More on schmoozing: Value for the conference dollar

A colleague commented recently "isn't it amazing how people at conferences spend their time lined up for the internet cafe?"  Personally, I'm too busy at professional meetings to get in that line (there are other ways to handle one's mail while out of the office) - but it struck me how bang on that observation was.  Every minute spent NOT getting to know new people at a conference is a precious opportunity lost.  Just the other week (at the Internet Librarian International event in London) I spoke to a stranger across the lunch table who didn't seem to know those around her.  A few sentences later, I knew just who she needed to meet and wasted no time getting that to happen!  As I headed for the airport, I spotted the two of them in the coffee shop, deep in conversation ... how else could this US-European connection have been made?