.

Attendance at the Super Conference is an investment in our library and the services we offer. If you support my attendance at the Super Conference, here are some ways I would make the most of the opportunity for professional development.

Professional development

Programs, sessions, discussions and tools empower us to adapt, stay strong and improve services despite tight budgets. If I attended the Super Conference, I would ….

[If you are a committee member or participate in OLA activities, list related meetings you plan to attend and why, how your participation can help the profession, your library, and your own professional development.

  • List 4-5 sessions or poster sessions related to your work and why they will help you do your job better. Visit the OLA Super Conference website for a full list of sessions.]

Vendor interaction

I would plan on spending a minimum of [xx hours] in the exhibit hall, where I would meet with our current vendors to solidify our relationships. I would focus on vendors and new product demonstrations in the following areas, looking for cost-effective innovations and new products, doing comparison shopping, and positioning us for negotiating best terms:

  • If helpful, add information on: current/potential vendors, vendors in a specific field, or new products you’ve heard of and wish to see demonstrations of. See a list of vendors on the OLA Super Conference website.]

Networking opportunities

The networking at OLA Super Conference is outstanding. I would represent our library as forward-thinking and dynamic in my interactions with people I meet, and would seek to connect with people whose ideas and specializations seem most likely to benefit our library as well as contribute to my professional development and education, making me increasingly effective in my job. I would network with people I meet while attending sessions, meetings, and events, and would also plan to make the most of specific networking opportunities [such as the Careers Meet-Up and divisional meetings].

After I return, I would take the following steps to ensure that what I learn benefits our library:

  • Implement at least one new idea that makes us more efficient and/or effective.
  • Share notes on sessions with others
  • Share my list of action items and general ideas
  • Provide a written report

I would need [xx days] away from work to attend. The costs are as follows:

If you could make the decision before January, 2020, we would save money by qualifying for early bird registration. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

[Your name here]