I’m really excited about ALA and I can’t believe it’s coming up so soon! I’m giving three talks and have to do signings and appearances at the exhibits on Saturday, so I don’t have a lot of time to see DC or to go to sessions other than my own. Still, it’s going to be a great conference and I feel completely overwhelmed by all the great events being offered.
I’ll be going to DC with my husband, so he’ll probably tag along with me to all the exhibits and social events. He plans to work while he’s there, so I don’t feel like I’m abandoning him when I have to do librarian stuff. If I had free time in DC, you can bet I wouldn’t be doing work! To each his own.
Here is my developing schedule. If there’s an event you think I should be going to or if you want to meet and chat, let me know. I know how hard it can be to just bump into people at ALA and there are so many people I’m hoping to see there.
Friday
8:00 am – arrive in DC
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Mover and Shaker Lunch
3:00 – ? – Probably take a stroll, maybe hit a museum
Dinner – No plans yet
After dinner – No plans yet
Saturday
10:00 am – 11:00 am – signing my book at the Information Today Booth #814
11:00 am – 12:45 pm – meeting and greeting at the American Libraries booth #2615 (cake will be had!)
12:45 pm – 2:00 pm – lunch (no plans, but am dying for Mexican, Japanese or Vietnamese)
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm – check out the rest of the exhibits, harass vendors, collect schwag
4:00 – 5:30 pm – LITA The Open ILS: PINES, the Evergreen Open-ILS Program & The University of Rochester Extensible Catalog Project (possibly)
5:30 pm – 8:00pm – LITA Happy Hour
11:00 pm – If I’m awake and nearby, I’ll probably hit the Facebook After Hours party
Sunday
10:30 am – 12:00 pm – RUSA -MARS Chair’s Program – Harnessing the Hive: Social Networks and Libraries (I’m on the panel)
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm – ASCLA -ICAN Finding New and Creative Solutions through Library Think Tanks (I’m on the panel)
5:45 pm – 8:00 pm – Blog Salon
After 8:00 pm – so, what’s next?
Monday
10:30 am – 12:00 pm – PLA -LD Wiking the Blog and Walking the Dog–Social Software, Virtual Reality, and Authority Everywhere (I’m on the panel)
Lunch – no plans yet
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm – Will probably go to LAMA -BES Is the Learning Commons Enough? — Asking the Better Questions
Dinner – No plans
After dinner – No plans yet
Tuesday
Fly home, bright and early
When I think back to my first ALA in 2004, I am blown away by how much better the programs are this year. I’m really impressed. Can’t wait to get there!
Wow… you’ve built in a lot of “free” time. I wish I could do that with my schedule. The Technical Services 2.0 program on Monday afternoon is one that I’m personally looking forward to because one rarely hears about social software being used in technical services. I hope the program is well attended. I’ll probably run into you at some point.
If you are looking for something to do on Friday night, why not come to the WJ Member Reception? I had a lot of fun at it last year. You can sign up at the OCLC web site (It goes from 5-8, I think and is at one of the major hotels).
Hi Meredith,
I attended your presentation in the session “Wiking the Blog and Walking the Dog” and was happy to see your different take on the topic, but disappointed that you didn’t have time to show all the examples in your slides. You mentioned the complete presentation would be available at your blog. I couldn’t find it. Can you help?
Hi Roseline, it’s actually available on my presentation wiki at http://meredithfarkas.wetpaint.com. Enjoy!