2009 ALA Annual Conference Events—Chicago

Fundraiser for the
ALA Cultural Communities Fund

500 Clown and the Elephant Deal
Steppenwolf Theatre, Friday, July 10, 6–10 p.m.

Experience spectacular theater while supporting the ALA Cultural Communities Fund. Tickets are available for a dazzling evening at Chicago’s renowned Steppenwolf Theatre, which includes a cocktail reception at 6 p.m., 500 Clown and the Elephant Deal at 7:30 p.m., and talk-back with cast and creatives following the performance. Find out how to get to the theater.

A rocking three-piece band, an alluring Mistress of Ceremonies, and a daring stage crew have everything they need for a fabulous evening of cabaret. But soon, the players find themselves on a collision course with a fierce runaway tale, which is riddled with spontaneous characters and dangerous stunts. Inspired by Bertolt Brecht’s “Man is Man,” this subversive cabaret gone awry promises to be a thrilling evening of theater fueled by the power of imagination.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the ALA Cultural Communities Fund, an endowment to support cultural programming in libraries.

Questions? Contact the ALA Public Programs Office at
800-545-2433 x5045 or publicprograms@ala.org. Learn more about the ALA Cultural Communities Fund.

This fundraiser is sponsored by

 

LIVE! @ your library Reading Stage

Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, 12–4 p.m.
Exhibition Hall
Take a break from a day of meetings and programs and stop by the LIVE! @ your library Reading Stage in the Exhibition Hall to enjoy readings from new and favorite authors, learn how to develop author programs for your library, and find new recommendations for your patrons. This year’s LIVE! Stage will feature a special focus on poetry, with readings by many popular and up-and-coming poets.

Introduction to ProgrammingLibrarian.org

Saturday, July 11, through Monday, July 13, 10 and 11 a.m., Exhibits Hall, Booth #3254; Monday, July 13, 1:30 p.m., Membership Pavilion, Booth #3034
Learn more about a new, free resource from the ALA Public Programs Office to assist librarians in bringing community programs to their libraries, including literature discussion series and author appearances. ProgrammingLibrarian.org includes a resource library, live learning opportunities and a blog to keep librarians informed of upcoming opportunities and provide inspiration for new library programs.

Literature Programs and Author Events

Find out about a number of literature programs and author events (PDF) happening at Annual Conference.

Presentation of the Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award

On Saturday, July 11, 8 a.m., in McCormick Place West W-375, the ALA Public Programs Office will present the Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award for Exemplary Humanities Programming to the Carroll Academy for International Studies. The award presentation will be followed by the Auditorium Speaker Series presentation of Gregory Maguire.

Meetings

Saturday, July 11, 1:30–3 p.m.
McCormick Place West, W-195

Monday, July 13, 1:30–3 p.m.
McCormick Place West, W-472

Public and Cultural Programs Advisory Committee

Programs

Saturday, July 11, 10:30 a.m.–noon

Pride and Passion: The African American Baseball Experience
McCormick Place West, W-192B
Learn about the history of African Americans in baseball, the focus of a new traveling exhibition made available to libraries through the ALA Public Programs Office and on display at McCormick Place during Conference. Promoted as part of the Step Up to the Plate @ your library program, developed by the Campaign for America’s Libraries and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Speakers: Sharon Robinson, daughter of Jackie Robinson; Lawrence Hogan, baseball historian and author of Shades of Glory: The Negro Leagues and the Story of African-American Baseball; Kadir Nelson, author and illustrator of We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball; and Susan Brandehoff, ALA Public Programs Office.

Picturing America Programs in Public Libraries
McCormick Place West, W-178B
By June 2009, the National Endowment for the Humanities will have distributed Picturing America grants to more than 3,600 public libraries. Participating public librarians are invited to learn more about conducting humanities programs that focus on this collection of American artwork. Current Picturing America project directors will share their experiences and programming ideas with attendees. Speakers: Thomas Phelps, Director, Division of Public Programs, National Endowment for the Humanities ; Marsha L. Semmel, Deputy Director for Museums and Director for Strategic Partnerships, Institute of Museum and Library Services ; Nancy Davenport, Acting Director of Library Services, District of Columbia Public Library ; and Lainie Castle, ALA Public Programs Office.

Sunday, July 12, 10:30 a.m.–noon

Exciting NASA Materials for Libraries
McCormick Place West, W-194A
Find out about NASA educational materials for libraries, amazing Web sites about astronomy, and the traveling exhibit “ Visions of the Universe” funded by NASA and developed by the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore and the ALA Public Programs Office. Speakers: Denise Smith, Manager, Special Projects, and Frank Summers, astrophysicist, Space Telescope Science Institute ; Susan Brandehoff, ALA Public Programs Office.

PRIME TIME Family Reading Time: A Model Program for Strengthening Families and Building Communities
McCormick Place West, W-192B
Attend this session to learn how PRIME TIME continues to reach underserved—or never served—families and establishes community partnerships with the agencies serving them. PRIME TIME staff, public librarians, and ALA and NEH representatives will discuss this award-winning program including community partnerships, bilingual initiatives, evaluative outcomes, funding opportunities, and strategies to bring this model outreach program to your community. Speakers: Miranda Restovic, PRIME TIME Co-Project Director; Thomas Phelps, Director, Division of Public Programs, National Endowment for the Humanities ; Sue Warner, Youth and Neighborhood Services Head, Kalamazoo (MI) Public Library ; and Lainie Castle, ALA Public Programs Office.

Great Programs with Poets and Poetry
McCormick Place West, W-178B
Join this discussion of best practices in poetry programming for public audiences. Representatives from the Academy of American Poets, the Greensboro Public Library and award winning Poet Jane Hirshfield will explore ideas for expanding your library’s programming beyond “National Poetry Month” by working with poets, partner organizations and target audiences. Speakers: Jane Hirshfield, poet; Robin Beth Schaer, Chief Online Editor, The Academy of American Poets ; Steve Sumerford, Assistant Director of the Greensboro (NC) Public Library and Poetry GSO Director; and Mary Davis Fournier, ALA Public Programs Office.

Sunday, July 12, 3:30–5:30 p.m.

Soul of a People: Writing America’s Story
McCormick Place South, S-101A
Screening and discussion of a documentary about the WPA Federal Writers’ Project produced by Spark Media,  Washington, D.C., and broadcast on the Smithsonian Channel HD . Soul of a People outreach programs are being held in 30 libraries, sponsored by the ALA Public Programs Office with the support of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Speakers: Andrea Kalin, President, Spark Media ; Tom Phelps, Director of the Division of Public Programs, National Endowment for the Humanities ; Harry Ross, National-Louis University ; and Maureen Liebenson, Highland Park (IL) Public Library .