New resource helps potential attendees communicate benefits of ALA Annual Conference

For Immediate Release
Mon, 04/23/2012

Contact:

Mary Mackay

Director, Marketing

American Library Association

800-545-2433 ext.1532

mmackay@ala.org

CHICAGO - Making the case for time off and support for travel and expenses to attend a conference, especially in times of tight budgets and reduced staff, requires a solid understanding of the potential benefits to the workplace, to a supervisor and to colleagues. A new resource—Making Your Case for Attending—has been published on the ALA Annual Conference website to help potential attendees communicate the many ways that conference attendance can pay big dividends.

The Making Your Case for Attending resources include:

  • An outline of why attendees will be more valuable to the institution after the conference, with benefits such as bringing back implementable ideas and best practices that can make a library more effective, save money and serve users better; becoming a more effective library advocate, strengthening the library’s network and reputation; and injecting fresh energy, excitement and professionalism into their work;
  • A series of suggested steps to follow, including a sample budget worksheet and memo to a supervisor to help document the benefits of attending, as well as plans for how what’s learned will be reported and shared on return;
  • Links to resources that help a potential attendee zero in on programs and other conference events that apply to their particular area of work; and
  • In the Words of Your Colleagues,” dozens of testimonials from the 2011 ALA Annual Conference post-conference survey that show how attendees feel they benefited across the board, including what they learned both formally and informally, the connections they made, the inspiration, the energy, what they got out of the exhibits and how much fun they had.

Find out about the many ALA Annual Conference & Exhibits highlights as they’re added—speakers, events, networking opportunities and more. And for general information about the meeting in Anaheim, Calif., June 21-26, 2012, visit us at www.alaannual.org.  Get the best discount with Early Bird Registration, open until midnight, Sunday, May 13, 2012.

ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition--Transforming Our Libraries, Ourselves