by Zach Miller
Quick Summary
The inaugural edition of Minitex's new conference, Minitex Connect, will take place May 3-4, 2022. This list is presented in no particular order, in full knowledge of the fact that there are far more than 10 great reasons to attend Minitex Connect.
#1: Registration is free!
We certainly won't be able to do this every year, but since this is the first Minitex Connect, and we're pretty excited about it, there will be no charge to register (coming soon).
#2: Half Days
Minitex Connect will be fully online for two days, but only in the morning. During the afternoons you'll be completely free to attend to other priorities.
#3: 25-minute presentations
We've all attended incredible hour-long presentations we wished could go even longer. But sometimes, 25 minutes is enough. At Minitex Connect, all presentations (with the exception of one 45-minute keynote address each day) will be just 25 minutes in length, followed by 10 minutes for Q&A, and a further 10-minute break. We hope this setup makes it easier for our guests to attend sessions, even if other duties call.
#4: Felton Thomas, Jr.
Felton is an incredible speaker, and he'll provide the keynote on Day Two. In his role as Executive Director and CEO of the Cleveland Public Library, he has launched initiatives aimed at addressing community needs in the areas of access to technology, education, and economic development.
#5: Digital inclusion and equity of access
No matter where you are, or who you are, libraries are there for you. That spirit has never been more important than it is today, and that will be the focus of the inaugural edition of Minitex Connect.
#6: A variety of sessions
We've invited our whole library community to submit session proposals, and we're excited about the variety that will entail. The deadline is March 11, so there's still time for you to submit your proposal for a 25-minute session.
#7: Kyle Tran Myhre
When was the last time you saw a slam poet at a library event?! Okay, okay, maybe you have seen a slam poet at a library event, because library events are generally pretty great. But this is the first time Minitex has hosted one, and we can't wait to hear his keynote on Day One.
#8: Getting together is wonderful
We love our library community. We're inviting everyone to come together to learn, to share successes, to germinate new ideas, and to plan our best possible future together.
#9: Multi-library panel on loaning internet access
The internet is essential to modern life, and yet many of our fellow citizens struggle to get the access they need and deserve. This panel will share their insights into loaning the technology necessary to grant that access. (If you'd like to participate, contact Dana Kocienda at kocie002@umn.edu).
#10: Starting a new tradition together
This will be the first-ever Minitex Connect. We'll build on the proud tradition of the Minitex ILL Conference, and create something new together. Join us!
