There is still time to snag a few of the remaining seats for preconferences and ticketed events addressing reference, library services to older adults, business reference and literature hosted by the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) at the upcoming ALA Annual Conference.
RUSA’s 2009 preconferences are half- or full-day workshops presenting skills and knowledge vital to success in the professions RUSA represents. RUSA also sponsors the Literary Tastes Breakfast, the premiere conference event for book lovers featuring authors from the recently selected Reading List and Notable Books titles, as well as the 2009 Sophie Brody Medal honorees. The breakfast and preconferences are ticketed events—interested participants may register separate from, or in addition to Annual Conference Registration, using the online conference registration form (login required). A comprehensive overview of registration procedures is available at the RUSA blog.
This year’s Literary Tastes Breakfast will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. Sunday, July 12, at the Palmer House Hilton, 17 E. Monroe St., Chicago. Authors will read from their work, ruminate on the writing craft and sign books, while attendees enjoy a scrumptious breakfast. This year’s award-winning authors are Mark Harris (“Pictures at a Revolution”); Toby Barlow (“Sharp Teeth”); Nick Taylor (“American-Made: The Enduring Legacy of the WPA”); and Peter Manseau (“Songs for the Butcher’s Daughter”). Tickets are $45 for RUSA members and students, $50 for ALA members and $60 for non-members.
RUSA’s 2009 preconferences are:
Reinvented Reference V
8:30am – 5pm, Friday July 10, InterContinental Chicago, 505 N. Michigan Ave.
$220 RUSA members / $265 ALA members / $340 non-members
Reference librarians and managers of reference services interested in discovering solutions to challenges facing a reference services staff will reap huge rewards from this event. Attendees will select two out of four topic areas—technology, assessment, collaboration and reference staffing models—to participate in roundtable discussions where workplace challenges are shared and solutions discussed. Co-sponsored by Altarama, Compendium, OCLC, Paratext and RefWorks.
A Dialogue With the Aging Network and the Library Community: The New Guidelines on Library and Information Services to Older Adults
9am – 4:30pm Friday, July 10, Sheraton Chicago, 301 E. North Water St.
$125 RUSA members / $160 ALA members / $245 non-members
This preconference highlights how libraries are collaborating with national and local organizations that serve older adults. Participants will also discuss RUSA’s newly revised “Guidelines on Library and Information Services to Older Adults.” Speakers include representatives from organizations such as the American Society on Aging, the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging and AARP, along with library professionals with expertise in services to older adults. Co-sponsored by the ALA Office for Literacy and Outreach Services.
Mastering Business Acumen (MBA) in a Day
9am – 5pm Friday July 10, Sheraton Chicago, 301 E. North Water St.
$160 RUSA members / $205 ALA members / $280 non-members
This event will arm a wide variety of librarians with the know-how needed to address patrons’ basic business questions. Public, academic and special librarians as well as library school students new to business reference can reap the rewards of this professional development event. Experts representing a variety of fundamental business disciplines will share their knowledge with attendees and prepare them to support business-related reference services. Attendees will also participate in small-group networking lunches at nearby restaurants organized by BRASS member ambassadors. (Lunch not included in registration fee.)
From Lincoln Logs to Linkin’ Families
8:30am – 5pm, Friday July 10, Sheraton Chicago, 301 E. North Water St.
$125 RUSA members / $170 ALA members / $245 non-members
Librarians, library staff and any personal family history researchers are invited to attend this preconference. This one-day event highlights newly available Illinois genealogy resources, as well as specific tools for African American family history research. Presenters include George Morgan of Genealogy Guys fame, Jack Simpson, co-creator of ChicagoAncestors.org, and Lou Dennis Szucs, editor of The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy. The event is made possible in part by ProQuest.
A comprehensive overview of RUSA’s other programming offerings is available in the downloadable RUSA @ Annual Conference guide. This year’s programs cover topics relevant to all types of libraries, including reference, including business reference, historical reference and the latest research in reference services; resource sharing and user privacy; collection development, including Spanish-speaking populations and genre fiction; cataloging; customer service; and readers advisory. Download the guide for complete information and program locations.
