SLA Blog

Conference Blogging

If you've been reading this blog or Conference Connections, you know that SLA 2009 is just around the corner (conference-related activities begin on Friday, 12 June, and the Opening General Session is on Sunday, 14 June), and we're looking for a few good bloggers...no experience required!

Blogging on SLA Blog is not a full-time commitment.  Even one or two posts will enhance the conference experience for attendees and keep those who are not at the conference in the loop.

Don't know what to write about?  Here are some ideas for post topics:  unit activities, sessions, meetings, what's cool in the INFO-EXPO (including the Unit Idea Showcase), and general musings about your experiences.  Please see this list of sessions we would especially like to hear about.

Wi-fi will be available throughout the convention center for your blogging convenience.  No laptop or BlackBerry?  No problem.  Computers are also available in the Cyber Connection in the SLA Registration Center and outside the INFO-EXPO.

Sign up today!  If you'd like to blog on SLA Blog, please contact me at csosnowski (at) sla (dot) org. 

Blogging about the conference on your own blog?  Let us know, pick up your Blogger ribbon at the Information Booth, and don't forget the sla2009 tag (that's #sla2009 on Twitter)!

How can I convince my boss that I should attend SLA Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO?

Here are a few of the great reasons that you can use to convince him/her that attending the SLA Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO is a smart investment:

1. Costing less than other industry conferences, and offering more than 250 sessions, panels and keynotes, SLA Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO is by far the best value for your money.
2. SLA is the premier organization for information professionals.  As the conference of the year, it's your best chance to learn about best practices, network to find solutions to information service challenges, and get hands-on technology training.
3. SLA’s conference speakers are the top industry experts. Pick the brains of the information professional community's foremost experts.  Get answers to your specific questions and exclusive insight into the technologies you use every day.
4. Education helps professionals work smarter with today’s smaller budgets, fewer resources and looming deadlines. Attending the 2009 SLA Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO is the most cost-effective way to get the professional development you need. 
5. Investing in employees' education is the best way to reward top employees, keep morale high, drive innovation and show that the company is committed to the  growth of its valuable team members.
6. The INFO-EXPO is *the* place to meet with vendors, learn about new technologies, and comparison shop for information products and services.

Some things attendees from the 2008 SLA Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO said when asked if they would refer a business associate:

• A great experience with many learning and networking opportunities.
• Attending SLA is valuable in identifying trends in the info industry, networking with other professionals, continuing education opportunities, discovering new vendors, hearing top notch speakers…
• Continuing education classes are excellent, conference programming session are very good. It's a great opportunity to look at/evaluate products, meet vendors and ask questions, network with colleagues…
• Essential for professional development in a rapidly changing field.
• Excellent conference programming and pre-conference workshops; great keynote speakers; many opportunities for networking; great array of exhibitors; many amenities such as the wireless lounge [and] computer access….. Excellent value for money.
• Excellent for keeping current with trends
• Good variety of topics covered, as well as in-depth coverage of future technological trends, hands-on workshops, focused pre-con classes, strong exhibitor hall….

Plan now to attend the SLA 2009 Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO.  Registration will open in January 2009.  For more information about the SLA Conference go to the SLA Web site.

Three Good Reasons to Visit the Host Chapter's Booth

Upon entering the exhibit hall, you'll see the registration desk on your left and the entrance to the INFO-EXPO on your right. But you might just miss the Pacific Northwestern Chapter's booth, where you can get information about Seattle, maps, and other information from the volunteers. The booth is located to the left of the south entrance, immediately inside the doors. You'll miss it if you go directly to the registration desk.

They're also giving away the following at the booth: a reusable water bottle, a biodegradable recyclable pin, and M&Ms stamped "SLA 2008 Seattle." See photos below to view the items.

Von Totanes

Conference handouts

In effort to reduce the number of unwanted copies of handouts being printed, SLA will offer handouts online.  Please click here to search for handouts. 

There will be printing stations in Cyber Connection in the Registration area.  However, please consider the wait time. 

If you are a speaker at SLA 2008 and you have not received log-in information for posting handouts, please contact events@sla.org.

SLA Salutes! Awards and Leadership Reception

This year's Awards and Leadership Reception will be held at the Space Needle from 7:30pm-9:30pm. 

Your event ticket is your Monorail pass.  Please present it for your free Monorail ride.  If you don't know where to catch the Monorail, a group escort will be available from the lobby of the Sheraton hotel (1400 6th Avenue).

Attendee Message Center

The electronic message center has returned this year!

Visit the CyberConnection in the Registration area of the Convention Center to leave a message for a fellow attendee...or to retrieve messages left for you.

You'll need your badge number to log into the system.

Sunday CE Course Cancellations

Please note these cancellations:

• #472 -- Creating and Conducting Effective Presentations
• #510 -- Social Networking for Info Pros

Ribbons!

If you've attended the SLA conference before, you're probably aware that name badge ribbons are distributed at the Information Booth. 

Examples of the types of ribbons available:  Division Cabinet, Chapter Cabinet, Speaker, Host, Blogger, Award Winner (current year), and Fellow.

And, a special purple ribbon for First-time attendees.

Stop by the Information Booth and decorate yourself....

Conference Coverage in Information Outlook

There's plenty of news of SLA 2008 in the April issue of Information Outlook, and more to come in the May and June issues.

April -- which already should be on readers' desks -- includes coverage of SLA's greening activities for the conference.

May -- on its way to the printer -- features in-depth information on Seattle, the host city. Also in May: close-ups on keynoters Seth Godin and Vint Cerf and looks at some of the other conference programming.

June -- to be distributed in attendee registration kits onsite and through its normal mail delivery -- takes a virtual view of the conference and includes an interview with Godin.

And look for the July issue of Information Outlook, which will feature post-conference coverage -- plus Q&As with candidates for the SLA board of directors.

Interactive map of Seattle

As you prepare for the Annual Conference in Seattle, check out Schmap, an interactive web site with maps, photos, and other information.  There is a Schmap specifically for Seattle.

BTW Schmap periodically looks at photos in Flickr to locate photos that will help it illustrate what an area looks like.  If you take photos in Seattle, load them into Flickr (and tag them), you may find that you'll get a message from Schmap asking if they can use your photo.  There is no payment, just proper attribute and a few moments of fame.