Bookmobile Sunday focuses on importance of mobile outreach services

CHICAGO – Mobile delivery services are evolving to meet the needs of 21^st century patrons.  Bookmobile Sunday at the 2011 ALA Annual Conference provides attendees with opportunities to learn, network and be inspired.  Learn about the issues, technologies and best practices that are shaping today’s bookmobiles from experts in the field; attend an author lunch with Margriet Ruurs; and climb aboard one of the newest vehicles during the Annual Parade of Bookmobiles. The three-part Bookmobile Sunday will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on June 26 during ALA’s 2011 Annual Conference in New Orleans.  

From 10:30 a.m. to noon in room 284 of the Morial New Orleans Convention Center (MCC), attendees will hear about the latest trends in bookmobiles in a panel discussion during which experts in the field will discuss a range of topics, including bookmobile advocacy, “bookmobiles 101,” tips for new bookmobiles, outreach and programming. Admission to the panel discussion is free.  

Following the panel discussion from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. in MCC room 245, participants will have the opportunity to attend an author lunch with Margriet Ruurs, award-winning author of several children’s books, including "My Librarian Is a Camel: How Books Are Brought to Children Around the World." Tickets to the lunch are $25, and may be purchased with advanced conference registration or in-person at the Conference registration desk. Please refer to Ticket ALA OLO1.

After lunch, the program will move to the exhibits hall (Hall G, near aisle 3800) for the Parade of Bookmobiles from 1:00-3:30pm, where attendees can explore bookmobiles from across the country and speak with bookmobile staff. During the parade, attendees can enter a drawing to win a Nook e-reader.  The parade is free and open to all conference attendees. 

Bookmobile Sunday is made possible through the generous support of OBS, Inc. (www.obsinc.net), Meridian Specialty Vehicles and Farber Specialty Vehicles.  

For more information, and to register, please visit www.ala.org/annual.