PDA Event: Creating Professional Development Opportunities for Library Support Staff — The Southern Library Support Staff Conference
Library support staff make up a critical portion of the library workforce, yet they often have limited access to affordable, relevant professional development opportunities. While credentialed librarians benefit from established educational pathways and dedicated development funding, paraprofessional staff frequently face barriers related to cost, travel, and lack of targeted programming.
This webinar tells the story of the Southern Library Support Staff (SLSS) Conference, a professional development initiative created at Vanderbilt University Libraries to address these gaps. Founded in 2019 by longtime library employee Machelle Keen, the conference began as an internal training opportunity and quickly expanded into a regional event serving library support staff across Tennessee and beyond. Today, SLSS is a multi-day conference featuring keynote speakers, workshops, panels, and practical sessions focused on leadership, career development, workplace skills, and innovation in libraries.
Presenters Machelle Keen and Honora Eskridge will share lessons learned from building and sustaining the conference, including strategies for gaining institutional support, designing affordable programming, creating meaningful learning experiences, and expanding access through scholarship funding. The session will also discuss the impact of a recent $120,000 Laura Bush IMLS grant that supported scholarships for conference attendees.
Hosted by ASERL