|
President's Letter EVA POOLE, |
|
|
On behalf of the Conference Program Committee and the Local Arrangements Committee, I would like to invite you to come to the first ever "family friendly" annual conference of the Texas Library Association to be held in San Antonio, March 17-20, 2004.Now, more than ever, we need to capitalize on the collective wisdom of each other. What better place to do so than the TLA 2004 Annual Conference! Whether you represent academic, public, school, or special libraries, the TLA Annual Conference promises to provide you with a host of quality programs focusing on the critical significance of libraries as essential, vital, valuable, and visible entities in our respective communities. The Conference Program Committee has worked hard to provide numerous learning programs and tracks. This roster includes content rich programs for academic and public librarians, programs for young adults, storytelling, services to these constituent groups, and author programs. And, for the first time ever, the TLA president and the president of ASIS, Samantha Hastings, will provide reciprocal programming during our respective annual conferences. Attendees will have various opportunities to focus on one topic or issue throughout the conference by following one of the many learning tracks; to choose from an unprecedented number of 18 preconference programs; to learn new ideas while orchestrating conversations with other librarians; to hear about the latest and best products and services from our many vendors; to enjoy the numerous opportunities to meet old friends and network with new colleagues.This year's conference will feature more than 225 programs, workshops, and events on issues facing public, academic, school, and special librarians, library educators and students, lay supporters and advocates, vendors, and all who care about Texas libraries. Don't miss the opportunity to hear more than 230 speakers and authors from across the state, the country, and the world. These include consumer advocate Ralph Nader, commentator Tony Brown, poet Nikki Giovanni, library development expert Glen Holt, organizational guru Shelley Phipps, OCLC researcher Ed O'Neill, author Gary Paulsen, digital library expert Roy Tennant, librarian Kathleen de la Peña McCook, one book, one city creator Nancy Pearl, author Jack Gantos, artist Roxie Munro, writer Rick Riordan, children's specialist Julie Cummins, civil action commentator Siva Vaidhyanathan, and author Douglas Wood to name only a few. One great feature to this year's conference is our first conference-wide reading and discussion series, featuring Mark Dunn's Ella Minnow Pea: A Progressively Lipogrammatic Epistolary Fable. All conference attendees are invited to read Ella Minnow Pea before attending conference and then to participate in a group discussion of the book.TLA's exhibit hall the third largest library tradeshow in the world features more than 450 exhibiting companies displaying and demonstrating the broad array of products and services your library needs to improve its offerings including books and materials you can purchase on the spot. The Local Arrangements Committee has been working hard to provide you and your family with local entertainment and other fun activities. Ever cognizant of the Spring Break holiday for many of the school districts in the state, committee members have concentrated on the theme of "family friendly" and have planned a number of special events and venues with your family in mind. I encourage you to come to San Antonio for the 2004 TLA Annual Conference and bring your family with you! |
||