Testimonials

The ASEE ELD Conference Experience

Mel DeSart, Head, Engineering Library, University of Washington
The best single word I've ever come up with to describe what make ASEE/ELD's annual conference so useful is peers. No other group or organization that I've found sponsors a conference with a series of technical sessions sponsored by, and primarily designed for, academic engineering librarians. There's a common ground that I share with other members of ELD that I've never found in in any other library-related organization, including ALA, SLA, and ACRL. And on top of that, it's a fun group!

Linda Musser, Earth and Mineral Sciences Librarian, Penn State
Cozy. No running from one hotel to another, trying to get to that meeting far far away. A chance to mingle, in a less frenetic way, with colleagues who don't turn pale at the sound of the words 'technical report' or 'standard'.

Mary E. Patterson, Reference/Instruction Librarian, Cornell University
The greatest value for me personally has been the opportunity to get to know other engineering librarians, and visit their libraries and learn about their projects. The group is small enough to allow me to connect with each person and to remember every face. This connectedness makes me want to respond to the ELDNET-L queries, and I feel comfortable about asking the group or individuals for help when I need it.

Bob Schwarzwalder, Associate University Librarian for Engineering & Science, Stanford University
The thing that impressed me about my first ASEE conference was how welcome the ELD members made me feel. Unlike some of the larger library conferences I had attended, I didn't feel like people resented having a newcomer there. I have been a member of ASEE for 14 years and have the highest regard for the Engineering Libraries Division. I have found it especially valuable to attend the annual conference and have done so 13 of the 14 years. Through attending the ASEE conference I have gotten early word on new information technologies, shared best practices with other engineering librarians, established professional relationships that have been critical throughout my career, and ... had a great time! Unlike the experience of attending large library meetings, which can be impersonal and chaotic, there is a collegiality within the ASEE Engineering Libraries Division that I have found nowhere else.

Karen Clay, Head, Engineering Library, Stanford University
I've only been to two conferences so far, but I've really enjoyed both of them and found that they give me renewed enthusiasm for my job! The ASEE/ELD conference is indeed unique. The ideas I get at this conference always seem to me to be practical, relevant, and not difficult to implement. The colleagues I've met are very knowledgeable and fun, and there is a lot of positive interaction. This conference is one of the reasons I was so excited to return to an Engineering Library position after several years in another subject specialty.

Fred O'Bryant, Applied Sciences Librarian, University of Virginia's Science & Engineering Library
I have to say that, as a relative newcomer to ELD, I was impressed by the friendly welcome I received at my first ASEE conference. Everyone made me feel right at home and part of the group from the start. I am also impressed with how well organized the ELD portion of the conferences are and how the topics of discussions are so pertinent to issues current in science and engineering libraries right now. Friendly camaraderie and 'news you can use' -- two very good reasons to join ASEE-ELD and attend the annual conference!

Tom DePetro, Engineering Librarian, Texas A&M University
Profound. I have met my counterparts at colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and Canada and really upgraded my performance as an academic engineering librarian as a result of the conferences. ASEE is great -- small with our division and immense with the entire membership. It's great to be a part of engineering education through ASEE!

Anneliese Taylor, Science Librarian, Bryn Mawr College
I have attended the annual ASEE conference for three years in a row. Ever since my first attendance, ELD has made it well worth my while to attend. ELD to me feels like a large family of colleagues. Experienced and new engineering and science librarians alike spend a few days together talking about issues affecting our libraries, connecting, and having a great time.

Liz Watson, Business Librarian, University of Calgary
The ASEE ELD conference experience is the best informal library networking opportunity around! Since I've moved on to business libraries, away from engineering, I'm REALLY sorry to miss it every year. It is a very enjoyable way to share a lot of important experiences and discuss a lot of issues we have in common. It's also not as expensive as some of the other big library conferences, and worth every penny!