RUSA to host preconference,“Reinvented Reference,” during Annual Conference, June 23

Contact: Eileen Hardy


Marketing Specialist


312-280-4398


ehardy@ala.org

For Immediate Release


February 21, 2006

RUSA to host preconference,“Reinvented Reference,” during Annual Conference, June 23

CHICAGO—The Machine-Assisted Reference Section (MARS) and Reference Services Section (RSS) of the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) is hosting a preconference, “Reinvented Reference: The Integration of Digital and Traditional Reference Services,” on Friday, June 23, 2006, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., during the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in New Orleans.

Whether libraries are just beginning to offer digital reference services or whether they have established services, the issues of sustainability, integration, and evaluation are on the minds of most librarians. Through a combination of expert presentations and small group exercises attendees will explore how these issues relate to their local environments and focus on tools and outcomes that are of practical interest to assist them in facing these challenges.

The preconference speakers are: Buff Hirko, statewide virtual reference coordinator, Washington State Library; Joe Janes, associate dean, Academics, University of Washington; Marie Radford, associate professor, Rutgers University at New Brunswick; and Jerilyn Veldof, director, Undergraduate Initiative, University of Minnesota at Twin Cities.

For more preconference information please visit (
www.ala.org/ala/rusa/rusaevents/rusaannual/preconferencesa/precon.htm). Tickets for the preconference can be purchased in advance when registering for ALA Annual Conference (
www.ala.org/ala/eventsandconferencesb/annual/2006a/registration.htm) or to add it to an existing registration call ALA member and customer service at 1-800-545-2433, press option #5 and add event #RU2 to your existing registration.