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awkward situation with conference presentation Options · View
daisy
Posted: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 3:40:12 AM
Rank: Member
Groups: Member

Joined: 3/11/2008
Posts: 22
Points: -31
I have an awkward situation at work and would love to hear some advice.

Basically, the question is this: if you proposed a paper to a conference, and it gets accepted, should you invite a colleague who didn't work on the proposal to present with you? (Assuming this colleague had a small role with the project discussed in the paper and will be at the conference.)

Here are the specifics:
I'm about two years post-MLS, working in an academic library, and just starting to get more active professionally. I submitted a paper proposal to a library conference, based on some projects we've implemented at the library. High chance of rejection, but I can only get travel and conference funding if I present, so I went for it. I should hear pretty soon if it was accepted.

In the meantime, I just submitted my application for university funding to attend the conference (again, contingent upon getting my paper accepted).

My supervisor, who normally I really like but who isn't active at all professionally, sent me an email letting me know that a colleague in our small department will definitely be attending this conference with other funding (she's not presenting). The email said suggested we do a "tandem presentation." She said even if my paper/presentation is done (which it isn't), I should ask her to join me. This colleague definitely could have submitted a proposal herself but didn't (this is her first professional job and she hasn't yet forayed into conference-land). I think my supervisor is trying to help out our colleague. But I thought it was an inappropriate request from my supervisor.

I talked to my colleague, and we're fine. But I haven't responded to my supervisor. The issue might go away if I don't get accepted. But I'm still wondering how to navigate this with my supervisor. Although my professional development activities are linked to my job, I also feel like it's a bit independent of my job. For example, I've already used mostly my own time to work on my proposal and only a bit of work time. Also, I really like presenting... and I'm not inclined to share this. Then again, this colleague has been involved with this project, though not in a leading role.

Am I being selfish and territorial? Or was my supervisor out of line?
jazzlovr
Posted: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 7:40:46 AM
Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member

Joined: 1/9/2008
Posts: 4
Points: 12
It's not uncommon for a supervisor to ask others to help mentor a new librarian who needs to become professionally active. Ideally, though, this conversation would take place 1) in person and 2) during the initial conversation in which you told your supervisor "I'm thinking about applying for conference x on topic y."

If you didn't have such an initial conversation, consider doing so for future professional development opportunities. If you want to do something solo, it's much better to present your case right away and avoid the whole "why don't you ask Mary Sue to present with you" awkwardness.

But for your specific case, if you and your colleague have worked it out, I would just notify my supervisor of this conclusion and not make a big deal of it. It's really very common in academia for people to "pile on" their names to a successfully accepted proposal. Don't waste energy fighting that- save your strength for getting the rights to be primary author!
daisy
Posted: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 4:53:42 AM
Rank: Member
Groups: Member

Joined: 3/11/2008
Posts: 22
Points: -31
Thanks for the advice... I'm hardly a veteran librarian, since I'm only two years post-MLS graduation, and this would really be my first national conference presentation. So that's perhaps why this has caught me off guard.
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