A large amount of time and resources is spent every year in the library and information science (LIS) sector in Australia to organise, fund and attend conferences. However, the possible benefits of conference attendance for librarians have not been a focus of research in the field. This article, reporting on the findings of a pilot study conducted in the context of a PhD research project, addresses this gap and analyses conference attendance benefits as reported by librarians who attended a specific international conference. The findings of this study link directly to issues and themes that are relevant to all library sectors in Australia. Implications for best practice• Highlights the benefits of conference attendance for library staff across all sectors.• Offers evidence for library staff seeking to secure organisational support to attend large international conferences, such as IFLA. • Informs library managers of the importance of conferences as a professional development tool, which can be used in requests for financial support from their parent bodies. • Discusses conference attendance as a means for libraries to remain relevant and innovative. • Provides a better understanding of the topic and outlines the need for further research in the area.

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