WLA Conference 2014

If you haven't signed up for this year's Wisconsin Library Association annual conference, we hope that you'll join us soon! This year's conference will be held November 4-7, 2014, at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in Wisconsin Dells. 

The WLA Annual Conference is a premier educational event attracting more than 800 attendees from across Wisconsin, including directors, librarians, trustees, friends, support staff and others interested in libraries. Additional programs will also be co-sponsored by affiliate library organizations. It's going to be a terrific conference full of folks who love libraries.

You should be there to connect and engage – and come away transformed! 

The Early Bird registrationdeadline is TODAY…not only do you save enough money to buy at least a Skinny Latte, you’ll qualify to be entered into a drawing for a one-night stay at Madison Marriott West, next year’s conference site.

Updated Webpage

Outreach Services Roundtable has updated its page on the WLA website. We hope the new information clarifies the group's purpose and encourages membership.

The webpage also reflects the roundtable's expansion beyond traditional outreach services such as bookmobiles and home delivery. The roundtable now encompasses accessibility, promotion, and advocacy for all types of libraries and patrons.

Let us know what you think. Better yet, join us!

WLA Annual Conference is This Week!

We're looking forward to seeing you at WLA in Green Bay this week! There are great events planned all day and into the evening on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Mark your calendars for the roundtable meetings on Thursday morning from 7:45am-8:30am. Even if you aren't able to attend the entire conference, the roundtable meetings are free to attend and we'd love to have you join us!

WLA Annual Conference is Next Week!

The WLA Conference is less than a week away! We hope you are able to attend this fantastic get together in Green Bay. If you haven't registered,  there is still time! Please take a moment this afternoon and sign up, follow this
link to register: http://wla.wisconsinlibraries.org/events-conferences/annual-conference/registration-hotel

Here are some Conference FAQs: http://flic.kr/p/gHkMh2

We're looking forward to seeing you at #WLA13!

WLA Annual Conference is Next Month!

The 2013 Annual Conference will be held October 22-25 at the Hyatt on Main and KI Convention Center, Green Bay, Wisconsin. The conference shares new ideas and tools to stay up-to-date, innovate and succeed with library staff, trustees and volunteers. This year’s theme is “Play. Create. Innovate!”

Two pre-conference sessions happening on Tuesday:

• Becoming a Drum Major for Change: Creating & Inspiring Leadership in Your Libraries
• Play & Read: Early Literacy in Libraries 

This year’s headline and featured presenters include:

• Chip Kidd, author, editor, designer – known for book jacket design
• Sergio Dogliani & The Idea Store, innovating library services in the UK 
• Jarrett Krosoczka, author of Punk Farm, Baghead, Lunch Lady graphic novels and more! 
• Deborah Blum, author of the critically acclaimed The Poisoner's Handbook
• Michael Perry, author of bestselling memoirs Population 485, Truck: A Love Story, Coop and Visiting Tom

Special events include:

• Tailgate Party 
• Lambeau Field Tour 
• Librarians Rock! WLAF Fundraiser (karaoke)
• Morning Yoga Session 
• Tour of the Oneida Community Library
• Weidener Center for the Performing Arts Tour
• Bring It: Banned Books Read-In Celebrating Multicultural Literature
• Battledecks/Craftdecks 
• Pub Crawl 
• Bookin' It 5K Fun Run

The 2013 Annual Conference offers more than 90 sessions across nine simultaneous tracks - Back to the Book; Collections: Building, Sharing, Transforming; Innovation & Creative Collaboration; Library Issues & Challenges; Advocacy & Promotion; Programming & Instruction; Technology & Digital Services; Engaging People; and Leadership & Personal Development.
Also: a silent auction fundraiser, networking opportunities, and an exhibit hall with currently over 60 vendors showcasing library products and services. Details about sessions, speakers, and registration are now available. Register today!

from the Official Conference Press Release

Did you miss the early bird registration deadline?

No worries, due to a technical glitch at WLA, they extended the early bird registration through this Friday, October 4!

WLA Annual Conference

Play. Create. Innovate!

 

This is the theme for the 2013 WLA Conference, which will take place October 22-25 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. We already have a fabulous line-up of keynote speakers and exciting special events scheduled for your enjoyment, but now we need YOU! Help us provide exceptional learning and collaborative experiences by offering your talents and know-how as a presenter for a conference session.

 

We have a variety of options available for presenters this year. Consider presenting a 45-minute session or trying one of our "Start to Finish" 3-hour sessions that would help attendees focus on project-based work they can complete on Friday morning. Units can sponsor a Sunrise Session on Thursday morning to address business meetings and encourage "Birds of a Feather" discussions on issues that matter to their members.

 

Consider sessions related to the conference theme, as well as some of these topics: back to the book; collections (building, sharing, transforming, cataloging); collaboration; library issues and challenges; advocacy; PR; programming; instruction; technology & digital services; engaging people; leadership and personal development.

But don't let those ideas limit you! Suggest any program you'd like to try and we'll give it due consideration. We're looking for an interesting array of programs that represent the variety of library audiences represented by WLA.

 

Please complete the program request form by March 22nd (one for each program proposal or meeting request). We'll let you know by April 30th if your request is accepted.

 We look forward to celebrating your talents and ideas.

 

With thanks,

Beth Carpenter & Jean Anderson, 2013 WLA Conference Program Co-Chairs

WLA 2012: Reading Through Changing Vision

Jean Kalscheur and Debby Meyer from Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Handicapped shared Reading Through Changing Vision on Wednesday, October 24, 2012. Their program shared helpful insights and hints about individuals struggling with changing vision. They also brought along various goggles for participants to wear so they could experience macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, legal blindness.

"Vision issues should not keep you from creating or keep you from information."

 Their PowerPoint is available on the WLA conference webpage.

Thanks for coming to WLA 2012!

What a fantastic conference in La Crosse, Wisconsin! Thank you to all our presenters, organizers, volunteers, and attendees!

If you were unable to attend the Annal Conference of the Wisconsin Library Association, they have a page of session handouts on their website. Our blog will also be posting session information during the month of November December.

The next big conference is the Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries' conference the first three days of May at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Next year's WLA Annual Conference will be October 22-25, 2013 at the KI Convention Center and Hotel Sierra in Green Bay, Wisconsin. We hope to see you there!

WLA is Almost Here!

Wisconsin Library Association's Annual Conference is just around the corner! Members of OSRT and EMEIRT are excited to be traveling to La Crosse for a three days of workshops, events, meetings, and time together. We hope that you are making the trek. Visit WLA's website for more information about attending the conference.

Our round table meetings are scheduled for Thursday, October 25, 2012 at 8:45am. We hope to see you there!

WLA is Coming!

Later this month, the Wisconsin Library Association will be hosting their Annual Conference in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The conference runs from Tuesday, October 23 to Friday, October 26. Outreach Services Round Table and the Ethnic Multicultural Information and Exchange Round Table will be hosting numerous sessions throughout the week. Visit WLA's Conference webpage to view all the available sessions. 

We will also be hosting business meetings for members and other interested individuals during WLA. Our business meetings will be on Thursday, October 25, 2012 at 8:45am. We hope to see you there!

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Outreach Service Award Nominations

The 2012 WLA Annual Conference in LaCrosse is less than 2 months away!  There is still time to nominate someone you know who has done exceptional outreach at his/her library. The award may be for a specific project or projects or for outstanding lifetime achievement in outreach services.

Download and fill out the nomination form from the OSRT website. Completed forms must be emailed to the current board chair by September 17, 2012.

The winner will be announced at WLA's Annual Conference in October and receive a monetary award of $250. The Outreach Services Award was formerly known as the Frances de Usabel Award. Thank you for your nominations!

WeLead in WLA

Applications for the 2013-2014 WeLead class are now available on the WLA website! Librarians interested in becoming a protégé or a mentor are welcome to apply. WeLead pairs veteran librarians/WLA members and emerging librarians together to foster new library leaders. Chosen protégés will receive a WLA membership as well as

• stipends to attend the WLA annual conference for two years
• a stipend to attend one section conference during the two-year initiative
• a stipend to attend the Leadership conference
• an appointment to a WLA committee
• special leadership programming opportunities
• and the ability to network with their mentor

The application deadline is July 31, 2012. For additional information, please contact members of the WeLead Task Force or Lisa Strand at the WLA Office.