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FAQ Table of Contents

Exhibits, Meetings and Events

Registration

Housing, Airlines and Travel

Miscellaneous


Exhibits, Meetings and Events

Special Events Page
Visit the Exhibits Page

Where will the exhibits be?
For the 2007 Midwinter meeting, the exhibits will be in the Washington State Convention & Trade Center.

What are the exhibit hours?
The exhibits will be open the following days and times: Friday, 5:15 - Ribbon-cutting ceremony, exhibits open 5:30-7:30; Saturday, Sunday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Who is the keynote speaker?
The Midwinter Meeting does not have any keynote events. The President's Program will take place on Sunday from 3:30-5:30 pm, and the Sunrise Speaker Series will take place at 8:00 am Saturday-Monday. More information can be found on the Special Events page.

How can I find information on meetings and sessions?
A preliminary list of discussion groups will be available on the Meetings and Sessions page in November. Detailed information on sessions and meetings, including dates, times and locations, will be available using the Event Planner, beginning in early December. This information is available only to full meeting registrants. Attendees will also receive a Meeting Guide onsite, which will list all session information.

What is the difference between programs and discussion groups? How are meetings different?
A program is a formal educational session organized by a committee from an ALA division, roundtable or office. These are typically structured sessions with a speaker or several speakers, or a panel, designed to inform or instruct attendees on a specific topic. These program take place ONLY during the Annual Conference, and not during the Midwinter Meeting.

A discussion group is a more loosely organized session, sponsored by an ALA division, roundtable or office, that meets to discuss a broader topic. These sessions may or may not have a speaker, and are generally considered to be more open discussions than informational sessions, and usually have ample opportunity for interaction. These take place both during the Annual Conference and Midwinter Meeting.

Committee meetings are held to do the business of the association. Some meetings will be listed "closed" as they are discussing private information, but most meetings are open to any attendee, and may be a good way to learn about the business of ALA and its divisions.

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Registration

Registration Information

Where can I register for the meeting?
Registration opens on September 1, 2006. Once Registration is open, you can register for the Meeting using the link above. From this page, you can access Registration rates and deadlines, an online registration form, a printable registration form, and a list of additional events you can attend.

What if I need to cancel my registration?
The easiest way to cancel a registration is by emailing registration@ala.org. You can fax your cancellation request to 312-280-1538, or mail to 50 E Huron Chicago, IL 60611 Attn: Registration. To receive a refund less a $25 processing fee, we must receive your cancellation request no later than Decmeber 8, 2006. All refunds will be processed after February 1, 2007.

Can I register for the Midwinter Meeting by phone?
No, only online, faxed or mailed registrations are accepted.

How do I know if I'm registered?
All attendees will receive an email confirmation (once registration is processed), or mail confirmation if no email address is provided. This confirmation/receipt verifies your address information, the event(s) you have signed up for, and how much you have paid. Attendees that register online are urged to print the receipt copy of their registration to keep for their records. If you have not received your confirmation within three weeks, please contact the Customer Service Center at 1-800-545-2433, press option 5.

What if I sign up for an event that is already full?
Attendees that register for an event that has reached maximum capacity will be put on a wait list. We will notify attendees (in the order the names were received) if space becomes available up to two weeks prior to the conference.

When will I receive my badge in the mail?
Typically, badges are mailed three weeks prior to the start of the conference. You must be paid in full by Decmeber 8, 2006 to receive your badge in the mail. If you register after this date, your badge will be available for pickup onsite.

Where can I pick up my badge onsite?
If you do not receive your badge in the mail, and you are paid in full, go directly to the Will Call/Badge Correction counter in the Registration area.

How do I pay with a purchase order?
All registrations with purchase orders must be mailed in with the original purchase order. We will bill the institution for payment. No purchase orders will be accepted as payment onsite.

How can I pay my balance?
To pay your balance before the conference with a credit card, please call our Customer Service center at 800-545-2433, press option 5 and a representative will assist you. Attendees paying by check may mail in their balance to the American Library Association, Dept. #77-6565, Chicago, IL 60678-6565.

Do I need a photo ID?
All attendees are required to show a government or state issued photo ID in order to pick up conference materials, or register onsite. Any photo ID used to board an airline flight will be acceptable.

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Housing, Airlines and Travel

Travel and Hotels

When does housing open?
Housing for Midwinter opens October 2, 2006. Housing forms will be available in the October issue of American Libraries Magazine and as a downloadable PDF on the website, and online housing registration will be available on the ALA website beginning October 2. You can also call the ALA Travel Desk at 1-800-424-5249 or 847-940-2155.

How do I get the ALA rates at hotels in the host city?
To get the specially negotiated ALA rates, you must make your reservation through the ALA Travel Desk by calling, mailing in a form, or making your reservation through the website. You cannot get the ALA rates by calling the hotel directly.

Can I get a discount on my airfare to the Midwinter Meeting?
Yes! The ALA Travel Desk has negotiated a discount with United Airlines. United is offering ALA attendees a 5% discount off any restricted (non-refundable) United published fare, including first class, in effect when the ticket is purchased and subject to all applicable restrictions. A discount of 10% is available for unrestricted, fully refundable fares, for reservations made up to the day of departure. An additional 5% is available for reservations made 30 days in advance. To receive these discounts, use Meeting ID # 502CQ, and call United at 1-800-521-4041 or the ALA Travel Desk at 1-800-621-1083. These discounts are only available on reservations made by phone. United is also offering ALA attendees an internet reservation discount. To make your reservations on the internet, go to the travel page, and you will be provided with a direct link to the United website, and an E-Certificate number to receive 10% off all applicable internet fares. This discount is only available on reservations made on the internet.

How do I cancel my hotel reservation if I need to?
If you wish to cancel your reservation before Decemeber 8, 2006, contact the ALA Travel Desk at 1-800-424-5249 or 847-940-2155. After this date, contact the hotel directly. Your first night's deposit is refundable with at least a 72 hour cancellation notification to the hotel, prior to the day of your arrival. Check your confirmation for details on your hotel's policy.

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Miscellaneous

I'd like to present a program or suggest a speaker at your next conference. How do I go about doing so?
Programs are held only at the Annual Conference. If you would like to present a program, please be aware that there is no one place to submit a conference presentation proposal. You need to investigate which ALA division, office or roundtable fits closest with your presentation's subject matter. Then you would contact that division or office for details on contributing to their program at the conference. Within ALA, various departments focus on various aspects of librarianship. Lists of the ALA divisions, offices and roundtables is available on the ALA website. Feel free to contact our Conference Services office at confs@ala.org if more information is needed after reviewing this information.

What has ALA done to make the Meeting more accessible?
To learn about the ways ALA has worked to make this meeting accessible, visit The Accessibility Page.

Where do the Thomson Gale Shuttle Buses go?
The free Shuttle Buses, sponsored by Thomson Gale, go between the convention center and all ALA hotels from Friday through Tuesday at the Midwinter Meeting. Check the Friday edition of Cognotes, the ALA daily conference newspaper, for route and time information, or Bin #1 in the Registration area for a flyer. Accessible buses are available.

What is Cognotes, and how do I get it?
Cognotes is the ALA daily meeting newspaper. At the Midwinter Meeting, it is published Friday-Monday, and is available at locations throughout the convention center. Cognotes contains information on events happening at the conference, as well as up-to-date meeting changes and other information.

What is the Placement Center, and how do I use it?
Job seekers can search online for jobs and employers can search online for job seekers before and during the Midwinter Meeting or the Annual Conference. Visit URL http://www.ala.org/hrdr/ and click on "Placement Center" for more information. The Placement Center is located on the exhibit floor at both the Midwinter Meeting and the Annual Conference.

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