Conference Location
Due to the size of the ALA Annual Conference, the event takes place in a convention center and several hotels. For the 2008 Annual Conference, the exhibits, keynote speakers, and many meetings and programs will be held in the Anaheim Convention Center, located at 800 West Katella Avenue in Anaheim. Directions (driving and public transit) are available at http://www.anaheimconventioncenter.com.
One or two hotels will be designated "Headquarter" or "Co-Headquarter" hotels, and will host many meetings, progams and special events. Several more hotels will host some events, and many additional hotels will be part of the ALA hotel block to include sleeping rooms.
Information on Anaheim, and things to do in the city, is available through the Anaheim Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Special Needs
If you have a special physical or communication need that may impact your participation in this meeting, please check the appropriate box on your registration form and append a statement specifying your special need. While every effort will be made to meet attendees’ needs, we cannot guarantee the availability of accommodations in response to requests received after May 9, 2008. Based upon availability in each city, we maintain a limited number of wheelchairs and scooters on a first come, first served basis. Please contact Anne Weglewski at 800-545-2433, ext. 3220 as soon as possible to reserve a wheelchair or scooter, for use in the convention center only, or if you wish to discuss any other special needs. For more information, please visit our Accessibility page.
Child Care and Camp ALA
Make this year’s annual meeting a family affair. Once again, ACCENT on Children’s Arrangements, Inc. has planned a great children’s activity center for ALA convention attendees’ children. ACCENT is a nationally recognized professional childcare company organized to provide quality on-site children’s activities in a nurturing, safe, educational environment. ACCENT’s counselors are fun-loving professionals with plenty of experience with children. With activities such as arts and crafts projects, active games, movies and much more, the children are sure to have a great time. The fun includes optional field trips for children ages 6 and older.
CAMP ALA welcomes children ages 6 months – 17 years, and is available Friday, June 27-Tuesday, July 1. The cost for the camp is $80 per child per day. Parents pay $48 per child per day for the center and ALA funds $32 per child per day. An optional $15 lunch is available, or children can bring their lunch. If you prefer, you can register your child for a field trip day instead (children ages 6 years and older only), which includes lunch. The cost for each child with a field trip is $90.00 per day. Parents pay $58.00 per child for the field trip day and ALA funds $32.00 per child per day. A $10 Non-refundable registration fee per child is also required. Descriptions of the field trips can be found at www.ala.org/annual (Click on “General Information” and look for Camp ALA). To assure that your child has a place in CAMP ALA, please preregister here by June 13, 2008.
Optional Field Trip Descriptions
Field Trip: Thrills and Chills:
Knott’s Berry Theme Park
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Field Trip: Day of Discovery:
Discovery Science Center and
Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Museum
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Field Trip: Under the Sea:
Aquarium of the Pacific
Monday, June 30, 2008
Children's Policy
Strollers are permitted on the exhibit floor but only if there is a child in them at all times. Unescorted children are not permitted on the exhibit floor. Children under the age of five must be restrained at all times (stroller, back pack, etc.). Any child over the age of five must have an exhibits only badge to be admitted to the exhibit floor. These badges are available at onsite registration for $25. An adult must accompany all children under the age of 16.
Travel Grants and Assistance
If you are thinking of attending the ALA Annual Conference, but are concerned about cost, consider applying for a travel grant. A number of different grants to assist in covering costs are offered by ALA vendors and benefactors - but most have early deadlines, so apply soon.
Poster Sessions
The ALA Conference Poster Sessions will be displayed on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (June 28, 29 and 30) at the Anaheim Convention Center Exhibits. Poster sessions provide an opportunity for individual librarians or libraries to share graphic representations of current research, programs or creative solutions to library problems. Accepted presenters are given a time block during the conference to present posters, answer questions, and give away handouts relating to the session. Poster Session topics and times are listed in the Annual Conference Program as well as in the online abstracts booklet. For more information about the ALA Poster Sessions, please visit http://www.lib.jmu.edu/org/ala/
Saturday, June 28, 2008, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Session I: The Collectors: Posters on Acquisitions, Cataloging and Classification, Collection Development and Management, History, Serials, and Special Collections
Saturday, June 28, 2008, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Session II: The Educators: Posters on Distance Learning, Continuing Education, Library Education, Literacy, and Research Methodology
Sunday, June 29, 2008, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Session III: Global Solutions, International Projects in Libraries
Sunday, June 29, 2008, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Session IV: Outreach: Posters on Interlibrary Cooperation, Library Services to Special Groups, and Reference and Information Services
Monday, June 30, 2008, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Session V: Connections: Posters on Cooperation with Non-Library Institutions and Agencies, Interlibrary Loan, Library Use Instruction, and Public Awareness
Monday, June 30, 2008, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Session VI: Infrastructure: Posters on Buildings and Equipment, Management, and Technology
Placement Services
Provided by the ALA Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR), the Placement Services will be available during the Annual Conference.
Job seekers should register and search for jobs on the JobLIST website at http://www.joblist.ala.org/. All services are free to job seekers. Registration is not required, but is recommended. Registration will give employers who choose the Placement Service subscription access to your resume information. It will also allow for direct communication between job seekers and employers.
Employers who want to post positions should post them on the JobLIST website at http://www.joblist.ala.org/. Employers who want to use the interviewing facilities must have an active ad placed on JobLIST at the time you schedule an interview. Employers who want to review resumes of registered job seekers should purchase the ‘Placement Service subscription’ after placing an active online ad on JobLIST. Employers who want a booth in the Placement Center should contact Beatrice Calvin at 800/545-2433 ext. 4280.
Policy 54.3 states, “ALA is committed to equality of opportunity for all library employees or applicants for employment, regardless of race, color, creed, sex, age, physical or mental handicap, individual lifestyle, or national origin.” By advertising through ALA services, the organization agrees to comply with this policy. All available salary ranges shall be listed. For more information, contact Placement Service Manager, Beatrice Calvin at bcalvin@ala.org or 800/545-2433 ext. 4280.
Student-to-Staff Program
Each year during Annual Conference, the Chapter Relations Office puts together a group of student volunteers from the chapters to assist ALA staff at the conference. To qualify, the student must be a current ALA member and a member of a student chapter, and cannot have previously participated in the program. Each school has its own selection process, and the chosen student's name must be submitted to ALA by the group's faculty advisor. One student will be accepted per chapter. In exchange for working 4 hours per day at the conference from Friday, June 27, 2008-Tuesday July 1, the student will receive free conference registration, housing, and a per diem for meal expenses. Transportation costs (such as airfare and cabs) are the student's responsibility. To find out how you can participate, contact your ALA Student Chapter on campus for their selection criteria, or contactDon Woodin the Chapter Relations Office at dwood@ala.org.
No Smoking Policy
By Council action at its 1991 Atlanta Annual Conference, it was resolved that “smoking is prohibited at Midwinter Meetings, Annual Conferences, regional/national conferences, continuing education programs, exhibits and other gatherings sponsored by the ALA.”
Meals
Meals are not included with regular Conference registration. Some preconferences and banquets include meals as part of an additional ticket price. This information is included with the description of the event.
Cognotes
Cognotes, the Conference Daily newspaper, will be available in the Convention Center Saturday - Tuesday, and a Highlights Issue will be mailed to all ALA members after the Conference.
Media Credential Policy
If you believe you may be eligible to attend the ALA Annual Conference as Press, please read our Media Credential Policy.
ALA Annual Green Report
Green Report - ALA 2008 Annual Conference Green Report for the Anaheim Convention Center and all hotels who responded to our request.
Also the Aramark Sustainability Booklet from the caterer at the Anaheim Convention Center.
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