Branch Out is a conference designed by and for library paraprofessionals, support staff, and media specialists. Its purpose is to bring library staff from all around Minnesota and the surrounding region together for career development and networking opportunities.

The first Branch out conference was held in 1992 with the conference planning committee made up of library staff primarily from 3M Company. Staff from Library Development & Services (LDS) and College of St. Catherine acted as advisors and sponsors. The conference was held in the fall at College of St. Catherine, St. Paul and drew over 125 participants from all over the state.

Soon thereafter, planning began for Branch Out 1993 Empowering through Networking, which took place in the summer at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis campus. Committee members came from many types of libraries and a broader sponsorship, including Minnesota Library Association Support Staff Roundtable, University of Minnesota, Dorsey & Whitney, College of St. Catherine, J.J. Hill Library and LDS. The day was another success with more than 150 participants and a long waiting list.

With Branch Out 1994 Rising to the Challenge, the new committee saw a need for a larger facility to accommodate growing numbers that included staff from greater Minnesota and beyond. The theme for 1994 included more relevant presentations and, for the first time, roundtable discussions. It was held on the campus of St. Olaf College and drew approximately 175 participants.

St. John’s University in Collegeville hosted the 1995 conference. It built upon the success of the Soaring to Excellence national teleconference series offered at sites all around Minnesota. Branch Out offered the 200 registrants that year the opportunity to continue discussion and expand upon knowledge aimed from the teleconferences.

With continuous requests for more extensive training opportunities, Branch Out was expanded to two days in 1996. The conference site moved further north to Alexandria with the theme Rooted in Our Past, Reaching for Our Future. Extended training sessions were held at Alexandria Technical College on the first day with a full conference schedule at Holiday Inn, Alexandria, the second day. This 5th anniversary conference represented a milestone for Branch Out.

The theme in 1997 was Committed to Change: Leaning, Sharing, Adapting and Growing. Branch Out moved to two full days of workshops and training opportunities, the first day at the University of St. Thomas, and the second day at the College of St. Catherine. MORE and MOTSE workshops, as well as other programs, were developed to meet Minnesota Voluntary Certification competencies.

A very successful Branch Out 1998 Recognizing Our Strengths: a Bridge to the Future, was held in Duluth and Branch Out 1999, Tradition, Technology and Training returned to St. Olaf in Northfield. With the advent of many more continuing education opportunities competing for library staff, conference planners made the move from an annual conference to bi-annual in order to assure quality programming.

Branch Out 2001, We are the Dynamic Links was held back on the campus of University of St. Thomas. This conference attracted attendees from South Dakota who saw an opportunity to complement our bi-annual conference with a similar offering in the off years. The first Branch Out South Dakota occured August 2002 at South Dakota State University in Brookings.

Branch Out 2003, Grounded and Growing was held on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. Almost 200 attendees enjoyed the beautiful grounds, bountiful programming and delicious meals. Capstone Press co-sponsored this conference and helped get the word out to regional school media centers. Added programming and increased attendance by school library paraprofessionals was the result of this successful collaboration.

Branch Out succeeds because it is a collaborative effort, a sharing of ideas and resources. The programming is enhanced from year to year, but the goal of providing library staff from every corner of Minnesota with useful professional development in an innovative format has not changed.