We are delighted to welcome Joy Court to the blog, our expert Conference Manager.  Joy generously answered our questions on this year’s Youth Libraries Group conference which will take place in Torquay, 17 – 19 September, Representations of Place: New Lands and New Ways of Looking.

Can you tell us about your role with conference

As Conference Manager it is my job to find a venue that is within our budget. We decide as a group, steered by the Chair who will be the host, which area to search in and we also try to move around the country to give our members a chance to try us out as a day delegate if they live locally. 

 I liaise with the Chair over theme - usually something they suggest and then we all jointly seek out speakers. We invite pitches from publishers and proactively seek sponsors and then I try to piece together the  jigsaw to amke an engaging and relevant programme from all those ingredients.

I do all the liaison with the venue over menus and set up of rooms and manage all the bookings. During the conference it is my job to ensure everything runs smoothly and troubleshoot any problems. Luckily there is an Exhibition Manager to specifically look after that complex operation and a Conference Secretary to organise session chairs and look after our speakers. 

The theme this year is around representations of place, can you tell us what delegates can expect?

 We have interpreted place very broadly- feeling at home in your body for example or exploring the past as a different country but also the importance of representation and ensuring that everybody has a place at the table. We have a fantastic range of speakers- authors who are sharing their experience and passion for these themes, academics sharing research, industry partners showing us the way forward and  practitioners sharing their expertise and good practice. Delegates can expect to meet and network with all of these and during the weekend find colleagues who are as passionate about children and young people's reading as they are! The there is the famed Publisher's exhibition - time to make contacts and connections and find out about all the great books coming up and the equally famed Norfolk Children's Book Centre shop where Honorary YLG superstar Marilyn Brocklehurst will have any book you could possibly want and more!

Which sessions do you personally feel most excited by and why?

That is like asking which is your favourite child! From the opening keynote from Michael Morpurgo to the Robert Westall Memorial lecture on Sunday by Anne Fine to amazing panels with Geraldine McCaughrean, Philip Reeve and Frances Hardinge discussing imagined worlds or Hilary McKay and Phil Earle sharing their views on WW2 or Brian Conaghan, Melvin Burgess and Jason Cockcroft discussing masculinity - there is so much to get excited about!

Do you remember your first YLG conference?  When was this and what sticks in your mind?

 This would be a long time ago... early 90's..I remember feeling so much in awe of the giants of our profession who were leading the sessions and starstruck by the authors and  revelling in all the books, but thinking this is my special place- everyone here shares my obsessions! 

In your experience, how do delegates benefit from attending conference?

I think I have already alluded to finding colleagues who share the same passion. This is particularly important for school librarians who are often sole practitioners. You will go away with a headful of inspiring ideas and a suitcase full of exhibition giveaways - proofs/ posters/ competitions etc. You will probably be exhausted but in a very satisfying way!

Do you have any tips for people wanting to make a funding case to their employers to attend

Everyone should recognise their entitlement to CPD - they are worth it! Employers should recognise this and the crucial benefits that attending conference will bring. Nowhere else will provide training directly related to specialist children and young peoples librarianship.   Nowhere else will you find opportunities to develop crucial book knowledge and  keep up to date with current library and educational trends and pick up practical and inspirational ideas to improve your library service to young people

Conference wasn't able to take place physically last year, what steps will be being taken to keep attendees safe?

The conference hotel takes its COVID 19 security very seriously. This page details exactly what steps they take to ensure your safety

https://www.theimperialtorquay.co.uk/coronavirus-update

Even if the 19 July release date is further extended we are confident that the conference can be delivered  successfully under current restrictions.

A big thank you to Joy for the interview and to her and the whole of the conference team for their exceptional work against a really challenging backdrop.